ATSC DVR & PVR Recorders - Page 22 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

distox · 2011-10-06, 02:42 PM

Well, I now have my M6620n. That Canadian Customs vacation cost me over $50, bringing the total cost of the unit to roughly $400. But enough of that. I probably won't get a chance to install it 'till the weekend.

distox · 2011-10-08, 06:37 PM

So, I finally installed a TViX M6620n DVR in my theater room. It is connected to my Onkyo receiver via the supplied HDMI cable and then from there the video heads out to my Sony HDTV via another HDMI cable. I live in Saint-Laurent on the Island of Montreal so my OTA channels are coming from MT. Mansfield (US networks) and Mt. Royal (Canadian networks). I am just starting to get familiar with my new toy, so no long winded review just yet. As I learn about its pros and cons I will review them here. For now, the first few noticeable things that are important to me are this... For one, the tuner sensitivity only OK and the multi-path rejection is only average and not the best that it can be. The unit is not perfect and has some bugs and annoyances, but as I play with it, I am sure I will get to like it. If anyone has anything they want me to try out, let me know here...

Jase88 · 2011-10-08, 06:42 PM

Distox, what about guide data? Are you getting it for all stations, and if so, how much data is there (days or hours)? Did the unit during setup accept a postal code, or only a zip code?

Thanks.

teamcaptain · 2011-10-08, 08:46 PM

distox: does it record in the native mpeg2 format? and if it does, does it let you copy it to an external drive?

distox · 2011-10-09, 10:47 AM

Huh, what happened? I thought I started a new thread. Anyway. Okay, the guide data. I can find no place to enter either a zip code or postal code. In fact, in the "Country" column, Canada was not even there. Only US. At around 10 AM this morning I selected each channel and watched it for a few minutes. Then I brought up the guide and these are the results...

CBFT - No guide data
WCAX - 9 hours of guide
WPTZ - 9 hours of guide
CBMT - No guide data
CFTM - 18 hours of 1/2 hour blocks of 'Aucone information'
CFCF - 9 hours of guide
CKMI - No guide data
CIVM - 16 hours of guide but it seems to have errors like 3 times the same show of varying lengths adding up to 1 hour.
WVNY - 5 hours of guide
CIVS - 28 hours of guide (checked twice)
VPT - 27 hours of guide (checked twice)
CFJP - 7 hours of guide
WCFE - 9 hours of guide
CJNJ - No guide data

As you can see, all of the US channels have guide, but only some of the Canadian ones do. From the short period that I have had this unit, I think the guide data length varies depending on time of day. Maybe after a while, I will see a pattern develop.

distox · 2011-10-09, 11:49 AM

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.

superbigjay · 2011-10-17, 03:09 PM

Hello Distox,

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

Quote:

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?

Quote:

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...)

Thanks for all the info
Jay

superbigjay · 2011-10-17, 03:16 PM

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

Quote:

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

distox · 2011-10-17, 03:41 PM

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.

superbigjay · 2011-10-18, 12:29 PM

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...)

kris1 · 2011-10-26, 10:57 AM

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....

Schmerpy · 2011-11-02, 03:16 PM

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?

poutanen · 2011-11-02, 03:19 PM

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...

kris1 · 2011-11-02, 03:43 PM

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.

realtek · 2011-11-03, 01:38 AM

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

2011-10-06, 02:42 PM	#316
distox Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 217	Well, I now have my M6620n. That Canadian Customs vacation cost me over $50, bringing the total cost of the unit to roughly $400. But enough of that. I probably won't get a chance to install it 'till the weekend. __________________ Home is where the Theatre is!

2011-10-08, 06:37 PM	#317
distox Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 217	A TViX M6620n OTA DVR in Canada So, I finally installed a TViX M6620n DVR in my theater room. It is connected to my Onkyo receiver via the supplied HDMI cable and then from there the video heads out to my Sony HDTV via another HDMI cable. I live in Saint-Laurent on the Island of Montreal so my OTA channels are coming from MT. Mansfield (US networks) and Mt. Royal (Canadian networks). I am just starting to get familiar with my new toy, so no long winded review just yet. As I learn about its pros and cons I will review them here. For now, the first few noticeable things that are important to me are this... For one, the tuner sensitivity only OK and the multi-path rejection is only average and not the best that it can be. The unit is not perfect and has some bugs and annoyances, but as I play with it, I am sure I will get to like it. If anyone has anything they want me to try out, let me know here... __________________ Home is where the Theatre is!

2011-10-08, 06:42 PM	#318
Jase88 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kitchener, ON Posts: 4,107	Distox, what about guide data? Are you getting it for all stations, and if so, how much data is there (days or hours)? Did the unit during setup accept a postal code, or only a zip code? Thanks. __________________ DMX 68' tower, HyGain HAM 5 rotator, Antennas Direct 91-XG & C5, Channel Master 7777 preamp, Siemens surge protection

2011-10-09, 10:47 AM	#320
distox Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 217	Huh, what happened? I thought I started a new thread. Anyway. Okay, the guide data. I can find no place to enter either a zip code or postal code. In fact, in the "Country" column, Canada was not even there. Only US. At around 10 AM this morning I selected each channel and watched it for a few minutes. Then I brought up the guide and these are the results... CBFT - No guide data WCAX - 9 hours of guide WPTZ - 9 hours of guide CBMT - No guide data CFTM - 18 hours of 1/2 hour blocks of 'Aucone information' CFCF - 9 hours of guide CKMI - No guide data CIVM - 16 hours of guide but it seems to have errors like 3 times the same show of varying lengths adding up to 1 hour. WVNY - 5 hours of guide CIVS - 28 hours of guide (checked twice) VPT - 27 hours of guide (checked twice) CFJP - 7 hours of guide WCFE - 9 hours of guide CJNJ - No guide data As you can see, all of the US channels have guide, but only some of the Canadian ones do. From the short period that I have had this unit, I think the guide data length varies depending on time of day. Maybe after a while, I will see a pattern develop. __________________ Home is where the Theatre is!

2011-10-09, 11:49 AM	#321
distox Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 217	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. __________________ Home is where the Theatre is!

2011-10-08, 08:46 PM	#319
teamcaptain Rookie Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 17	distox: does it record in the native mpeg2 format? and if it does, does it let you copy it to an external drive?

2011-10-17, 03:41 PM	#324
distox Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 217	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. __________________ Home is where the Theatre is!

2011-10-18, 12:29 PM	#325
superbigjay Rookie Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 3	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...)

2011-10-26, 10:57 AM	#326
kris1 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 8	EyeTv and some thoughts 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....

2011-11-02, 03:16 PM	#327
Schmerpy Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 253	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?

2011-11-02, 03:19 PM	#328
poutanen Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary Posts: 220	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...

2011-11-02, 03:43 PM	#329
kris1 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 8	The 8000 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.

2011-11-03, 01:38 AM	#330
realtek Rookie Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 3	What about the CM 7400? Have they upgraded the tuner from the 7000?

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