Simple Frreview PVR

Kellerman "kellerman snot wrote:

No issue in recording programs already started, provided you don't mind
missing what has already gone of course!
Just press the red record button and it records from now to the end of
the program. Easy!
Dave

Thank you.

--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk

Steve Thackery wrote:

Delays between key-presses and the highlight moving are a MAJOR source of
confusion, especially when they occur intermittently. They always say
"Oooh, what have I done wrong?". Unfortunately, every PVR I've seen does
this sometimes (shaving a dollar off the price by putting a
barely-adequate processor in there).

The delay in changing channels has been noted. If it does not happen with
analog then why does it happen with digital? If digital is supposedly
better then how is this an improvement.

(yes I have a fairly good idea why - but when using analog as the reference
with no appreciation of the way these things work it is an obvious
annoyance)

Another thing I notice with people who are not used to IT is the use of push
buttons. Those who use IT or modern electronics simply give the button a
short press. Those who are not familiar seems to press and hold the button
until something happens. If there is a delay as in your example and that
the remote / pc etc has an input buffer and key repeat great confusion
results.

Pete

--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk

On Sun, 18 Apr 2010 22:48:16 +0100, Roderick Stewart wrote:

I have tried a 10 metre VGA cable between a PC and a 46" TV display and
there was absolutely no visible sign of ringing, ghosting, streaking or
softening of vertical edges.

Was it a high quality cable with good shielding, and what resolution
were you displaying on the TV monitor?

On 18/04/2010 23:08, Peter Chant wrote:

Another thing I notice with people who are not used to IT is the use of push
buttons. Those who use IT or modern electronics simply give the button a
short press. Those who are not familiar seems to press and hold the button
until something happens. If there is a delay as in your example and that
the remote / pc etc has an input buffer and key repeat great confusion
results.

There is another showstopper that I call 'mode selection', which I see
can defeat many.

A button that requires many pushes to step between different sequenced
settings, and then cycle around to the beginning; while in the midst of
all that, can completely change or disable the operation of all other
buttons on the gadget - while also providing little or no visual clue of
what 'mode' actually is current so the user has to remember something ....

..... is about as confusing as the way I worded the last sentence :-|

--
Adrian C

In article , J G Miller wrote:
I have tried a 10 metre VGA cable between a PC and a 46" TV display and
there was absolutely no visible sign of ringing, ghosting, streaking or
softening of vertical edges.

Was it a high quality cable with good shielding, and what resolution
were you displaying on the TV monitor?

It's a cheap one I bought at a computer market, no thicker than the usual
1.6 metre ones that are supplied with monitors, and thinner than some. I
originally bought it for another purpose, but decided to try it on the big
screen just to see if it made any difference.

I used the highest resolution to which the VGA output could be set. Though
I can't remember the exact figure, it wasn't 1920x1080, the native
resolution of the monitor, which is why I decided to use HDMI.
Nevertheless, I saw no sign of any of the usual analogue deficiencies that
would result from HF loss or impedance mismatching.

I am familiar with using 100 metre lengths, occasionally several at once,
of not particularly special 75 Ohm video cable on baseband composite PAL
video with no more ill effects than can be put right with a simple
equalisation amplifier, so the cable lengths typically used in a domestic
situation pale into insignificance.

Rod.
--
Virtual Access V6.3 free usenet/email software from
http://sourceforge.net/projects/virtual-access/

"Steve Thackery" wrote in message
...

"Peter Chant" wrote in message
...

My general though, which I had not articulated properly, was that
although
we are gaining sophistication the complexity of the user interface is
growing to match.

A point I completely agree with. Despite (like many others here) looking
for a really simple PVR for my mum - as simple as a VCR - I realised there
simply isn't one.

Luckily she's fine with the one I got her (an early Digifusion, which is
now obsolete, so I can't recommend it). But there was a substantial
learning curve.

|

Steve, I was just thinking about the early Digifusion when reading the
beginning of your reply, is the model you mention the FVRT 95 single tuner
PVR?. If so, then I agree that it is brilliantly straightforward and dead
easy to use, I also have a Grundig USB recorder, which still uses the almost
identical software.

