|
||||||||
Review of the Grundig GUFSDTR500 |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Review of the Grundig GUFSDTR500
Just published my review of the Grundig GUFSDTR500 if anyone is interested. Been putting it through its paces all week. http://technograns.wordpress.com/201...at-dtr-review/
GG |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Scouser in Chilterns
Posts: 711
|
Read with interest after watching the Royal Navy in HD
on my 6year old Hitachi Plasma via Scart of course.. Certainly the Pics are very sharp..relative to those that isee but how do you justify contemplating ..dumping like an old worn out sock..the Humax..? Hardly a good example of a minimum Carbon Footprint to your offspring? ![]() or like me.. do you justify such purchases by giving the older equipment to your family for their use.. In that vein.. Coincident with the purchase of the Humax .. I retired my original Sony Pro-Logic [15Yeras old?] and bought a Panasonic 470 HC with 1000W DIN output.. Having spent a lifetime as a BT Engineer.. I have always agreed with the top brass of THX that .. "Sound is 50% of the Entertainment value".. I have cannibalised my speaker set up and NOT used the new Bamboo cone loudspeakers .. nor the sub woofer as it happens.. Hence my enjoyment of the HD Royal Navy was proportionate to the effort and cost put in by the BBC. {much appreciated now that i no longer pay a licence fee} ![]() although i grant you that the picture was probably soft.. but livable with.. as I am awaiting my new Bifocals with +0.5additions.. Hence as Newbie to the Forum I have been struck with the absence of comment on the Sound attributes of the Humax or the Grundig for that mattter and even you do not mention this aspect at all in your otherwise very commendable review.. "Shame on you".. as the Pub Landlord says.. but i excuse your omission as i notice that your Sony has a very limited grunt ![]() Stan |
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Quote:
Read with interest after watching the Royal Navy in HD
on my 6year old Hitachi Plasma via Scart of course.. Certainly the Pics are very sharp..relative to those that isee but how do you justify contemplating ..dumping like an old worn out sock..the Humax..? Hardly a good example of a minimum Carbon Footprint to your offspring? ![]() or like me.. do you justify such purchases by giving the older equipment to your family for their use.. In that vein.. Coincident with the purchase of the Humax .. I retired my original Sony Pro-Logic [15Yeras old?] and bought a Panasonic 470 HC with 1000W DIN output.. Having spent a lifetime as a BT Engineer.. I have always agreed with the top brass of THX that .. "Sound is 50% of the Entertainment value".. I have cannibalised my speaker set up and NOT used the new Bamboo cone loudspeakers .. nor the sub woofer as it happens.. Hence my enjoyment of the HD Royal Navy was proportionate to the effort and cost put in by the BBC. {much appreciated now that i no longer pay a licence fee} ![]() although i grant you that the picture was probably soft.. but livable with.. as I am awaiting my new Bifocals with +0.5additions.. Hence as Newbie to the Forum I have been struck with the absence of comment on the Sound attributes of the Humax or the Grundig for that mattter and even you do not mention this aspect at all in your otherwise very commendable review.. "Shame on you".. as the Pub Landlord says.. but i excuse your omission as i notice that your Sony has a very limited grunt ![]() Stan GG |
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: West London
Posts: 110
|
Quote:
Just published my review of the Grundig GUFSDTR500 if anyone is interested. Been putting it through its paces all week. http://technograns.wordpress.com/201...at-dtr-review/
GG "both a SPDIF and an Optical connection" This is not correct. Both connectors are SPDIF. That is the data protocol. The physical layer over which it is carried can be optical or electrical. The electrical is commonly seen domestically on RCA/phono connectors but professional kit has it on chunky, locking XLRs. It would better to say "SPDIF is available on both phono and optical connectors" See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF Strictly speaking it should be written S/PDIF, but hardly anybody appears to! |
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 597
|
Yes, some comments on audio performance would have been welcomed. What's performance like via the SP/DIF connection?
Interesting that Grundig/Goodmans/Abla kit uses external power bricks to power its kit. I'm in two minds as to whether this is a good idea or not. Given that the kit is intended for the UK market why not have a proper mains cable assembly like the Humax? Other comments/observations: 1) Can timer settings be padded to allow for programmes starting early/running late? 2) Why can't you record two programmes and watch a third, like the Humax? 3) Is it possible to use just one LNB feed like the Humax? Nice review though. Ta. Clem |
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Cradley, Halesowen, W.Mids
Posts: 1,047
|
Nice review. Even more tempted to ditch the Humax.
