Hdd television recorder

[Knobdoodle]

X-No-archive: yes

My apologies if this has already been covered 1000 times but I'm after
something a bit cleverer than my old VCR so I'm thinking of getting a
set-top box with a built-in hard-drive.
I saw one at JB hi-fi for $499 with an 80G hdd. Is that pretty reasonable?
(just some noggy brand I've never heard of)

The cheapest I've seen DVD recorders with hdd is about $900 and I reckon
I'll actually want to burn telecasts to DVD about twice every blue-moon so
the set-top box looks the better option.

Are there any features or limitations I should look out for?

Do these things have macrovision? i.e. If I record something to the hdd and
later want to tape it to my VCR will I be able to?
Thanks .... Clem

[Phill Daniel]

"Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@notmail.com> wrote:

>X-No-archive: yes
>
>My apologies if this has already been covered 1000 times but I'm after
>something a bit cleverer than my old VCR so I'm thinking of getting a
>set-top box with a built-in hard-drive.
>I saw one at JB hi-fi for $499 with an 80G hdd. Is that pretty reasonable?
>(just some noggy brand I've never heard of)
>
>The cheapest I've seen DVD recorders with hdd is about $900 and I reckon
>I'll actually want to burn telecasts to DVD about twice every blue-moon so
>the set-top box looks the better option.
>
>Are there any features or limitations I should look out for?
>
>Do these things have macrovision? i.e. If I record something to the hdd and
>later want to tape it to my VCR will I be able to?
>Thanks .... Clem
>
Hi Clem... there is no macrovision on digital Free To Air broadcasts, you can
copy to tape if you want to.

There is a new model WINTAL STB with an 80GB hard disk in it..

http://wintal.com.au/set_top_boxes/43121057.html

I have the wintal STB without the hard disk. and i think it has one of the best
timers around - it only has 12 slots, but you can program the same event for
different days of the week using only one of the slots. (ie: Tues , Thurs ,
Sat @ 1930 as an example)

I am unsure what the PVR version has..

Radio parts in melbourne have this for $399.00 and they are in the City or in
Carnegie..

the website will do internet based purchases.
The wintal website also has the dealers

http://wintal.com.au/dealers.html

Rgds
Phill..

[Phill Daniel]

>Hi Clem... there is no macrovision on digital Free To Air broadcasts, you can
>copy to tape if you want to.
>
>There is a new model WINTAL STB with an 80GB hard disk in it..
>
>http://wintal.com.au/set_top_boxes/43121057.html
>
>I have the wintal STB without the hard disk. and i think it has one of the best
>timers around - it only has 12 slots, but you can program the same event for
>different days of the week using only one of the slots. (ie: Tues , Thurs ,
>Sat @ 1930 as an example)
>
>I am unsure what the PVR version has..
>
>Radio parts in melbourne have this for $399.00 and they are in the City or in
>Carnegie..
>
>the website will do internet based purchases.
>The wintal website also has the dealers
>
>http://wintal.com.au/dealers.html
>
>Rgds
>Phill..

I forgot to add, the radioparts website is..
http://www.radioparts.com.au/ProdView.aspx?popup=1&Product=43121057

[Koenig]

> Hi Clem... there is no macrovision on digital Free To Air broadcasts, you
can
> copy to tape if you want to.
>
> There is a new model WINTAL STB with an 80GB hard disk in it..
>
> http://wintal.com.au/set_top_boxes/43121057.html

Wow, this unit seems sensational. For $399 you get a digital tuner,
programmable recording and a 80 gig hard drive to put the shows on!

Being a total newbie to this stuff - will this unit then allow me to view
the digital TV channels?

[Ian Galbraith]

On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 01:27:50 GMT, "Koenig"
<trevorgensch@aanet.com.ayyou> wrote:

[snip]

>Wow, this unit seems sensational. For $399 you get a digital tuner,
>programmable recording and a 80 gig hard drive to put the shows on!

No usb or other computer connection though.

[snip]

[Phill Daniel]

Ian Galbraith <me@privacy.net> wrote:

>On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 01:27:50 GMT, "Koenig"
><trevorgensch@aanet.com.ayyou> wrote:
>
>[snip]
>
>>Wow, this unit seems sensational. For $399 you get a digital tuner,
>>programmable recording and a 80 gig hard drive to put the shows on!
>
>No usb or other computer connection though.
>
>[snip]
>
>

For $399... what do you expect..

in response to Koenig's question.. YES.. only Standard Definition though..

Each broadcaster is given a range of channels..

http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=87

for instance..

the channels are allocated..

