Just a PVR

venkravi · 15-11-2009, 10:52 AM

Hi,

I have an unusual set up with a satellite dish (from Sun TV - a south indian set of channels) connected to a viaccess receiver which in turn is connected to another satellite receiver that is output to my TV through a Marantz AV receiver using the video output. I have a separate optical cable connecting the sound from the satellite receiver to the Marantz NR1501. I also have a Sky Dish to HD box connected to the Marantz.

I need to record programs (like the VCRs of yesteryear based on date / time / duration) and possibly also live pause tv just as I can do with my Sky HD box also for the feed I am getting from the other satellite receiver. I am fairly certain that I will not be able to get the EPG on this to work as the signal probably wont support it - I could be wrong here as well.

I have been looking for a PVR that can do this, but am baffled by the choices available which all come with either a) Freeview tuners / Freesat tuners or b) DVD recorder. My problem with option (a) is that I have read somewhere on this forum that Freeview or Freesat recorders cannot record from other video sources that do not come through the tuners. - else I have no problem with getting one even though I will not be using the Freeview or Freesat tuners. I could be wrong about this. My problem with option (b) is that I do not want a DVD recorder and pay the extra cash for it and also these are typically two wide - I want something under 350 mm in width.

Any advice will be helpful.

**Gavtech** · 15-11-2009, 11:07 AM

I think these requirements will be especially problematic.

Firstly - the simple part. Only DVD recorders are capable of recording from external sources ... but I don't know of a single unit that does not conform to the 430 mm standard.

That does not mean smaller units may exist ... but I doubt there will be any as small as 350mm

Geofbob · 15-11-2009, 11:34 AM

As Gavtech says, a PVR will definitely not fit your requirments, as they only record from their own internal tuners. You refer to the alternative as a "DVD recorder", but in fact the type of recorder which would most suit your requirements would be a DVD/HDD recorder, & it would be the hard disc element which would be of most use to you - eg allowing pause & catch-up.

As regards price & size - you may have to compromise between your ideal & what's available.

venkravi · 15-11-2009, 11:39 AM

Thanks - yes, I did mean a DVD / HDD recorder as an option, but cannot find anything under 430mm as Gavtech also says.

Do they have media streamers with recording capability and a hard disk I wonder.

grahamlthompson · 15-11-2009, 1:39 PM

How about a small form factor PC

eg

G2 Digital, Cubid mini PC with AMD X2 Processor. Available with fanless and Intel Core 2 processors

nvingo · 15-11-2009, 9:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venkravi

Thanks - yes, I did mean a DVD / HDD recorder as an option, but cannot find anything under 430mm as Gavtech also says.

Do they have media streamers with recording capability and a hard disk I wonder.

Ellion hmr-350h 1tb high definition media recorder/player

CnM 1TB Hi Definition Media Player + Recorder [CnM Hi Def Media Player+Recorder] - £148.00 : Welcome to Computashack.com, affordable computers, laptops, printers, mp3 players, hard drives

dabs.com - Iomega Screenplay 1TB Network Multimedia Drive, HDD Recorder (34354)

Hope that helps...

venkravi · 17-11-2009, 8:31 AM

Thanks, this certainly gives me some options. I have checked out the options - none of them have live pause with the Ellion requiring considerable set up, which I am not completely confident of doing personally. Also, I am not sure based on description how well the recording timer works if I want to record something while I am not around to do it at the time the program actually begins.

An HTPC as suggested with a WinTV card with live pause is also an option but currently outside my budget.

I guess the only available option closest is one of the HDD/DVD recorders which has this feature built into it without having to set it up. I have to work around the space constraint I have.

Any other suggestions / comments please?

venkravi · 28-11-2009, 3:21 PM

Has anyone heard or owns an EMTEC Q800? Is it any good?

It is available at PCWorld for around £160 - just saw it on the website and can record / livepause tv for digital, analogue and any other video source. It seems exactly what I am looking for, but would like to know something about its quality before I plunge.

tigerwaqas · 07-01-2010, 2:28 AM

hi i got q800 since 2 weeks now and been using it with all possible functions,q series in emtec do have NAS problems and never really been solved,i been trying with emtec engineers support and cant seem to suss out the wireless connection problem it connects to both modem and/or my laptop but cant seem to find it,however i can transfer anything through wired LAN and it works briiliant sofar(fingerscross) occasionally disappears but then comes back on restarting and when its located works brilliant for transferring stuff aswell as straming.drawback in that is you have to keep it within wire distance from modem if using for this purpose regularly.
i bought it to record stuff from sky and other media aswell as transferring personal pics and i must say i am quite satisfied so far it has quite many editing functions for recorded stuff ie:cutting adverts or any clip from any point A to B and inserting clips and dividing the video into smaller sections etc etc,main reason was to shift stuff from my sky+ box and it works just fine,i record it overnight then edit the whole thing into individual movies etc.it also has two usb ports and can read upto 1tb external hard drive to read and shift stuff on it so you can record on the qube then edit and then shift where ever u want,olso records tv as builtin freeview and analog both work fine.it also lets you chose the quality of recording so you can record in diff format to save space which does effect quality slightly if using slp mode which can record approx 1.5hrs of video per1GB.i use this mode for kiddies cartoons.
once again i would say if u looking for recording editing and as a media drive its been working fine,if want to use for streaming occasionally still fine but for regular streaming or wireless use its rubbish.
sorry for long post hope it helps

nvingo · 07-01-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerwaqas

hi i got q800 since 2 weeks now..

Thanku. Once translated that forms a very informative review

venkravi · 09-01-2010, 10:24 AM

Thanks for the detailed review. Very helpful.

One question on it - have you tried live pause from an external analogue video source. Does it work like Sky+ would? BTW, how do you connect Sky - I guess it does not have SCART input?

tigerwaqas · 16-01-2010, 4:02 PM

qube comes with a scart-composite cable which has scart on one side and dual composite on the other to connect the qube with items which scart only.
i know that live pause works on digital tv and analogue tv but i m not sure about it working on AV in connection,i will try it and get back to you soon as i m back home(away for the weekend).you can also connect sky through RF-2 out from the sky and tune it in on qube analogue and then tou can use pause/rew/ff etc options as well but quality is not as brilliant as with composite cables so depends what r u after either way. hope it helps

tigerwaqas · 16-01-2010, 4:07 PM

FYI emtec's new firmware for q800 has solved all streaming and nas prob through cable or wireless fingers cross it stays this way,this makes q800 a brilliant gadget to have