Freeview PVR's

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nzuser

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#67624 4-Sep-2010 20:44

Hey all

I'm looking for a PVR unit for my parents as they upgrade to a HDTV and freeview. I use freeview myself through a tv tuner in a computer, so I know a little about Freeview, but nothing about PVR's.

So what should I be looking for? the Homecast HT9200DTR looks like a possibility, Is there a reason to choose another unit over it?

One feature I was hoping for in one of these boxes was the ability to use an ethernet port or usb connection to put shows i have in .avi or .mkv format onto the box for them to watch. From a bit of reading I've done, this doesn't seem to be possible, and most of the boxes have the ethernet port crippled. Is there anything that will do this?

The obvious answer would be a HTPC, but I fear if I do that, they won't understand how to use it and I'll have to constantly be 'fixing' it for them.

Lee13

33 posts

Geek

#376752 5-Sep-2010 07:01

I installed one of these units on friday very nice and very easy to use

http://www.topfield-newzealand.co.nz/tf6000pvr_es.html#

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#376753 5-Sep-2010 07:11

Lee13: I installed one of these units on friday very nice and very easy to use

http://www.topfield-newzealand.co.nz/tf6000pvr_es.html#

You don't say but assuming you are looking at the Homecast you are looking for terrestrial rather than sat?

Looked for ages myself. Couldn't find anything that would work with PC of that you could load things on. Some TV's can play avi files from a USB...maybe your parents new one can?

I had lots on issues with a variety of decoders including Homecast's, so that turned me off their and JC Mathews's PVR.

Put in a TiVo last week after Telecom dropped their price to $499 (from telecom store, NOT Tivo website). IMO its brilliant! Couldn't care less about the Caspa downloads so the internet useage is only for the guide. But as a dual tuner PVR it rocks! Really easy to use.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Lee13

33 posts

Geek

#376754 5-Sep-2010 07:24

scuwp:
Lee13: I installed one of these units on friday very nice and very easy to use

http://www.topfield-newzealand.co.nz/tf6000pvr_es.html#

You don't say but assuming you are looking at the Homecast you are looking for terrestrial rather than sat?

Looked for ages myself. Couldn't find anything that would work with PC of that you could load things on. Some TV's can play avi files from a USB...maybe your parents new one can?

I had lots on issues with a variety of decoders including Homecast's, so that turned me off their and JC Mathews's PVR.

Put in a TiVo last week after Telecom dropped their price to $499 (from telecom store, NOT Tivo website). IMO its brilliant! Couldn't care less about the Caspa downloads so the internet useage is only for the guide. But as a dual tuner PVR it rocks! Really easy to use.

sorry yes im talking dual sat also but the TiVo sounds like a good deal i havent spec's on them but will it force HD

nzuser

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#376767 5-Sep-2010 08:23

yea DVB-t not sat

TIVO is actually a good idea, I hadn't even considered them because my impression was that they were massivly overpriced, but if they are now just 500 bucks with no subscription fees or anything, that could be the way to go. has anyone tried playing .avi's or .mks from a home network on a tivo (either by streaming or by putting the files on tive's hard drive?)

Cheers

catdog

107 posts

Master Geek

#376778 5-Sep-2010 09:19

nzuser: has anyone tried playing .avi's or .mks from a home network on a tivo (either by streaming or by putting the files on tive's hard drive?)

To play avi or mkvs across a network you need to buy the Home Networking Package addon ($129 on mytivo.co.nz).

The tivo can only play mpeg 2/4, so the software on the PC must transcode avi files as they copy across the network - I recommend using pytivo instead of the tivo desktop software for this (pytivo is faster). Once the PC software is setup, it is really easy to copy the files across by browsing and selecting them from the tivo menu.

Handle9

11386 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#376783 5-Sep-2010 09:31

Of the Freeview approved Gen 1 boxes the Magic TV has been the pick so far - I had a Homecast originally and hated it. The MagicTV is much better. I'd also have a really good look at the new Panasonic units. I haven't had a play with one yet but I would expect it to be nice.

None of the Freeview approved (ie use the Freeview EPG) boxes really support avi/mkv.

If you are looking at Tivo make sure you are OK with no EPG on Prime and Maori TV. If you are fine with that then I'd have a hard look at it. For me no Prime EPG was the deal breaker - need my Top Gear series link! The Tivo EPG is MUCH nicer that the Freeview approved one.

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#376786 5-Sep-2010 09:41

If you are looking at Tivo make sure you are OK with no EPG on Prime and Maori TV. If you are fine with that then I'd have a hard look at it. For me no Prime EPG was the deal breaker - need my Top Gear series link! The Tivo EPG is MUCH nicer that the Freeview approved one.

You can timer program whatever you want, don't need the EPG. So no drama with Prime etc until they get there act sorted. 2 weeks worth of EPG and web-access to programming your TiVo is great. Just set it up for the week and forget about it.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

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nzuser

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#376853 5-Sep-2010 12:28

Yea I think TIVO is the way to go, with the wireless adaptor and home networking package

I understand the wireless adaptor, but has anyone actually paid for the home networking package? From what I can see, it's just giving tivo money to enable something that is already in the box you paid for. Is there any way I could hack this? not a big fan of paying tivo to not cripple a box I've already paid for...

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#376881 5-Sep-2010 14:28

nzuser: Yea I think TIVO is the way to go, with the wireless adaptor and home networking package

I understand the wireless adaptor, but has anyone actually paid for the home networking package? From what I can see, it's just giving tivo money to enable something that is already in the box you paid for. Is there any way I could hack this? not a big fan of paying tivo to not cripple a box I've already paid for...

The home networking package is just software. I think there are other options Pytivo I think is one of the names mentioned.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

catdog

107 posts

Master Geek

#376926 5-Sep-2010 17:03

scuwp: The home networking package is just software. I think there are other options Pytivo I think is one of the names mentioned.

The home networking package gives you two things:
1) A "Media Access Key" (MAK)
2) Tivo Desktop software

The MAK is required to transfer avi/mkv files regardless of which software you run on the PC, so you still have to buy the home networking package even if you dont want to use their software to do the transfer. (The MAK is sent from the Tivo server directly to your tivo).

nzuser

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#376932 5-Sep-2010 17:27

Yea, I figured as much. So essentially a "home networking package" is just getting them to turn off a form of drm..

So the question becomes - has anyone figured out how to disable whatever it is in TiVo that stops you using other software to copy avi's to the TiVo without paying them 130$?

Note - I think this should stay within forum rules, I'm not asking to break copyright, just to enable all features of an outrightly purchased electronic device