The MTV3600 uses a Sigma Designs SMP8635 ( http://www.sigmadesigns.com/uploads/documents/SMP8630_br.pdf ) and a JMicron JM20330 ( http://www.jmicron.com/PDF/JM20330/JM20330.pdf ) for SATA drives.
The MTV3700 (AU model) uses a Sigma Designs SMP8655 ( http://www.sigmadesigns.com/uploads/documents/SMP8650_br.pdf ) which has a SATA controller built in.
Neither processor has the annoying Macrovision lockouts. I guess that means Freeview doesn't allow it. That's cool! Not that there isn't alternatives, there definitely is and is actively used on Freeview.
Can't say if there is any difference in the decode and scaling features. The listed details are not equal. There is just an arbitrary sample of features listed for each processor.
CPU clock rate is nearly 3x faster so that really will speed up the menus. One hopes at least!
It will be interesting to see if the 3700's sleep mode uses less power than the 3600's. Other things to look out for will be more sensitive/robust RF handling and a fix for the buggy FF/RW jitters. And could really do with frame advance/retard also.
In summary, assuming no progress on the bugs front, the MTV3700 is just a small update to the HDD and menu speed.
On the 3700, do the Kordia channels (eg Prime) still have incorrect video levels? On the 3600 those channels look washed out in comparison to the TVNZ and Media Works channels.
evanh: Neither processor has the annoying Macrovision lockouts. I guess that means Freeview doesn't allow it. That's cool! Not that there isn't alternatives, there definitely is and is actively used on Freeview.
What does that mean? I am a newbie to this sort of thing but am always willing to learn.
Being in the Wairarapa, where the Digital Transmission has not yet officially started, I am not able to test out my 3600 yet. There is transmission of sorts, a feed from the satellite, comprising 4 viewable channels. There is no info in the signal to tell the 3600 the time, so can't use the recording function and there is no EPG, etc. I am told equipment is still being installed but the high winds we have had in the Wellington/Wairarapa area have delayed final installation. I believe a microwave link from Mount Climie, behind Upper Hutt, needs to be finalised, to feed the transmission site at Popoiti, east of Greytown. The signal will originate from Mount Kaukau, Wellington.
The set is displaying strange behaviour, right from the start. I am wondering if anyone else has heard of, or experienced, the following problem: When I turned the set on and it took me through the set-up procedure, as soon as I pressed the OK button to accept the 16:9 screen size, the screen shows the default silvery one where there are the Magic stars. Nothing else shows on the screen. Looking at the display on the box, it says it is scanning. I have let it do so for 30 minutes & it does not change it's status. There is no response from the remote, from any button. I have to switch it off at the wall. After switching it on again, letting it do it's set-up guide results in the same behaviour.
What I have tried, with a hit & miss success rate, is when it asks if I want to continue with the set-up guide, is to choose NO. I then navigate to the channel set-up menu & choose to auto-scan from there. Sometimes the scanning screen will appear & show the yellow scanning bar, etc, and find & store channels. Other times, it will not show anything except the silvery looking screen with nothing on it except the Magic stars. It has frozen again & I have to force it off at the wall.
fatjulio: On the 3700, do the Kordia channels (eg Prime) still have incorrect video levels? On the 3600 those channels look washed out in comparison to the TVNZ and Media Works channels.
I didn't look at this on the 3600 - was it via the analogue and digital outputs , I actualally did really look at Prime on the 3600 to notice - ideally you would have a test card on all 3 muxes - I am guesing it is small difference you are seeing on the 3600
theoldfarter: Being in the Wairarapa, where the Digital Transmission has not yet officially started, I am not able to test out my 3600 yet. There is transmission of sorts, a feed from the satellite, comprising 4 viewable channels. There is no info in the signal to tell the 3600 the time, so can't use the recording function and there is no EPG, etc. I am told equipment is still being installed but the high winds we have had in the Wellington/Wairarapa area have delayed final installation. I believe a microwave link from Mount Climie, behind Upper Hutt, needs to be finalised, to feed the transmission site at Popoiti, east of Greytown. The signal will originate from Mount Kaukau, Wellington.
