Teamcaptain, yes it allows you to copy files to a PC. There are many ways. The quick way I did it was to connect to the DVR via a USB cable. This gave me access to the internal drive of the DVR just like any other USB drive. The internal drive of the DVR (not included) is formated NTFS. From there, I just copied the rather large files to my PC. The files have an extension of .tp. I renamed them to .ts and was able to play with just about anything that supports that type of video and audio. It looks to be MPEG2 with AC3 5.1 on the ones I tried.

Hello Distox,

I'm very interested in this M6620n, since it might do everyhting I'm looking for...

yes it allows you to copy files to a PC. There are many ways
Do you know if it is possible to have a permanent setup where you can access the HD content of the M6620n from the PC, but via the network?
That way, Files could be moved to another harddrive or even accessed directly by another PC or media player attached to that network without having to connect/disconnect any cable?


From there, I just copied the rather large files to my PC. The files have an extension of .tp. I renamed them to .ts and was able to play with just about anything that supports that type of video and audio. It looks to be MPEG2 with AC3 5.1 on the ones I tried
So basically, the recording could be played directly from a PC or even a mediaplayer like a patriot boxoffice or wdtv without having to convert them to another video format (only have to rename the file)?

Does the device support time-shifting? (pause the programmed currently watch live, to review some part that we might have missed, because ... nature called...) :o

Thanks for all the info
Jay

From the device description, it seems to support time-shifting...

The M6620N offers user definable buffer size and live TV time-shifting, as well as scheduled recording.

Yes, yes, yes and (wait for it) ..... yes.
In some cases your don't even have to rename the file. Some players will play .tp files directly. Also, the time-shifting buffer does not flush when you change channels.

hmmm interesting... and tempting!

I already got the wife approbation.
I might order it through my business address in Plattsburgh to avoir any delay at custom. Ususally, stuff are transfered the nex day in our Dorval's office (near where you live I believe...) :p

Hi,
The observations made by blueroomelectro are probably valid - I do not have a multiple tuner setup so I can not confirm or deny his observations.
The program ran for 3 weeks straight and then crashed when I started doing something in the setup. Not the original version though but the latest update.
The crash was not severe - Os X held its ground and I restarted EyeTv within 5 seconds.
Timer recording works!
The editing feature is awkward and terribly slow. The Elgato folks should get a Pioneer DVR and see real elegant editing - for now EyeTv copies the file somewhere else and takes a loooonnngggg time. It is hopeless.
The Tv guide - selecting the right channel from the pay for guide will also change the broadcast station number on the menu. So CityTv on 31.1 in London Ontario shows up as 51.1 on screen. Not good.

There is one really great thing about this kind of setup though - you can take it anywhere -INCLUDING THE ATTIC AND THE ROOF. I have managed to set up an antenna in the attic while using my laptop to tell me the signal strength! I find this feature really cool, the only problem is finding it in the menu.

Over all, blueroomelectro is right - it is a work in progress.

I will now try to update my SonicView 8000HD with HD05 software and see if OTA DVR works. For now the Elgato has bought me some time.

A real home entertainment device should be able to play DVDs, BluRay discs and record Tv - just like we used to with the VCR. Now, I know that no computer can play Blu-Ray discs, but a PS3 can, an LG Blu-Ray player can too. Plugging an Elgato Hybrid into one of those USB slots certainly would not be too much of problem....

Does anyone know an OTA PVR that has a first-class tuner in it?

I know the tuner in my CM7000PAL is mediocre. I know my 5 year old Toshiba tv tunes better. I know my dad's new Toshiba t.v. smokes then both. And I've read that the Tivo has a particularly crappy tuner.

Is anyone aware of an OTA PVR that uses a new, first rate tuner chip?

HTPC? The Hauppauge tuner cards seem to pull in channels equally as well as my Samsung TV, and significantly better than my old Sonicview HD8000...

The Sonicview 8000 is really good at pulling... your leg. First rate tuner? It would seem to me that we still have to find a real PVR first.

What about the CM 7400? Have they upgraded the tuner from the 7000?

Of the available OTA DVR products that are currently available what is the best solution for a simple recorder for OTA HD broadcasts? Is it worth waiting for the CM7400 or is there a better solution curretnly out there. The CM7000 doesn't seem to be getting very good feedback, the same with the Tivo for Canadians - and I'm definately not signing up for something that has ongoing fees...

Jakeman, my vote goes for an HTPC and here's why...

