DVB-S PVR

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ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#73011 7-Dec-2010 11:28

I would like to buy a satellite PVR but no one seems to sell this in New Zealand. There are some on line sites selling tuners which can take an external USB drive but this is a really bitsy solution. I want to give this PVR as a present to someone that is non technical and would prefer something that plugs in and works.
Something like Tivo or Magic for the Terrestrial Freeview. With the analogue switch off coming in two years many New Zealanders will require satellite rather than Terrestrial. Why are there no Satellite PVR's

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727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#413979 7-Dec-2010 12:06

There are.

The Vu+ Duo I have is excellent; but it isn't cheap.

It happily records 5 or more things simultaneously, including HD content from SBS. It comes preset for Freeview, Sky (although you need a card, of course) and SBS. Full EPG and simple operation.

You can buy one with a 500GB or 1 TB disc inside, or run either eSATA or USB2 external discs, or record across a LAN to a network server. I got a discless one though and installed a 1TB drive myself (easy) and saved a bit.

There is a single tuner version available (not sure if it is in NZ yet), the "Solo", but it has not been quite as well received.

I think that the Ultraplus 9000 also has an internal drive, but I can only recommend against that brand I'm afraid. I had an absolutely horrendous time with an Ultraplus 980HD that was so utterly bug-riddled as to be no more than a pathetic joke.

There may be others.

nate

6473 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#413998 7-Dec-2010 12:54

xarqi: You can buy one with a 500GB or 1 TB disc inside, or run either eSATA or USB2 external discs, or record across a LAN to a network server. I got a discless one though and installed a 1TB drive myself (easy) and saved a bit.

Where did you purchase yours from, I'm also keen to get one.

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#413999 7-Dec-2010 13:03

Straight from the importer who lives up the road from me, as it happens.

Peter at satlinknz.co.nz
Also trading as freeviewnz.com

Nice bloke, a satellite enthusiast for years, easy to deal with.

I got the 1TB drive from Playtech - also excellent service - online purchase - free delivery - no cc surcharge - super communication.

Oh - P.S. - it was a Samsung Spinpoint F1 7200 rpm 32 MB cache(?) 3.5" SATA2 drive. Maybe just a tad noisy - when all else is quiet it can be heard from about 3 m away.

ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#414047 7-Dec-2010 14:25

As you say a bit pricey for what you get. I want something like Magic PVR which sells for $400-500
And I prefer to deal with a proper retailer at least you have some protection if it fails.

Nokia 7 Plus
Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"

& many Windows laptops, Desktops etc

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#414059 7-Dec-2010 14:43

ronw: As you say a bit pricey for what you get.

If I gave that impression concerning the Vu+ Duo, let me correct it. It isn't cheap, but it is excellent value. It does what it says on the tin, which is a lot, does it day in, day out, and does it easily. If there is a better twin tuner HD DVB-S PVR available in NZ, regardless of price, I'd be interested to learn what it is.

Unfortunately, I suspect that any inexpensive unit is likely to prove to be under-developed, unsupported, or unreliable.

Deev8

481 posts

Ultimate Geek

#414175 7-Dec-2010 18:24

xarqi: Peter at satlinknz.co.nz
Also trading as freeviewnz.com

Was that the company that imported and sold the eXtra Terrestrial Freeview box?

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#414268 7-Dec-2010 20:54

Well, um, yes, but...

... from what I've read, that was a bit of a debacle broght about mostly because of it being a dud product, with the importer being as much of a victim as the ultimate clients. I think he did what he could to redress the situation.

In contrast, the Vu+ Duo (with the openPli image, as shipped) rates about 8.5 isoxarqs on the xarqometer.

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bfginger

1268 posts

Uber Geek

#414795 8-Dec-2010 21:54

ronw: As you say a bit pricey for what you get. I want something like Magic PVR which sells for $400-500
And I prefer to deal with a proper retailer at least you have some protection if it fails.

Doesn't exist. If you want a proper double tuner satellite PVR with internal HDD, a price must be paid

cjmack

167 posts

Master Geek

#423824 3-Jan-2011 21:59

I have been looking for a DVB-S PVR also.

