New Freeview HD hardware: eXtra Terrestrial Freeview HD tuner

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203 posts

Master Geek

#189410 14-Jan-2009 05:50

smac: I keep seeing this phrase "hardly any issue". Doesn't cut it for me: if I'm going to drop a couple or few hundred on an electronic device, it had better work with no issues, or it's money back. More and more this approach seems to be seen as "asking too much" which I find truely bizarre.

try this recipe,
i think this would clasify as asking too much of the ET .

sony 40" lcd tv with dtt tuner
old ax 93 element aerial
93 km from patio bay waiheke to te aroha tv transmitter
100mtrs rg11
28db of raw signal
kingray mhw34g masthead amp

awsome picture . tv found 22 channells right out of the box. no pixelisation, no audio drop outs, no picture freeze,
hapy tech, happy cliant,

this cenario is where the et should shine but ??????

the et is shaping up to become the fair go story of 2009

butlerboy

457 posts

Ultimate Geek

#189432 14-Jan-2009 08:34

JJM:
Blimey, I wish I had come across this forum before I leapt in and brought my eXtra HD Tuner. Not that I suspect that its any worse than other units, but I hadn't realised that dropouts, pixellation and audio freezes were all to be expected from Freeview. I bought the line that it would all be perfect. I can see the transmitter from my window but still have the same problems most of you experience. From the forum it looks like I should
1. Keep the unit cool
2. Reboot regularly
Any more hints for improvement would be appreciated. Meantime my wife is convinced we have been sold a pup.

Cheers

It is worse than other units I'm afraid!!!
I've never had dropouts or audio freezes in the 2 months I've had my Draco HDTV5500. I get about 1-2 seconds of pixelation a couple of times a night but it never requires a box reset. Unlike you I can't see the transmitter and have an old UHF aerial and get a great, stable picture 24/7.
I was going to buy an E.T. originally but decided not too after reading this forum. I'm glad I didn't now, I think my wife would have killed me for spending so much money on a stb that didn't work properly.

MrWestie

116 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#189438 14-Jan-2009 09:09

I will throw in my experience so far.

After upgrading to a LCD TV I wanted an HD PVR.
I know you should not buy on price alone but at the time $275 vs $500 was a hard sell.
I did find this thread but missed the bit about missed promised PVR updates. :(
The date I saw at time of purchase was 16th Jan
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=196249222

It has been running for 5 days with no issues.
It is not heavily used, say 4 hrs a day.
HW v4.103 , SW v1.05

I live in Massey with line of sight to Henderson(Cemetery) Transmitter. 11km?
Signal strength
3/4/5/22/28/30/100 , 35% on the bar
1/2/6/7/20 , 70%
Signal Quality 100%

Connected to Philips 32" LCD via HDMI

No drifting clock.
Made a note to check this morning. Will do again this afternoon after work.

If the PVR update missed latest deadline I will be wanting my money back as that is what I really wanted it for.
The closest alternative is not that much more at the moment at $300.
Vantage HD 6000T
Found from reading Bruce's comparison
http://www.dtvforum.co.nz/forum/showthread.php?t=496&page=2
http://www.dtvs.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=64

Review looks ok too
http://www.dtvforum.co.nz/forum/showthread.php?t=640

JJM

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#189447 14-Jan-2009 10:04

MrWestie'

When I got my sbt, Pete told me 20th January for the pvr.
I am in Greenhithe, probably in the same line of sight as you to the transmitter. Pete sold me a DA-600 antenna reckoning it would be fine, but in fact I get better reception from my rabbits ears. So I wonder if I have a faulty DA-600. What antenna are you using?

InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#189459 14-Jan-2009 10:28

MrWestie:
I will throw in my experience so far.

After upgrading to a LCD TV I wanted an HD PVR.
I know you should not buy on price alone but at the time $275 vs $500 was a hard sell.
I did find this thread but missed the bit about missed promised PVR updates. :(
The date I saw at time of purchase was 16th Jan
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=196249222

It has been running for 5 days with no issues.
It is not heavily used, say 4 hrs a day.
HW v4.103 , SW v1.05
I live in Massey with line of sight to Henderson(Cemetery) Transmitter. 11km?
Signal strength
3/4/5/22/28/30/100 , 35% on the bar
1/2/6/7/20 , 70%
Signal Quality 100%

Connected to Philips 32" LCD via HDMI

No drifting clock.
Made a note to check this morning. Will do again this afternoon after work.

If the PVR update missed latest deadline I will be wanting my money back as that is what I really wanted it for.
The closest alternative is not that much more at the moment at $300.
Vantage HD 6000T
Found from reading Bruce's comparison
http://www.dtvforum.co.nz/forum/showthread.php?t=496&page=2
http://www.dtvs.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=64

Review looks ok too
http://www.dtvforum.co.nz/forum/showthread.php?t=640

Judging by what has been said on those forums, the Vantage unit only has a 1 day EPG, making recording a series rather difficult. They are even giving you a free 1 year subscritpion to the TV Guide (probably for that reason). I don't thing this unit is compatible with MHEG5.

turn2you

33 posts

Geek

#189519 14-Jan-2009 13:47

Whew! After reading this thread, I'm glad I saved my money and didn't buy one.

InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#189523 14-Jan-2009 14:02

9th November

pete9321: E.T is the best value for money..especially with its PVR new software coming soon...
sommett would be your worst choice, ...E.T cheapest and has Hd on component, and front screen display...

21st December

pete9321: new PVR software promised before end of month...will definately infirm you guys...merry xmas to you all...freeviewnz.com

2nd January

pete9321: PVR will be 15th january....

That's tomorrow Pete. I'm still expecting it tomorrow as you haven't had the decency to tell the people on this forum otherwise, even thogh you have changed the date AGAIN on your website. What happened to "will definately infirm you guys"?? (sic)

Quic Broadband

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Buster

297 posts

Ultimate Geek

#189544 14-Jan-2009 15:05

The performance of our ET box isn't that bad. We only ever intended to use it to replace the analogue tuner in our Samsung plasma TV for live viewing. Picture is via component to the TV. Sound is 2 channel via top red/white to the amp. Don't care about the PVR functionality or any other 'features'.

Our Prime reception is rubbish here. ET picture for freeview is really good - pixelation is rear and brief (picture is about the same as what we get with the HVR-2200 in the HTPC - which is used for all TV recording/playback GBPVR is really good).

The only issue we get that actually affects us is that after a week or sometimes several weeks it will not change channel. We have to turn it off and back on (at the rear of the box) and all is well again.

Anyone here using a computer running 'Windows'? Ever had to reboot that sucker?

Ever had an ipod freeze.

I'm not really trying to defend the ET box and some of you seem to be quite badly affected/disadvantaged with it (in some cases possibly relating to your reception area) but i'm just trying to show a little perspective here. Some of us are getting a pretty good run out of our purchase.

broozm

48 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#189556 14-Jan-2009 15:25

I can also report very infrequent pixelation, but more often (once per night or so) LOST SIGNAL. Usually happens when changing channels a lot and fast - and will come back if I change a few channels slower, and just leave. Have obl had to power off at the back once so far - in the week I have had it.
So not too bad - about the same as Windows2000 (hehe)

PS
InspectorGadget - do we have to have your huge SPEEDTEST.NET image on every single post??!

PPS
NOT holding my breath for any PVR stuff toight - and I won't be the alpha/beta tester anyway ;)

InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#189565 14-Jan-2009 15:44

PS
InspectorGadget - do we have to have your huge SPEEDTEST.NET image on every single post??!

PPS
NOT holding my breath for any PVR stuff toight - and I won't be the alpha/beta tester anyway ;)

Sorry Brozm. It is relatively common on some forums. I have removed it.

MrWestie

116 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#189639 14-Jan-2009 21:49

JJM, my antenna setup

View to Waiatarua, 14km

Links of interest on my travels
http://www.lincrad.co.nz/transmittersites.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeview_(New_Zealand)

InspectorGadget, I am not too fussed with EPGs, that is what the internet is for :)

thanks for warning though.

I am happy with the manual style programming I currently use with the Panasonic PVR.

Buttonmash

361 posts

Ultimate Geek

#189671 15-Jan-2009 07:01

MrWestie that appears to be a VHF Antenna, and Freeview is broadcast on UHF which could explain the signal quality issue.

Or not... I have a high gain UHF antenna and the transmitter appears closer then that and still have pixelation, TV Audio drop out issues.

MrWestie

116 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#189682 15-Jan-2009 08:22

Buttonmash, you mean signal strength :)

I though the little one below the big one was a baby uhf antenna.

First problems after 6 days.

Clock wandered.

After power up this morning.

Would not change channels.

A soft off fixed that, but would not standby afterwards.

No heat issues as it is sitting outside the main cabinet in the open.

No room until I remove the old pvr.

I will echo an earlier comment, if it can't keep time then how can it time record :(

No new firmware yet but date I was given at time of purchase was 16 :p

"Freeview HD Receiver PVR"

I did not get my free "High Gain Antenna" either but I am guessing he forgot to change auction images, as text did not mention the antenna.

kiwisat

147 posts

Master Geek

#189696 15-Jan-2009 09:11

Buttonmash: MrWestie that appears to be a VHF Antenna.

Yes but beneath it is a phased array UHF antenna, and a very good one at that.

InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#189727 15-Jan-2009 10:25

I will echo an earlier comment, if it can't keep time then how can it time record :(
No new firmware yet but date I was given at time of purchase was 16 :p
"Freeview HD Receiver PVR"

I did not get my free "High Gain Antenna" either but I am guessing he forgot to change auction images, as text did not mention the antenna.

He told us the 15th of Jan on the 2nd. You got the 16th of Jan on the 5th. Between then and a few days ago his website was changed to before Feb 09 http://www.satlinknz.co.nz/extra_terrestrial.html (bottom of the page)

Welcome to our world, and don't hold your breath.

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