[OT] Dick Smith G7659 Set Top Box help needed

[Caliban]

Phil Allison wrote:

Expensive as hell I bet - a dual STB with 120G of hard drive storage !

The RRP is $1099 for the discontinued 80G version, and $1199 for the
120G. But...

Some people have been reporting on the DBA forums that they haggled the
price of the 80G version down to less than $800. Most seem to get it for
about $850.

It uses an ATA drive and many people upgrade the 80G drive to 200G.

Worth every penny, it's changed the way I watch TV.

 

[km]

On Sat, 8 Jan 2005 23:01:15 +1100, "Phil Allison"
<philallison@tpg.com.au> wrote:

"John Smith"
Caliban wrote:

Get a Topfield TF5000PVRt.
http://www.topfield-australia.com.au/frm/default.asp

Two things: (1) If I paid $128 for the Dick Smith unit, how could I afford
anything else? (2) I can't view the page above because it wants a rego,
and I'll be damned if I'm going to bother.



** Just click on "products" and the device is there.

Expensive as hell I bet - a dual STB with 120G of hard drive storage !

Where did you get the price from as I can't see any prices on that
silly topfield site.

I'd like to find a digital set top box with twin tunres and no hard
drive but they all seem to have them. I have a panasonic recorder and
the last thing I want is a silly hard drive on the digital box which
can't save back to dvd.

The humax box is the only one I've found that has a good program guide
for every channel. Not only sghows the tv channel but has a ful page
of descition on what the show is about. No other box I have seen does
this in such detail.

 

[km]

On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 00:53:07 +1100, Caliban <null@void.com> wrote:

Phil Allison wrote:

Expensive as hell I bet - a dual STB with 120G of hard drive storage !


The RRP is $1099 for the discontinued 80G version, and $1199 for the
120G. But...

Some people have been reporting on the DBA forums that they haggled the
price of the 80G version down to less than $800. Most seem to get it for
about $850.

That is simply a rip off. There are other models with 400gb hard drive
swith twin tuners for that price. My thinking is if they can't record
back to dvd media then why buy one. Only need a cheap box that
connects to the recorder.

It uses an ATA drive and many people upgrade the 80G drive to 200G.

Worth every penny, it's changed the way I watch TV.

 

[Phil Allison]

"km"
"Phil Allison"

Get a Topfield TF5000PVRt.
http://www.topfield-australia.com.au/frm/default.asp

Two things: (1) If I paid $128 for the Dick Smith unit, how could I
afford
anything else? (2) I can't view the page above because it wants a rego,
and I'll be damned if I'm going to bother.



** Just click on "products" and the device is there.

Expensive as hell I bet - a dual STB with 120G of hard drive storage
!

Where did you get the price from as I can't see any prices on that
silly topfield site.

** Errrr - what price ???




............. Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"John Smith"

Scott Howard wrote:

Just tune the TV to whatever channel you want to watch. It won't be
digital, but at least you can still watch it.

But that's the problem: I can't watch TV (satisfactorily) without digital.
The entire point of getting digital was to remove the ghosting I used to
get. So, by going digital, I've got great pictures but at the expense
of not being able to record one channel and watch another.

** The DSE box is cheap - buy another.





............... Phil

 

[Damien Smith]

But that's the problem: I can't watch TV (satisfactorily) without digital.
The entire point of getting digital was to remove the ghosting I used to
get. So, by going digital, I've got great pictures but at the expense
of not being able to record one channel and watch another. Oh, and
there's another problem: to record shows on VCR you now have to set two
devices: the STB to select the channel/time, and the VCR to select the
times. Double work for what used to be a single task. Hmm. I'm now
starting to wonder whether it's all worth it...

If you'd done a bit of research you would have have realised that a
twin-tuner digital PVR is what you really wanted rather than some cheap DSE
job.

 

[Fleeced]

"John Smith" <no@spam.thank.you.very.much> wrote in message
news:41dfc512@dnews.tpgi.com.au...

Damien Smith wrote:

You're using RF output?

Ja.

Why not at least use a composite video output?

Now that'll just confuse me even more.

He means you should use the AV cable (the one with those three
coloured plugs,) and put your tv on the AV channel (if it has one)...
that way you don't have to tune the tv to a specific signal.

Fleeced

 

[Mr. T]

"Damien Smith" <smithredmist@NOhotmail.comSPAM> wrote in message
news:349nncF47l7ccU1@individual.net...

