Visione VE 4000 terrestrial receiver firmware and PVR

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Visione VE 4000 terrestrial receiver firmware and PVR

dodgemnz

51 posts

Master Geek

#73505 15-Dec-2010 02:13

I recently replaced my failed Extra Terrestrial stb with one of these Visione units as i heard they worked better and i still need a stb with hd via component which very few have. The box works really well but doesnt seem to have PVR available but all the detail i have found said it should have. I tried the links to the nz website www.visione-newzealand.co.nz but the website no longer works :-(
Does anyone have a copy of the latest firmware or know what site i could download it from?
I was reading it maybe the same firmware as the ET but i wouldnt like to try it unless someone can confirm it will work correctly?

Jaxson

8041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#417434 15-Dec-2010 08:18

From memory you can't use firmware from the other box anyway, so it would have to be the actual Visione version.

dodgemnz

51 posts

Master Geek

#417530 15-Dec-2010 10:59

Thanks very anoying when companies import such products then dissapear leaving no support for consumers.

bfginger

1267 posts

Uber Geek

#417744 15-Dec-2010 16:44

There is the HDFury3 that converts HDMI to component. The HDT HD801s does HD over component but it doesn't do the PVR thing.

cb1

336 posts

Ultimate Geek

#417892 15-Dec-2010 23:54

They are supposed to be very similar units but the firmware for Visione didn't work in the ET so I imagine it wouldn't work the other way around.

I have a Visione firmware from 2009-06-22, which should have the PVR functionality. Not sure how successful it was on the Visione, but sure was limited success on the ET.

PM me if you want me to email it to you.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#418614 17-Dec-2010 18:57

I have posted elsewhere about the VE4000, which I have. There was firmware released that allows PVR capabilities (which I can't immediately find, but would be happy to hunt for if required) that I applied to my box.

Bottom line - I wouldn't bother. The Visione box is OK as a simple set top box, but the PVR functionality is buggy, unreliable and just plain irritating to use. Also, I have yet to be able to convert the files it creates into something my computer will play/transcode. If you want a PVR, you are better off with just about anything else.

I haven't used the PVR capability in over 8 months - I just use it to feed the DVD recorder or record of the Sky box, and live with SD, if there is anything I want to record. The PVR capability is simply that bad!

NB: @bfginger, The HDFury2 will also do HDMI to component, and is significantly cheaper. That is what I will order in the new year, to go with an Hauppauge HD PVR for HD recording.

dodgemnz

51 posts

Master Geek

#418646 17-Dec-2010 20:04

A member of the forum emailed me a copy of the June 2009 update but as you say its hopeless at recording all i got on playback mode was pixilated images you couldnt watch for more than 30sec's.
The box certainly works better than the ET but still has random freezing and sometimes the remote wont operate.
How good is the HD Fury you mentioned? Im thinking i might just get my money back on this one and go to something else unless someone has a later firmware option to try??

bfginger

1267 posts

Uber Geek

#418663 17-Dec-2010 21:31

JimmyH: The HDFury2 will also do HDMI to component, and is significantly cheaper.

It is US$70 cheaper so I think the HDFury3 is worth getting in preference for its improvements for most uses.

Dodgemnz, what television are you trying to pair a STB with? Alot of videophiles use it with expensive projector setups so it can't be too bad. Just don't get the 60hz PSU.

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

dodgemnz

51 posts

Master Geek

#418672 17-Dec-2010 22:19

I have a Phillips 32" lcd tv that only has hd on component. The visione froze on Greg Murphy last nite so we switched back to normal tv and there was no problem with the channel. Today the remote got stuck with 2 going around and around changing channels! Picture and sound quality on TV3 (which has always had problems) is great compared with all the problems ET had.
Incidently my ET got stuck one day with just - - - - on the display and never worked again. Heard some others have done this also....
Cheers

Jaxson

8041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#419322 20-Dec-2010 09:52

Without trying to sound rude, I'd highly recommend just saving up to get a quality product in the first place. If you are having to buy a lot of additional bits and pieces to get it all to work you might just be better off selling everything and starting again.

You could then get another 32" TV but with freeview built in for example.

