Cheaper DStv HD PVR: How does it compare?

Nice comparison. Would have been better if the writer marked which contender won in which category. Even though it's a tie in most places some visual comparison would have been nice.
 
Nice comparison. Do think that if HD is not a huge priority that the SD PVR is still a winner. There just isn't enough carrot in the new PVR's to bate me.
 
@staff writer: The HD-PVR 2P is the Pace, not the Altech UEC

Does anyone know when the Altech UEC (HD-PVR 2U) is coming out? Very similar specs although it has component out.

Note: For new PVR customers who don't have XtraView: it's going to cost you an extra R780 a year (R65pm) just to use the PVR functionality on the hardware you own.
 
Confusion

Broadcom said:
Does anyone know when the Altech UEC (HD-PVR 2U) is coming out? Very similar specs although it has component out.
Note: For new PVR customers who don't have XtraView: it's going to cost you an extra R780 a year (R65pm) just to use the PVR functionality on the hardware you own.
Click to expand...

Please could you explain the above. ( component out and not having XtraView )

Relatives have just had the "old" HD PVR ( four LNB) installed.
It appears that there is a lot of confusion -- amongst some installers --and -- Multichoice
as to the capabilities of this unit and HOW to install and integrate it into your existing hardware.

Relatives seem to have a Two LNB setup ( on dish ) but using the four LNB HD PVR
Installer told them that it is impossible to connect up their existing DVD recorder ????? ( An LG dual VCR / DVD unit )
Installer even went to local Multichoice centre to find out how to do this connection -- without success ?????

They have also had the XtraView installed ( couple of extra TV's in the house )

I just had a quick look ( they are scasred I might actually get it working ) I notice via the manual that the unit has a LOT of different interfaces -- USB / eSATA / SCART etc etc
HOW many of these actually are functional and work ?????

Do you know of a tutorial or description . explanation of how these units can be connected up ???

I find it impossible to believe that you cannot connect up another DVD recorder / player

Thanks
 
McT said:
Nice comparison. Do think that if HD is not a huge priority that the SD PVR is still a winner. There just isn't enough carrot in the new PVR's to bate me.
Click to expand...

Definitly a winner especially with 2 TV's
 
Why the stopped selling the SD PVR i cant understand.

Lots of people dont have HD tv's and lots of people still want the option of viewing two channels simultaneously.
 
MidnightWizard said:
Please could you explain the above. ( component out and not having XtraView )

Relatives have just had the "old" HD PVR ( four LNB) installed.
It appears that there is a lot of confusion -- amongst some installers --and -- Multichoice
as to the capabilities of this unit and HOW to install and integrate it into your existing hardware.

Relatives seem to have a Two LNB setup ( on dish ) but using the four LNB HD PVR
Installer told them that it is impossible to connect up their existing DVD recorder ????? ( An LG dual VCR / DVD unit )
Installer even went to local Multichoice centre to find out how to do this connection -- without success ?????

They have also had the XtraView installed ( couple of extra TV's in the house )

I just had a quick look ( they are scasred I might actually get it working ) I notice via the manual that the unit has a LOT of different interfaces -- USB / eSATA / SCART etc etc
HOW many of these actually are functional and work ?????

Do you know of a tutorial or description . explanation of how these units can be connected up ???

I find it impossible to believe that you cannot connect up another DVD recorder / player

Thanks
Click to expand...

And why would you want to use a DVD Recorder and a PVR?? You would only be able to record what you are watching on the HD PVR and only in SD (since you would need to output via the component ports on the PVR, and hope that your DVD recorder has component input).
Then, how do you attach your TV to your DVD recorder? Via component or RCA? Whats the point then since you won't be able to watch your HD channels (as these are only available on the HDMI connections)? Is the TV even HD ready?

If you only have another DVD player, then you attach this to your TV direclty, not through your HD PVR (since you HD PVR has no inputs besides the tuner ports). And if your TV doesn't have the relevant inputs matching up to the outputs on your DVD player, then look at getting a modern TV set that is at least HD Ready. These would have multiple inputs (HDMI, component, RCA and maybe even Composite).
 
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I reckon these units *could* be fantastic all-in-one networked media centers that could do away with your media players, usb dvd players etc., if only DSTV would enable the ethernet and usb ports! Instead we get crippled hardware and have to pay extra for limited functionality.

From the UEC brochure for the HD-PVR 2U:
... offers additional capacity through external hard-disk drive support. A full
interconnectivity suite supports various home-theatre options and network devices.
 
I'd hoped to see some mention of the CPU inside these units. From user reports here on the forums, the baby PVR is a lot swifter in the menus than the R2,999 unit.

I have the Baby, and I can't say I have any complaints with the speed coming form the SD PVR (it's as fast or faster). No basis for comparison against the bigger HD model.
 
Broadcom said:
I reckon these units *could* be fantastic all-in-one networked media centers that could do away with your media players, usb dvd players etc., if only DSTV would enable the ethernet and usb ports! Instead we get crippled hardware and have to pay extra for limited functionality.

From the UEC brochure for the HD-PVR 2U:
... offers additional capacity through external hard-disk drive support. A full
interconnectivity suite supports various home-theatre options and network devices.
Click to expand...

Crippled is an understatement. Audio out of sync over HDMI, DMX channels don't seem to work, my EPG only displays two hours, etc, etc, etc.

The UEC is also damn loud, louder than my old media center
 
DH PVR 2P

I have just purchased the new 2P HD PVR and is very happy with this unit - very fast response, excellent HD display via HDMI and for the price of R1999 a bargain I would say. I purchsed a twin LNB and ran two RG6 co-ax wires down from the dish into my living room straight into the back of LNB1 and LNB2. It is easy to setup and easy to use. I had to phone Multichoice to enable the HD channels though. Atook 10 min. I do see the internal software of the 2P unit is on another verison compared to the normal HD PVR.
The series recording for this 2P PVR is coming after FIFA cup, Multichoice told me. Why would a person pay R2999 for a PVR that records 2 channels - recording one and watching another channel like this 2P PVR is over good enough for most people I would say. And I disagree - the small black unit looks very decent in my living room next to my Black LG Pasma display. I am so glad they did not make it a silver unit.
 
You do realise after the world cup can be a lifetime?

Multichoice have had the HD decoder(s) out for quite sometime, and they still have major issues.
 
I love my BABY-PVR - I bought mine the first day they were available and had it installed the next day. I love the design - it is so small it fits in right next to my surround sound AMP on my TV stand and it is crystal quiet - I can only hear my SD-PVR's hard drive clicking away!

Speed of the BABY is also waaay above the other two BIGGER HD decoders. I have never had series recording before (on the SD-PVR) so I am more than willing to wait for MC to roll it out on the BABY-HD
 
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