BTW, the v3.4 software is being broadcast as of today and over the weekend. Your box should pick up the update tonight if you have automatic updates enabled, or you could try checking for an update manually. This may help with some of the issues that you mention.

Unfortunately, many boxes suffer from the problem of recording of repeats after deleting the original recording - my Sony HDD recorder for example. IIRC, v3.2 fixed this. I never tested v3.3 so maybe it is not in that version, but it works pretty well in v3.4. I did work with Eastenders when I was testing this fix back in July - I shall retest, but usually repeat recordings are due to broadcaster error. However, there are still problems with +1 channels sometimes - specifically ITV. It didn't used to be so bad as it only affected ITV2, but now we have ITV1+1 too. The problem being that ITV1 and ITV2 support accurate recording signalling, but ITV1+1 and ITV2+1 do not. So, for example, it can happen that a 9pm programme on ITV1 starts recording correctly at 9.02pm, but the same programme then starts on ITV1+1 at 10pm exactly (due to lack of accurate recording) whilst the ITV1 recording is still in progress (running late). This is ultimately ITV's fault, but this is something that ought to be handled via software too (Vestel are aware of the problem).

Regarding the timer list, this can sometimes have bogus duplicate entries, but it does only record once. Again, Vestel are aware of this, and maybe we will see a fix for this some day. My advice is to ignore those entries and do not attempt to delete them. In my experience, deleting them can sometimes delete other unrelated timers - it's as if the duplicate timer is actually part of a completely different series. If you want to delete a timer event that is part of a series, it is best to do it via the EPG instead.

Ok, so the new Argos catalogue is out today. Haven't seen it myself, so not sure what has disappeared - wondering if the Bush/Hitachi T835 boxes are still in there. There's no surprise that there are a number of Freeview+ HD boxes new on the website, but the biggest shock for me is the two new T836 TUTV boxes - presumably these are made by Vestel and of similar spec to the T835 hardware. Although I'm not sure how accurate the specs and photo are on the Argos website - apparently it has 2 scarts, and looks quite different style-wise (no front panel display for example).

Well the website is a bit skew-whiff - I'm supposed to have 14 Freeview recorders listed in front of me but I've got 4 items, the first of which is a set-top box, not a recorder

Musta caught them on a bad day.

You have probably used an old link on your computer. The same happened to me. Do a new search for "DTR" and you will get 29 results.

Colin

Hi
On the web page use the option to show all items & then it will show all 14 (well it did for me)

I typed in the url in full, then selected Home Entertainment, then Digital TV Services, then blah blah Recorders - honest!

Does anyone else think the new T836 TopUPTV recorders at Argos just look very, very cheap and plasticy?.

If the website is anything to go by, yes, but it's quite possible the photo is incorrect (apparently the catalogue shows a picture the Bush T835). I would suspect it to look more similar to the T835 - normally the main casing is metal and not plastic on Vestel boxes (it indeed looks plasticy on the photo). None of my local stores have the T836 in stock, although they can apparently be ordered for collection later next week - maybe Argos haven't actually seen the unit for themselves yet, hence dodgy photos .

They used that same case about 3 years ago for one of the T816 PVRs branded Goodmans GHD8020F2 sold at Makro. That one was painted silver. It is a metal case from what I remember and the same size as the T810/816/825.

Colin


Edit:- Ooops. sorry, I was looking at the Bush 160GB Top Up TV Digital TV Recorder

I believe the plasticy-looking photo currently on the Argos website for the T836 is actually of the TV receiver with built-in card slot for Sky Sports and ESPN for £30.
Discussion here: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...9#post47540999

They've now changed the photo. It now shows a picture of a Bush FreeviewHD box. ?

I tested this with Eastenders tonight - had it on series link, deleted the 8pm recording and the repeat on BBC3 was not recorded. Probably v3.4 will help you with this issue.

No - that's the Bush T835 Freeview+ box, which Argos still sell. Obviously still not 100% accurate, but I'd be surprised if the T836 boxes looked much different to the T835, although there of course has to be a CI slot (IIRC from the T835 PCB, there's a space for that at the right-front side).

Sorry if this has been asked already.... Does anyone know any stores that still have stock of any Vestel clones, that still have twin SCART sockets? I want to get a Vestel PVR for my uncle, but as he has both a DVD player and CRT TV each with only a single SCART, a PVR with 2x SCART is important.

