antennaman, without drifting too far off topic, I just did a tsreader scan on CFTO and their Event Information Table (EIT) is completely missing. Nothing you can do on your Cm-7000pal can help this, although calling CFTO to tell them about this might help. I have confirmed your finding of the time being corrected, which should mean once they get the EIT is the PSIP stream, it should show correctly on your Cm-7000pal.

I'm still waiting for a response back from CFTO on emails that have been sent. Last time I called them as well and left a voicemail message. I'm not sure which one got the time issue corrected? It just showed up fixed after sending emails and phoning. I'll keep you(s) informed.

I wonder why OMNI doesn't put a guide as well, but I haven't tried contacting them?

Can the hard drive be replaced with a larger sized one?

Can the hard drive be replaced with a larger sized one?

Yes, IIRC it uses a standard SATA drive and will autoformat it using the proprietary operating system (OS). Google it for specific drives, the maximum drive size and instructions.

Brian

I was wondering if you could set this PVR to record the same show like every week, or daily, without having to set it up. I don't watch TV very often, but want to catch all those good PBS and CBC documentries (as well as Who wants to be a millionaire once in a while) but don't want to sit there having to schedule each thing every day, if it could just record a certain time slot this could be my solution so I don't have to build an HTPC and wait 10 minutes to watch a show, LOL.

Anybody? Thanks a bunch! I'm trying to avoid building an HTPC or buying a TiVO because i don't want to pay any service fees...

Absolutely. You can record time slots on a daily, weekly, or mon-fri schedule. The only down side is if the station moves the show's time slot around. Then you'll end up with a recording of whatever was in its place.

Actually, depending on the EPG can be unreliable. CFTO lists late night programs as starting on the hour and half-hour in the guide, whereas they actually start at 5 minutes past. Set up the recording from the EPG and you'll miss the last 5 minutes (unless you extend the recording time).

As to adding a hard drive, the maximum size is 1 terabyte (that's as large as has been successfully reported). As Spamnotca says, a quick google will bring up specific instructions, along with a list of proven compatible drives. External/swappable is even an option if you're handy.

Is there an analog pass-through on CM7000PAL?

It's a very interesting machine, but until next year, we have to deal between analog and digital.

Thanks

Yes. There's a button on the remote (named "input", I believe) for analogue pass-through. Once pushed, you're using the tuner in your TV set, either analogue or digital.

If you're recording 2 shows at the same time, you can use this button to watch a third programme live. Obviously, the CM7000PAL won't record from these channels.

CM7000PAL.
Does it have analog/digital passthrough when the unit is turned off?

CM7000PAL.
Does it have analog/digital passthrough when the unit is turned off?
yes, on or off, the remote hass a passthrough button

Well, I just received my Channel Master 7000PAL from save and replay. I've diving in and chopping Rogers this week with my new antenna installation.

Unfortunately, the 7000PAL only has digital tuners, so it looks like I'm saying goodbye to TVO too. I get the analog broadcast on my television at channel 19, but we simply never watch anything in real time anymore...

The tuner performance is bad. There are at least four stations that my Toshiba television easily picks up with minor occasional tiling that the 7000 won't even lock onto.

I thought about updating the firmware, but it tells me it has the latest version, which it shows as F400TALD-N.

Any ideas, or shall I just return this?

^^^^
Do still have a VCR? It should still receive & record TVO.

Or can't you just split the RG6 with a splitter, send one leg to the converter box for all the digitals (then connect to the TV via one of the RCA connections). The other leg will go to the RF connection on the back of the TV for all the analog channels.

I believe the CM-7000PAL supports analog passthrough so a splitter isn't necessary. The problem is it won't record NTSC signals, so while he can watch TVO live, he won't be able to record it (other than using a VCR as JamesK suggested) until they convert to DTV.

If it were me, I'd record the HD stations, and watch TVO Live, at least for the programs I watch.

I just unpacked my 7000PAL and hooked it up. I have to say - very disappointing.

The tuner performance is bad. There are at least four stations that my Toshiba television easily picks up with minor occasional tiling that the 7000 won't even lock onto. Any ideas, or shall I just return this?

I've been using the same unit (originally branded DTVPal DVR from dishNetwork) for over a year and love it. My signal strength is almost identical for my Sony as for the DTVPal DVR.

Key to a good signal is not to split the incoming antenna cable (using a splitter) with your unit and your TV, or you will loose a lot of signal strength; but rather attach the antenna input inline to your unit and TV in series (antenna cable input first to the unit then to the TV). If you insist on using a splitter then buy a distribution booster (not a pre-amp!).

I'm not splitting. I'm trying the same coaxial on my CM7000 as I do on my television.

With the CM7000, I basically lose my 5 weakest stations, which my television has no problem pulling in 95% of the time.

I'm talking to save and replay (very responsive and helpful so far) and Channel Master. It may be a defective unit...

MonopolyBuster - do you see any discernable difference between the CM7000 and your television? For example, if your t.v. will pull in a station right now (based on current weather conditions, etc.), then that means the CM7000 will too?

I found several examples last night of stations my t.v. was displaying fine that the CM7000 either couldn't lock or showed a mess of an image.

If you insist on using a splitter then buy a distribution booster (not a pre-amp!).

I am not sure why you say not to get a pre-amp, but I disagree with that advice. I would assume you are concerned about overload. If that is the case, get a pre-amp with a lower gain and can handle stronger signals.

Distribution amps are designed with the assumption that the signal has already been amplified, but, due to very long cable lengths and multiple splits, it is week and needs another boost before splitting the signal again. As a result distribution amps are designed with a higher noise factor since only the first stage amplifier's noise factor is critical.

If all your signals are very strong, you can sometimes get away with only a distribution amp, but you are almost always better off with a pre-amp since there are usually one or two weaker signals that it will help you with by amplifying them before they fall below the noise floor. The key is finding the correct pre-amp for your situation. For more details and further discussion, see the Signal Amplifiers (Amps, Preamps, Distro Amps) (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=42426) thread.

MonopolyBuster - do you see any discernable difference between the CM7000 and your television? For example, if your t.v. will pull in a station right now (based on current weather conditions, etc.), then that means the CM7000 will too?

I found several examples last night of stations my t.v. was displaying fine that the CM7000 either couldn't lock or showed a mess of an image.

Good question, its only my weakest channel (Buffalo 49) that the Sony TV will sometimes pull in when the DRV can't; but its rare, if I can get it on the DVR then I usually can't get it on the TV either.

But on the other hand, I have a Magnavox 320GB HDD DVR (dual NTSC and ATSC tuners) that is appreciably stronger than either of the DVR or the TV and I get my weakest signal (Buffalo 49) almost always and even when the other two units can not receive it, but the downside is it records only in SD.

I'm not sure why you say not to get a pre-amp, but I disagree with that advice.

Only because adding a pre-amp can be (not always) dangerous by amplifying noise if it is a very weak signal. So it depends on the situation; in my case I added a cable splitter and lost Buffalo 49. There is an immediate lose in signal strength (and made worse by long cable runs of 70 feet or more) when one adds a splitter, and it will be evident by complete loss or irregular reception of weak channels. In my case this problem was fixed by a distribution amp. It made a huge difference by returning signal strength and I was back to normal.