HDD/DVR from Aus - will it work in NZ?

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dance

12 posts

Geek

#81732 17-Apr-2011 19:13

Hi,

I'm new, I hope I have put this in the right place & please excuse if I have mucked up.

10 months ago I got an HDD/DVR. It's Panasonic's DMR-XW480. At the time we were in Aus I didn't know we'd be moving back home to NZ.

Before we came back over I tried to find out from the manufacturers & from sites in Aus whether our TV & HDD/DVR would be compatible with the NZ network. They said "no". Looking at the specs I wasn't so sure on the telly & turns out I was right about that one, thank goodness.

But I wasn't so confident about the DVR. We'd like to keep it but I don't really want to run it with a separate STB.

Can this machine run on the NZ digital network? If not is there a way to have it adapted so it will? Not that I am particularly attached but $$$ & don't want to toss gear that works if it can be altered.

I think those are the key Qs for the moment. Otherwise I'll be asking what's the best bet for a new model or maybe a short term fix. It's probably blasphemy to say I never watch telly lol, but I often record & watch the little I am interested in. In the meantime our lovely telly is sitting there able to pick up digital just fine but not being used because I can't get the DVR to run.

Ta for reading, help/thoughts appreciated.
xx

ZollyMonsta

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#459843 17-Apr-2011 19:34

Won't work with Freeview in NZ. different channel spacing. Also likely it won't handle the MPEG4 and AAC that we use here.

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dance

12 posts

Geek

#459971 18-Apr-2011 09:42

Thanks.

There doesn't seem to be a surfeit of HDD/DVRs on the market here. Hope we can find one suitable.

Will have to bundle up the "old" (grr, brand new) one & send it over to my bro. Shame. Was hoping might be able to have a chip put in it, but sounds like it's more fundamental than that.

ilovemusic

1425 posts

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#460133 18-Apr-2011 14:13

ZollyMonsta: Won't work with Freeview in NZ. different channel spacing. Also likely it won't handle the MPEG4 and AAC that we use here.

Can't answer on channel spacing but Australian Freeview devices have to be H264/Mpeg4 compliant.

wellygary

7378 posts

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#460165 18-Apr-2011 15:22

^^ According to this review Its not freeview certified

http://www.cnet.com.au/panasonic-dmr-xw480-339305987.htm

dance

12 posts

Geek

#460209 18-Apr-2011 16:30

Nope it isn't Freeview certified. I used that review to help with the purchasing process *doh*.

I gather Aus are doing a 2 stage roll out of DTV, or at least, that was what was planned. Initially there was a bit of freeview hype in Aus but I hadn't heard any mention of it for a year or two before we bought this box so it was not a factor in buying. The (Samsung) telly isn't Freeview certified either (or rather, it's not marketed as being so), but it picks everything up no problem.

I'm thinking maybe we could get a new (Freeview) HDD & hook it into the existing box if we ever want to burn off DVDs. But it seems a waste. The panasonic doesn't even pick up analogue lol. Nada.

The prices on the gear here in NZ are a lot higher than Aus, even taking the exchange rate out of the equation. The equivalent NZ model has blu-ray as well but is selling for $1200. I think we picked this one up for about half that in $AU. Skipping the blu-ray seems to leave you with only 250GB which isn't a great deal to come & go with unless you're burning discs off regularly.

Ta for the help, any thoughts on best way to start again appreciated. Looks like my brother or my friends in Aus will be picking up a cheap/free HDD/DVR *sigh*.

Hubby likes the panasonic, heavens knows why, it does require a rocket surgeon to work it. Their remotes are not 'remotely' consumer friendly. I liked the fact that we could network it...fat lot of good that is now.

Is there any brand of HDD/DVRs other than panasonic in the NZ Freeview market?

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#460230 18-Apr-2011 17:12

It's Panasonic's DMR-XW480

The equivalent NZ Model would appear to be the DMR-XW380and is available at JB HiFi for $644.
The Blu Ray version (XW880) was available a week ago for $794.

dance

12 posts

Geek

#460871 20-Apr-2011 11:10

:o)

Big grins here. Thanks so much for that heads up. Harvey Norman tried to tell us $1299 WAS their sale price LOL. I wasn't having any of that nonsense. $794 it is.

I never pay retail. Except for groceries. And not always then.

BTW the 380 only has 250GB so it's an identical match for the 380 model in Aus, but there is no NZ equivalent for the 480. Looks like we're getting blu-ray. my AV-phile brother will be pleased to hear it.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#460957 20-Apr-2011 15:00

BTW the 380 only has 250GB so it's an identical match for the 380 model in Aus, but there is no NZ equivalent for the 480.

Yeah, you're right. I checked the specs online again and no direct equivalent.

The BW880 is the top-of-line model and is still $794 at JB HiFi. They say it's just $6 above cost price so I'm back there tomorrow to pick one up. They have quite a stack of them (Albany Branch) and they're not selling well. Incidentally there doesn't seem to be any new 2011 model coming up that I can find online and the BW880 may now be obsolete.

dance

12 posts

Geek

#460989 20-Apr-2011 16:12

Well all I can say is well done *beams gratefully*.

We've just unpacked one. Harvey Norman do price matching so hubby popped in. The sticker on the box says $1499.99.

The review on cnet is mostly good (not so good from users but I think when you read them you can pick out why they believe what they're saying). http://www.cnet.com.au/panasonic-dmr-bw880-339302681.htm. I have a message telling me I'm new so I can't post links, but if you go to cnet & search dmr-bw880 you'll find it. They must be joking about the sound from CDs being ok played on a PVR. Heathens! And the complex menu & remote that they talk about is an ongoing issue with panasonic (I always swear "never again").

I do worry about it being outmoded. Always an issue when you buy an all-in-one rather than sep component. But I don't like all the wires of separate components. For the price it seems really good...as long as it's not missing anything critical that is due to come out in the next 6 months (that's often why things go on sale). Will have a poke around & see.

Will let you know :o)

dance

12 posts

Geek

#477948 5-Jun-2011 10:49

Just a wee update:

The main differences with the DMR-BW880 is the inability to time slip...on the old Aus model we could skip +10 sec or +30 sec. Not having that feature is a nuisance but I gather it's a Freeview requirement that they can't...

The BW880 is also region locked which the 480 wasn't. Grr. Will have it taken in to a service agent to be unlocked. A frustration, but minor & hopefully quickly resolvable.

Have noticed a few glitches in recording that I'm hoping are the programmes I've recorded & not a hard drive issue. Given the programmes (bollywood films!) it's probably them.

Cheers for the help on this one!