"Ivan" wrote in message
...

Steve, I was just thinking about the early Digifusion when reading the
beginning of your reply, is the model you mention the FVRT 95 single tuner
PVR?.

Hi Ivan,

In fact, hers has twin digital tuners, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if
the UI is much the same - there'd be no point in changing it substantially.

Unfortunately I can't remember the model number, although I will look next
time I go over to her place.

SteveT

On Sun, 18 Apr 2010 15:46:28 +0100, Jim Lesurf
wrote:

In article , Peter Duncanson
wrote:
On Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:12:02 +0100, Albert Ross
wrote:


It's always bewildered me that people (like my parents) have no
difficulty driving, operating fairly sophisticated cameras, etc. but
their brains fall over when faced with a VCR

I've noticed with people of various ages that if they approach something
with the firm conviction that it will be too abstruse and complicated
for them to understand, it will be. That prior belief acts as a serious
obstacle to learning and comprehension.

The there's the "press this button and it will be done for you"
culture, as in Microsoftware.

All very well except usually the button only nearly does what you want


Unless you have some knowledge and more control you often can't get
further than "nearly", and that's what this type of software dissuades
you from attaining.

"it begins with a blessing
and it ends with a curse
making life easy
by making it worse"

Kevin Ayers, Soft Machine c. 1968

I've also noticed that amongst students, etc. In particular often
encountered it with students who are presented with learning a skill like
being able to solder circuits, test them, etc, rather that treat
engineering as if it were a theoretical topic best viewed via Mathcad,
Labview, or Spice. :-)

I've noticed it a lot with "professional managers" too arrogant to
realise that someone who has done something for more years than
they've been alive just might conceivably know what they're talking
about.

I've also noticed that when someone is totally convinced that their
"understanding" is already complete and totally right (but isn't) that also
acts as an obstacle. As is the fear some seem to have of admitting that
they might have misunderstood. In part I guess this is due to the way some
schools and employement gives people the idea that is "bad" to "make a
mistake" or "admit an error" as you will be marked down or not promoted,
etc.

The reality, though, is that learning means having to always accept that
you still don't fully understand and be prepared to discuss with others
without becoming aggressive and taking any questioning or doubt as some
sort of "personal affront" or "attack". An to try things at the risk of
initially getting into a muddle and looking foolish.

Yes! If you cock something up, then discovering how to uncock it again
helps you learn how not to do it wrong next time.

Hence I realised some years ago that it can be a waste of time trying to
discuss things with some people. Whereas with others who behave more openly
and considerately you can both learn and expand your understanding.

Alas many Usenet groups on technical topics like computing, etc, tend to
enhance this due to the resident trolls and those who want to belittle
others for knowing less and asking 'daft questions'.

Hehe, I'm battling a pack of them elsewhere

On Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:09:52 +0100, Andy Burns
wrote:

Albert Ross wrote:

factors), I did the same experiment with my (now vintage) Iiyama CRT,
and while the difference was miniscule it was just visible.

Whenever I have noticed a problem with VGA connections it has been due
to overlong, cheap-n-nasty and/or poorly positioned cables, though I
don't know how well VGA would cope with today's higher resolutions that
DVI/HDMI do well.

Yes. sometimes analogue connections can improve when the plugs are
given a good wiggle in their sockets too, something one presumes would
not affect digital signals.

Probably LCDs would show differences less than CRTs too.

On Apr 16, 9:32*am, "Norman Wells" [email protected]
pies.co.am wrote:
I'm inclined to say if they can use a VCR they'll be able to handle any
digital recorder. *If they can't, though, the best solution is to have
another child. *In 6 years time, he'll be able to do all that for them, and
will probably give them 10 good years of continuous use.

'10 good years of continuous use' from a child?

I had no idea that you were a Papist priest. :-p