New Freeview HD hardware: eXtra Terrestrial Freeview HD tuner

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30 posts

Geek

#230644 3-Jul-2009 12:12

Thanks InspectorGadget & Robjg63 - everything working as described.

Recording & playback from every channel but TV3 seems fine - but unlike the others, while something on TV3 is being recorded, I can't watch another channel (I also can't watch TV3 while another channel is being recorded). I note also that there is stuttering & pixelation in TV3 recordings that did not appear live while simultaneous recording was being made - the other channels are meanwhile fine.

I assume TV3 data stream is just too demanding for ExtraTerrestrial hardware?

Cheers

highspeedsteel

34 posts

Geek

#230650 3-Jul-2009 12:34

I can watch anything on the same signal (mux?) as the channel I'm recording. eg record tv1 can watch either TV1 or 2, record TV3 can watch tv3 or c4.

I have had issues though with the recording not picking the sound, or being stuttery, it has only happened a couple of times, but makes the recording unwatchable, and I can't trust it to record anything I want, never know if it will work or not.

Also I don't seem to be able to get back to the non PVR firmware, although I will try with a different memory stick again tonight.

dodgemnz

51 posts

Master Geek

#231335 5-Jul-2009 21:24

Ive just tried the latest update to see if there was any improvement in sound quality but afraid its basically crap on all channels no matter what i do with the settings. Ive now gone back to september firmware and at least the sound is ok but got bad pixilation back :-(.

I had a nosey about on trademe and there are still plenty of sellers offering Extra Terrestrial tb's for sale. I did read this un answered question that i found interesting and maybe explains the sound quality issues :
"Q Hi, what do you mean "USB for extra features like PVR basic output available before Christmas"? You mean via a firmware update? Will you be able to watch one channel and record another? Also does this properly decode NZ's HE-AAC audio? A lot of receivers only handle regular AAC, which loses around half the audio signal making it sound worse."

Still waiting for some improvement..... maybe Christmas ;-)

natols

8 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#236570 17-Jul-2009 22:14

Hi folks,

I've recently bought a "TopView" DVB-T box that I suspect is a rebadged ET, currently running firmware 1.05.

The major problem for me is that both the composite and s-video output seem to be very low resolution even for Standard Def. It looks something like 288p, which makes me wonder if they're creating a progressive scan picture by simply discarding one of the two interlaced fields. Reading this thread I've seen several mentions of pixelation, but assume you're referring to the likes of MPEG artifacts breaking up the picture. I know the set is capable of much more since the component output gives perfect 576p, 720p and 1080i. Which is no good to me since my TV accepts only Composite, S-Video and RGB. Converting from component down to S-Video is a non-trivial (read: expensive) process unfortunately.

Another problem is I can't get the HDMI port to work at all. Testing on a friends 720p Plasma and 720p projector showed a brilliant picture using component video, but nothing over HDMI at all. Is there some trick to getting that going? But that's more of a side-issue for me as I only have an SD TV. I realise I must be one of the few people on the planet not to have upgraded to HD, but is a STB that produces a decent 576 picture too much to ask for?

graemeh

2080 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 226

#236574 17-Jul-2009 22:47

natols: Hi folks,

I've recently bought a "TopView" DVB-T box that I suspect is a rebadged ET, currently running firmware 1.05.

Dump it and head in to Dick Smith and buy their DSE (rebadged Zinwell) box for $249.

The only negative with this box so far has been the inability to output HD to the component video outputs. Since you don't have HD this won't matter to you.

I wish I'd dumped my ET a year ago!

wiredr

203 posts

Master Geek

#236612 18-Jul-2009 08:01

going going gone .

i am thinking that the end is nigh for the much discussed " et "
interesting info

no mlonger for sale on original suppliers web sites

selling for below cost on trademe

pvr software pulled

just recieved this by email quote "
DO NOT HAVE any dealngs with a chinese company offerring you
DVB-T = Terrestrial TV decoders.......or any products..etc...or you will be burnt!!

Company name = DEHOO Technology Co.ltd.

back in aug 08 when i got my first et i discovered a web site in china by the name of

http://dehoo.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008823494094/Homepage.htm
they are no longer in operation but when they were they were manufacturing oem,s exactly like the ET .

maybe one day the ET will become a collectors item as the most discussed and misrepresented set top box of 2008

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

robjg63

4161 posts

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+1 received by user: 1427

Subscriber

#236619 18-Jul-2009 09:37

graemeh:
Dump it and head in to Dick Smith and buy their DSE (rebadged Zinwell) box for $249.