1) Most standalone OTA DVRs base their EPG on PSIP data which is sketchy at best. Sometimes you have a few hours or days of data, SOMETIMES it may go out to about 2 weeks. On the other hand, a Windows 7 MC based DVR downloads it's EPG from a 3rd party and you tend to have great EPG data out several weeks. I had a multiple tuner based solution and scheduled regular recordings as well as special ones and NEVER had an issue.

2) You can install multiple tuners and hook them to multiple antennae. This is particularly useful in Southern Ontario where Buffalo and Toronto may be in totally different directions, requiring two or more antennae to receive everything. With a single input DVR you are forced to either join antennas resulting in a loss, or you have to use a rotor. With an HTPC you can install multiple tuner cards and in Windows 7 Media Centre (and I'm sure Sage TV and others can support this too) you can select which channels are associated with specific tuners).

3) Networking... It is VERY nice to be able to have one PVR and multiple boxes to at least play off that PVR. There are multiple solutions out there to allow playback of recorded TV on other TVs in the same house, some of them very reasonable in price.

4) Storage: Some PVRs allow you to run an external drive, which is nice; however that requires buying an external drive (at a premium vs. internal) and it generally must be dedicated to the PVR. In my HTPC I've got a 1.0TB drive for my O/S, music, saved videos, etc. etc. etc., and another 1.5TB drive just for recorded TV. This is easily expandable to fit whatever I want size wise.

5) You may already have 90% of what you need. If you've got a comp with an HDMI output and at least a 500-750 GB drive, chances are all you need is a tuner card or USB tuner to get started. I could build a new computer today for about $400 plus O/S that would make a beauty HTPC plus fulfill regular PC duties as required...

Of the available OTA DVR products that are currently available what is the best solution for a simple recorder for OTA HD broadcasts? Is it worth waiting for the CM7400 or is there a better solution curretnly out there. The CM7000 doesn't seem to be getting very good feedback, the same with the Tivo for Canadians - and I'm definately not signing up for something that has ongoing fees...
Another OTA DVR worth looking at is the TVIX M-6620N. It has the same TV guide limitation than the CM7400 (PSIP). But I don't know wich one is better in terms of features and stability...

Hello Jase88: I live in the small town of Logan Lake, 50 km from Kamloops BC.
I have today emailed Channel Master, expressed my disappointment with the CM-7000PAL experiment, and queried them about the viability of using their new CM-7400 when it becomes available. I will see what develops and keep you and this thread informed. In the interm I will keep my fingers crossed that it will work. I will check out your reference to a HTCP, but I am afraid that I am technicly challenged and just the thought of doing this scares me.

I have a new DVD Recorder with an ASTC tuner, but my TV is an analog TV tuner. So, when I record on my DVD recorder, I can use the built-in ASTC tuner. But when I want to watch regular TV, I have to use the DTV box. How do I wire this on a TV with no A/V Jacks?

using a video modulator, where u'd connect the video out, and audio out to the modulator input. The modulator would then output on Channel 3 or 4, and u'd tune ur old tv to channel 3 or 4 to watch. You can do the same thing using an old VCR as a standalone modulator.

What is the make and model of your "DVD Recorder with an ASTC tuner"?

Does it have an RF output for use on channel 3 or 4 (standard def analog)?

"... I have to use the DTV box." Are you referring to a separate digital converter box or the new box?

If the recorder has only A/V out, use an RF modulator whuch has RF passthrough.

If it has RF out, use an RF A/B switch to switch between converter and recorder.

A may/may not work way would be to combine the RF out from the converter with the antenna RF in on the recorder, possibly with a filter/diplexer. Put the recorder in bypass mode to watch from the recorder.

Here is another Windows Media Center Embedded device. This one is an OTA PVR that has dual ATSC tuners and a 320GB hard drive (320GB in 2012 ??? I wonder why they wouldn't go with a 1TB hard drive?). It also should allow you to play media files from PCs and play streaming media services - Hulu and Youtube are mentioned (but not Netflix). Supposedly a BR drive is optional. You will be able to use an Xbox to act as an extender for this device.

This could be a good option for folks looking for an OTA PVR that could do a few other things as well.

Expected cost is $599 - which is actually a bit steep as I think you could put a PC together to do all this for less. I wonder if it will work for Canadians or not?

The only downside is that they made the same announcement 12 months ago and the expected price was $499 at that time.

http://thedigitalmediazone.com/2012/01/10/reycom-to-release-media-center-set-top-box-in-us/

Looks like there's some interesting DVR options coming out of CES for OTA viewers. Thanks for updating us, Wayne.