Re: Aldi special

[Ext User(Knobdoodle)]

"Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "The Family" <family@family.net> wrote:
>> "Mahatma Kote" <dingdongdaddy@dumas.com> wrote:
>>>I see that Aldi have on special next week an SD twin tuner PVR with a
>>> 250 gig hard drive for $179.00 Prices sure are falling for SD.
>>>
>>
>> The DVX-brand SD box with vacant hard disk slot that Strathfield has been
>> selling for several months at $69 is still better value. BYO standard
>> computer hard disk (any size from 20 gig to ~400 gig).
>>
>> Example: a new Western Digital 250 gig disk costs about $80, so in this
>> case the all up cost of a DVX unit + disk will be $69 + $80 = $149. Less
>> if you go for a smaller disk or happen to have a second hand one lying
>> around.
>>
> Is the box any good? Has anyone here used one?
> Do you need a separate carrier for the HDD or does it go inside the box?
> What about the clock; is it changeable or does it use the transmitted time
> that's so annoying people in Qld and WA?
>
OK; I checked out the Strathfield one and it doesn't appear to have a
conventional timer.
As far as I could tell it can only record by pushing "record" or by
selecting from the EPG.

The Aldi one is a new model that looks the same as the TPVR2511 and also has
a 250G hdd but is a TPVR1100 instead.
I bought the Aldi for $179 and they've fixed the timezone problem (woohoo!)
but only time will tell if they've fixed the overheating too.
--
Knob

[Ext User(hemyd)]

"Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Oya%i.13468$CN4.7224@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> "Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> "The Family" <family@family.net> wrote:
>>> "Mahatma Kote" <dingdongdaddy@dumas.com> wrote:
>>>>I see that Aldi have on special next week an SD twin tuner PVR with a
>>>> 250 gig hard drive for $179.00 Prices sure are falling for SD.
>>>>
>>>
>>> The DVX-brand SD box with vacant hard disk slot that Strathfield has
>>> been selling for several months at $69 is still better value. BYO
>>> standard computer hard disk (any size from 20 gig to ~400 gig).
>>>
>>> Example: a new Western Digital 250 gig disk costs about $80, so in this
>>> case the all up cost of a DVX unit + disk will be $69 + $80 = $149.
>>> Less if you go for a smaller disk or happen to have a second hand one
>>> lying around.
>>>
>> Is the box any good? Has anyone here used one?
>> Do you need a separate carrier for the HDD or does it go inside the box?
>> What about the clock; is it changeable or does it use the transmitted
>> time that's so annoying people in Qld and WA?
>>
> OK; I checked out the Strathfield one and it doesn't appear to have a
> conventional timer.
> As far as I could tell it can only record by pushing "record" or by
> selecting from the EPG.
>
> The Aldi one is a new model that looks the same as the TPVR2511 and also
> has a 250G hdd but is a TPVR1100 instead.
> I bought the Aldi for $179 and they've fixed the timezone problem
> (woohoo!) but only time will tell if they've fixed the overheating too.
> --
> Knob
>
I bought mine last Thursday and it is up and running. The unit does get
quite hot, naturally around the hard disk area. Too hot to hold your hand on
it for any long time. I am thinking of installing a fan in the space the PVR
is in.

Henry.

[Ext User(Knobdoodle)]

"hemyd" <mydspamhen@optusnet.com.au> wrote:
> "Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> The Aldi one is a new model that looks the same as the TPVR2511 and also
>> has a 250G hdd but is a TPVR1100 instead.
>> I bought the Aldi for $179 and they've fixed the timezone problem
>> (woohoo!) but only time will tell if they've fixed the overheating too.
>>
> I bought mine last Thursday and it is up and running. The unit does get
> quite hot, naturally around the hard disk area. Too hot to hold your hand
> on it for any long time. I am thinking of installing a fan in the space
> the PVR is in.
>
When I bought my first PVR, an Opentel off EBay, I figured there was no
warranty (to speak of) so I opened it up and put a little CPU fan (off a
P166) over the HDD and it worked a treat! (It runs off the HDD power so
shuts down when the HDD does)
I've resisted doing the same to the Tevion because of the waranty but I
agree that it's absolutely what it needs. (Either that or a "standby" mode
that shuts down the HDD when it's not in use.)
I might give it a week to see if it has any warranty faults and then open it
up.
--
Knob

[Ext User(hemyd)]

"Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:clS%i.14220$CN4.3028@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> "hemyd" <mydspamhen@optusnet.com.au> wrote:
>> "Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> The Aldi one is a new model that looks the same as the TPVR2511 and also
>>> has a 250G hdd but is a TPVR1100 instead.
>>> I bought the Aldi for $179 and they've fixed the timezone problem
>>> (woohoo!) but only time will tell if they've fixed the overheating too.
>>>
>> I bought mine last Thursday and it is up and running. The unit does get
>> quite hot, naturally around the hard disk area. Too hot to hold your hand
>> on it for any long time. I am thinking of installing a fan in the space
>> the PVR is in.
>>
> When I bought my first PVR, an Opentel off EBay, I figured there was no
> warranty (to speak of) so I opened it up and put a little CPU fan (off a
> P166) over the HDD and it worked a treat! (It runs off the HDD power so
> shuts down when the HDD does)
> I've resisted doing the same to the Tevion because of the waranty but I
> agree that it's absolutely what it needs. (Either that or a "standby"
> mode that shuts down the HDD when it's not in use.)
> I might give it a week to see if it has any warranty faults and then open
> it up.
> --
> Knob
>
I took the top cover off - there's no way of telling it's been taken off, so
no warranty issue. One easy option would be to mount a hood with a 12 volt
fan running off a small DC supply, over the top of the top cover. I'm not
sure if the internal PVR power supply would take the load of a fan. Another
option would be to simply leave the top off the unit, and mount a fan above
it. The top cover, though, might be needed to shield the unit from
interference.

