thoughts on this pvr from maplins good/bad ?

Roger Mills wrote:
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Peter Duncanson wrote:

On Fri, 8 Jan 2010 17:18:29 -0000, "Roger Mills"
wrote:


Thanks - useful info!

Sounds like it *doesn't* have Freeview+ (or whatever it's now
called)?
I'm not sure exactly what is covered by Freeview+. This box does have
"Pause and rewind Live digital TV" (wording copied from the Maplin
webpage.)

[I've just been reminded that Freeview+ is the *current* name for what used
to be called "Freeview Playback"]

According to Wikipedia, the features which all Freeview+ devices must have
a
a.. At least 8 Day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
b.. Series Link (one timer to record whole series)
c.. Record split programmes as one programme
d.. Offer to record related programme
e.. Record alternative showing if there is a time conflict
f.. Schedule changes updated in standby (e.g. scheduled recording starting
early)
g.. Accurate recording (equivalent to PDC - programmes are recorded based
on signals from the broadcaster rather than scheduled time)
The last of these would be of the greatest interest to me, since programmes
are often screened at slightly different times from those scheduled, and I
currently use PDC on my old VCR - so a PVR without it would be less good in
this respect.

Accurate recordings depends on the broadcaster sending the signals
correctly, some channels are better than others. I have occasionally
missed the end of a programme on more4.

--
Adrian

"Adrian" wrote in message
om...
Roger Mills wrote:
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Peter Duncanson wrote:

On Fri, 8 Jan 2010 17:18:29 -0000, "Roger Mills"
wrote:


Thanks - useful info!

Sounds like it *doesn't* have Freeview+ (or whatever it's now
called)?
I'm not sure exactly what is covered by Freeview+. This box does have
"Pause and rewind Live digital TV" (wording copied from the Maplin
webpage.)

[I've just been reminded that Freeview+ is the *current* name for what
used to be called "Freeview Playback"]

According to Wikipedia, the features which all Freeview+ devices must
have a
a.. At least 8 Day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
b.. Series Link (one timer to record whole series)
c.. Record split programmes as one programme
d.. Offer to record related programme
e.. Record alternative showing if there is a time conflict
f.. Schedule changes updated in standby (e.g. scheduled recording
starting early)
g.. Accurate recording (equivalent to PDC - programmes are recorded
based on signals from the broadcaster rather than scheduled time)
The last of these would be of the greatest interest to me, since
programmes are often screened at slightly different times from those
scheduled, and I currently use PDC on my old VCR - so a PVR without it
would be less good in this respect.

Accurate recordings depends on the broadcaster sending the signals
correctly, some channels are better than others. I have occasionally
missed the end of a programme on more4.

It also depends upon the machine implementing a sensible algorithm if
programs overlap due to early start/ late finish.

Some channels habitually start programs early and some habitually finish
them late. These conflicts cannot be resolved (by the box) when the
recording is scheduled and have to be done in real time as they happen.
Some boxes implement a strategy for this which is not entirely sensible.

I have no idea what the box under discussion here, does.

tim

"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Peter Duncanson wrote:

On Fri, 8 Jan 2010 17:18:29 -0000, "Roger Mills"
wrote:

Sounds like it *doesn't* have Freeview+ (or whatever it's now
called)?

I'm not sure exactly what is covered by Freeview+. This box does have
"Pause and rewind Live digital TV" (wording copied from the Maplin
webpage.)

[I've just been reminded that Freeview+ is the *current* name for what
used to be called "Freeview Playback"]

According to Wikipedia, the features which all Freeview+ devices must have
a
a.. At least 8 Day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
b.. Series Link (one timer to record whole series)
c.. Record split programmes as one programme
d.. Offer to record related programme

I'm not sure what d means and don't think it's part of Freeview+

e.. Record alternative showing if there is a time conflict
f.. Schedule changes updated in standby (e.g. scheduled recording
starting early)
g.. Accurate recording (equivalent to PDC - programmes are recorded based
on signals from the broadcaster rather than scheduled time)
The last of these would be of the greatest interest to me, since
programmes

--
Max Demian

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Adrian wrote:

Roger Mills wrote:
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Peter Duncanson wrote:

On Fri, 8 Jan 2010 17:18:29 -0000, "Roger Mills"
wrote:


Thanks - useful info!

Sounds like it *doesn't* have Freeview+ (or whatever it's now
called)?
I'm not sure exactly what is covered by Freeview+. This box does
have "Pause and rewind Live digital TV" (wording copied from the
Maplin webpage.)

[I've just been reminded that Freeview+ is the *current* name for
what used to be called "Freeview Playback"]

According to Wikipedia, the features which all Freeview+ devices
must have a
a.. At least 8 Day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
b.. Series Link (one timer to record whole series)
c.. Record split programmes as one programme
d.. Offer to record related programme
e.. Record alternative showing if there is a time conflict
f.. Schedule changes updated in standby (e.g. scheduled recording
starting early)
g.. Accurate recording (equivalent to PDC - programmes are
recorded based on signals from the broadcaster rather than scheduled
time) The last of these would be of the greatest interest to me, since
programmes are often screened at slightly different times from those
scheduled, and I currently use PDC on my old VCR - so a PVR without
it would be less good in this respect.

