Suggested enhancements to Pace Twin Freeview PVR
 

I've had Pace Twin Freeview box for a few weeks now but have waited until the
new software load was available to see what that brought before making a few
suggestions for improvments that I think could be made to the software to
enhance the user experience.

This is my 5th Ondigital/Freeview receiver.

Boxes owned have been the original Nokia OD box, the Pioneer OD box, the Daewoo
SetPal FV box and the Philips 1500 FV box.

I still have the Daewoo & Philips boxes linked to other TV's in the House.

Prior to getting the Twin, I used a Philips DVDR1000 DVD Recorder to
record/archive Off Air Broadcasts primarily from the Philips 1500 FV box.

Unfortunalety being an early DVDR from a quality point of view it is only really
possible to use the 2hour recording mode and this is rather limiting. So the
Twin was bought to provide more recording time and allow the occasional
recording of one FV channel while watching another.

Here are the things that I'd like to see implemented/fixed in a future software
release.

1) There is no onscreen warning to prevent someone accidently switching off the
Twin whilst archiving is taking place. Whether or not the TV is on or off to see
the warning this would stop the box just being switched off as the user would
need to confirm by a red button press that they do actually want to turn the box
off with the consequential interuption to archiving. Alternatively have it such
that the box would go into standby when the archive was completed.

2) It would be nice if the Twin could be configured to raise the "Auto
Recording" pin (not sure which one it is) in the TV2/VCR SCART when perfoming
Archiving and when a timer is set to output via the TV2/VCR SCART. The Philips
1500 does this when the timer is set, so it is not nessecary to do any
programming or push record on the DVDR1000. It would be important that the Twin
kept proper control of this signal so as not to falsely trigger recording when
powering on or off the box etc. The Philips 1500 is able to do this 100%
reliably.

3) At the very least it would be nice to be able to set IN and OUT points in a
Library recording to allow for cleaner archiving of a program. It is possible to
post edit the Philips produced DVD recordings using the PC but it would be nice
if this were not nessecary or at least it would remove one step from the
process.

4) In addition to the above it would be nice if there were full editing
facilities on the Twin to allow the removal of ad breaks etc prior to performing
a tape/DVD archive. For this to be usefull it would be imperative that the cuts
were seamless as can be achived in post DVD editing on the PC.

5) I would like it if the NOW/NEXT functionality of the Daewoo were implemented
on the Twin. This allows you to step up and down the NOW/NEXT info whilst
remaining on the original viewed channel. This is far less disruptive to viewing
than actually changing the displayed channel at the same time. If you see NOW
information for a channel that you would prefer to watch you simple press the OK
button and it changes to that channel.

6) Again I prefer the way the Guide is implmented on the Daewoo. Firstly you
continue to hear the Audio from the channel you were watching prior to pressing
the guide button, this allow you to follow the program while looking at the
guide. Also the Guide is semi transparent so you can still see the TV picture
through the guide. This is not so important and I'd sacrifice this feature so
long as the audio were still present.

7) When navigating up and down the Guide screen it would be nice if the display
would perform a Page UP/DOWN operation when going to the next item currently off
the screen. This way you get to see a full page of previously off screen items
rather than them as now just being revealed one at a time with each press of the
UP/DOWN arrow keys.

8) From a purely asthetic point of view I would prefer to see the menus with a
softer rounded edge look rather than the current stark rectangular boxes. Give
it a more PC/Mac windows desktop feel.

I'd be interested to hear any comments on the above and any other suggests for
improvement to the user interface/operation.

9) How about the ability to see picture in picture when selecting TV2. This
would be a real seller in my books.

10) Yes I know some have said its not possible and others it is but I'd love
the ability to record two items and watch a seperate recording at the same
time.

11) How about mpeg facilities on tuner 2 so that you could at least record
subtitles.

I wonder if the new Twin Ultimate will support any of these features and
thus leave us loyal Puma owners (test dummies) to loose out.
Rod

"Moonshine" wrote in message
...
I've had Pace Twin Freeview box for a few weeks now but have waited until
the
new software load was available to see what that brought before making a
few
suggestions for improvments that I think could be made to the software to
enhance the user experience.


