Pixel Magic TV 3600 Feedback, problems and solutions!

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VaticNZ

11 posts

Geek

#47148 10-Nov-2009 18:39

Hi all!

I've been running this box for just over a week now and it rocks!
I don't know if it's psychological or technological, but the picture seems much sharper and the box overall is more responsive than my old zinwell. The interface is user-friendly and it's feature packed.
I'd definitely recommend this unit over any of ther other currently available pvr/dtr boxes - I spent several hours tinkering with homecast, zinwell and jcmatthew boxes.

I do, however, have one fairly major issue: The unit doesn't respond to volume control. It also flatly refuses to mute TV3 (A John Campbell conspiracy?! ;-))

If anyone has any suggestions on how to resolve this, I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers

Edited: Changed title for clarity and to reflect the great feedback/support from magictv

magictv

19 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#271797 10-Nov-2009 19:54

hi VaticNZ, thanks for supporting Magic TV. Remote control Volume +/- and the top left TV power/input, the 4 keys are "learning" keys. Please read the user manual to select preset TV code, or learn the keys 1 by 1 by pointing your TV remote to it.

VaticNZ

11 posts

Geek

#271801 10-Nov-2009 20:06

Thanks for your reply magictv! So the volume control on the remote needs to be "taught" as opposed to actually reducing the volume on the source? That seems a bit odd, but I'll try teaching my yamaha amp some "magic" :) Do you have any ideas as to why the mute button works on all channels except tv3? John Campbell does drone on...

magictv

19 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#271864 10-Nov-2009 22:16

TV3 uses AC3 Dolby Digital audio. Mute does not function on Dolby Digital audio when Bitstream is enabled.

VaticNZ

11 posts

Geek

#272031 11-Nov-2009 13:35

Hi again magictv and thanks for your quick reply. It's awesome that you're on here supporting your product.

I've now successfully taught my remote how to drive the amp for volume. I still think it's a bit weird that it doesn't control the volume on the unit out of the box - as a suggestion, maybe you should consider including an addendum in your user guide/manual to explain that this needs to be done. Or better yet, update the firmware to support it! :-)

As for the muting on tv3, let me confirm that I've got this right:
In order to receive AC3 Digital Dolby (such as TV3 broadcasts), I need to have Bitstream enabled.
With bitstream enabled, I can't mute the sound. The mute button on the remote is not a learning key, therefore I can't even use the amp to mute. If I want to use the mute on TV3, I have to disable bitstream and revert back to 2ch pcm?
If this is the case, then there's a major problem with this unit. There's absolutely no point in supporting AC3 if you lose basic functionality like being able to mute the sound. Obviously updating the remote is not an option here, but I would strongly recommend looking into updating the firmware to fix this.
I'd really like to get the best from my HD by being able to use AC3 where available without sacrificing such a basic function.

I'm keen to hear your thoughts...

Cheers

magictv

19 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#272167 11-Nov-2009 21:48

Well... we will try to think of something to workaround the AC3 "mute" issue...

VaticNZ

11 posts

Geek

#272181 11-Nov-2009 22:38

Thanks MagicTV. I honestly think it would be worth the effort. Of all the Freeview DTR/PVR's, MagicTV is the best. If you can solve these couple of issues, you'll have my vote and recommendation.
Incidentally, as a workaround to the "mute" problem, I've trained my remote's TV Input button to act as the mute on my amp. Does the trick, but not ideal.

Have a good one!

Nutts

65 posts

Master Geek

#276964 27-Nov-2009 15:38

Has any one looked into what is involved if the HDD in the Magic TV 3600 fails.
Can we just buy a replacement drive down the at your nearest PC shop, install it, format it and we are ready to go or does it have to go back to the supplier to be repaired.

Just wondering if the extended 5 year warranty would be sensible or not

Any thoughts!!!

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Lurch

1061 posts

Uber Geek

#282269 14-Dec-2009 13:22

magictv: hi VaticNZ, thanks for supporting Magic TV. Remote control Volume +/- and the top left TV power/input, the 4 keys are "learning" keys. Please read the user manual to select preset TV code, or learn the keys 1 by 1 by pointing your TV remote to it.

This is the most annoying part, everything else is fantastic. Can you not push a firmware update so it adjusts the volume from the source i.e. the Magic TV box??

This the only flaw I can find, my sound goes through my 5.1 amp so the sound is not going through the TV.

I guess I'll just buy a universal remote.

VaticNZ

11 posts

Geek

#282566 15-Dec-2009 10:06

I agree, it's quite annoying, but as my previous post above, I just programmed the input button on the remote to command my amp's mute function.
Even if they'd make the actual mute button programmable...

Lurch

1061 posts

Uber Geek

#282638 15-Dec-2009 12:09

Yeah trying to setup that up but so far no luck. The volume on the remote just changes channels on my TV even when I do follow the steps in the manual to program the buttons on their own.

VaticNZ

11 posts

Geek

#282641 15-Dec-2009 12:15

It took me a couple of goes :) Are you sure you're doing the final set in learning mode before going on to the next function?

mail2mm

83 posts

Master Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#286599 3-Jan-2010 04:05

I just got my Magic TV and so far I am very pleased with it. Unfortunately I have had no success in programming the remote control as described on page 13 of the manual. When I press and hold both the TV Power button + Magic TV button for two seconds or more the LED indicator does not flash. Not slow, not fast - no flashing at all. When I press just the TV Power button the LED indicator flashes once. When I press just the Magic TV button the LED indicator flashes repeatedly as long as I push the button. This would seem to indicate that the individual buttons are working but not in combination. I tried taking out the batteries in hopes of "resetting" the remote but could still not get the remote in the "learning mode."

Is my remote bad? Any suggestions on programming the remote control?

Thanks for any words of wisdom.

thingswelike

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#286605 3-Jan-2010 07:04

Hi mail2mm. According to my manual, the two buttons which need to be pressed are the main Power button and the Magic TV button.
(In your message you mention using the TV Power button, so I thought I'd clarify.)

mail2mm

83 posts

Master Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#286733 3-Jan-2010 20:45

Hello thingswelike,

Thank you so much for your quick reply and picking up that I was using the wrong Power button. My older eyesight is just not up to the task of reading the fine print in the manual. With your suggestion I tried programming the remote for my Sony LCD. No luck so I tried to reset to factory defaults. Once I figured out that the button to push was the lower left Red one I got the reset done. Then I chose 3 (Sony) while in the learning mode and wow, it now controls my Sony TV. Thanks again for your help.

So far I am quite happy with the Magic TV PVR. I have had it "freeze" up twice after completing a recording or coming out of standby. I had to use the back panel on-off switch to get it working again. I wonder if this "freezing" is a common problem? I saw that some folks reflashed the firmware to resolve lockups. Mine came with firmware v3.09 which still seems to be the latest.

Lurch

1061 posts

Uber Geek

#287405 6-Jan-2010 12:20

Email Pixel Magic, they are great at getting back to you, I've only had the one lockup (fingers crossed). I've been dealing with Shimon who has given fantastic support even followed up on my issue without my prompting.

One of the best companies I've dealt with, one of the better products I've bought in awhile too. Can only hope that freeview/Pixel magic allow file transfers over the network/USB then who needs Tivo? :-)