If you are seriously wanting a PVR then I'd easily recommend the official Zinwell or JC Matthew units that were around $400 new. They are twin tuner units with full proper EPGs for recording setup etc. It really is worth the extra $ for the complete lack of heartache and frustration with the lower quality products. In my opinion only or course.

dodgemnz

51 posts

Master Geek

#419651 20-Dec-2010 19:49

Hi Appretiate your opinion i thought the Visione was going to be much better than the ET. Alas its disspointing to find its just basically an et box inside a different skin. All sellers seem to list pvr and good quality etc etc as usual its all hype and now i see the main sellers have removed them off there websites!
I just want a box that works as advertised, my TV is good i dont want to replace it at this time. I just need a reliable set top box that works as advertised with HD out of component... i must be asking for to much!!
Im planning on keeping an stb for a while so thought having pvr would be good but not essential.
Im probably going to return the visione so now need to find somthing that works better at a realistic price! Maybe Tivo havent looked into them yet .....

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#419722 20-Dec-2010 22:18

@ Jaxson - more or less agree with your sentiments. The VE4000 was an OK and cheap choice when I got it, works OK as a simple STB, but is useless as a PVR and I wouldn't buy it again.

However, the problem with the official boxes is the tradeoff between the EPG and the mandatory crippling that seems to go with getting the Freeview certification - no HD over component which the poster stated was required, no ad-skip on the PVR boxes, and no easy way to transfer the recordings off the box.

Even if they bought a new TV, I can understand why they still want a cheapo STB, otherwise a perfectly good TV has to be jettisoned with the digital switchover when it might otherwise make a perfectly good second set for a bedroom etc.

dodgemnz

51 posts

Master Geek

#419735 20-Dec-2010 22:37

Price aside the problem exists with people importing this gear claiming it has all this functionality then poor unsuspecting consumer me ends up stuck with somthing that never would do what it was intended to do.

When i was younger if you brought a tv or video from a reputable company it worked! Simple!! Ive still got some gear hear that is brilliant stuff always did what it was sopposed to. Now it all comes from China or asia and they have all the excuses why it doesnt work my aerial my cable etc etc, and then they try to use us as guinea pigs to fix there poor product.... wasnt this the process with the ET???

So whats a good box now???

Jaxson

8041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#419834 21-Dec-2010 08:41

I hear what you are saying, I guess I'm coming from the angle of don't spend too much on oddball gear to make it all work with an older TV with no HDMI capability. It's actually the TV that is forcing you to hunt for non standard products here.

It's over to you to do whatever suits, but if you choose to continue down this path then you will be stuck with products that tend to be not as polished shall we say. Sometimes it's better to cut your losses and upgrade. A new TV with freeview built in avoids a heap of hassle and they don't cost that much, especially at this time of year.

htpc's don't have the freeview limitations but rarely output component video so they are out.

The Draco set top box had a version that was not approved, pretty sure that did HD over component. Was there was a history of PSU failures with that one though???

The vantage unit was actually really nice and solid. Records to external hard drive so no issues getting access to the recordings. Won't have the MHEG5 EPG though, which means no series link. They had a stunning special when they first came out, but they are now $399. Does HD over component but is only a single tuner.
http://www.dtvs.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=64

By contrast, I paid $400 for my JC Matthews PVR which is a twin tuner unit with series link.

If you want something solid and reliable you'll need to pay a fair bit more for it. There really is a reason why cheapest is that way. The big things to take a dive are quality and reliability. The cheaper units have very bad user interfaces, so even though they possibly can work as a PVR, you wouldn't want to, nor would you have any confidence in it to actually record either.

bfginger

1267 posts

Uber Geek

#420039 21-Dec-2010 17:07

I wouldn't want to watch a brand new LCD, and a five year old one I would find no better.

But I would prefer to have a PVR with a weak television than a top television with no PVR.

Not having the EPG is a serious pain as is having only a single tuner in a PVR.

If staying with the present TV is something fixed, I would consider getting an HDFury3, + the Homecast HT9200DTR which is $516. You can also plug a Blu-ray player in via the HDFury3 and watch DVDs / Blu-ray discs upscaled and in HD.

Do not bother with the "Advanced Kit" as that is not for LCDs.