You've covered my main gripe (editing / snipping), so here's a minor one

To select what is displayed on the front panel (I'd rather always have the
time there)

oh, and is there a way of getting it to switch off after recording, it seems
to if it was off when recording started but not if, say, I am watching BBC1
and recording ITV, if I go to bed before the recording finishes, its still
on in the morning.

Trev.

12) When changing channel Id like to see the title of the programe currently
on that channel momentarily displayed as it is with Sky Digiboxes. This
would save me having to press the info button each time I up a channel. I'd
use the guide button but as previously mentioned it removes sound and
picture plus its dead slow on the uptake.

13) Save the guide to flash when switched on for the fist time that day,
week etc

Rod

snip
oh, and is there a way of getting it to switch off after recording, it
seems
to if it was off when recording started but not if, say, I am watching
BBC1
and recording ITV, if I go to bed before the recording finishes, its still
on in the morning.

Trev.



Why not just power down when you have finished watching?
This does not stop current recordings (although it did in an earlier
software release).
Do you have the latest software?

Alby

"Alby" wrote in message
...

snip
oh, and is there a way of getting it to switch off after recording, it
seems
to if it was off when recording started but not if, say, I am watching
BBC1
and recording ITV, if I go to bed before the recording finishes, its
still
on in the morning.

Trev.



Why not just power down when you have finished watching?
This does not stop current recordings (although it did in an earlier
software release).
Do you have the latest software?


Ah, I'll give that a try (only got the software this week), it didn't work
before.

Cheers.

Trev.

"
oh, and is there a way of getting it to switch off after recording, it seems
to if it was off when recording started but not if, say, I am watching BBC1
and recording ITV, if I go to bed before the recording finishes, its still
on in the morning.


I bought mine during the Xmas break and so just got the latest
software (v1.7.55). It will now go into semi-shutdown if recording,
i.e. it switches off the output to TV1 and the display goes to a
'bright' clock. On full shutdown the clock goes dim. Conversely, if
the box is off when a recording starts the output to TV1 does not come
on unless the power button is pressed.


TimK

"
oh, and is there a way of getting it to switch off after recording, it seems
to if it was off when recording started but not if, say, I am watching BBC1
and recording ITV, if I go to bed before the recording finishes, its still
on in the morning.


I bought mine during the Xmas break and so just got the latest
software (v1.7.55). It will now go into semi-shutdown if recording,
i.e. it switches off the output to TV1 and the display goes to a
'bright' clock. On full shutdown the clock goes dim. Conversely, if
the box is off when a recording starts the output to TV1 does not come
on unless the power button is pressed.


TimK

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 10:05:28 -0000, "Rod" wrote:

12) When changing channel Id like to see the title of the programe currently
on that channel momentarily displayed as it is with Sky Digiboxes. This
would save me having to press the info button each time I up a channel. I'd
use the guide button but as previously mentioned it removes sound and
picture plus its dead slow on the uptake.

Yes again the Daewoo does this just momentarily bringing up the Station Name and
name of current program.


13) Save the guide to flash when switched on for the fist time that day,
week etc

Certainly some means of caching the guide info would be a good idea, as it is
rather slow to fill up.

Rod

At the moment I'm a bit narked with the choppy sound when Archiving via TV2/VCR
SCART bug.

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 10:05:28 -0000, "Rod" wrote:

12) When changing channel Id like to see the title of the programe currently
on that channel momentarily displayed as it is with Sky Digiboxes. This
would save me having to press the info button each time I up a channel. I'd
use the guide button but as previously mentioned it removes sound and
picture plus its dead slow on the uptake.

Yes again the Daewoo does this just momentarily bringing up the Station Name and
name of current program.


13) Save the guide to flash when switched on for the fist time that day,
week etc

Certainly some means of caching the guide info would be a good idea, as it is
rather slow to fill up.

Rod

At the moment I'm a bit narked with the choppy sound when Archiving via TV2/VCR
SCART bug.

"Moonshine" wrote:
Here are the things that I'd like to see implemented/fixed in a future =

software release.