FIXED -- Turns out all I had to do was re-tune the TV to the output
signal of the STB again. I thought the box would still be on the
same wavelength (or whatever) but it wasn't. All's fine now.

You're using RF output?? Why not at least use a composite video output?
Or
is your TV *really* old?

He said he was :

External antenna -> TV/Aerial In (STB).
TV Out (STB) -> TV RCA in (via switcher box).

Unless his TV really has an *RCA* RF input, he has no idea what he is doing.
Or maybe he just can't tell a Belling Lee socket from a hole in the gound


MrT.

 

[Caliban]

km wrote:

On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 00:53:07 +1100, Caliban <null@void.com> wrote:


Phil Allison wrote:


Expensive as hell I bet - a dual STB with 120G of hard drive storage !


The RRP is $1099 for the discontinued 80G version, and $1199 for the
120G. But...

Some people have been reporting on the DBA forums that they haggled the
price of the 80G version down to less than $800. Most seem to get it for
about $850.


That is simply a rip off. There are other models with 400gb hard drive
swith twin tuners for that price. My thinking is if they can't record
back to dvd media then why buy one. Only need a cheap box that
connects to the recorder.

Could you please supply a manufacturer and model number of this device?
Dose it have an open development environment for users to develop their
own applications?

The TF5000 can record to DVD media via USB transfer to a PC with a DVD
burner, retaining the digital quality. Or via RGB or component to a
stand alone DVD burner. There are no DVD burners on the market with
built in DVB tuners that I am aware of.

The Toppy can also record and transfer HD programs, though the box is
not designed to playback HD.

The other thing about DVD production is that I have never found the need
to collect a huge stack of DVDs like the VHS libraries most people have
gathering dust. I have never understood this sort of obsessive
compulsive hoarding behaviour.

I watch FTA broadcast programs once. The Toppy allows me to watch them
when I want, then they are deleted.

 

[Mr. T]

"Caliban" <null@void.com> wrote in message
news:crq2go$1hb5$1@otis.netspace.net.au...

That is simply a rip off. There are other models with 400gb hard drive
swith twin tuners for that price. My thinking is if they can't record
back to dvd media then why buy one.

I agree. I'm prepared to wait for dual DVB STB/HD recorder/DVD burner.

The TF5000 can record to DVD media via USB transfer to a PC with a DVD
burner, retaining the digital quality.

How long does a 2Hr movie take to transfer at full DVD quality?

There are no DVD burners on the market with
built in DVB tuners that I am aware of.

Copyright interference is the only reason. It will happen.

The Toppy can also record and transfer HD programs, though the box is
not designed to playback HD.

Strange limitation.

The other thing about DVD production is that I have never found the need
to collect a huge stack of DVDs like the VHS libraries most people have
gathering dust. I have never understood this sort of obsessive
compulsive hoarding behaviour.

You will find there are a *LOT* more people buying commercial DVD's now than
ever did so with VHS tapes.
When recording your own DVD's becomes as cheap and easy (the media is
already cheaper) MORE people will want to keep their favourite movies and TV
shows to watch again. It's the next big boom market in home entertainment
IMO.

You would appear to be in the minority. I'm sure you don't have a problem
with that though

MrT.

 

[Caliban]

Mr. T wrote:

How long does a 2Hr movie take to transfer at full DVD quality?

Australian DVB quality is better than DVD quality, however to answer
your question about 50min for 120min of recorded program material (~7GB).

The Toppy can also record and transfer HD programs, though the box is
not designed to playback HD.


Strange limitation.

Nope it's a bonus, the box was only ever intended as an SD PVR.

Topfield have an HD PVR coming out sometime but the price and lack of HD
broadcast material in my area does not make it a worthwhile purchase for me.

 

[Mot Adv-NSW]

"John Smith" <no@spam.thank.you.very.much> wrote in message
news:41dfc512@dnews.tpgi.com.au...

Damien Smith wrote:

You're using RF output?

Ja.

Why not at least use a composite video output?

Now that'll just confuse me even more.

Bloody hell, did you at least reset the STB to Australia?

BTW - You should be able to adjust that STB RF channel output to whatever
(UHF) channel you like, you then merely readjust your TV channel to receive
the new.