I know there art other PVR's out there with 2x SCART, but I want to get him a Vestel as I think it would be easy enough for him to use. I personally use a Toppy but don't want to over-complicate things for him with TAPS etc. I've tried a few Humax boxes myself and think they are awful, and have heard bad things about TVonics.

In the past I've used a (much-maligned) SCART splitter successfully The TV would display whichever connected player was On.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro-Split...6016947&sr=1-2

At least it would free you up to choose from the latest 1-SCART models, which are more readily available

Hi, I am having a few problems with my Hitachi HDR165 digital freeview recorder, and wonder if anyone can help.

It occasionally freezes up, sometimes shudders when watching a recording, a loud humming sound when adverts are on or I am watching a recording. But my main problem is with timers. Every programme I record on Channel 4 it also records the repeat on Channel 4+1, sometimes repeats an ITV1 programme on ITV2, and now ITV2+1 has appeared, happens with that as well. I record programmes daily and am now having to manually record all Channel 4 and some ITV1 programmes, which is a bit of a pain and defeats the object.

Also I am not sure if it is correctly updating as my version is V1.6.

I contacted customer services last November and was told they no longer stock the HDR165, but to return it to the store for an alternative replacement, there were no suitable alternatives, and now the latest outcome is I have to return it for repair. Now whilst I can understand this, it will mean I will have no television until it is returned.

Any advice gratefully appreciated. Diane
Last edited by Diane04 : 17-02-2011 at 16:54

Which store was this - Argos? They no longer stock the HDR165, but the HDR255, HDR325 and HDR505 models are - these are essentially exactly the same as the HDR165 except for the HDD size.

It is pointless returning it for repair, except to upgrade the software, because there is nothing physically wrong with your box. It's a software issue - you should find that v3.4 will help a great deal with the problems you mention.

The good news is that v3.4 is being rebroadcast from 10am tomorrow (through to 9am Monday). Clearly your box is failing to pick this update up automatically - this is not completely surprising because there is a bug in the software that you have that can prevent it from waking up at 3am to receive the update.

So, the first thing to try will be to go to the configuration screen (press MENU, select Setup and then Configuration). Press OK over the "Receiver upgrade" line and ensure that automatic updates are enabled. Then try the "Scan for upgrade" option. This will only work from 10am tomorrow, and it may require a few attempts. Hopefully that'll work, but if scanning for an upgrade manually isn't working, switch off low power mode in the settings and leave the box in standby overnight and hopefully it will pick the software up overnight at 3am (assuming there are no timers active at this time).

Thanks for the reply Futaura, yes it was Argos, and I was waiting for the HDR255 to come into stock, but as they won't exchange it, no point.

Automatic update is enabled, and several times I have done a manual update. I will now try this with low power mode switched off, and see what happens as there is an update tomorrow. Diane

Strange - Argos always used to either exchange for a different make/model if you paid the difference if it was more expensive. That said, service in Argos can vary hugely from store to store - with the local stores here, I remember having huge hassle at one store trying to get a refund with the manager point blank refusing. Tried another store down the road and they refunded (gift card) with no quibbles at all.

Fingers crossed you can get your box to pick up the update.

Thank you Futaura, that has worked, I was very sceptical yesterday as I tried a manual update with no success, but an overnight automatic update worked.

Will now have to wait and see if any of the problems are corrected. Diane

Glad to hear it worked - I too had trouble with the manual update, but it has worked for others. I would suggest switching low power mode back on now. It may be a good idea to perform a first time installation which will rescan for channels and erase all timers. Also, deleting unwanted channels from the channel list can also improve performance.

Thanks once again, Futaura, the update appears to have cured the repeat recording problem. Diane

Hi all,
I have a Hitachi HDR165 and I have Low Power set to No.

I'm just wondering, can having Low Power set to No cause the box to fail the odd recording or does it not make a different wheather it's set to Yes or No.

Also does anyone else's fail to do some recordings?

Thanks


Ninko

It should not make any difference.

Colin

It shouldn't, but it can do, especially with the more recent software versions which do not reboot at 3am when checking for updates. With LPM off in older versions, you could at least be guaranteed of a daily reboot (when automatic updates were enabled) to freshen things up, but this isn't the case with v3.4 for example.

With v3.4 and LPM off, you'll end up with long uptimes, the EPG will get very slow, and eventually the software gets so busy tying itself in knots, it can become unreliable and possibly eventually crash. So, really the only choice is to power the box off/on every day or so at the mains, or turn LPM on.