Feedback on Legend/Humax HD STB

[GB]

A few of my computer suppliers are shipping digital set top box's now.
Specifically Legend with their own brand, and one other supplier with Humax.
Obviously I can get these ones cheaper than any I can buy retail.

The Humax supplier claims "European No 1 STB" but who am I to know... Also
I hear HDTV is almost non existent in Europe, or at least the UK from those
in the video industry and their total non interest in the new Sony HD video
cameras.

So I was just wondering if any of you own them, would you recommend them?
One thing that put me off the Humax was the lack of a front panel channel
indicator. I'm used to that with the old Thompson. What about other
usability features like favourite lists, time to change channels etc

I do live in a fringe area and always find my SD STB gets interrupted by
lights turning on etc Is this still an issue of have they improved STBs
now, or it is just the signal strength that determines how easily the
interruptions occur?

My TV only has component HD in, I assume both support component HD out.

Thanks in advance
Regards

Guy

[David Z]

"GB" <guy@dilithiumNO_SPAM.com.au> wrote in message
news:4205e5dc$0$4100$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>A few of my computer suppliers are shipping digital set top box's now.
>Specifically Legend with their own brand, and one other supplier with
>Humax. Obviously I can get these ones cheaper than any I can buy retail.
>
> The Humax supplier claims "European No 1 STB" but who am I to know...
> Also I hear HDTV is almost non existent in Europe, or at least the UK from

That's because everyone in Europe has small TVs, because they live in small
apartments with limited space. HDTV only really benefits a big screen TV.

[Ben Thomas]

GB wrote:
> A few of my computer suppliers are shipping digital set top box's now.
> Specifically Legend with their own brand, and one other supplier with Humax.
> Obviously I can get these ones cheaper than any I can buy retail.
>
> The Humax supplier claims "European No 1 STB" but who am I to know... Also
> I hear HDTV is almost non existent in Europe, or at least the UK from those
> in the video industry and their total non interest in the new Sony HD video
> cameras.

Believe it or not we are ahead of the UK in terms of digital TV, but they are
showing interest, and there's plenty of discussion about it in the UK tv and
audio news groups.

> I do live in a fringe area and always find my SD STB gets interrupted by
> lights turning on etc Is this still an issue of have they improved STBs
> now, or it is just the signal strength that determines how easily the
> interruptions occur?

Can you describe the interruption?

> My TV only has component HD in, I assume both support component HD out.

I wouldn't assume anything. If they are the same as Euro models, then they have
scart outputs with HD via RGB.

--
--
Ben Thomas - Software Engineer - Melbourne, Australia

My Digital World:
Kodak DX6490, Canon i9950, Pioneer A05;
Hitachi 37" HD plasma display, DGTEC 2000A,
Denon 2800, H/K AVR4500, Whatmough Encore;
Sony Ericsson K700i, Palm Tungsten T.

Disclaimer:
Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
relate to the official business of my employer shall be understood as neither
given nor endorsed by it.

[GB]

"Ben Thomas" <nosp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
news:q8v5uc.ipq.ln@192.168.11.2...
>
>> I do live in a fringe area and always find my SD STB gets interrupted by
>> lights turning on etc Is this still an issue of have they improved STBs
>> now, or it is just the signal strength that determines how easily the
>> interruptions occur?
>
> Can you describe the interruption?

It is characterised by a few to many corrupt macro blocks with the rest of
the frame frozen, and a drop out of the audio, lasts about half to one
second (I assume about 1 or two GOP lengths). Comes back fine (I assume
once it picks up a clean I frame).

[Ben Thomas]

GB wrote:
> "Ben Thomas" <nosp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
> news:q8v5uc.ipq.ln@192.168.11.2...
>
>>>I do live in a fringe area and always find my SD STB gets interrupted by
>>>lights turning on etc Is this still an issue of have they improved STBs
>>>now, or it is just the signal strength that determines how easily the
>>>interruptions occur?
>>
>>Can you describe the interruption?
>
>
> It is characterised by a few to many corrupt macro blocks with the rest of
> the frame frozen, and a drop out of the audio, lasts about half to one
> second (I assume about 1 or two GOP lengths). Comes back fine (I assume
> once it picks up a clean I frame).
>
>

And this happens every time you turn on a light in another room? Sounds like you
need a filter on the power, or better shielded antenna cable.

--
--
Ben Thomas - Software Engineer - Melbourne, Australia

My Digital World:
Kodak DX6490, Canon i9950, Pioneer A05;
Hitachi 37" HD plasma display, DGTEC 2000A,
Denon 2800, H/K AVR4500, Whatmough Encore;
Sony Ericsson K700i, Palm Tungsten T.

Disclaimer:
Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
relate to the official business of my employer shall be understood as neither
given nor endorsed by it.

[GB]

Yes, almost any light in the house, however fluros's are worst.

The STB is already off a Professional line filter but that's more for surge
protection than fine filter protection. Hence why I wondered if it was also
due to the already fringe nature of my signal. The S/N ratio would be lower
than a better reception area easily interfered with).

As I write ABC has gone off air, both in digital and analogue....

"Ben Thomas" <nosp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
news:m4i8uc.ofa.ln@192.168.11.2...
> GB wrote:
>> "Ben Thomas" <nosp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
>> news:q8v5uc.ipq.ln@192.168.11.2...
>
> And this happens every time you turn on a light in another room? Sounds
> like you need a filter on the power, or better shielded antenna cable.
>
> --
> --
> Ben Thomas - Software Engineer - Melbourne, Australia
>
> My Digital World:
> Kodak DX6490, Canon i9950, Pioneer A05;
> Hitachi 37" HD plasma display, DGTEC 2000A,
> Denon 2800, H/K AVR4500, Whatmough Encore;
> Sony Ericsson K700i, Palm Tungsten T.
>
> Disclaimer:
> Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
> relate to the official business of my employer shall be understood as
> neither
> given nor endorsed by it.

[rilke]

[QUOTE=Ben Thomas]GB wrote:[color=blue]

Believe it or not we are ahead of the UK in terms of digital TV...

[QUOTE]

In what ways ? I'm curious