HD PVR woes continue

Thestealth said:
The new (and hopefully) improved HDPVR's will be UEC units. It's just a matter of when they'll ever be released...:rolleyes:
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milomak said:
but don't people say the problem is not the hardware but rather the software. so even the uec decoders will face the same problems?
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ToxicBunny said:
The software issues with the HDPVR are entirely Multichoices fault.. it it makes NO difference what the underlying hardware is.. they'll all have the same issues. The UEC HDPVR may be slightly faster due to a slightly faster processor.. but it will be running the same software as the Pace HDPVR.
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TB is 100% correct. There is no fundamental problem with the Pace box. The problem is with MC's implementation of the software. If the UEC box is launched (I'm guessing it will just be an uglier version of the Pace box... as is the normal state of play with UEC), the same issues will occur.

The only difference between the UEC and Pace version is a slightly faster processor, but not enough to make any real difference.
 
It is however rumored that MultiChoice is planning to replace the current Pace HD PVR with another decoder which will enable dual view without the need to use XtraView or purchase another decoder.

It is not clear when this new high definition decoder will become available, but a source close to the company said that MultiChoice will first have to ‘get rid’ of the current Pace HD PVRs.
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This is a bit irresponsible. There is NO indication that a newer HD-PVR will have dual view capability. In fact Multichoice have stated categorically that this is not the case.
 
ive had to take a 30 minute drive 3 times already due to a faulty HDPVR!! and they swop it with no problem so the know that the faults on there side. It cost me a bit in installation costs to get the xtraview and we were told that dual view HDPVR would be many YEARS away if at all , now it looks like this is changing already!!

what a rip off!
 
This is MC's reply :

I can confirm that there are no plans to replace the current Pace HD PVR with another decoder which will enable dual view without the need to use XtraView or purchase another decoder.
There is a UEC model coming out later this year, but as previously confirmed, this decoder will use the same software as the Pace HD PVR and will offer the same functionality, ie .it will not be a dual view HD PVR.
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what I can't understand is why they cannot address the bugs immediately... instead they seem to want to have this huge software build ready making it perfect. Any software developer can tell them to fix the bugs incrementally, and fix the software incrementally ... the HDPVR really sux, and is a total waste of time....
 
Why bother with monochoices decoders? surely there are other decoders out there that can do the job? sure you need the card for it to decode but thats it, right?
 
Tns said:
sure you need the card for it to decode but thats it, right?
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Wrong, the card is married to the decoder, you cannot use a sat card with a CAM in a HTPC for example. You have to use the Set Top Box setup option. Multichoice do everything in their power to make consumers pay as much as possible and with as little freedom as possible.

This is all made possible by the sport hungry nation that we live in. No price is to high to sit on our a$$es and watch drivel :sick::D
 
Tns said:
Why bother with monochoices decoders? surely there are other decoders out there that can do the job? sure you need the card for it to decode but thats it, right?
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MC want to make not only make money out of monthly fees and advertising, but also want to lock customers in. So giving the customer freedom in choosing the best decoder he can afford, is not in their best interest, i.e making profit. You have to buy their decoder in order to watch, and eventually will have to "upgrade" to the HD decoder when they decide in x years time that they will end support for it.

They can also increase fees as they see fit, and show as many repeats as they want, because they are (so far) alone in this industry.

If ICASA had balls, they would have created a regulatory framework that would require operators to use standard decoders, and only authenticate by means of a smart card. But they (ICASA) don't have balls, so we don't have choice or freedom.
 
What I've heard. Single view HD (which will be good for commercial applications where you can't have PVR capabilities) and UEC HD PVR with similar specs as Pace will be made available in the near future. There won't be a dual view HD and the Pace HD will not be discontinued...
 
Quantum Theory said:
What I've heard. Single view HD (which will be good for commercial applications where you can't have PVR capabilities) and UEC HD PVR with similar specs as Pace will be made available in the near future. There won't be a dual view HD and the Pace HD will not be discontinued...
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That's nice and all, but you still can't buy your own Tivo and use just that, without MCs decoder. You still have to make use of their software stack, no EPG data in XML format. Basically they are giving you two (potentially) unstable options. Not really all that much of a choice.
 
To the Considered Buyers of the HD PVR, From a HD PVR owner, we all know there are quite a few problems on the unit, but the short-end is it does work, gives great picture quality & Dolby Digital Sound, the recording system is perfect.. Pity the unit does not allow you to extend the Hard drive size or allow copying recordings across, why fit the unit with E-Sata & USB points otherwise..
If you serious about home entertainment, it is great to have... Hope Multichoice gets their act together on “dualview”, as this is a serious downfall on the unit.
 
The problem is Multichoice's lack of a proper software testing team for the HD-PVR software project. It is difficult in their position because there are no companies who specialise in decoder software testing. Hence why they rely on consumer test groups, however this only identifies obvious defects at a functionality level and not at any sort of detailed level. Our company is in talks with DSTV to help identify and resolve the defects much earlier in the SDLC than before, and then maintain the testing function thereafter. Lets see if they value their clients enough to pay for proper software testing...;)
 
My doubts that they'd pay for the service.. clearly their methodolgy is working perfectly..... :p
 
ToxicBunny said:
My doubts that they'd pay for the service.. clearly their methodolgy is working perfectly..... :p
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What methodology!? :D

Oh, you're talking about the "developers and BAs should test" mentality that they adopt? The one that was scrapped by the majority of corporates well over a decade ago.

We're making progress. Who'd have thought budget would be an issue though!? Not a stuff I'm accepting that excuse - I'll even walk into the meeting with my DSTV payments...:D
 
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