DishTV T1020 Questions

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Kuytre

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 86566 8-Jul-2011 16:37

I have no experience with digital TV whatsoever, and am wanting to buy a Freeview receiver.
I am looking at the DishTV T1020, and have been offered a really good price for it.
Just a few questions though;
On the product information page on Freeviews website, it says:
Record two channels and watch another channel on the same frequency.
That's fine. But it also says:
Please note as this is a single tuner receiver, you can only record one channel at a time.
Does it mean the same thing (frequency)?

Also, I'm not sure if the existing bands (UHF, VHF) will stay, as such. I'm confused.
I know there will be no problem recording TVNZ channels and TV3, but what about Prime? What say I wanted to tape Prime and watch a TVNZ channel (1, 2)? Would I need a double tuner receiver?

Thanks in advance.

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921 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 39

Reply # 491310 9-Jul-2011 00:22

With analogue television a single station takes up an entire frequency. With digital television usually multiple television channels cohabitate on a single frequency, or "mux". There are three muxes on Freeview|HD - the ones by TVNZ, Mediaworks and Kordia. The Kordia mux contains Prime, Stratos and Maori television.

A single tuner receiver can only access one mux at a time so with the T1020 you could record TV1 and watch TV2 at the same time but not TV1 plus Prime. A double tuner receiver can access two muxes at once. You can still watch in analogue separately from whatever the receiver is doing until the analogue switch off in your area. A multi-tuner receiver is a requirement if you do alot of recording.

Also, I'm not sure if the existing bands (UHF, VHF) will stay, as such. I'm confused.

Freeview doesn't use VHF. Having a Freeview receiver plugged in won't stop your aerial from being able to send VHF or UHF to the TV. Sometimes the RF loop-out plugs on a receiver aren't good quality as I have experienced but you can circumvent that with a splitter. Sometimes old VHF aerials won't be sensitive enough to UHF for digital television reception and require replacement or relocation but don't worry about that unless you have problems with reception after plugging in your new receiver.

What model television do you have? It'll say on the back.

DaMo73

121 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 491389 9-Jul-2011 12:51

bfginger: With digital television usually multiple television channels cohabitate on a single frequency, or "mux". There are three muxes on Freeview|HD - the ones by TVNZ, Mediaworks and Kordia. The Kordia mux contains Prime, Stratos and Maori television.

Actually, the muxes are TVNZ, TV Works (formerly Mediaworks as I understand it) and Kordia in those areas outside of the expansion areas (except Taranaki) which were done by JDA.

Kuytre

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 491398 9-Jul-2011 13:06

DaMo73:
bfginger: With digital television usually multiple television channels cohabitate on a single frequency, or "mux". There are three muxes on Freeview|HD - the ones by TVNZ, Mediaworks and Kordia. The Kordia mux contains Prime, Stratos and Maori television.

Actually, the muxes are TVNZ, TV Works (formerly Mediaworks as I understand it) and Kordia in those areas outside of the expansion areas (except Taranaki) which were done by JDA.

I live in Taranaki.

hdinsider

546 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 13

Reply # 491399 9-Jul-2011 13:14

Taranaki DTT (Freeview HD terrestrial) is still being tested. Hopefully it will be running fully over the next few weeks.

Have you checked that reception will be OK in your area. Freeview has some good maps and a coverage checker here: http://www.freeviewnz.tv/get_freeview/

Also a map of Taranaki coverage: http://www.freeviewnz.tv/images/uploads/pdfs/NewPlymouth.pdf

It would pay to check thet you are likely to get a good signal before you buy a terrestrial box.

don't mess with me.... i'm the hd insider....

B1GGLZ

1916 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 125

Reply # 491405 9-Jul-2011 13:30

Kuytre:
I am looking at the DishTV T1020, and have been offered a really good price for it.

Also, I'm not sure if the existing bands (UHF, VHF) will stay, as such. I'm confused.

Thanks in advance.

Try downloading and reading the manual at
http://www.freeviewnz.tv/products_and_retailers/detail/dish_tv_t1020

Looks like you can only record the channel you are watching as it's single tuner.
Only HD via HDMI out so you can only record SD not HD.
Only way to record one channel and watch another is if you have a modern Freeview enabled TV i.e. Watch one channel on TV and record another channel via the DishTV.

What's a really good price?
Currently $168 at JBHiFi and should be able to negotiate at least 10% - 15% discount on that.

It's really a very basic tuner unit.

If you want to tape and watch mutilpe channels at once you need something better like the Zinwell ZMT640 or the Homecast HT9200DTR. Both have built in HDD for HD recording and multiple tuners.

Next year the current VHF and UHF analogue services will disappear. Digital TV (HD) is already available on part of the current UHF spectrum although some frequencies may change slightly within the UHF band after ASO.

If you are not in a freeview terrestrial area you are stuck with Freeview Sattelite and SD only.

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 491410 9-Jul-2011 13:52

Kuytre: I have no experience with digital TV whatsoever, and am wanting to buy a Freeview receiver.
I am looking at the DishTV T1020, and have been offered a really good price for it.
Thanks in advance.

A little further research indicates that with the latest firmware update it will record HD to a USB HDD.
That makes it much better value and probably allows you to watch one channel while recording another one on the same MUX.
This info doesn't seem to appear in the User Manual.

Klipspringer

2385 posts

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+1 received by user: 286
Inactive user

Reply # 491418 9-Jul-2011 14:31

B1GGLZ:
Kuytre: I have no experience with digital TV whatsoever, and am wanting to buy a Freeview receiver.
I am looking at the DishTV T1020, and have been offered a really good price for it.
Thanks in advance.

