Best PVR for older/non-techie people
 

"jamie powell" wrote in message
...

Out of interest, do the press still publish Videoplus+ code numbers in
their TV listings? And do any PVRs or freeview-based DVD recorders accept
them?

RadioTimes [1] has Videoplus+ code numbers for all its analogue and some
digital only programmes, but AFAIK Freeview recorders have never used them
as they have an EPG. They are (moderately) useful for recording from a
(non-recording) Freeview STB onto a VCR.

[1] When did it lose the space in the middle and become CamelCase?

--
Max Demian

Best PVR for older/non-techie people
 

On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:18:07 -0000, "Max Demian"
wrote:

"jamie powell" wrote in message
...

Out of interest, do the press still publish Videoplus+ code numbers in
their TV listings? And do any PVRs or freeview-based DVD recorders accept
them?

RadioTimes [1] has Videoplus+ code numbers for all its analogue and some
digital only programmes, but AFAIK Freeview recorders have never used them
as they have an EPG.

The Daewoo Freeview SetPal-VCR used the Videoplus+ numbers. It did not
have an EPG. (I put that in the past tense because it can't handle a
split-NIT and is not much use now.)

They are (moderately) useful for recording from a
(non-recording) Freeview STB onto a VCR.

[1] When did it lose the space in the middle and become CamelCase?

--
Peter Duncanson
(in uk.tech.digital-tv)

Best PVR for older/non-techie people
 

In article ,
jamie powell wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...

Reading between the lines it's too expensive for you anyway. One day
you'll learn you often get what you pay for.

What are you on about now? I have expensive taste as it happens, but in
this case it isn't me that's paying. I'll be buying and installing
around 10 digital recorders after switchover for a group of elderly
'church people', all of whom are currently still using VHS (quite
happily). I'd rather not land them with a defective, half-baked product.

You asked for advice and I gave mine. You chose to think I'm lying. That
says more about you than me.

BTW, you could give those folks some good advice about getting a good pro
in to do what they need rather than relying on someone who obviously knows
f all about the subject.

--
*If PROGRESS is for advancement, what does that make CONGRESS mean?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Best PVR for older/non-techie people
 

In article ,
Alan wrote:
The native on screen graphics are poor on a Topfield. No consideration
was given to the fact that everyone doesn't have 20:20 vision. Anyone
for light grey text on a dark grey background or white text on a light
blue background?

Just like a motorway sign, then? ;-)

Motorway signs also use large rounded "friendly" fonts where the design
was first tested for readability.

Well, I don't have perfect vision but find the basic EPG on the Toppy as
easy or easier to read than any of the other four systems I have here.
Which makes your comment about white lettering on a light blue background
rubbish.

Topfield's GUI designers forgot that we in the UK use an interlaced TV
system and used fonts that have horizontal lines equivalent to less than
two TV frame lines that flash as a result, especially on CRT receivers.

It's not noticeable on mine. Which has a 45" screen. Or on the 24" LCD it
also feeds in another room.

While I'm very happy with my Topfield (with 60 off third party bug fix
or enhancement patches and a few popular third party software
applications) it's not a box that I would recommend for someone without
some basic technical knowledge and an inclination to 'fiddle'.

But did you need any of those 'fixes' for basic use? Like just replacing a
VCR?

Most of Topfield's (good) reputation is based on the older 5800 model,
older firmwares, a very knowledgeable active user base and a wealth of
third party software that can be run on the box. With the newer 5810
model Topfield released some truly awful firmware and walked away from
any bug fix support for the last year or more. The UK distributor has
resorted to shipping the box with a limited number of third party bug
fix patches.

Could well be - should have said I was referring to the 5800 model.

For the purpose for which the OP wants the boxes a Topfield is not the
best choice and probably very poor value for the money.

Could be. Are you saying the latest ones are also poorly made? Mine hasn't
missed a beat. The only other FreeView box I have that's as good is a Sony
VTX-D800U - all the other have crashed at one time or another.

--
*When cheese gets it's picture taken, what does it say?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Best PVR for older/non-techie people
 

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote


But did you need any of those 'fixes' for basic use? Like just replacing a
VCR?

None of the firmware supplied by Topfield support the SplitNIT so yes
fixes are needed.

See the following link for list of many of the patches available, some
of which may prevent missed of corrupted recordings.
http://www.toppy.org.uk/~r2-d2/patches.html

Could well be - should have said I was referring to the 5800 model.


Could be. Are you saying the latest ones are also poorly made? Mine hasn't
missed a beat. The only other FreeView box I have that's as good is a Sony
VTX-D800U - all the other have crashed at one time or another.


The latest models cannot run older, stable, firmware and have to run
the rather bug ridden Freeview+ firmware. IMO, the only way to get a
reliable Topfield with Freeview+ firmware is to install third party bug
fixes and/or TAPs that completely replace the poorly implement
functionality.