The only negative with this box so far has been the inability to output HD to the component video outputs. Since you don't have HD this won't matter to you.

I wish I'd dumped my ET a year ago!

Sorry if I have mentioned this before, but - Yep - The Zinwell (DSE) is a very good box. I had an ET and replaced it with a Zinny like you.
There is alternate software to unlock the HD over component and give PVR functionality. See this forum:
http://forum.dtvforum.co.nz/showthread.php?t=304&page=48
There is a really good step by step link on that page to this:
http://code.google.com/p/zimview/wiki/InstallingOleviaFirmwareOnZinwellSetTopBox
that tells you how.

The software comes from the Hong Kong market where the Zinny is branded Olevia.
If you read the forum there are many happy users that have installed this software - it even gives you 'live' pause - provided you have a USB drive attached of course. I havent installed it myself but probably will when the warranty runs out. There were rumours that this functionality may be released here by NEXT who I understand are the importers - but I'm not holding my breath.

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

graemeh

2080 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 226

#236633 18-Jul-2009 10:26

robjg63:
graemeh:
Dump it and head in to Dick Smith and buy their DSE (rebadged Zinwell) box for $249.

The only negative with this box so far has been the inability to output HD to the component video outputs. Since you don't have HD this won't matter to you.

I wish I'd dumped my ET a year ago!

Sorry if I have mentioned this before, but - Yep - The Zinwell (DSE) is a very good box. I had an ET and replaced it with a Zinny like you.
There is alternate software to unlock the HD over component and give PVR functionality.

Thanks, I am not sure if you had mentioned it or not. I was aware of the thread on the other forum but did not know about the page at code.google.com which greatly eases my concern about the whole process.

Like you I won't change this box until it's out of warranty, although, I actually own a Zinwell box that one of my tenants uses. I've never heard a complaint about it and the tenants are poms so that is saying something!

I might swap my new DSE box for my old Zinwell one and then hack that but first I've got to get Tivo to talk to it :)

Thanks again for posting about the detailed instruction page.

InspectorGadget

208 posts

Master Geek

#236687 18-Jul-2009 16:16

wiredr: going going gone .

i am thinking that the end is nigh for the much discussed " et "
interesting info

no mlonger for sale on original suppliers web sites

selling for below cost on trademe

pvr software pulled

just recieved this by email quote "

DO NOT HAVE any dealngs with a chinese company offerring you

DVB-T = Terrestrial TV decoders.......or any products..etc...or you will be burnt!!

Company name = DEHOO Technology Co.ltd.

back in aug 08 when i got my first et i discovered a web site in china by the name of

http://dehoo.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008823494094/Homepage.htm
they are no longer in operation but when they were they were manufacturing oem,s exactly like the ET .

maybe one day the ET will become a collectors item as the most discussed and misrepresented set top box of 2008

Unfortunately I think you'll find that they are still trading
http://www.szdehoo.com/en/products/products_view.asp?id=147

Let's hope that no one else is tempted to trade with them.

broozm

48 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#246272 13-Aug-2009 20:47

wiredr: going going gone .

3 pvr software pulled

So was it pulled from the ET site or others as well? I see the only firmware on the Freeview site is the Nov 08 which I am using, ortunately

Was it an "official" announcement or just a particular firmware or the entire website (Petes) disappearing?

Am I silly to try out the Visione4000 PVR f/w - or stay reasonably safe with a "working" unit that does not do PVR?

If so, what is the latest and where it is stored?

robjg63

4161 posts

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+1 received by user: 1427

Subscriber

#246463 14-Aug-2009 10:17

broozm:
So was it pulled from the ET site or others as well? I see the only firmware on the Freeview site is the Nov 08 which I am using, ortunately

Was it an "official" announcement or just a particular firmware or the entire website (Petes) disappearing?

Am I silly to try out the Visione4000 PVR f/w - or stay reasonably safe with a "working" unit that does not do PVR?

If so, what is the latest and where it is stored?

The software appeared for a while on one or more of the sites (cant recall which). Either satlinknz.co.nz/freeviewnz.com (which seem to be the same outfit - or closely related). It was definitely on freeviewshop.co.nz website because they even did a short manual on the features.

