PVR recommendations

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KahuNZ

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 111347 31-Oct-2012 08:45

Hi all
Does anyone have a recommendation for a PVR?
I have a Panasonic TV and want to be able to record programs when I aren't at home.
I have tried Dish TV and it was unreliable - worked one day then lost signal etc etc. Lost confidence in the product and returned to shop.

Gilco2

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Reply # 709676 31-Oct-2012 09:12

KahuNZ: Hi all
Does anyone have a recommendation for a PVR?
I have a Panasonic TV and want to be able to record programs when I aren't at home.
I have tried Dish TV and it was unreliable - worked one day then lost signal etc etc. Lost confidence in the product and returned to shop.

if it was the Dish Tv s7090pvr it should be upgraded to firmware 1.4c.

you dont say if you want uhf or satellite. If uhf, get a panasonic recorder as you can watch dvd or blu ray as well if you get the blu ray model and also record to the hard drive

HTPC Intel Pentium G3258 cpu, Gigabyte H97n-wifi motherboard, , 8GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 5500 tuner, Silverstone LC16M case, Windows 10 pro 64 bit using Nextpvr and Kodi

Jaxson

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Reply # 709679 31-Oct-2012 09:21

And you may need to look at your signal too if you're talking terrestrial/freeview HD/UHF aerial land based freeview etc.

Some of the standalone tuners (including PVR's) can be less tolerant of a weaker signal than the inbuilt TV freeview tuners. Be that either low signal strength or too much VHF signal entering the unit, even if you only have a UHF aerial in the first place.

Cloudy

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Reply # 709685 31-Oct-2012 09:38

I run both my dishtv terrestrial units with suppressors to suppress the vhf signal. They work fine. With out the suppressors they are flakey. Should only be a problem until they switch off the old system according to dishtv

KahuNZ

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 709689 31-Oct-2012 09:42

Gilco2:
KahuNZ: Hi all
Does anyone have a recommendation for a PVR?
I have a Panasonic TV and want to be able to record programs when I aren't at home.
I have tried Dish TV and it was unreliable - worked one day then lost signal etc etc. Lost confidence in the product and returned to shop.
if it was the Dish Tv s7090pvr it should be upgraded to firmware 1.4c.

you dont say if you want uhf or satellite. If uhf, get a panasonic recorder as you can watch dvd or blu ray as well if you get the blu ray model and also record to the hard drive

I don't really need a DVD player included. The salesman for Dish TV never told me about any upgrade in the firmware but its too late now as tried two of the Dish TV's and wasted lots of time trying to set it up.
Have a UHF aerial, inbulit freeview and good signal

Gilco2

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Reply # 709702 31-Oct-2012 10:08

KahuNZ:
I don't really need a DVD player included. The salesman for Dish TV never told me about any upgrade in the firmware but its too late now as tried two of the Dish TV's and wasted lots of time trying to set it up.
Have a UHF aerial, inbulit freeview and good signal

The S7090 is satellite only.
If you are using uhf, you probably do need an attenuator to filter out interference from vhf signal. My panasonic suffers bad without an attenuator

HTPC Intel Pentium G3258 cpu, Gigabyte H97n-wifi motherboard, , 8GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 5500 tuner, Silverstone LC16M case, Windows 10 pro 64 bit using Nextpvr and Kodi

Jaxson

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Reply # 709779 31-Oct-2012 12:14

Cloudy: I run both my dishtv terrestrial units with suppressors to suppress the vhf signal. They work fine. With out the suppressors they are flakey. Should only be a problem until they switch off the old system according to dishtv

Ha, so only a problem for the next year or so depending on where you live!

Yes, a diplexer can be installed on the line prior to your PVR to filter out the VHF component. I have seen noticeable improvements with some freeview boxes by doing this. Cost is $5 - $20 depending on where you can source your components and how nicely you want to tap into the line. Don't buy an 'attenuator' based solely on the label description, as formally these simply reduce all the signal and it could be easy to get the wrong component. You want to attenuate the VHF component only.

Panasonic are in the same boat, and are aware of the issue, and as above, this is rough given their inbuilt TV tuner unit do filter this component out, and are therefore more tolerant than their separate set top box equivalent.

PimpMyMagic

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Reply # 709822 31-Oct-2012 13:21

Jaxson:
Cloudy: I run both my dishtv terrestrial units with suppressors to suppress the vhf signal. They work fine. With out the suppressors they are flakey. Should only be a problem until they switch off the old system according to dishtv

Ha, so only a problem for the next year or so depending on where you live!

And do Dishtv imagine that the released portion of the VHF band won't be used for any other services?

It's just bad design which wouldn't want anyone recommending these products.

mattwnz

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Reply # 709824 31-Oct-2012 13:25

I would recommend a tivo. Very reliable, as long as it wasn't DOA initially. Have one that has been going without any problems for over 2 years continuously. Not sure though where you can now buy tivos.

PimpMyMagic

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Reply # 709842 31-Oct-2012 13:50

You can't, except 2nd hand which is not very advisable due to their need to be registered which you can't do without the previous owner having de-registered it.

So not a device to be recommended..

KahuNZ

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 709883 31-Oct-2012 14:43

Sounds like I am stuck until a new product comes out that works.
I can't see why they just can't make a unit with a hard drive that you can program and record/playback like our old VCR's.
I don't need any fancy just a recorder that can be programmed.
thanks anyway guys.

PimpMyMagic

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Reply # 709890 31-Oct-2012 14:55

here's the Freeview approved list, though none of them is perfect.

My preference is the Magic, though the model shown was superceded by the MTV3700 quite some time back.

Sorry, left out the intended link.
http://freeviewnz.tv/equipment-installation/approved-products.aspx?includeSatellite=false&category=recorders

mattwnz

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Reply # 709901 31-Oct-2012 15:11

PimpMyMagic: You can't, except 2nd hand which is not very advisable due to their need to be registered which you can't do without the previous owner having de-registered it.

So not a device to be recommended..

Yeap I woull only recommend new device. Would never recommend a second hand PVR, as you don't know how it has been treated, especially as they have got spinning harddrives which can fail.

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 709903 31-Oct-2012 15:13

KahuNZ:
I can't see why they just can't make a unit with a hard drive that you can program and record/playback like our old VCR's.
I don't need any fancy just a recorder that can be programmed.
thanks anyway guys.

Panasonic do.
I have a BWT880 Blu Ray Recorder but the latest model is BWT720 which handles 3D as well.
Simple to operate and never had a problem with it.
I use the EPG for Freeview record and Manual programming for Sky.
The 720 is currently on special at JB HiFi for $877. They were $1499 12 months ago.

Jaxson

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Reply # 709925 31-Oct-2012 15:47

Yeah the panasonic unit seems ok from what I've heard. There's a new samsung unit out that's similar. Just be aware that with many devices you may need to filter out the VHF component of the incoming signal, (and even if you only have a UHF aerial as mentioned above).

wklie

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MagicTV

Reply # 709941 31-Oct-2012 16:19

PimpMyMagic: here's the Freeview approved list, though none of them is perfect. My preference is the Magic, though the model shown was superceded by the MTV3700 quite some time back.

Strange. The approval list misses MTV3700TD. I'll contact them to get it fixed hopefully.
http://www.magictv.co.nz/MTV3700TD-features.html