A little further research indicates that with the latest firmware update it will record HD to a USB HDD.
That makes it much better value and probably allows you to watch one channel while recording another one on the same MUX.
This info doesn't seem to appear in the User Manual.

Yip this works, can also change channels, ie watch C4 while TV3 is recording etc.. Watch any recording while any channel is recording. But unable to watch TV1/2 while TV3 is recording, that due to the single tuner.

Personally I dont think there is currently enough content on freeview to require this. Also keep in mind that there is the TV3 +1hour channel.

Its a great little unit for the price.

diamonddata

15 posts

Geek

Reply # 491932 11-Jul-2011 11:01

BraaiGuy: Yip this works, can also change channels, ie watch C4 while TV3 is recording etc.. Watch any recording while any channel is recording. But unable to watch TV1/2 while TV3 is recording, that due to the single tuner.

Personally I dont think there is currently enough content on freeview to require this. Also keep in mind that there is the TV3 +1hour channel.

Its a great little unit for the price.

so just confirming...

you CAN watch another channel while recording, if from the same MUX?
(not just record the SAME channel you ARE watching, as with other models?)

also can you watch a recorded program from the external hhd, while you're recording something else?
is the unit powerful enough to do this?

Klipspringer

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Reply # 492237 11-Jul-2011 22:35

diamonddata:
BraaiGuy: Yip this works, can also change channels, ie watch C4 while TV3 is recording etc.. Watch any recording while any channel is recording. But unable to watch TV1/2 while TV3 is recording, that due to the single tuner.

Personally I dont think there is currently enough content on freeview to require this. Also keep in mind that there is the TV3 +1hour channel.

Its a great little unit for the price.

so just confirming...

you CAN watch another channel while recording, if from the same MUX?
(not just record the SAME channel you ARE watching, as with other models?)

also can you watch a recorded program from the external hhd, while you're recording something else?
is the unit powerful enough to do this?

Yes can watch another channel while recording. IE, can watch TV1 if recording TV2. But can't watch TV3.

Can watch TV3, while recording C4.

ANd yes, can watch a recording while recording something else.

But be aware of the current issues being experienced with this unit. Thread here:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=86197

Kuytre

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 494898 18-Jul-2011 17:34

Thanks for your replies.
I really want those features, so I think I'll be saving up for the Zinwell ZMT-640PVR.
Thanks :D

injuised

256 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

Reply # 494914 18-Jul-2011 18:22

Kuytre: Thanks for your replies.
I really want those features, so I think I'll be saving up for the Zinwell ZMT-640PVR.
Thanks :D

Ew really

If you want a bug free experience and something thats gonna last abit longer than its warranty , stay away from zinwell,

Bit if you want cheap nasty youve made the right choice

Kuytre

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 495749 20-Jul-2011 14:11

injuised:
Kuytre: Thanks for your replies.
I really want those features, so I think I'll be saving up for the Zinwell ZMT-640PVR.
Thanks :D

Ew really

If you want a bug free experience and something thats gonna last abit longer than its warranty , stay away from zinwell,

Bit if you want cheap nasty youve made the right choice

Ok then, suggest something better instead of just saying I've made the wrong choice. Not everyone has a big budget to get the best everything.

Klipspringer

2385 posts

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+1 received by user: 286
Inactive user

Reply # 495757 20-Jul-2011 14:44

Kuytre:
injuised:
Kuytre: Thanks for your replies.
I really want those features, so I think I'll be saving up for the Zinwell ZMT-640PVR.
Thanks :D

Ew really

If you want a bug free experience and something thats gonna last abit longer than its warranty , stay away from zinwell,

Bit if you want cheap nasty youve made the right choice

Ok then, suggest something better instead of just saying I've made the wrong choice. Not everyone has a big budget to get the best everything.

Hi Kuytre, If I was you I would hold off for maybe a few weeks, lets see if the fix from DishTV solves the current problem. If the playback issues is sorted - the DishTV PVR will offer serious good value for money. And not worth forking out an additional $200 bucks for something else that can do the same thing.

In another thread it has been stated that they are currently working at resolving the issue.

Brunzy

634 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Trusted

Reply # 495850 20-Jul-2011 17:29

injuised:
Kuytre: Thanks for your replies.
I really want those features, so I think I'll be saving up for the Zinwell ZMT-640PVR.
Thanks :D

Ew really

If you want a bug free experience and something thats gonna last abit longer than its warranty , stay away from zinwell,

Bit if you want cheap nasty youve made the right choice

Please qualify your statement.
I have had a 640 for over two years without any issues.
I have also installed around 200 odd 620's & 630's and have had two fail in the last few months.
Compare that to another freeview approved receiver I stocked , they have all been returned , some twice

AKLWestie

571 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 73

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 495997 20-Jul-2011 22:27

Hi Kuytre, If I was you I would hold off for maybe a few weeks, lets see if the fix from DishTV solves the current problem. If the playback issues is sorted - the DishTV PVR will offer serious good value for money. And not worth forking out an additional $200 bucks for something else that can do the same thing.

In another thread it has been stated that they are currently working at resolving the issue.

Agree.

You can buy a T1020 from JB hifi at $168 and pick up a 1TB external hard drive from a computer store at around $100.

So for appx $268, you can have your own PVR.

Yes, it is single tuner. Yes, it is not exactly integrated. But it is cheaper than a $600 magic TV PVR (which is a very nice unit, but not cheap.

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