The software has been removed from all of these sites and now they only mention the Nov 08 version.

I think the very last version was actually emailed to one of the users of this forum and a few of us installed it. I seem to recall that there was even a way suggested to roll back to the Nov 08 software as there was initially no way of undoing the PVR version if you didnt like it. (have a read back thru the last few pages to verify this).

I seem to have other issues with my ET box - possibly signal related and at least partially hardware related. From my testing the PVR functionality was not bad. If you want the software I can probably post it somewhere for you - just let me know.

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

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

Jaxson

8172 posts

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Trusted

#246489 14-Aug-2009 11:09

broozm: Am I silly to try out the Visione4000 PVR f/w - or stay reasonably safe with a "working" unit that does not do PVR?

If so, what is the latest and where it is stored?

Yes sorry, apparently the firmware is not compatible between the two. See back a few pages:

gdc: Ive tried the firmware from vision one. it wont load just come up with USBe on leds, then reboots.

The PVR release was nearly perfect for me, except the sound stuttered on TV3 AAC audio, but worked fine on TV3 Dolby audio. I couldn't roll back to any previous versions, and the PVR release meant it didn't read any of my previously fine usb sticks.

I don't know if other people had different problems but the TV3 problem was possibly big enough and in your face enough that they decided to pull it altogether. It's now no longer available through any main website/reseller.

robjg63

4161 posts

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Subscriber

#246493 14-Aug-2009 11:19

Jaxson:
The PVR release was nearly perfect for me, except the sound stuttered on TV3 AAC audio, but worked fine on TV3 Dolby audio. I couldn't roll back to any previous versions, and the PVR release meant it didn't read any of my previously fine usb sticks.

I don't know if other people had different problems but the TV3 problem was possibly big enough and in your face enough that they decided to pull it altogether. It's now no longer available through any main website/reseller.

Did you try the tool to undo the PVR release mentioned here?:

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/forum/index.php/topic,997.0.html

I think you then have to reinstall the Nov08 software after that.

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

broozm

48 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#246570 14-Aug-2009 14:03

Hmm. I think I might just leave well enough alone and stay with the Nov 08 version working.
(Even though I specifically chose the ET for the promise of the PVR and have been hanging out for it for about a year)

But even if the PVR functionality is poor, does the PVR version/s give the ability to at least allow me to plug in a usb drive (or hard drive!?) and play its content?

BTW. A DSE 2GB thumbdrive I tried to update fw with didn't read at all!

Another thing I noticed - was as I pulled the usb drive out, the picture momentarily pixellated (and I have had basically no pixellation for the past week that I have been trying the unit again). That tells me it is lack of processor time or power. The OS is interrupted by the change in the usb status, and the picture goes as a result?.. (your thoughts?)

If I have problems with say TV3, then I would just watch this through the standard tv tuner - as I do with Prime and TVHB now :)

Thank goodness for this forum (and all forums in general), that allow us to swap experiences, advice and commiserations!

wiredr

203 posts

Master Geek

#246841 15-Aug-2009 06:55

i have the 13.6.09 software running which is an update from the original 16.5.09 pvr release.
the only difference that i can see is you can now make a favourites list for tv chanells.
the later release seems more stable in that the machine doesnt randomly reboot as often
i am using the hdmi sound for my amp and dont have any stuttering issues on tv3 .
as a pvr it sucks
1 no epg option to record
2 wont instant record with a time limit
3 if programm interupted whist recording the whole hdd is currupted and needs reformating however the files are still there and can be viewed on wmc or dvbviewer etc.
3 when files are deleted only trhe .txt file is deleted which means subsequent recordsings will overwrite old ones without a .txt file.
3. programm bppking has no memory so if the machine reboots all time record requests are losty.
4. if two programs are recorded sequentially witout a 1 to 2 minute gap the second programm records audio as language 1 and has no content only video. they will however play normally on wmc etc

i have had no problems recording content on my laptop with wmc or dvbviewer . signal qu is 100% and level is 36% .
the et is now in my dining room and i record the odd hd programme when something worth watching is on which at the moment is very little .
the only reason the et still lives and hasnt had a large heavy object acidently dropped onto it is that i get witdrawal symtoms when i watch sky hd .
the freeview hd is still way the best quality just doesnt have prime or discovery or nat g yet.

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