While many of the older 5800 are suffering from power supply problems (a
DIY fix available from around £5) the newer 5810 seem to be suffering
from hard disk problems, possibly because Topfield decided to
drastically cut the number of ventilation slots in the casing in favour
of embossing their logo in the metal work. On a friend's 5810 the hard
disk is reporting a temperature close to 55C after an hours use!




--



Alan

news2009 {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

Best PVR for older/non-techie people
 

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...

You asked for advice and I gave mine. You chose to think I'm lying. That
says more about you than me.

Nah, I just think you're arrogant and hopelessly incompetent, as do many
others.


BTW, you could give those folks some good advice about getting a good pro
in to do what they need rather than relying on someone who obviously knows
f all about the subject.

And that'd be you, would it?
Anyone foolish enough to let you near their TVs deserves everything they'd
most definitely get.

In this case however, I think the glaring lack of competence lies with the PVR
and DVB-T designers. Even the Philips-badged Pace one is completely unusable.

Best PVR for older/non-techie people
 

In article ,
jamie powell wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...

You asked for advice and I gave mine. You chose to think I'm lying.
That says more about you than me.

Nah, I just think you're arrogant and hopelessly incompetent, as do many
others.

Ah. You read other's minds too? Is there no end to your accomplishments?


BTW, you could give those folks some good advice about getting a good
pro in to do what they need rather than relying on someone who
obviously knows f all about the subject.

And that'd be you, would it?

Definitely not.

Anyone foolish enough to let you near their TVs deserves everything
they'd most definitely get.

Oh it's TVs now? Thought it was just PVRs you didn't know about.

In this case however, I think the glaring lack of competence lies with
the PVR and DVB-T designers. Even the Philips-badged Pace one is
completely unusable.

There you go, then. Design something better.

Or you could write your own TAP for a Toppy.

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza...

--
*We waste time, so you don't have to *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Best PVR for older/non-techie people
 

The vast majority of my customers are older and, although the Humax
has some irritating points, I have managed to teach dozens, if not
hundreds of users up to about 95 years old how to use them.
I soon hear from any of them who are confused as they all have my
direct number!

The main thing is to teach them to use the epg right from square one,
rather than changing channels with the number buttons. This way they
soon get used to the curser-type control. (Initially older people
always seem to hold the buttons for too long and run through about ten
channels at a time!)
(By the way, has anyone noticed that whenever you demonstrate a
Freeview box or TV, everyone makes a bee line for BBC3 or BBC4 which
is inevitably not broadcasting at the time, and then they wonder what
has happened!)

The other thing to teach a Humax user is not to use the menu to find
the list of recordings, but to open the handset and use the "play
list" button. I usually mark it with Tippex so they can find it at
first.

I have tried to teach other weird and wonderful PVRs when I have been
in peoples' homes doing installations but I still think the Humax is
the easiest.


Re the Humax:

The most ridiculous thing they have ever done is to stop supplying an
instruction book and to supply a CD rom with instructions. Only a very
small number of my older customers have computers and those that do
are likely to be able to fathom out how to use a Humax without a book
anyway. Its those who dont who need the book. I would urge anyone who
buys one to phone or write to Humax and demand one whilst telling them
how stupid the decision is.

The emptying of the EPG when the box is in standby is extremely
annoying and causes more complaints than anything else. I am sure it
could be fixed but no one at Humax seems to think this is an issue.

Yes they do lock up but so do all other Freeview receivers / PVRs that
I have come across.

Best PVR for older/non-techie people
 

I gave them a Humax (freesat version) with a controller programmed so
that the channel buttons always control the Humax and the volume
buttons always control the TV.

Out of interest, is it possible to set the Humax Freesat handset so
that this is possible? If so, I havent found out how to do it.
It is totally illogical for them to supply a handset that CAN be
programmed to control the TV volume and then to have it control the
volume output level of the PVR when it is in PVR mode. This is the
immediate cause of background noise and hissing as the TV is set too
loud and the box is set too low. Also sound blasting out as soon as
the TV is switched to DVD or VCR or whatever else. The Sky one,
conversely always controls the TV volume whether it is in TV or Sky
mode, (assuming you have set it up to do so).

Best PVR for older/non-techie people
 

"widgitt" wrote in message
...

Re the Humax:

The most ridiculous thing they have ever done is to stop supplying an
instruction book and to supply a CD rom with instructions. Only a very
small number of my older customers have computers and those that do
are likely to be able to fathom out how to use a Humax without a book
anyway. Its those who dont who need the book. I would urge anyone who
buys one to phone or write to Humax and demand one whilst telling them
how stupid the decision is.

The emptying of the EPG when the box is in standby is extremely
annoying and causes more complaints than anything else. I am sure it
could be fixed but no one at Humax seems to think this is an issue.

Yes they do lock up but so do all other Freeview receivers / PVRs that
I have come across.

The above reasons are partly why I ruled them out - they're not really any
better than the rest IMO, and you also haven't mentioned the non-intuitive
user interface, nor the loud operating noise (on some models).