MagicTV 3700TD - Opinions

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › MagicTV 3700TD - Opinions

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | ... | 20

37 posts

Geek

#526878 28-Sep-2011 17:40

lorenzo:
nigelb999: Has anyone noticed channel lockout during recordings? Last night I was recording two channels at the same time, TV1 and MTV, while I was watching TV2... when I went to change channels to TV3 or TV4 it said "Recording in progress. Can't change to that channel.". Maybe I'm missing something here, but that doesn't make sense to me. I was already watching a non-recording channel (TV2) so why wouldn't it let me swap to another non-recording channel (TV3)? Can anyone please explain this? Thanks.

It does this on the 3600 too. The box has 2 tuners, there is a more technical discussion on this in the 3600 thread, but basically the TV in NZ is broadcast on three different MUXs and as such to watch and record programmes being broadcast simultaneously on all three MUXs would require more than 2 tuners.

Depending on the channels selected for recording determines whether you can watch a third channel at the same time. Have a look at the 3600 thread (search for Kordia) and you will find the discussion.

EDIT : http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=43120&page_no=9 here this will save you search time.

Thanks lorenzo - I can understand that much better now, but I'm curious, do the other HD recorders (with two tuners) have the same restrictions?

lorenzo

91 posts

Master Geek

#527130 29-Sep-2011 11:29

nigelb999:...<snip> but I'm curious, do the other HD recorders (with two tuners) have the same restrictions?

Do you mean one tuner? I presume those with one would be worse. (The MTV3600/3700 have 2 tuners). BTW there are PVRs with more than 2 tuners - but not sure if any for the NZ freeview market.

nigelb999

37 posts

Geek

#527149 29-Sep-2011 12:10

lorenzo:
nigelb999:... but I'm curious, do the other HD recorders (with two tuners) have the same restrictions?

Do you mean one tuner? I presume those with one would be worse. (The MTV3600/3700 have 2 tuners). BTW there are PVRs with more than 2 tuners - but not sure if any for the NZ freeview market.

No, what I mean is... I'm curious to know if all of the other Freeview HD recorders on the market (those that also have two tuners built-in) have the same restrictions as the MagicTV 3700? i.e. if you are recording TV1 and MTV, you can't watch TV3 or TV4 at the same time. I guess in those moments I can always switch the TV mode and watch whatever channel from the built-in Freeview tuner on the TV instead. But it does seem a bit odd that when Freeview was set up the channels were structured in such a way that it could be a restriction for PVRs in the first place!?!

Jimmy22

377 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#527154 29-Sep-2011 12:15

the Muxes are still the same for everyone, and that is the issue from how i understand it 3 tuners are needed to work on 3 muxes at the same time. ANY unit with as many tuners as Local Muxes would be a roaring success :)

nigelb999

37 posts

Geek

#527178 29-Sep-2011 12:51

Jimmy22: the Muxes are still the same for everyone, and that is the issue from how i understand it 3 tuners are needed to work on 3 muxes at the same time. ANY unit with as many tuners as Local Muxes would be a roaring success :)

Well that's where services like T-box (Telstraclear) and My Sky (Sky TV) have a real advantage then, because they don't have that restriction - as they are connected to their own cable service one can actually record any two channels and watch ANY third channel they like, without this MUX issue. If I knew about this restriction I would have thought twice about getting the 3700.

GraemeD

11 posts

Geek

#528282 2-Oct-2011 16:29

Finally given up on my Australian MTV3700 as I can't get the NZ firmware to load. It's for sale on trademe starting at $200. Works apart from no series record and no NZ time zones.

Someone smarter than me should be able to pick this up and get it running as a bargain.

Dell

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

lorenzo

91 posts

Master Geek

#528690 3-Oct-2011 19:42

GraemeD: Finally given up on my Australian MTV3700 as I can't get the NZ firmware to load. It's for sale on trademe starting at $200. Works apart from no series record and no NZ time zones.

Someone smarter than me should be able to pick this up and get it running as a bargain.

I hope you're not being rash Graeme $200 !! If you get a bidding war going might get a reasonable amount, but can't help thinking is only a matter of time before it gets a NZ patch.

wklie

191 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Trusted

MagicTV

#529164 4-Oct-2011 17:37

GraemeD: Finally given up on my Australian MTV3700 as I can't get the NZ firmware to load. It's for sale on trademe starting at $200. Works apart from no series record and no NZ time zones.

Can the Australia-mode EPG show the complete NZ EPG schedule data for 7 days ahead? Thanks.

