New Freeview Dish TV recorder - 1TB, Chromecast support, 4K HD

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › New Freeview Dish TV recorder - 1TB, Chromecast support, 4K HD

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#2183889 19-Feb-2019 19:28

Be fair to them, it has only just come out. Will probably be out tomorrow on their site. One thing that seems to be fixed is the fast forward, so far it is now working as it should.

Smithy

Smithy47

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#2184965 21-Feb-2019 17:41

For those that wanted to know what is in Version 1.23 from their Web Site.

Version 1.23 Problems Solved

1. Rewind and Fast forward speed jump was intermittent. (I know that is fixed as wife stoped complaining)

2. Problems scanning channels from other satellites.

3. Bug fixes.

Smithy

msukiwi

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#2184970 21-Feb-2019 17:49

Smithy47:

SNIP...

Version 1.23 Problems Solved

3. Bug fixes.

SNIP

Yay - NO Flies! (No longer have to throw the A2 at them!)

Seriously - Aren't the first two bug fixes? So why not list what else was fixed?

Still (...and probably will never be.) NO manual timer to be seen.

Hope the guide never goes down too!

JimmyH

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#2185544 22-Feb-2019 19:49

freitasm:

I think the "not to touch it" is a bit too far. It sounds like it simply doesn't work when it does.

I'd go as far as to say that your Panasonic unit may be great now but most likely needed update over its lifetime. And it's clunky and fugly. So compare "clunky" with how this unit works (not clunky) and so on...

Personally, I don't think it's too far to say that. A lot of the bugs I am reading about here relate to core functionality, and should really have been picked up before release if they had any sort of proper testing and QA process. Multiple serious bugs at release, seemingly no testing and QA process, and having no manual available for download etc seems to smack of quickly pushing out whatever they could on a shoestring; knowing it was buggy and hoping they could patch up the problems later. Plus, this doesn't to be an isolated instance, other threads on Dish products seem to have much the same flavour to them.

Call me old fashioned, but I like a product that works when I buy it, not one that I just have to hope they will have managed to make work months or years after I gave them the money. Maybe I will take another look in a year or so if they have finally patched the bugs. But for myself I wouldn't touch a product at this stage of maturity, and with the issues that seem to be emerging, with the proverbial forty-foot pole.

As for the Panny, yes the menus look like something from the 90s and are as fugly as hell, with some of the options buried in places that aren't intuitively obvious. But I have owned four Panny units going back to the pre-Freeview models (two analog, now dumped, two Freeview, still in service). The build quality, picture quality and functionality are first rate. They have been rock solid and do what they say they will, without missing a beat. That seems to be Panny in a nutshell, first rate hardware, solidly performing firmware, but a very clumsily/poorly designed user interface.

nzmatt

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#2186069 23-Feb-2019 21:31

After two weeks my Dish came back from repairer apparently repaired.... the retailer happily replaced it with the Panny PWT560GN, (I never found it if the Dish was actually faulty....) - cost $50 more... So far I am impressed, it meets my expectations... rock solid, old, clunky and slightly quirky interface.....

My take on the market today is the Pannies are old, probably past use by and likely to out of support before the hardware fails. The ones currently available on NZ are 2016 models, the apps in the 'app store' were released circa 2011 - 2013. The Dish is new, Andriod TV based so bigger range of apps, but locked down with no Netflix and unstable to the point of not being fit for purpose. If you are in the market and can hold off, give the Dish six months and see how they come along, otherwise buy a Panny.

The only other option of rolling your own requires sourcing EPG, software and hard and bolting them together into a working package, which to be honest, will probably take less time and effort than I wasted on the Dish.

freitasm

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#2186092 23-Feb-2019 22:47

nzmatt:

The only other option of rolling your own requires sourcing EPG, software and hard and bolting them together into a working package, which to be honest, will probably take less time and effort than I wasted on the Dish.

I think this statement is oversimplifying things. It may well be you feel confident in putting together an Android-based TV receiver. Average consumer is not like this and won't have the technical knowledge needed for this endeavour.