1 - TEN
2 - ABC
7 - SEVEN
9 - TEN
10 - TEN
?? - SBS (i dont get SBS on my Rabbits ears!! )

11-19 - TEN
20-29 - ABC
30-39 - SBS
70-39 - SEVEN
90-99 - NINE

and so on... the stations are broadcasting in different resolutions or
demonstrations. during last nights cricket.. Ch 9 showed the sports active on
one of the 9x range - had an alternate picture (in picture)

the STBs also do digital radio - SBS x 2 - ABC = DIG.

[Koenig]

"Ian Galbraith" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:sic6u0lfd0a9e3gjghm6cd684rjtmtc5af@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 01:27:50 GMT, "Koenig"
> <trevorgensch@aanet.com.ayyou> wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
> >Wow, this unit seems sensational. For $399 you get a digital tuner,
> >programmable recording and a 80 gig hard drive to put the shows on!
>
> No usb or other computer connection though.

True, but I am looking for something that can just tape my tv shows to watch
later - if I want to do something with a program I can record it on my TV
card in my computer.

[Koenig]

> in response to Koenig's question.. YES.. only Standard Definition though..

So what does that mean? What am I missing out on?

[Phill Daniel]

"Koenig" <trevorgensch@aanet.com.ayyou> wrote:

>
>"Ian Galbraith" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
>news:sic6u0lfd0a9e3gjghm6cd684rjtmtc5af@4ax.com...
>> On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 01:27:50 GMT, "Koenig"
>> <trevorgensch@aanet.com.ayyou> wrote:
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>> >Wow, this unit seems sensational. For $399 you get a digital tuner,
>> >programmable recording and a 80 gig hard drive to put the shows on!
>>
>> No usb or other computer connection though.
>
>True, but I am looking for something that can just tape my tv shows to watch
>later - if I want to do something with a program I can record it on my TV
>card in my computer.
>

Hi thre Koenig

the best thing for you to do is go to the aussie Digital TV website.

www.dba.org.au

there they have FAQ's on a number of topics.

also i believe there is a Topfield or Strong 120GB going around the traps
rather cheap... 500-700 range, again they are both SD not HD.. i think that
these boxes have USB or some outputs suitable for connection to a PC.


The discussions here are really outside of the realm of the aus.dvd newsgroup,
i suggest that you also subscribe to the aus.tv.digital NG to get discussions
on set top boxes and non DVD PVRs (Personal Video Recorders)

Phill..

[Knobdoodle]

Thanks for the clear and helpful response Phill; you're a good bloke (with
huge private parts!)
I went and looked at a couple this arvo and I think I'm gonna' get a
dual-tuner Opentel one.
Cheers .....Clem
--
"Phill Daniel" <++nospam++victor_muscles@at@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
> "Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@notmail.com> wrote:
>
>>X-No-archive: yes
>>
>>My apologies if this has already been covered 1000 times but I'm after
>>something a bit cleverer than my old VCR so I'm thinking of getting a
>>set-top box with a built-in hard-drive.
>>I saw one at JB hi-fi for $499 with an 80G hdd. Is that pretty
>>reasonable?
>>(just some noggy brand I've never heard of)
>>
>>The cheapest I've seen DVD recorders with hdd is about $900 and I reckon
>>I'll actually want to burn telecasts to DVD about twice every blue-moon
>>so
>>the set-top box looks the better option.
>>
>>Are there any features or limitations I should look out for?
>>
>>Do these things have macrovision? i.e. If I record something to the hdd
>>and
>>later want to tape it to my VCR will I be able to?
>>Thanks .... Clem
>>
> Hi Clem... there is no macrovision on digital Free To Air broadcasts, you
> can
> copy to tape if you want to.
>
> There is a new model WINTAL STB with an 80GB hard disk in it..
>
> http://wintal.com.au/set_top_boxes/43121057.html
>
> I have the wintal STB without the hard disk. and i think it has one of
> the best
> timers around - it only has 12 slots, but you can program the same event
> for
> different days of the week using only one of the slots. (ie: Tues ,
> Thurs ,
> Sat @ 1930 as an example)
>
> I am unsure what the PVR version has..
>
> Radio parts in melbourne have this for $399.00 and they are in the City
> or in
> Carnegie..
>
> the website will do internet based purchases.
> The wintal website also has the dealers
>
> http://wintal.com.au/dealers.html
>
> Rgds
> Phill..

[Fish! - of Arcadia.]