GraemeD

11 posts

Geek

#529168 4-Oct-2011 20:43

Yes it does show the next 7 days ahead on the EPG

Jimmy22

377 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#538209 27-Oct-2011 16:25

Attn: Hippy 72

You wrote on aussie forum " Ok folks, so the original post was GKW asking whether a Magictv box will work in Aus and NZ. I am in NZ and see we recently got the "NEW" 3700td in Sept (not the 4000 like aus).

I am wondering if anyone has a clue as to the likelihood the attractively priced 4000 could be the way to go as I don't see the major benefit of Freeview. I use a Sony HDD dvdr and apart from the fact it's older and has no hdmi nor HD it does do the job (160gb). It has no EPG so thats an attractive option if NZ is somehow compatible.

would cost $350nz if $299au
your thoughts....? apart from moving back home...:-)

at least it wasn't the french...cough cough "

The answer is NO it doesn't , for now ;) , however the question is who is making the extra money in NZ ?
What we really want is the same price in NZ eh ? in Aus the markup "appears" to be 30% to wholesale and 30% to retail. In NZ it looks like 50/50 or 50/30 . Adicash are not alone perhaps ? hard to prove but obvious when the same hardware turns up so much cheaper from the same manufacturer

fahrenheit

757 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 33

#538216 27-Oct-2011 16:40

Jimmy22:
The answer is NO it doesn't , for now ;) , however the question is who is making the extra money in NZ ?
What we really want is the same price in NZ eh ? in Aus the markup "appears" to be 30% to wholesale and 30% to retail. In NZ it looks like 50/50 or 50/30 . Adicash are not alone perhaps ? hard to prove but obvious when the same hardware turns up so much cheaper from the same manufacturer

What about an Australian 3700? Can that be flashed with NZ firmware?

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.

Jimmy22

377 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#538231 27-Oct-2011 17:00

oh sorry, to be clear it was an Aus3700 i was talking about, sorry for the confusion. I wouldnt say impossible yet but it doesnt do it by simply flashing the unit as we can with nz units.

i have seen a few reports of this failure to work BUT i still hold hope one day either the NZ price will respond to the Aus one or it will be discovered how to apply nz to Aus hardware. The Aus box is still a good deal IMHO , landing here for about 400 and a bit kiwi, just not fool proof to use . But the 3600 is still the best of all for now , a couple more updates of the 3700 and IF it can be skipped in one min lots then i will be adopting a 3700 but not before. i cant be arsed programming every program each week but if i could the aus 3700 or 4000 would be my pick for value for money currently.

Mac2008

121 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#538441 28-Oct-2011 00:56

Jimmy22: ...i still hold hope one day either the NZ price will respond to the Aus one ....

Hi Jimmy22, I think you will find that the price difference is because of volume. Manufacturers always work in volume discounts. NZ can not compete with Aus when we have as many people in the whole country as they do in one city. And so it is unlikely that an importer can match Aus prices.

Mac

PUG

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#538448 28-Oct-2011 01:52

"The answer is NO it doesn't , for now ;) , however the question is who is making the extra money in NZ ? "

@jimmy22

Thanks for posting from wirlpool j22. Much appreciated. (i am hippy72 )
You could see how attractive the oz pricing. We always get the raw deal over here volume wise mac2008.:-(
Any of you guys have advice about magictv vs
Ultraplus X-9200HD PVR Digital Satellite Receiver/PVR
[X-9200HD PVR] $799.00NZ
http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/ultraplus-x9200hd-digital-satellite-receiverpvr-p-659.html

Cheers

lorenzo

91 posts

Master Geek

#538575 28-Oct-2011 10:32

Any of you guys have advice about magictv vs

Ultraplus X-9200HD PVR Digital Satellite Receiver/PVR

[X-9200HD PVR] $799.00NZ

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/ultraplus-x9200hd-digital-satellite-receiverpvr-p-659.html

Cheers

Looks good, it is Satellite so only SD - hence allowed the FTP server function and external USB drives. That said with modded version on the MTV we now have file browse / transfer feature

Permanent timeshift v adjustable on the MTV - also same number tuners so same limitation as MTV.

This seems to have better features (FTP and USB drives) out of the box but that is a tradeoff against HD v SD quality. If you can get the terrestrial signal I would recommend that and MTV otherwise featurewise this seems a good box.

Personally I still think the modded MTV3600 is superior to the 3700 - so look for a second hand one (about $400) advantage you can always swap the HDD for up to 2Tb (instructions on this forum) The modding supports file browsing and file transfer across network.

Again big ups to Ian for his pioneering work

PS. I have 2 MTV3600's

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | ... | 20