Accurate recordings depends on the broadcaster sending the signals
correctly, some channels are better than others. I have occasionally
missed the end of a programme on more4.

Yes indeed - and I have occasionally missed a complete programme, using PDC!

But it seems to work most of the time - but "accurate recording" will
*never* work on a PVR in which it's not implemented!
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
tim.... wrote:

"Adrian" wrote in message
om...

Accurate recordings depends on the broadcaster sending the signals
correctly, some channels are better than others. I have occasionally
missed the end of a programme on more4.

It also depends upon the machine implementing a sensible algorithm if
programs overlap due to early start/ late finish.

Some channels habitually start programs early and some habitually
finish them late. These conflicts cannot be resolved (by the box)
when the recording is scheduled and have to be done in real time as
they happen. Some boxes implement a strategy for this which is not
entirely sensible.
I have no idea what the box under discussion here, does.

tim

It's supposed to be able to record two channels at the same time, compared
with a VCR which can only record one. So - unless you were already recording
two - so that the overlap took it above two, it should hopefully cope.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
tim.... wrote:

"Adrian" wrote in message
om...

Accurate recordings depends on the broadcaster sending the signals
correctly, some channels are better than others. I have occasionally
missed the end of a programme on more4.

It also depends upon the machine implementing a sensible algorithm if
programs overlap due to early start/ late finish.

Some channels habitually start programs early and some habitually
finish them late. These conflicts cannot be resolved (by the box)
when the recording is scheduled and have to be done in real time as
they happen. Some boxes implement a strategy for this which is not
entirely sensible.
I have no idea what the box under discussion here, does.

tim

It's supposed to be able to record two channels at the same time, compared
with a VCR which can only record one. So - unless you were already
recording two - so that the overlap took it above two, it should hopefully
cope.

I assue you, some do not

tim

"tim...." wrote in message
...
"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
tim.... wrote:
"Adrian" wrote in message
om...

Accurate recordings depends on the broadcaster sending the signals
correctly, some channels are better than others. I have occasionally
missed the end of a programme on more4.

It also depends upon the machine implementing a sensible algorithm if
programs overlap due to early start/ late finish.

Some channels habitually start programs early and some habitually
finish them late. These conflicts cannot be resolved (by the box)
when the recording is scheduled and have to be done in real time as
they happen. Some boxes implement a strategy for this which is not
entirely sensible.
I have no idea what the box under discussion here, does.

It's supposed to be able to record two channels at the same time,
compared with a VCR which can only record one. So - unless you were
already recording two - so that the overlap took it above two, it should
hopefully cope.

I assue you, some do not

The dual tuner Humax PVRs try to leave a tuner free for live viewing, which
sometimes means clipping am overrun if one programme starts at the same time
as another on another channel.

--
Max Demian

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Max Demian wrote:


The dual tuner Humax PVRs try to leave a tuner free for live viewing,
which sometimes means clipping am overrun if one programme starts at
the same time as another on another channel.

Is there any way of telling it not to? If - as many people now have - you've
got a digital tuner in your TV, you don't need - or want - to tie up a tuner
for live viewing.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

"Max Demian" wrote in message
...
"tim...." wrote in message
...
"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
tim.... wrote:
"Adrian" wrote in message
om...

Accurate recordings depends on the broadcaster sending the signals
correctly, some channels are better than others. I have occasionally
missed the end of a programme on more4.

It also depends upon the machine implementing a sensible algorithm if
programs overlap due to early start/ late finish.

Some channels habitually start programs early and some habitually
finish them late. These conflicts cannot be resolved (by the box)
when the recording is scheduled and have to be done in real time as
they happen. Some boxes implement a strategy for this which is not
entirely sensible.
I have no idea what the box under discussion here, does.

It's supposed to be able to record two channels at the same time,
compared with a VCR which can only record one. So - unless you were
already recording two - so that the overlap took it above two, it should
hopefully cope.

I assue you, some do not

The dual tuner Humax PVRs try to leave a tuner free for live viewing,
which sometimes means clipping am overrun if one programme starts at the
same time as another on another channel.

Yep, exactly. It even does this if the recordings are made from standby and
the machine knows that no-one is watching a live recording.

Bloody annoying (and the reason that I won't be buying another one)

Tim

"tim...." wrote in message
...
"Max Demian" wrote in message

The dual tuner Humax PVRs try to leave a tuner free for live viewing,
which sometimes means clipping am overrun if one programme starts at the
same time as another on another channel.

Yep, exactly. It even does this if the recordings are made from standby
and the machine knows that no-one is watching a live recording.

Bloody annoying (and the reason that I won't be buying another one)

So what PVR will you be buying?

--
Max Demian