Official New 8642 PVR from Rogers

[jnestor]

I have a new 8642HD 500GB with an external 1TB HD connected to LCD TV via HDMI. I ran it through a watts up? pro power measurement device and here is what I found:

- on initial power up hits a peak of about 26W, then settles down to about 24W while operating
- after powering off (with no recording activity), settles down to about 20W after 15 min, which seems to be its idle level.

These numbers are consistent with the 40W rating on the back of the 8642.

Also, compared to my previous 8300HD, the 8642 is quieter. Only a little bit of HD sound really--almost imperceptible.

[57]

I assume those numbers do not include the eHDD power?

[bdoyledimou]

i would hope that they would utilize the network port for multi room functionality..

After trading in my SD Tivos for the 8300's i really miss the ability to record on one device (saw my living room), and watching in another room (like my bedroom) without lugging the box around with me.

[Eug]

Thanks for posting the power utilization numbers.

after powering off (with no recording activity), settles down to about 20W after 15 min, which seems to be its idle level.

That's pretty disappointing. No better than the 8300HD, which already uses too much energy when "off".

[alebowgm]

True, but this line really makes me happy

Also, compared to my previous 8300HD, the 8642 is quieter. Only a little bit of HD sound really--almost imperceptible.

[wysiwyg]

Good news indeed. Any hard drive will make noise, can't really avoid it.. It's just that when the HD on the 8300HD would wake up, it would be so loud, you could hear the thing across the room!

[jnestor]

Originally Posted by 57

I assume those numbers do not include the eHDD power?

The power numbers I posted did not include the eHDD, which has its own separate power supply. I mentioned it only because the use of the eHDD might possibly cause increased power consumption of the 8642 unit itself.

[lonetreejim]

Something new has been added to the 8642 IPG.

I noticed last night that all the channels I do not subscribe to are shown in grey rather than the usual (in my case) green. Nice touch.

Now if we could just suppress them...




I also noticed a new option under settings. Presumably to turn on Described Audio.



I checked the 8300 and neither feature was on it.

ltj

[alebowgm]

I just did a survey for Rogers this week and that was one of the questions in it, should the guide grey out/disable channels that you do not subscribe to and if so, rank it in importance. Needless to say, I had it up there.

[slyboy]

It's a really welcome change in my opinion. Perhaps they are getting closer to select channels being able to be hidden completely.

[allanweinman]

I have an 8300SD and HD lifetime free rental PVR's. Anyone try to swap these yet for the 8642?

Besides of course wanting the latest and greatest, my biggest pet peave is that the 8642 keeps track of your location in multiple recordings. If that might come soon in a firmware upgrade to the 8300, I might consider waiting. But still interested if anyone has done a swap.

Thanks for any info.

[nathan]

Quick, easy question for those that have one of these. Is the replay/ff bug fixed in this model?

So for instance, right now, if you hit FF once, then hit replay, then hit ff again, it will start at 2x FF instead of 1X. This is annoying if you're flying through commercials at 3xFF, hit replay, then then the next time you hit FF *BAZINGA!*, you're in crazy-insane-this-is-too-fast-4xFF mode immediately.

Just wondering.

[mgl]

I don't believe the 8642 is available for rent yet so swapping wouldn't be possible.

One other thing that I haven't seen mentioned is that the user interface seems a bit snappier on the 8642. Everything responds a bit quicker.

[aday]

Originally Posted by slyboy

It's a really welcome change in my opinion. Perhaps they are getting closer to select channels being able to be hidden completely.

I remember back in that day when I had starchoice that you could have the guide default to one of four custom channel lists, and my list just hid all channels I did not want or subscribe to.

That was a great feature

[aday]

what is the remote like, I just picked up a new remote for a regular HD box and in my opinion as a major design flaw. I don't what they where thinking when they moved the info button location and replaced it with a settings button, and then made the info button a smaller size then the settings button.

I for one use the info button alot more then the settings button.