New Freeview HD hardware: eXtra Terrestrial Freeview HD tuner

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29 posts

Geek

#179153 20-Nov-2008 22:52

Robert

I agree with your comments.

Not all ET's are alike. Some work better than others
Also other brand of HD Terrestrial box's dont seem to have problems with picture breakups or audio drop outs on optical outputs

My first ET box only showed about 5-10% signal stength. The second box shows about a 20% signal strength. If I inserted an attenuator in the aerial lead then ET reported a higher signal level. Other owners have reported similar effects with their ET's so signal level indicator seems to work backwards.

I am sure that there will be nothing wrong with your aerial or coax. I tried other another aerial and new RG6 coax with no change to the problems I have.

Like you I will just have to live with these problems with the hope that a future firmware update will fix all.
I am just using the RCA audio meantime and putting up with picture breakups.

Hopefully the immenent PVR functionality makes up for these issues.

Did you try the latest firmware? I dont notice any differences.
Peter - what issues did this address (other the green flash on TV3 which seem to have got fixed at the TV3 end)

Ian

robjg63

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#179207 21-Nov-2008 12:46

inichol:
Robert

Like you I will just have to live with these problems with the hope that a future firmware update will fix all.
I am just using the RCA audio meantime and putting up with picture breakups.

Hopefully the immenent PVR functionality makes up for these issues.

Did you try the latest firmware? I dont notice any differences.
Peter - what issues did this address (other the green flash on TV3 which seem to have got fixed at the TV3 end)

Ian

Hi Ian

I installed the latest firmware on Monday - I didnt see the 'green flashes' before or after. Other than that, I think the box is more inclined to crash and reboot spontaneously than previously. Picture about the same.

The latest thing I tried just for the hell of it is setting the screen resolution to auto so that its not forcing everything to upscale to 1080i. Figured maybe the upscaling might cause some pixelation. It now means flicking between channels of different resolution takes longer because the TV has to resynch. I dont think its reduced the pixelation issue at all though so I will probably set it back to 1080i.

Have you actually verified that another brand of box works ok at your place - quite interested to know if anyone has done this.....

Robert

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

mattstutter

49 posts

Geek

#179215 21-Nov-2008 13:07

Hi All,
Just wanted to post an update - Peter has refunded me for the unit. He's a good bloke, stands by his promise. Saw a trademe listing that said the PVR update was coming in two weeks...
Good luck!!

inichol

29 posts

Geek

#179306 21-Nov-2008 23:18

Robert

In answer to your question "Have you actually verified that another brand of box works ok at your place - quite interested to know if anyone has done this....."

No - I dont have another box to try but others have reported that other box's do not have problems with picture pixelising or audio drop outs. I do know that my second ET box is heaps better with lot less picture pixelising but still has the occasional audio drop outs on optical output.

For example here is a post from page 25 post # 170139
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I too are still having issues with digital audio output (Coax and Optical), lower RCA stereo audio distortion, occasional picture "corruption", box freezing not allowing channel changes to be made, clock issues in standby.

I also have a Draco box which exibits none of the issues above that you state come from antenna or reception issues, when substituted into the same antenna and Digital Audio connections. The two boxes tune into the same UHF channels so are not receiving different broadcasts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also I remember a post where they also had a set up on a home theatre PC which always gave perfect sound and picture but the ET had problems with audio dropouts and picture breaking up - but cannot locate the post. It may have been on a different thread.

Ian

inichol

29 posts

Geek

#179492 22-Nov-2008 20:42

PVR Available????

Hi folks

There is an add on Trademe for Chinese TV Freeview. Auction number is 188192107

Includes ""Extra Terrestrial"" HD box

Add says "PVR feature avail off our website..."

Person who is selling it goes under name of cordlessman from Waitakere City.

Does any one know where their web site is so that we can get the PVR feature?

Thanks

Ian

pete9321

105 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#179514 22-Nov-2008 22:07

Ha!!~ funny...sorry guys...I think BAD chginese english...within 14 days.......

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

wiredr

203 posts

Master Geek

#179543 23-Nov-2008 03:55

pete9321: Ha!!~ funny...sorry guys...I think BAD chginese english...within 14 days.......

♦

11 days to be precise.
no one can claim pvr capability until the epg upgrade which is around the 4th dec and the launch of the myfreview box,

Spong

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Trusted

#179575 23-Nov-2008 10:52

Peter recently mentioned that the initial PVR software for the ET would be pretty basic, with "Record now" capability only, and integration with the EPG would come later. I'm not sure if this is still the intention, but I'd be surprised if his programmers were that far advanced, bearing in mind the headstart Zinwell have had for their PVR box. I'm sure he'll pop in and clarify the situation.

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

robjg63

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#179603 23-Nov-2008 12:24

While I was looking at the files in the latest firmware upgrade folder I noticed that the latest file was called magello_NZ_HW41031_SW105.
If you do a google on that you can find this page:
http://www.logiways.com/products.htm

It is a development API for Digital TV and DVR recording - I presume this is what is at the core of the ET box.

Might be of a little interest to some of you....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

pete9321

105 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#179613 23-Nov-2008 12:57

seems, that only some E.T boxes...and some other makes too had green flash problem, we had reports of a zinwell with problem and some sommets too..
new s/ware does fix it on units that had a flash problem.
PVR will be as per freeview specs..their new EPG is now up and running...thats what caused the flash on some units, as TV3 uses 1080i, and that combo with the new EPG format somehow created the green interfernece...
E.t's PVR function will be using the new mheg5 EPG format for scheduling and recording...etc.

FPR

176 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 25

#179620 23-Nov-2008 13:34

Pete,

I am pleased to hear that we will be able to use the EPG to set up recordings.
A couple of Q's

Will we be able to record TV1 & watch TV3 at the same time?
&
Since upgrading to the lastest firmware last monday (to get ride of the green flash's) the ET box
has Hung/frozen 3 times & needed a full restart. Before I installed last Mondays upgrade
it would only Hang/ freeze say once a week.
Will this Fault be fixed soon?
As someone who works nights, My concern is if we have recordings set up & the box freeze's will it fail to record & miss the program.

Thanks John

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

pete9321

105 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#179622 23-Nov-2008 13:47

what Tx site you lookin at? Q, and s levels?
will be able to watch one ch, and rec another..

robjg63

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#179632 23-Nov-2008 14:39

Hey Pete,

Regarding the conversation Ian and I had a day or so ago in this forum, have you got any ideas at all why shoving a whole bunch of attenuators between the aerial and the ET box would cause the indicated signal level to increase?
We both had the same experiences (someone else also reported it about a month ago).
As I understand it - adding attenuators should reduce the signal.

Any ideas?

Robert.

PS Great news about the recording being so close.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

pete9321

105 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#179641 23-Nov-2008 15:52

Attenuating the noise floor ( background noise)...receiver compensates and ups the signal.....wastwe of time doing this...unless the Tx site is inyour house!!

inichol

29 posts

Geek

#179654 23-Nov-2008 16:52

Hi Pete

Dont think you have understood Roberts question.

He is wanting to know why the signal level graph on ET shows an increase in signal level as you add more attenuation between the earial and the ET box.
One would expect the the indicated signal level would reduce as you add more attenuation in the aerial lead. (less signal)

I observe exactly the same as Robert here. With the strong local transmitters ET shows no more than 20% on the signal level. Quality is always 100%.
When I point my antenna at Te Aroha (125km away) and tune in to its channels then ET shows the signal level at 60 to 70% and the quality at 40% (and breaking up quite badly - as would be expected).

So why does ET show an increase in signal level with the weaker signals??

Ian

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