expensive Pace Twin v. cheap Ferguson FDT500

In article , David Pitt
wrote:
In message Jim Lesurf
wrote:


Back on topic: FWIW I was tempted by the 'Twin' (it even reminds me of
an editor I used to like ;- ). However until I bought a DTTV box I
wasn't sure we could get the signal reliably. I also still have not
heard any figures for the audible (mechanical) noise level from its
HD. Hence I ended up buying the Nokia 221T.

The drive is quiet, inaudible at more than four feet, it's much quieter
than an Iyonix. (An in comment for connoisseurs of fine products.)

That is a useful calibration as I'm also writing this reply on an Iyonix.
;-

Pity that the magazine reviews never seem to actually *measure* the
mechanical noise level and can give a value in something dB(A) at a couple
of metres. I'd find this useful.

However (some) have a sound fault which results in a low level buzz from
all its analogue outputs. It has to be returned for a hardware fix.

OK. I'm using the S/PDIF from the nokia I have as this gives decent
results.

Mostly it works very well indeed, the concept is very well thought out
with good sound and vision, but it does need resets of the mains plug
type. It is outperformed in reliability terms by my Nokia OnDigital box.

Is the 'mains out and in again' reset a common 'feature' of DTTV boxes?

The Nokia 221T I have has locked up a few times since we bought it, and has
required this sort of reset to poke it back into behaving correctly. When
it freezes it ignores the remote. Mostly the problem locks up the picture
and occurs when using the handset to issue some commands. However last
night it just ignored the handset at one point when I tried to change
station, but continued to output the vision and sound as if all was well.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

In message
Jim Lesurf wrote:

In article , David Pitt
wrote:
In message Jim Lesurf
wrote:


Back on topic: FWIW I was tempted by the 'Twin' (it even reminds me of
an editor I used to like ;- ). However until I bought a DTTV box I
wasn't sure we could get the signal reliably. I also still have not
heard any figures for the audible (mechanical) noise level from its
HD. Hence I ended up buying the Nokia 221T.

The drive is quiet, inaudible at more than four feet, it's much quieter
than an Iyonix. (An in comment for connoisseurs of fine products.)

That is a useful calibration as I'm also writing this reply on an Iyonix.
;-

Pity that the magazine reviews never seem to actually *measure* the
mechanical noise level and can give a value in something dB(A) at a couple
of metres. I'd find this useful.

It is difficult to quantify this but at least 20dB down on the Iyonix
with very uncalibrated ears. The unused internal speakers on the TV
hiss at about the same level as the Twin which is more of a whine. It
is also quieter than the VCR. The only time I have heard the Twin in
use was replaying delayed live TV.

Mostly it works very well indeed, the concept is very well thought out
with good sound and vision, but it does need resets of the mains plug
type. It is outperformed in reliability terms by my Nokia OnDigital box.

Is the 'mains out and in again' reset a common 'feature' of DTTV boxes?

It's not uncommon. The Twin has a more frequent and broader range of
malfeasance than the previous Nokia OnDigital and Grundig GDT1500 boxes.

The Nokia 221T I have has locked up a few times since we bought it, and has
required this sort of reset to poke it back into behaving correctly. When
it freezes it ignores the remote. Mostly the problem locks up the picture
and occurs when using the handset to issue some commands. However last
night it just ignored the handset at one point when I tried to change
station, but continued to output the vision and sound as if all was well.

I am sure a good part of the software is common, or of common origin, to
all these boxes. It is the user veneer on top that varies.

--
Dave Pitt.

Iyonix, OS5.03.

In message
Jim Lesurf wrote:

In article , David Pitt
wrote:
In message Jim Lesurf
wrote:


Back on topic: FWIW I was tempted by the 'Twin' (it even reminds me of
an editor I used to like ;- ). However until I bought a DTTV box I
wasn't sure we could get the signal reliably. I also still have not
heard any figures for the audible (mechanical) noise level from its
HD. Hence I ended up buying the Nokia 221T.

The drive is quiet, inaudible at more than four feet, it's much quieter
than an Iyonix. (An in comment for connoisseurs of fine products.)

That is a useful calibration as I'm also writing this reply on an Iyonix.
;-

Pity that the magazine reviews never seem to actually *measure* the
mechanical noise level and can give a value in something dB(A) at a couple
of metres. I'd find this useful.

It is difficult to quantify this but at least 20dB down on the Iyonix
with very uncalibrated ears. The unused internal speakers on the TV
hiss at about the same level as the Twin which is more of a whine. It
is also quieter than the VCR. The only time I have heard the Twin in
use was replaying delayed live TV.

Mostly it works very well indeed, the concept is very well thought out
with good sound and vision, but it does need resets of the mains plug
type. It is outperformed in reliability terms by my Nokia OnDigital box.

Is the 'mains out and in again' reset a common 'feature' of DTTV boxes?

It's not uncommon. The Twin has a more frequent and broader range of
malfeasance than the previous Nokia OnDigital and Grundig GDT1500 boxes.

The Nokia 221T I have has locked up a few times since we bought it, and has
required this sort of reset to poke it back into behaving correctly. When
it freezes it ignores the remote. Mostly the problem locks up the picture
and occurs when using the handset to issue some commands. However last
night it just ignored the handset at one point when I tried to change
station, but continued to output the vision and sound as if all was well.

I am sure a good part of the software is common, or of common origin, to
all these boxes. It is the user veneer on top that varies.

--
Dave Pitt.

Iyonix, OS5.03.