And as for putting together your own solution using third party software and hardware - good luck with support for that. You are talking about three or four different pieces of software and hardware. If one thing doesn't work you are responsible for finding out what went wrong and you are the one to fix it. Put any thought into that?

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Cyris

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#2189608 1-Mar-2019 20:08

Looking at ditching Sky and getting a freeview recorder this weekend, is this one any good yet? I saw latest update fixed a few things.

msukiwi

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#2189612 1-Mar-2019 20:16

I haven't used it much yet mainly due to hating the remote control supplied.

NO keypad to direct select a channel is a pain.

Waiting to see if the DishTV "promised" alternative remote surfaces!

Lewk

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#2189616 1-Mar-2019 20:30

Cyris:
Looking at ditching Sky and getting a freeview recorder this weekend, is this one any good yet? I saw latest update fixed a few things.

I have found it quite good. There have been issues and some have been addressed with more to come I expect. It has replaced our Mysky and my wife is quite happy with it. Currently streaming rugby via ESPN on it.

Cyris

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#2189618 1-Mar-2019 20:32

Lewk:
Cyris:

Looking at ditching Sky and getting a freeview recorder this weekend, is this one any good yet? I saw latest update fixed a few things.

I have found it quite good. There have been issues and some have been addressed with more to come I expect. It has replaced our Mysky and my wife is quite happy with it. Currently streaming rugby via ESPN on it.

Nice, I might give it a go. So I hear it doesn't have Netflix but can you Chromecast Netflix to it? Also does it have a Plex client?

paul151

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#2189620 1-Mar-2019 20:54

Cyris:

Looking at ditching Sky and getting a freeview recorder this weekend, is this one any good yet? I saw latest update fixed a few things.

We ditched Sky a week ago. Had this new A2 unit for approx 3 weeks prior to returning the box. It had a few niggles but I think it's on the improve. I agree the recent updates have helped and I think Dish is working to make it an appealing box for the masses. I still find rewind and fast forward of recorded or live paused TV a bit glitchy. That aside my wife seems happy at the moment also. I would like to see additional remote controls available for sale. Just one shipped with the unit is not enough for some households.

As I spot issues I'll post them here but really it's been pretty smooth for the last few weeks.

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Lewk

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#2189621 1-Mar-2019 21:01

Cyris:
Lewk:
Cyris:

Looking at ditching Sky and getting a freeview recorder this weekend, is this one any good yet? I saw latest update fixed a few things.

I have found it quite good. There have been issues and some have been addressed with more to come I expect. It has replaced our Mysky and my wife is quite happy with it. Currently streaming rugby via ESPN on it.

Nice, I might give it a go. So I hear it doesn't have Netflix but can you Chromecast Netflix to it? Also does it have a Plex client?

Yes, Netflix is missing (Dish say they have requested that it be tested by Netflix). I hadn't tried Chromcasting Netflix to it until a few minutes ago. It didn't work. Chromecasting has worked for some other services that I have tried. It's not perfect but does I believe have promise and so far we are happy with it. Paid $349 for it and it will not take long of not paying Sky to pay for it.

haywardb

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#2189625 1-Mar-2019 21:52

Cyris:

Nice, I might give it a go. So I hear it doesn't have Netflix but can you Chromecast Netflix to it? Also does it have a Plex client?

I got one of these units a while ago and apart from a few issues (most have been solved now), have found it to be fairly good.

I have installed the Plex client and it works well.

The biggest bug that I now have is trying to fast forward in the Freeview app, the button doesn't always click in (alto tonight it seems to be better behaved). The fast forward button works in all other apps well.

treenz

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#2190849 4-Mar-2019 17:16

Does anybody know how to turn the display lights off on the A2 Superbox, in particular the big blue circle?

Minanz

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#2190989 4-Mar-2019 21:35

Help, just switched to freeview and so far I'm regretting it. When I first setup the box I series linked a few programs, but it has only recorded the first 3 days of having the box and since then nothing. When I go to the recording manager it says the recorder is turned on for the episode and its scheduled. However the episode isn't available to watch, I'm also unable to live pause. If I change anything I get a message telling me the recording has ended. I've tried everything and I'm ready to get rid of the box!

Does it matter if the episode isn't available on On Demand?

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