New Freeview HD hardware: eXtra Terrestrial Freeview HD tuner

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41 posts

Geek

#211684 2-May-2009 14:32

I bought an ET back in Sept/Oct last year, and finally gave up and replaced it with the Vantage HD6000T/NZ back in March (the $249 special :-)). Pretty happy with that unit overall.

The picture and audio from the ET unit was fine via HDMI, but the output through the composite jacks (top and bottom) was awful quality (e.g. when recording to HDD recorder). I can't comment on the optical out dropout issues etc. This combined with the unit freezing every couple of days when attempting to change a channel, and thus need to reboot, was enough for me to park the ET unit unused in a shelf (I'll use it if I need a 2nd unit for something).

Unless that freezing was fixed, I'd have no trust in the unit for use as a PVR - even if the software did miraculously turn up!

quattrocchi

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#212693 5-May-2009 22:08

So can someone please summarize this whole thread for those of us who can't oraganise the time to look through all 74 pages? I am new to Freeview and have a DSE terrestrial box, (special price this week in AK West $149) but not fully committted to it. Interested in the ET box (special now $199). Is it just that any tuner at this entry-level price is likely to be a dog later on? Or is the ET a dog? So is the DSE one a dog too?

Oh and one more: can these Freeview tuners also receive Prime (like we do now without Freeview) and Triangle? Or do I get the DVD/VCR recorder to act as tuner for them?

kiwisat

147 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#212702 5-May-2009 22:25

It should be compulsory reading for anyone who wishes to know how not to sell and market a product.

What was quite possibly a reasonable receiver was marketed as having functions it did not possess then, and does not possess now. A different approach from the supplier, who appears in a cameo role early in the piece ...... no read it as that is what this thread is about ..... ET gets discussed from time to time.

Why not start a thread yourself and tell us about the DSE box you bought. There is one thing for sure, if it doesn't work for you, you can get your money back.

Not so easy with an ET purchase if you were to read comments re refunds in this thread.

Paul

InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#212704 5-May-2009 22:31

quattrocchi: So can someone please summarize this whole thread for those of us who can't oraganise the time to look through all 74 pages? I am new to Freeview and have a DSE terrestrial box, (special price this week in AK West $149) but not fully committted to it. Interested in the ET box (special now $199). Is it just that any tuner at this entry-level price is likely to be a dog later on? Or is the ET a dog? So is the DSE one a dog too?

Oh and one more: can these Freeview tuners also receive Prime (like we do now without Freeview) and Triangle? Or do I get the DVD/VCR recorder to act as tuner for them?

I'll try to summarise as best I can:

1) Prime is not available on Freeview and probably will not be in the foreseeable future. Unless Sky starts to play fair (they are currently getting TV1, 2 and 3 for nothing for broadcast on Sky, but are not allowing their free channel, ie Prime, to be broadcast on Freeview) this will not happen. This move by Sky has a lot of people quite angry.

2) The ET box has it's issues along with a lot of boxes in this price point. The question is how quickly does the importer/manufacturer respond to faults and fix them. Mainstream Freeview branded boxes usually have chains of retailers to back them up, non-Freeview boxes can have extra features. Buyer beware. You won't know unless you have friends who have tried them out or get a box home.
A lot of the boxes have issues, and even the new MyFreeviewBox costing $900-1000 has had mixed reviews due to buggy software. Many geeks here have gone down the path of building their own Home Theatre PCs (HTPC) partly for their own interest, extra features, and to avoid relying on others for repairs and new software.

3) The ET box in particular has issues with occasional freezing, audio dropouts, a wandering clock and some complain of pixellation. Representations about the availablility of recording software have been made as far back as October but to date has never eventuated. The last software update for this box was in Nov 08. However that said, it appears that are starting to see movement on this.

Just an update from Peter. He got the trial software from the Chinese engineers this evening and will be trialling it over the next few days. At this stage he reckons that he is still on track for release next week.

dim7th

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#213122 7-May-2009 11:44

After researching for months & reading these forum posts (thanks to everyone who has contributed) I finally bought a brand new JC Matthews HD unit for $300 from one of our largest retail chains. I'm really happy with it. It was easy to download PVR software from the JC MAtthew site, it was foolproof to set up and get going. It looks and sounds great, and the unit itself is stylish in an understated classy kind of way (and I'm a classy kinda girl - so that matters!)

jonathan18

7415 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2850

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Trusted

#213147 7-May-2009 12:59

dim7th: After researching for months & reading these forum posts (thanks to everyone who has contributed) I finally bought a brand new JC Matthews HD unit for $300 from one of our largest retail chains. I'm really happy with it. It was easy to download PVR software from the JC MAtthew site, it was foolproof to set up and get going. It looks and sounds great, and the unit itself is stylish in an understated classy kind of way (and I'm a classy kinda girl - so that matters!)

Any chance of a bit more info on this unit, including its PVR functionality? I've established a new thread with a few questions for starters - would really appreciate your (and others) views.

See http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=33518

Thanks
Jonathan

Dyson

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Buttonmash

361 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#214282 12-May-2009 09:20

Got my fingers crossed but definitely not getting my hopes up this box will ever be fixed.

Buttonmash

361 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#215245 16-May-2009 14:31

Just an update from Peter. He got the trial software from the Chinese engineers this evening and will be trialling it over the next few days. At this stage he reckons that he is still on track for release next week.

Well I shouldn't have got my hopes up.

InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#215249 16-May-2009 14:55

Yup. I feel the same way . . . . especially after I drove all over Auckland to get him an amp that was dropping out.

InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#215303 16-May-2009 22:12

After another long protracted email exchange with both Peter and the manufacturer of the ET box in China, here is the latest according to them

* Peter has trial firmware which includes the PVR.
* The PVR software has audio sync issues which are being worked on.
* Peter point blank refuses to give me even the beta firmware,even though I can roll back if necessary. This would then independantly verify that there is really PVR software. Because no-one has ever seen it.
* Maggie [maggiehainan@yahoo.com.hk] the contact person in Hong Kong, states that the fixes, and the new software should be done by early next week. Sounds famaliar doesn't it . . . . . . . . Here we go again!

On a different note:
Full Kudos to the Vantage HD6000 importers at http://www.dtvs.co.nz/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=npcan8p2v18s6foh3g97c8pu42&board=14.0 The differences between the way they deal with customers and our ET experiences is remarkable. People raise issues, they work on them and then a new software release comes out. They are quite open about the units flaws (eg no 8 day EPG support and a few bugs here and there) but are willing to put their money where their mouth is and refund people who are dissatisfied.

The net outcome is that even though (according to Peter) this is a crap Coship based unit. They have had a PVR capable STB with multimple software updates for months, and the units are selling for $499 a pop. Whereas due to the bad press dodgy customer service and lack PVR features, ET boxes are now going for under $200 in some places.

You reap what you sow.

Buttonmash

361 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#215406 17-May-2009 20:11

Thanks for keeping us updated InspectorGadget. :)

Lenovo

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InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#215415 17-May-2009 20:56

Buttonmash: Thanks for keeping us updated InspectorGadget. :)

No problem. Although I am starting to think that there are only of a couple of us still interested in this now. A lot of others seem to have switched to the Vantage box,