* Had a girlfriend ring me the other day in distress, was convinced her new
(hideously overpriced HP) computer had a virus, 'not able to get onto the
internet error 777 or something', 'unable to access or open certain files',
'won't let me', 'I think they (she meant hackers) are controlling my
computer'.

Arrived, and noted the immediate problem within seconds. She had purchased
a new cordless phone (which shares with a regular phone via a double
adaptor), in doing so unplugged PC modem lead and forgot to reconnect it.
She is not of the blond brand of the female species humanoid and actually
not an airhead either, despite evidence shown here.

Her antivirus is all up to date, all Microsoft download updates done.

Q. Why are women so messy with their desktop?? Silly little icons like
Incredimail, MSN garbage, Yahoo stuff, links and bits scattered all over the
desktop like a crash scene.

 

[Caliban]

Mr. T wrote:

You will find there are a *LOT* more people buying commercial DVD's now than
ever did so with VHS tapes.
When recording your own DVD's becomes as cheap and easy (the media is
already cheaper) MORE people will want to keep their favourite movies and TV
shows to watch again. It's the next big boom market in home entertainment
IMO.

You would appear to be in the minority. I'm sure you don't have a problem
with that though

I have over 90 commercial DVDs in my collection:

http://www.intervocative.com/dvdcollection.aspx/Verm1n

If I see something worth keeping I'll buy it rather than put up with a
butchered for broadcast copy. I usually have the DVD before it's
broadcast too. So still have no need for a burner.

 

[Phil Allison]

"Caliban"

Australian DVB quality is better than DVD quality, however to answer your
question about 50min for 120min of recorded program material (~7GB).

** Yep - the bit rate is higher for SD DTV than on most DVDs.

But what about HD ?? The bit rate is several times that of SD.

How will folk get on burning DVDs of HD material??

Or are hard drives the only way to store it ?




............. Phil

 

[Mr. T]

"Caliban" <null@void.com> wrote in message
news:crqb2d$1mvl$1@otis.netspace.net.au...

I have over 90 commercial DVDs in my collection:

So :

">>> The other thing about DVD production is that I have never found the
need

to collect a huge stack of DVDs like the VHS libraries most people have
gathering dust. I have never understood this sort of obsessive
compulsive hoarding behaviour."

is not entirely correct. You have far more than I do.

MrT.

 

[Caliban]

Phil Allison wrote:

But what about HD ?? The bit rate is several times that of SD.

How will folk get on burning DVDs of HD material??

Or are hard drives the only way to store it ?

Blu Ray / HD DVD recordable media perhaps?

 

[Caliban]

Mr. T wrote:

"Caliban" <null@void.com> wrote in message
news:crqb2d$1mvl$1@otis.netspace.net.au...


I have over 90 commercial DVDs in my collection:


So :

">>> The other thing about DVD production is that I have never found the
need

to collect a huge stack of DVDs like the VHS libraries most people have
gathering dust. I have never understood this sort of obsessive
compulsive hoarding behaviour."


is not entirely correct. You have far more than I do.

MrT.


I was referring to broadcast recordings (I probably should have made

that clearer), I admit I have a problem with commercial DVDs

 

[Mr. T]

"Caliban" <null@void.com> wrote in message
news:crqfb9$1pph$2@otis.netspace.net.au...

">>> The other thing about DVD production is that I have never found the
need to collect a huge stack of DVDs like the VHS libraries most
people have
gathering dust. I have never understood this sort of obsessive
compulsive hoarding behaviour."

I was referring to broadcast recordings (I probably should have made
that clearer), I admit I have a problem with commercial DVDs

So your "obsessive compulsive hoarding behaviour" is a little more narrowly
focussed

Mine too, but with audio recordings.

MrT.

 

[John Smith]

Mr. T wrote:

Unless his TV really has an *RCA* RF input, he has no idea what he is
doing

I have no RCA sockets available on my TV. So yes, I do know what I am
doing, thank you very much. I can only view via the TV's RF input,
which is where the antenna would NORMALLY go if I weren't using a VCR.

The problem is this: I have MANY devices connected, and it's a bitch
getting them to all play nice. My TV has to support: VCR, STB, Xbox,
and DVD player -- and doesn't have 4 dedicated slots to do so. So
it's a big juggling act with no room to spare.

 

[John Smith]

Phil Allison wrote:

** The DSE box is cheap - buy another.

Cheap yes, but I don't have another $128 to spare. Yes, I'm poor.