The set is displaying strange behaviour, right from the start. I am wondering if anyone else has heard of, or experienced, the following problem: When I turned the set on and it took me through the set-up procedure, as soon as I pressed the OK button to accept the 16:9 screen size, the screen shows the default silvery one where there are the Magic stars. Nothing else shows on the screen. Looking at the display on the box, it says it is scanning. I have let it do so for 30 minutes & it does not change it's status. There is no response from the remote, from any button. I have to switch it off at the wall. After switching it on again, letting it do it's set-up guide results in the same behaviour.
What I have tried, with a hit & miss success rate, is when it asks if I want to continue with the set-up guide, is to choose NO. I then navigate to the channel set-up menu & choose to auto-scan from there. Sometimes the scanning screen will appear & show the yellow scanning bar, etc, and find & store channels. Other times, it will not show anything except the silvery looking screen with nothing on it except the Magic stars. It has frozen again & I have to force it off at the wall.
What's your thoughts as to what is happening?
I would certainly wait until the transmssion starts correctly , as the box needs to see correct signal to work - what happens if you do a scan with another receiver ie TV or another box
Unfortunately, only have analogue TV's & a satellite box, so will have to wait until transmission starts in earnest. . It can't be far away as good weather is now upon us. Don't know anyone else with a Digital HD box in the Wairarapa.
The one I chose to copy onto is a 1000GB drive from the same family but maybe a revision later - AV-GP WD10EURS, ...
Now for the relevant bits:
The WD5000AVVS specs, from http://www.wdc.com/global/products/specs/?driveID=390&language=1 are as follows: Capacity 500 GB Buffer Size 8 MB Sustained transfer (peak) 80 MB/s Idle Mode Noise 24 dBA (average) Read/Write Power 5.40 Watts
The WD10EURS specs, from the PDF, are as follows: Capacity 1000 GB Buffer Size 64 MB Sustained transfer (peak) 110 MB/s Idle Mode Noise 23 dBA (average) Read/Write Power 4.90 Watts
The WD20EURS specs, from the PDF, are as follows: Capacity 2000 GB Buffer Size 64 MB Sustained transfer (peak) 130 MB/s Idle Mode Noise 24 dBA (average) Read/Write Power 5.30 Watts
The WD30EURS specs, from the PDF, are as follows: Capacity 3000 GB Buffer Size 64 MB Sustained transfer (peak) 145 MB/s Idle Mode Noise 24 dBA (average) Read/Write Power 6.00 Watts
Right, the cool part here is that even the 2TB drive uses no more power than the original 500GB.
And, to be honest, I can't see the 3TB drive being a problem performance wise either. The only possible issue with the 3TB drive might be the 4G block limit. I've not played with anything that large before but one assumes Linux has had that one sus'd out for a while.
evanh: Neither processor has the annoying Macrovision lockouts. I guess that means Freeview doesn't allow it. That's cool! Not that there isn't alternatives, there definitely is and is actively used on Freeview.
What does that mean? I am a newbie to this sort of thing but am always willing to learn.
What Macrovision used to be was a nasty pulse added to analogue PAL/NTSC signals that would screw up video recorders amongst other things. TVs generally could handle it, though not all.
Maybe it's still just that - excess data in the video stream, dunno. If so, then it will be considered way out of date, and that would explain why Freeview have banned it's use. There is much better ways to block recording and copying of digital streams these days.
What's the menu speeds like? In particular, the EPG scrolling speed?
And the FF/RW jumpiness?
There is a really cheap power meter that can be bought these days - Elto EMA-1. $25.00 I think. Use one of these to measure the MTV3700 power levels. The MTV3600 sleeping uses about 15 or 16 watts!
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