In article <34hk45F4bbhe8U1@individual.net>, knobdoodle@notmail.com
says...
> Thanks for the clear and helpful response Phill; you're a good bloke (with
> huge private parts!)
> I went and looked at a couple this arvo and I think I'm gonna' get a
> dual-tuner Opentel one.
> Cheers .....Clem
> --
> "Phill Daniel" <++nospam++victor_muscles@at@yahoo.com.au> wrote:



Get the topfield, unless you want to go through the entire year long
process of debugging a dual tuner PVR that hasn't been tested in Aus.

[GDS]

"Koenig" <trevorgensch@aanet.com.ayyou> wrote in message
news:QCHEd.89$Ud4.8094@news.optus.net.au...
>> in response to Koenig's question.. YES.. only Standard Definition
>> though..
>
> So what does that mean? What am I missing out on?
>

You will receive Standard Definition digital (DVD quality).
You will not receive High Definition digital.

G.

[Knobdoodle]

X-No-archive: yes
Fish! - of Arcadia. wrote in message ...
>Get the topfield, unless you want to go through the entire year long
>process of debugging a dual tuner PVR that hasn't been tested in Aus.
~
Who sells Topfields cheap?
Clem

[Rick]

"Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@notmail.com> wrote in message
news:crv5io$rsp$1@mws-stat-syd.cdn.telstra.com.au...
> X-No-archive: yes
>
> My apologies if this has already been covered 1000 times but I'm after
> something a bit cleverer than my old VCR so I'm thinking of getting a
> set-top box with a built-in hard-drive.
> I saw one at JB hi-fi for $499 with an 80G hdd. Is that pretty
> reasonable?
> (just some noggy brand I've never heard of)
>
> The cheapest I've seen DVD recorders with hdd is about $900 and I reckon
> I'll actually want to burn telecasts to DVD about twice every blue-moon so
> the set-top box looks the better option.
>
> Are there any features or limitations I should look out for?
>
> Do these things have macrovision? i.e. If I record something to the hdd
> and
> later want to tape it to my VCR will I be able to?
> Thanks .... Clem

I've been wondering if it is possible to transfer the video data files from
the HDD to a PC ... either by connecting it via USB/Ethernet/Firewire to a
PC or even just dismantling the HDD and hooking it up to a PC. Can a PC
"understand" these video files if I read them directly off of the HDD? This
way I can record the television shows etc and then do a resetting of the
flagfall bits to create a DVD-compatible MPEG2 file to burn off to DVD-R
later. Any help appreciated.

[Joe Rocked]

I am looking at getting the Topfield TF5000PVRt...
It has two digital tuners and a 120Gb HDD.
This models seems to be the most popular.
It has a USB2 port that can be connected to a PC. You simply download a
software program from the topfield site to be able to copy recordings from
the HDD to the PC.
It is currently about $995 but I have had salesman say they will sell for
$900.
I am waiting for the HD version to come out around March/April which will
hopefully drop the price of this unit a few hundred. There are heaps of
reviews on the net. Also goto www.dba.org.au and check out the forums. The
topfield features regularly.

"Rick" <deNOPElorean@dodo.com.au> wrote in message
news:41e72a2b$1@news.comindico.com.au...
>
> "Knobdoodle" <knobdoodle@notmail.com> wrote in message
> news:crv5io$rsp$1@mws-stat-syd.cdn.telstra.com.au...
>> X-No-archive: yes
>>
>> My apologies if this has already been covered 1000 times but I'm after
>> something a bit cleverer than my old VCR so I'm thinking of getting a
>> set-top box with a built-in hard-drive.
>> I saw one at JB hi-fi for $499 with an 80G hdd. Is that pretty
>> reasonable?
>> (just some noggy brand I've never heard of)
>>
>> The cheapest I've seen DVD recorders with hdd is about $900 and I reckon
>> I'll actually want to burn telecasts to DVD about twice every blue-moon
>> so
>> the set-top box looks the better option.
>>
>> Are there any features or limitations I should look out for?
>>
>> Do these things have macrovision? i.e. If I record something to the hdd
>> and
>> later want to tape it to my VCR will I be able to?
>> Thanks .... Clem
>
> I've been wondering if it is possible to transfer the video data files
> from the HDD to a PC ... either by connecting it via USB/Ethernet/Firewire
> to a PC or even just dismantling the HDD and hooking it up to a PC. Can a
> PC "understand" these video files if I read them directly off of the HDD?
> This way I can record the television shows etc and then do a resetting of
> the flagfall bits to create a DVD-compatible MPEG2 file to burn off to
> DVD-R later. Any help appreciated.
>
>
>
>