I agree with all your points, particularly points 5 and 6. 'Now&Next' =
would be infinitely more useful if it worked for other channels than the =
one being watched - in fact it seems incredible that it was not done =
that way. I have also made similar observations to yours regarding the =
'Guide'.

I have another annoyance to add to the list. When pressing the record =
button to immediately begin recording, if there is insufficient disk =
space, a warning to that effect appears on-screen. However, if you then =
go to the 'library' to make space by deleting an existing recording, you =
find that the 'delete' option no longer appears! To make room for the =
programme currently being recorded, you have to stop recording!!

- Jim

"Moonshine" wrote:
Here are the things that I'd like to see implemented/fixed in a future =

software release.

I agree with all your points, particularly points 5 and 6. 'Now&Next' =
would be infinitely more useful if it worked for other channels than the =
one being watched - in fact it seems incredible that it was not done =
that way. I have also made similar observations to yours regarding the =
'Guide'.

I have another annoyance to add to the list. When pressing the record =
button to immediately begin recording, if there is insufficient disk =
space, a warning to that effect appears on-screen. However, if you then =
go to the 'library' to make space by deleting an existing recording, you =
find that the 'delete' option no longer appears! To make room for the =
programme currently being recorded, you have to stop recording!!

- Jim

"Rod" wrote in message
...
12) When changing channel Id like to see the title of the programe
currently
on that channel momentarily displayed as it is with Sky Digiboxes. This
would save me having to press the info button each time I up a channel.
I'd
use the guide button but as previously mentioned it removes sound and
picture plus its dead slow on the uptake.

When the info is displayed, use the CH+ and CH- buttons to change channels.
This changes the channel, but keeps the info displayed.

"Rod" wrote in message
...
12) When changing channel Id like to see the title of the programe
currently
on that channel momentarily displayed as it is with Sky Digiboxes. This
would save me having to press the info button each time I up a channel.
I'd
use the guide button but as previously mentioned it removes sound and
picture plus its dead slow on the uptake.

When the info is displayed, use the CH+ and CH- buttons to change channels.
This changes the channel, but keeps the info displayed.

On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 11:15:46 -0000, "Chris Ashby"
wrote:


"Rod" wrote in message
...
12) When changing channel Id like to see the title of the programe
currently
on that channel momentarily displayed as it is with Sky Digiboxes. This
would save me having to press the info button each time I up a channel.
I'd
use the guide button but as previously mentioned it removes sound and
picture plus its dead slow on the uptake.

When the info is displayed, use the CH+ and CH- buttons to change channels.
This changes the channel, but keeps the info displayed.


Trouble with that is the whole info panel is show obliterating the lower 3rd of
the screen and the info button needs to be pressed again to get rid of it.

The way other boxes do it (and to my mind the right way) is to automatically
briefly show just the channel ident and Program name (without the rest of the
info) when you change channel. No extra key presses are needed then and only a
small portion of the screen is used.

On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 11:15:46 -0000, "Chris Ashby"
wrote:


"Rod" wrote in message
...
12) When changing channel Id like to see the title of the programe
currently
on that channel momentarily displayed as it is with Sky Digiboxes. This
would save me having to press the info button each time I up a channel.
I'd
use the guide button but as previously mentioned it removes sound and
picture plus its dead slow on the uptake.

When the info is displayed, use the CH+ and CH- buttons to change channels.
This changes the channel, but keeps the info displayed.


Trouble with that is the whole info panel is show obliterating the lower 3rd of
the screen and the info button needs to be pressed again to get rid of it.

The way other boxes do it (and to my mind the right way) is to automatically
briefly show just the channel ident and Program name (without the rest of the
info) when you change channel. No extra key presses are needed then and only a
small portion of the screen is used.

Moonshine wrote:
On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 11:15:46 -0000, "Chris Ashby"
wrote:


"Rod" wrote in message
...
12) When changing channel Id like to see the title of the programe
currently on that channel momentarily displayed as it is with Sky
Digiboxes. This would save me having to press the info button each
time I up a channel.
I'd
use the guide button but as previously mentioned it removes sound
and picture plus its dead slow on the uptake.

When the info is displayed, use the CH+ and CH- buttons to change
channels. This changes the channel, but keeps the info displayed.