Henry.

[Ext User(Knobdoodle)]

"hemyd" <mydspamhen@optusnet.com.au> wrote:
> I took the top cover off - there's no way of telling it's been taken off,
> so no warranty issue. One easy option would be to mount a hood with a 12
> volt fan running off a small DC supply, over the top of the top cover. I'm
> not sure if the internal PVR power supply would take the load of a fan.
> Another option would be to simply leave the top off the unit, and mount a
> fan above it. The top cover, though, might be needed to shield the unit
> from interference.
>

Well I left mine switched on overnight and it's cooked itself!
Might try the Strathfield next......
--
Knob

[Ext User(hemyd)]

"Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uoT0j.15438$CN4.8151@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> "hemyd" <mydspamhen@optusnet.com.au> wrote:
>> I took the top cover off - there's no way of telling it's been taken off,
>> so no warranty issue. One easy option would be to mount a hood with a 12
>> volt fan running off a small DC supply, over the top of the top cover.
>> I'm not sure if the internal PVR power supply would take the load of a
>> fan. Another option would be to simply leave the top off the unit, and
>> mount a fan above it. The top cover, though, might be needed to shield
>> the unit from interference.
>>
>
> Well I left mine switched on overnight and it's cooked itself!
> Might try the Strathfield next......
> --
> Knob
>
I've taken the top cover off mine and will use it like that indefinitely.
Also, when turned off with the remote control, it seems to go into a standby
mode. Possibly it turns itself on when set to record. Whatever - with the
top off it's running a lot cooler. I will leave the top off, and eventually
mount a fan above it.

Henry.

[Ext User(Knobdoodle)]

"hemyd" <mydspamhen@optusnet.com.au> wrote:
> "Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> Well I left mine switched on overnight and it's cooked itself!
>> Might try the Strathfield next......
>>
> I've taken the top cover off mine and will use it like that indefinitely.
> Also, when turned off with the remote control, it seems to go into a
> standby mode. Possibly it turns itself on when set to record. Whatever -
> with the top off it's running a lot cooler. I will leave the top off, and
> eventually mount a fan above it.
>
Good plan!
Mine never had any problems when I remembered to turn them off; it was only
when I forgot and left them on overnight that they died.
Good luck,
--
Knob

[Ext User(Greg)]

The Aldi unit sounds like a lemon if it cooks itself when left on for too
long. Especialy if you have to run it with the cover off just to keep it
cool.

My Topfield SD recorder has been left on overnight and its never cooked
itself. It runs warm of course but not hot enough that you can't touch it
like the Aldi one.

"Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:o7c1j.15795$CN4.11086@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> "hemyd" <mydspamhen@optusnet.com.au> wrote:
>> "Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> Well I left mine switched on overnight and it's cooked itself!
>>> Might try the Strathfield next......
>>>
>> I've taken the top cover off mine and will use it like that indefinitely.
>> Also, when turned off with the remote control, it seems to go into a
>> standby mode. Possibly it turns itself on when set to record. Whatever -
>> with the top off it's running a lot cooler. I will leave the top off, and
>> eventually mount a fan above it.
>>
> Good plan!
> Mine never had any problems when I remembered to turn them off; it was
> only when I forgot and left them on overnight that they died.

[Ext User(hemyd)]

"Greg" <g12345567@no-spam-yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:4747d278$0$15506$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> The Aldi unit sounds like a lemon if it cooks itself when left on for too
> long. Especialy if you have to run it with the cover off just to keep it
> cool.
>
> My Topfield SD recorder has been left on overnight and its never cooked
> itself. It runs warm of course but not hot enough that you can't touch it
> like the Aldi one.
>
I realise that the Topfield is better, however a $179 PVR is worth trying.
The quality of recordings and the ease of use are outstanding. Basically, I
am about to fit a cooling fan above it, and stick a small heatsink onto the
processor chip. I have the option of returning it, but so far would like to
try it out.

Henry.

[Ext User(Knobdoodle)]

"Greg" <g12345567@no-spam-yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:4747d278$0$15506$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> The Aldi unit sounds like a lemon if it cooks itself when left on for too
> long. Especialy if you have to run it with the cover off just to keep it
> cool.
>
> My Topfield SD recorder has been left on overnight and its never cooked
> itself. It runs warm of course but not hot enough that you can't touch it
> like the Aldi one.
>
[shrug] The Aldi was only $179.
--
Knob

[Ext User(Marts)]

Greg wrote...

> My Topfield SD recorder has been left on overnight and its never cooked
> itself. It runs warm of course but not hot enough that you can't touch it
> like the Aldi one.

I have a Supernet PVR bought off Ebay. It has been running, almost 24/7 [1]
since Father's Day, when I got it. It has a power save feature with the HDD unit
powering down when not in use.

It's been working well, too, but does have the occasional glitch when if it's
recording it seems to lock up and nothing but a power off reset will fix it. But
that's a rare occurance.





[1] ie. it's almost never turned "off", Not that we watch TV 24/7...

[aldisux]

I am never touching ALDI "specials" again. After fiddling with this item for 12months , I give up. It is a pile of rubbish.
And ALDI have gone down so far in my estimation. The store manager assured that they NEVER have any trouble with any of their electronic items. Which assured me enough to fork out the $229 for this worthless pile of junk.
Will be on eBay soon , as it is too late to take it back, assuming ALDI would even take it back.
Will start at $5 to cover ebay costs. Might make a good spare or doorstop for someone.