Recommendations for Satellite Freeview PVR?

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matthewp

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#87799 7-Aug-2011 18:31

Hi,

I recently bought a DishTV S7090 PVR from Noel Leeming. I’ve only owned the box for a fortnight and it’s already given me a number of problems. Worst of all is its tendency to only record a program if it really feels like it. You can have the program flagged to record in the EPG and it just doesn’t bother. On other occasions it works, but it’s too hit and miss to rely on.

I was hoping people on this forum could recommend a Satellite Freeview PVR that would work in NZ. I am looking for something with:

- 2 Tuners
- PVR function
- Decent size hard drive

I’d consider an external HDD option if it was the best, but am ideally looking for an internal HDD version.

I’ve noticed that there aren’t a lot of options available in the shops, but there are more out there available on the internet. The problem is I am not sure what I need to check to make sure something I bought over the internet would work, so really hope someone has a suggestion for the best thing to buy :-)

Thanks in advance!

Matt

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8954 posts

Uber Geek

#503061 7-Aug-2011 18:38

Have a read of these two recents threads, as they may help... One Two

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#503065 7-Aug-2011 18:45

I tried a 7090 for about a fortnight too, and never had one days there wasn't a problem. Eventually took the rotten thing back.

This will be no help, but after trying several satelite receivers, not one was worth a damn! They're all rubbish. In the end, with regret, a freeview Panasonic DMR 380 (terrestrial only) was chosen.

The 'best' of a bad lot was the Ultraplus, but sound from its A/V ouitput is faulty.

One thing learned, keep away from Freeview if possible. They control the EPG and only licence it to manufacurers they can bribe to remove timeslip so you can easily skip ads.

It may be the best option is to import something (known to be good) from overseas. E bay has a few and I did see shipping to NZ for £25.

[Moderator edit (MF): removed bad words]

Cheers - Kirk

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#503169 8-Aug-2011 01:03

Vu Plus Duo

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#503222 8-Aug-2011 09:43

ADKM:
One thing learned, keep away from Freeview if possible. They control the EPG and only licence it to manufacurers they can bribe to remove timeslip so you can easily skip ads.

Whilst this is true in concept, in practise freeview do broadcast a full EIT data EPG (on the satellite service) that set top box manufacturers can do whatever they want with. You don't get this option on the terrestrial service.

(Windows 7 has a media centre program included with it and this will use this EPG data for instance.)

Annoyed to hear about the problems with the satellite freeview approved unit. In my experience there are problems with most freeview units, and the only ones I've found to be trouble free are the inbuilt TV tuners themselves! They can't record though so PVR wise you'll need to try a few until you get one that works for you. Buying from somewhere they will support this is not always easy, so trademe might become your friend!

If you are forced to go satellite then I hear good things about the Vu+ Duo unit.

latasha

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#503238 8-Aug-2011 10:36

In our experience Freeview approved units are no different from any other Satellite Receiver apart from a higher price tag and more limitations on what you can do with them.
Try finding a reasonable priced Receiver with local on going customer support, that way when you run into a problem it should be easy to sort :) Good luck

JUDAS

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#503717 9-Aug-2011 10:09

i contacted dishtv and they repiled saying a firmware upgrade due out this week...fingers crossed it sorts out the probs

nitebeatdisco

37 posts

Geek

#504983 11-Aug-2011 14:03

well so far no sign of a update....

So far I have had a number of issues ....

-- Touchy HDMI output socket touching the cable of plug or moving or tilting the unit causes the picture to cut out on the tv, this is the second unit that does this as I returned the first.
Its not the cable a tryed to recreate fault on connection to dvd player and also reversing leads, totally stable.

--Sometimes picture size defaults to an expanded picture so that only part of the station logo shows, under picture settings select 16:9 under aspect ratio not auto, .... happened again fixed by selecting auto saving then back to 16:9 and saving... may be due to loss of power to unit.

Wise

Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#505086 11-Aug-2011 16:35

My sister got the Dishtv Ultra-S7090PVR and it seemed to be working well for her. Have not checked how it is going lately though.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

matthewp

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#505088 11-Aug-2011 16:40

Thanks everyone for your replies and your advice, I appreciate it. Runningman - not sure how I missed those existing threads - just what I was looking for.

It seems the vu+ duo could be the way to go. My DishTV box is going back to the shop at the weekend...

Does anyone have a recommendation of where I can order a vu+ duo? Xarqi - I read on the thread mentioned by running man that the vu+ duro was on sale by satlinknz. Does anyone know of any other suppliers that will supply a vu+ duo? Satlinknz are out of stock.

Thanks again.

RunningMan

8954 posts

Uber Geek

#505109 11-Aug-2011 17:13

I'm fairly certain Satlink are the NZ distributor, so if they are out of stock, it may be a waiting game, unless one comes up second hand on TM or something...

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#505121 11-Aug-2011 17:50

Yup - what he said. They are the importers, so unless you find someone with stock or a 2nd hand one (but who would sell!) you'll have to bide your time. If you get desperate, you could get one in from overseas yourself. One possibility would be from the UK, and one dealer I believe to be reputable is:
http://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/Vu-DUO-Twin-Tuner-HD-PVR-DVB-S2-Satellite-Receiver
They sponsor a large support group and seem to respond quickly to any reported issues.
GBP339 => NZD678 at the moment - not bad, but there'd be shipping and GST on top, plus potential hassles if servicing did happen to be required.

If you can bide your time, and want something potentially better, if a bit more expensive, I think the Vu+ Ultimo is just around the corner.

JUDAS

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#505662 12-Aug-2011 17:58

Just got this reply from dishtv

New firmware we are hoping to get it on site Monday . Has been delayed due to extensive testing in the timeshift feature .

We do spend mega hours testing firmware but all it takes to show up an issue is for someone to go into the menu to look at different things in an order different from what we have done and that can produce something we have not seen before , It is impossible to try all the possible combinations of button commands and be 100% sure of everything , But we do as much as we can and appreciate feedback from customers so we can check out problems .

Jim
Technical Support Desk
Dish TV Technologies Ltd
23 Bandon Street
Hamilton 3204

bfginger

1268 posts

Uber Geek

#505849 13-Aug-2011 00:34

There is a new "Ultraplus X-9200HD" model out to replace the 9000.

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#505852 13-Aug-2011 00:58

I would say to anyone considering DiskTV or Utraplus products to be very 'buyer beware'.

DishTV are very approachable and will discuss issues, but their products are as dodgy as hell. I do have a T1020 and it works fine, except if you turn it off. Then it loses color (like it goes to NTSC) for about 5 mins until coming right. One day I suspect it won't. Their 7090 model is a disaster, although some say it's OK.

Ultraplus are just in denial anything is wrong with their products - even when you gve then proof.

I suspect it's all made in Asia for next to nothing, cobbled together somewhere, and flogged off to an unsuspecting public. Not forgetting the four page user guide in pigeon english.

Cheers - Kirk

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#505946 13-Aug-2011 12:00

ADKM: I would say to anyone considering DiskTV or Utraplus products to be very 'buyer beware'.

DishTV are very approachable and will discuss issues, but their products are as dodgy as hell. I do have a T1020 and it works fine, except if you turn it off. Then it loses color (like it goes to NTSC) for about 5 mins until coming right. One day I suspect it won't. Their 7090 model is a disaster, although some say it's OK.

Ultraplus are just in denial anything is wrong with their products - even when you gve then proof.

I suspect it's all made in Asia for next to nothing, cobbled together somewhere, and flogged off to an unsuspecting public. Not forgetting the four page user guide in pigeon english.

Amen.

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