Trouble with that is the whole info panel is show obliterating the
lower 3rd of the screen and the info button needs to be pressed again
to get rid of it.

The way other boxes do it (and to my mind the right way) is to
automatically briefly show just the channel ident and Program name
(without the rest of the info) when you change channel. No extra key
presses are needed then and only a small portion of the screen is
used.

On the Panny TU-CT20 the period that the info box persists is user
settable so it does what you say. I extended mine from the 2 secs
default to 6 secs so that I had a chance to find and press the buttons
which were active in 'info' mode until I had learned what each do.

Question: On said box above, is there a reason that the RF output
channel which I have preset at RF Ch66 should come up somewhere
different each time I do a scan but remain on the new frequency until the
next scan?

And what is the difference between LCN 9 - Teletext and
LCN 54 - Teletext?

--
Graham W http://www.gcw.org.uk/ XP1800+ Page added, Graphics Tutorial
WIMBORNE http://www.wessex-astro-society.freeserve.co.uk/ Wessex
Dorset UK Astro Society's Web pages, Info, Meeting Dates, Sites & Maps
Change 'news' to 'sewn' in my Reply address to avoid my spam filter.

Moonshine wrote:
On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 11:15:46 -0000, "Chris Ashby"
wrote:


"Rod" wrote in message
...
12) When changing channel Id like to see the title of the programe
currently on that channel momentarily displayed as it is with Sky
Digiboxes. This would save me having to press the info button each
time I up a channel.
I'd
use the guide button but as previously mentioned it removes sound
and picture plus its dead slow on the uptake.

When the info is displayed, use the CH+ and CH- buttons to change
channels. This changes the channel, but keeps the info displayed.


Trouble with that is the whole info panel is show obliterating the
lower 3rd of the screen and the info button needs to be pressed again
to get rid of it.

The way other boxes do it (and to my mind the right way) is to
automatically briefly show just the channel ident and Program name
(without the rest of the info) when you change channel. No extra key
presses are needed then and only a small portion of the screen is
used.

On the Panny TU-CT20 the period that the info box persists is user
settable so it does what you say. I extended mine from the 2 secs
default to 6 secs so that I had a chance to find and press the buttons
which were active in 'info' mode until I had learned what each do.

Question: On said box above, is there a reason that the RF output
channel which I have preset at RF Ch66 should come up somewhere
different each time I do a scan but remain on the new frequency until the
next scan?

And what is the difference between LCN 9 - Teletext and
LCN 54 - Teletext?

--
Graham W http://www.gcw.org.uk/ XP1800+ Page added, Graphics Tutorial
WIMBORNE http://www.wessex-astro-society.freeserve.co.uk/ Wessex
Dorset UK Astro Society's Web pages, Info, Meeting Dates, Sites & Maps
Change 'news' to 'sewn' in my Reply address to avoid my spam filter.

One thing I would really like is the reminder feature that's on my Grundig
box.
"Rod" wrote in message
...
9) How about the ability to see picture in picture when selecting TV2.
This
would be a real seller in my books.

10) Yes I know some have said its not possible and others it is but I'd
love
the ability to record two items and watch a seperate recording at the same
time.

11) How about mpeg facilities on tuner 2 so that you could at least record
subtitles.

I wonder if the new Twin Ultimate will support any of these features and
thus leave us loyal Puma owners (test dummies) to loose out.
Rod

One thing I would really like is the reminder feature that's on my Grundig
box.
"Rod" wrote in message
...
9) How about the ability to see picture in picture when selecting TV2.
This
would be a real seller in my books.

10) Yes I know some have said its not possible and others it is but I'd
love
the ability to record two items and watch a seperate recording at the same
time.

11) How about mpeg facilities on tuner 2 so that you could at least record
subtitles.

I wonder if the new Twin Ultimate will support any of these features and
thus leave us loyal Puma owners (test dummies) to loose out.
Rod

"Jim Barry" wrote in message ...
"Moonshine" wrote:
Here are the things that I'd like to see implemented/fixed in a future

software release.

I agree with all your points, particularly points 5 and 6. 'Now&Next'
would be infinitely more useful if it worked for other channels than the
one being watched - in fact it seems incredible that it was not done
that way. I have also made similar observations to yours regarding the
'Guide'.

