Freeview Terrestrial + PVR for Elderly

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sleemanj

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#82875 7-May-2011 00:15

I picked up a TEAC HD-B6T to see if it would be suitable for my gran.

It's a good unit for the money, after I modified it to put the USB socket on the back (I ditched the RS232 and put a USB socket there, why they put the USB on the front I don't know, crazy).

But I'm not sure if it's suitable for gran,

a) the text is too small, especially when scheduling, the date and time is tiny
b) again when scheduling, it wants date and time in Y-M-D H:M, 24 hour clock, and it's not changeable, this will confuse gran
c) you can't schedule from the EPG, you have to do it manually, it would be so much easier otherwise

It's also not very clear what's going on when you are recording or playing back, for example I can imagine her playing back something and trying to change the channel, not understanding why it's not working (the channel buttons do nothing when playing back).

Anyway, is anybody aware of any other boxes on the market which might be more suitable to the elderly? Simple, clear large font displays, easy scheduling, recording etc.

PS: and for some reason, it doesn't want to stick with letterbox. Don't know why, on the 4:3 tv's I've tried (don't have a 16:9) no matter what I do, it won't default to letterbox, I actually have to hit the resolution switch button and then it will flick into letterbox, but change the channel and it's back to pan & scan or similar. It's all correctly set in the setup. Just takes no notice.

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James Sleeman
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#466491 7-May-2011 16:21

Any of the freeview approved units will work for this. The EPG is very clear and big and it will do a series link too.

No approved unit will let you record to an external drive.

freeviewfan

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#466496 7-May-2011 16:32

Jaxson: Any of the freeview approved units will work for this. The EPG is very clear and big and it will do a series link too.

No approved unit will let you record to an external drive.

that is wrong mate my one im able to record to my external hdd

toyonut

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#466498 7-May-2011 16:53

I rate the homecast box really highly. We have one and I think it is really good. 500 GB is heaps of space and the importer is really quick to respond and help with any problems. I have barely had one problem with ours. The interface is good and the remote has all the necessary functions at your thumbtips. Only problem might be if the TV can only accept 576I. This unit has a beta firmware to fix problems with 576I over component, but so long the TV can accept 576P, all should be well.
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/media-players/homecast/high-definition-recorder-sku-28001/

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

sleemanj

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#466520 7-May-2011 18:19

Jaxson: No approved unit will let you record to an external drive.

Errr, as I said I was testing an HD-B6T, which has been around for ages....

http://www.freeviewnz.tv/products_and_retailers/detail/teac_hd-b6t

Seems like it is freeview approved to me, and records just fine (ok it needed a firmware update, but for all I know that's just because mine was an old version).

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bfginger

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#466523 7-May-2011 18:22

The Homecast also supports S-video and it's usually impossible to tell the difference between S-video and ypbpr on a SD TV :)

Does the Homecast have a semi-letterbox (14:9) mode? The MagicTV does but I found it was broken - 5% horizontal / vertical misalignment, though they might have fixed that by now.

hazza87

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#466524 7-May-2011 18:29

I think a few people are getting a bit confused here.
Freeview approved does not mean works with freeview, it is much more specific.
Freeview approved receivers have to pass a strict set of guidelines and tests by Freeview, all of them will be able to record direct from the EPG.
Therefore the TEAC HD-B6T is not a freeveiw approved recorder but it will however still work fine for that purpose.

Here is a link to all the official Freeview HD recorders.
http://www.freeviewnz.tv/products_and_retailers/listing/all/digital_television_recorders

All of the approved recorders will have the branding MyFreeview HD on them.

Last time i checked Freeview approved recorders were not allowed to copy content to external HDD's, this may have changed, not sure.

HP

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sleemanj

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#466529 7-May-2011 18:44

hazza87: I think a few people are getting a bit confused here.
Freeview approved does not mean works with freeview, it is much more specific.

The B6T is an approved receiver, as you can see here:

http://www.freeviewnz.tv/products_and_retailers/listing/hd

It can also record. To a USB device.

So perhaps it is not an "approved recorder", but an "approved receiver that can record".

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I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

B1GGLZ

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#466551 7-May-2011 19:51

The B6T is an approved receiver, as you can see here:

http://www.freeviewnz.tv/products_and_retailers/listing/hd

It can also record. To a USB device.

But it only records in SD not HD and not from the EPG.
Freeview approved recorders record in HD but not to external devices. Also recording can be set simply from the EPG.
You'll also find that Freeview approved TVs don't have video output for recording either so you can't record from the TV even in SD. Rather annoying. A lot of people are going to be upset after Analogue is switched off when they find their old recorders won't record from their new Freeview TV and they have to buy a new recorder as well (unless they use a STB).

Jaxson

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#467049 9-May-2011 11:10

Sorry for the confusion, I replied via my cell phone and that's a pain to write much with.

Yeah what I was meaning was to get the "Simple, clear large font displays, easy scheduling, recording etc" functionality you require you basically want to be able to record from the approved MHEG5 EPG and this device will not support the recording version of this EPG.

So, whilst yes it does allow for recording (and how the heck they got that approved I just don't know), it will never allow for recording in a way that is suitable for elderly to use intuitively.

To do this you need the recording version of the MHEG5 EPG and this only exists on the official PVR's, which have their own hard drive inside. You can get a zinwell one for a fairly cheap price these days, like $399 at JB HIFI sometimes etc.

Jaxson

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#467050 9-May-2011 11:14

And yes there are a lot of functions that will be lost from our existing setups after the switch off.

Namely:
New TV's with freeview in them either don't output a video signal for use elsewhere, or only output the one channel that is being watched, so you couldn't record something else to a DVD/VHS recorder etc.

The freeview approved PVR's don't accept an external input, so you can't copy your video camera stuff onto the hard drive etc.

The freeview approved PVR's don't allow you to move the recording files onto anything else. - No usb drive support or network ability to move the files. So you can't give it to your mate to watch like we used to with a VCR etc.

nickb800

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#467062 9-May-2011 11:50

I recently setup my parents with a MagicTV which has gone smoothly.
They found it on par with mysky for learning to use.
A bit pricy at $600 but a good piece of kit.

Lenovo

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B1GGLZ

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#467183 9-May-2011 16:28

The freeview approved PVR's don't accept an external input, so you can't copy your video camera stuff onto the hard drive etc.

My Panasonic DMR BW880 does. It has a digital camera socket on the front panel. Also S VIDEO and two composite inputs. Only SD though except for the Camera Socket.

allan

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#467200 9-May-2011 17:35

What about a Tivo? Price is good. If she's a Telecom customer, it can be paid off over 36 months on her account. WAF is fine at my place so presumeably your Gran would be okay too.

You can definitely schedule from the EPG, although there is the well documented issue of no EPG info for Maori and Prime, which may be a problem.

Jaxson

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#467404 10-May-2011 09:18

B1GGLZ: The freeview approved PVR's don't accept an external input, so you can't copy your video camera stuff onto the hard drive etc.

My Panasonic DMR BW880 does. It has a digital camera socket on the front panel. Also S VIDEO and two composite inputs. Only SD though except for the Camera Socket.

Wow, at that pice then I don't know why anyone would buy anything else. (unless they want a 3D bluray player I guess).

bfginger

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#467955 11-May-2011 15:32

JB has increased their price and DSE has run out of stock.

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