I have found these 2, 1 with internal HDD and 1 with external only

External only: http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/ultraplus-980hd-micro-digital-satellite-receiverpvr-p-609.html

Internal: http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/ultraplus-f9000hd-digital-satellite-receiverpvr-p-561.html

What do you guys think? I'm after multi channel watch/record at same time, and time shift (AKA live pause), also transfer recorded files across LAN. Will these do the trick?

The LAN transfer I can live without if I'm using an external HDD, provided it's formatted correctly and files are saved in a format I can open.

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#423837 3-Jan-2011 23:04

My experience of the Ultraplus 980HD led me to the conclusion that it was a product that promised much but delivered little.

Three of four units I saw did not power up correctly, and the two I had for a time were plagued with bugs. In my opinion it was not fully developed at the time of release and was no more than a late prototype at best, and a bad joke at worst.

I got my money back and now I'm a happy Vu+ Duo owner.

bfginger

1268 posts

Uber Geek

#424099 4-Jan-2011 23:50

That site also sells the Vu+Duo for another $21 over the F9000HD.

cjmack

167 posts

Master Geek

#424113 5-Jan-2011 03:18

Sorry xarqi, I did read your earlier posts on them, but I didn't take note on which receivers you were talking about! The Vu+Duo does look tempting!

Gilco2

1556 posts

Uber Geek

#424118 5-Jan-2011 07:35

I have the Ultraplus F9000. Had it for over a year. It periodically locks up and has to be turned off and back on with switch at back. Missed a few recordings because of it. Copying files from hard drive to usb drive almost always locks the machine up. Have apllied updates when available but still no fix. I love the picture quality but wouldnt recommend this.

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

pjay

21 posts

Geek

#426022 11-Jan-2011 10:01

I have a TVii B600 PVR - with LAN, HDMI and external USB HDD. Nice engineering but terrible software and user interface. Reportedly it has Linux core and I would have thought that given the price (400+) it would be pretty smart but not so.

Atrocious menus, buttons that change function depending on what menu one is in (UP/DOWN buttons become DOWN UP!), multiple pushes to get to a useful section of the system, button bounce, limited timers and when recording in any mode, a complete lock out of everything else. There is absolutely no mention of any of the recording functions in the non-existent manual! And their website is not any help either.

And now I have just discovered that when I connect my 1TB HDD to the USB port, then go to the HDD properties menu, it locks up and resets! Records etc OK tho - go figure!

With a completely reworked software interface it would be a great receiver but I don't see that ever happening.

I agree - many of these new Sat/PVR's are rushed to market with the software designed by the engineers who built the thing.

My two elderly Panasonics wipe the floor with the modern stuff.

Jaxson

8042 posts

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Trusted

#426127 11-Jan-2011 14:21

Completely agree with the comments above. There is a lot of capable hardware out there let down by a complete lack of effort on the software side. It's common to everything, being Satellite TV boxes or cheap MP3 players etc. It really is buyer beware and I think it's important to mention it and consider it when buying a unit. There's not much point in having a PVR if you don't have the confidence to set and forget. I'm seriously big on a good user interface and I push harmony remotes any chance I get too for that same reason.

I've really enjoyed the official freeview HD/DVB-T PVRs and am disgusted there is nothing similar yet for the satellite market. They have a very clear (some say ugly and slow but at least it's clear) and simple to use MHEG-5 EPG and you get asked if you want the series linked whenever you set a recording. Couldn't be easier and really I think that's worth the extra dollars a good box may have over a cheaper alternative.

I've had the Ultraplus 980 and the Hyundai AH3110. The Ultraplus did some random stuff every once in a while and the Hyundai had a horribly ugly interface and wouldn't talk to nearly every HDD I tried to use with it. I've heard very good things about the Vu+ DUO. Personally I'll be looking at the Ultraplus 700 HDMI unit for $140 when I buy another sat box for this years F1 season as I need HDMI out but don't need any HD decoding.

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