I have a Thomson box too and that allows me to scroll through the
channels checking Now/Next whilst still watching the channel I'm on
until I press the OK button - similar to the way Sky/sky+ works. It
would be nice if the Twin worked this way too.


TimK

"Jim Barry" wrote in message ...
"Moonshine" wrote:
Here are the things that I'd like to see implemented/fixed in a future

software release.

I agree with all your points, particularly points 5 and 6. 'Now&Next'
would be infinitely more useful if it worked for other channels than the
one being watched - in fact it seems incredible that it was not done
that way. I have also made similar observations to yours regarding the
'Guide'.

I have a Thomson box too and that allows me to scroll through the
channels checking Now/Next whilst still watching the channel I'm on
until I press the OK button - similar to the way Sky/sky+ works. It
would be nice if the Twin worked this way too.


TimK

Firewire interface to copy digital video to a computer or dvd recorder.

Firewire interface to copy digital video to a computer or dvd recorder.

Pace could do well to map VideoPlus codes to the DTT channels.

I know this was established in old analogue days, but the Radio Times now
publishes VideoPlus codes for BBC3, BBC4, ITV2, FTN, UK History etc.

I don't know of any Freeview equipment which incorporates VideoPlus
functionality and would provide a useful alternative to the long-promised
seven day EPG.

Doubtless, this might push-up the price a tad, as Pace would have to
pay royalties to Gemstar who own the VideoPlus patents.



Sadly, PDC is a non-starter as that is an analogue telextext based system;
and OnDigital omitted a similar auto-start/stop feature from their
original DTT specification. Even so, isn't it about time a new Digital-PDC
feature were introduced for use in the new generation of DTT PVRs.
Would this be down to Ofcom to require an enhanced specification
for the broadcasters to implement on their DTT signals ?

Pace could do well to map VideoPlus codes to the DTT channels.

I know this was established in old analogue days, but the Radio Times now
publishes VideoPlus codes for BBC3, BBC4, ITV2, FTN, UK History etc.

I don't know of any Freeview equipment which incorporates VideoPlus
functionality and would provide a useful alternative to the long-promised
seven day EPG.

Doubtless, this might push-up the price a tad, as Pace would have to
pay royalties to Gemstar who own the VideoPlus patents.



Sadly, PDC is a non-starter as that is an analogue telextext based system;
and OnDigital omitted a similar auto-start/stop feature from their
original DTT specification. Even so, isn't it about time a new Digital-PDC
feature were introduced for use in the new generation of DTT PVRs.
Would this be down to Ofcom to require an enhanced specification
for the broadcasters to implement on their DTT signals ?

On 22/01/2004, Jpsltd wrote in message [email protected]
m14.aol.com:

Firewire interface to copy digital video to a computer or dvd recorder.

Do you have any idea how much this would cost Pace in lawsuits ?

Simon.
--
Posted using test version of software.
Please tell me if anything isn't right.

On 22/01/2004, Jpsltd wrote in message [email protected]
m14.aol.com:

Firewire interface to copy digital video to a computer or dvd recorder.

Do you have any idea how much this would cost Pace in lawsuits ?

Simon.
--
Posted using test version of software.
Please tell me if anything isn't right.

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 17:00:21 +0000, Simon Slavin
. uk wrote:

On 22/01/2004, Jpsltd wrote in message [email protected]
m14.aol.com:

Firewire interface to copy digital video to a computer or dvd recorder.

Do you have any idea how much this would cost Pace in lawsuits ?

I'd guess nothing, nil, nada, nowt. But (as always) I could be wrong.

--
QrizB

I sound like I know what I'm talking about, but don't
be fooled.

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 17:00:21 +0000, Simon Slavin
. uk wrote:

On 22/01/2004, Jpsltd wrote in message [email protected]
m14.aol.com:

Firewire interface to copy digital video to a computer or dvd recorder.

Do you have any idea how much this would cost Pace in lawsuits ?

I'd guess nothing, nil, nada, nowt. But (as always) I could be wrong.

--
QrizB

I sound like I know what I'm talking about, but don't
be fooled.