Just a few things:- 1. When using start/end padding what happens when you have a recording due to finish at 10:00 (for instance) and you have another two recordings scheduled for 10:00? Does it warn you, drop end padding on one recording and start padding on another? 2. Power cuts - my biggest bug bear about the Humax. Does the box recover OK when power is restored after you have cut the power supply for a few minutes? |
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: West London
Posts: 110
|
Nice also to see an EPG with one more row, making it possible to see BBC HD in the same page as BBC1.
Is it possible to filter which channels appear in the EPG? Humax allow it by genre (which I never use) - I suspect that might be a Freesat UI requirement. I'd like to be able to select favourite lists as my EPG filter. |
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,438
|
Quote:
2) Why can't you record two programmes and watch a third, like the Humax?
Clem |
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Quote:
Yes, some comments on audio performance would have been welcomed. What's performance like via the SP/DIF connection?
Interesting that Grundig/Goodmans/Abla kit uses external power bricks to power its kit. I'm in two minds as to whether this is a good idea or not. Given that the kit is intended for the UK market why not have a proper mains cable assembly like the Humax? Other comments/observations: 1) Can timer settings be padded to allow for programmes starting early/running late? 2) Why can't you record two programmes and watch a third, like the Humax? 3) Is it possible to use just one LNB feed like the Humax? Nice review though. Ta. Clem I don't know why you can't record two and watch a third, I haven't tried it so maybe you can... and I am not sure if its possible to use just one LNB feed as obviously I have two. I am not a professional reviewer and this is actually my first attempt! Ask any questions you want and also I am prepared to try things out to answer any questions that anyone has. GG |
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Quote:
Nice review. Even more tempted to ditch the Humax.
Just a few things:- 1. When using start/end padding what happens when you have a recording due to finish at 10:00 (for instance) and you have another two recordings scheduled for 10:00? Does it warn you, drop end padding on one recording and start padding on another? 2. Power cuts - my biggest bug bear about the Humax. Does the box recover OK when power is restored after you have cut the power supply for a few minutes? 2. Power cuts. Because someone else on here has been on about the Humax ditching any scheduled recording following a power cut, I did try this out. I unplugged the unit about 10 minutes before a recording was due to start, left it a few minutes, then plugged back in. The recording took place, but I will test this again for you and report back. GG |
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Quote:
Nice also to see an EPG with one more row, making it possible to see BBC HD in the same page as BBC1.
Is it possible to filter which channels appear in the EPG? Humax allow it by genre (which I never use) - I suspect that might be a Freesat UI requirement. I'd like to be able to select favourite lists as my EPG filter. GG Yes, it was a Freesat requirement to provide the Genre list. I will set up a Favourite list and then check if that is added to the top tabs. |
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Cradley, Halesowen, W.Mids
Posts: 1,047
|
Quote:
My guess is software complexity. This is a rare feature on PVRs as the user interface has to be managed to correctly apply viewing restrictions. It's far easier (and less confusing to those that don't understand the way digital channels are broadcast) to restrict the user to playing the current and previous recordings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Madrid
Posts: 97
|
My question would be...
Is the Grundig tuner as sensitive as the Humax? |
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Quote:
Could be hardware complexity as well. The choice is to make it simple (i.e. Tuner 1 feeds Decoder 1, Tuner 2 feeds Decoder 2 and Decoder 3 used to playback recordings) or make it more complex (i.e. Both tuners feed all 3 decoders and add extra selection logic to handle the switching between the tuners and the decoders). As you say a rare feature.
GG |
|
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Quote:
My question would be...
Is the Grundig tuner as sensitive as the Humax? GG |
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Quote:
Describing the digital-audio connections you write:
"both a SPDIF and an Optical connection" This is not correct. Both connectors are SPDIF. That is the data protocol. The physical layer over which it is carried can be optical or electrical. The electrical is commonly seen domestically on RCA/phono connectors but professional kit has it on chunky, locking XLRs. It would better to say "SPDIF is available on both phono and optical connectors" See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF Strictly speaking it should be written S/PDIF, but hardly anybody appears to!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Quote:
Nice review. Even more tempted to ditch the Humax.
Just a few things:- 1. When using start/end padding what happens when you have a recording due to finish at 10:00 (for instance) and you have another two recordings scheduled for 10:00? Does it warn you, drop end padding on one recording and start padding on another? 2. Power cuts - my biggest bug bear about the Humax. Does the box recover OK when power is restored after you have cut the power supply for a few minutes? To test the power question, I will switch the power off for about 30 mins (to simulate a power cut) then switch back the power about 5 mins before a scheduled recording is due to begin. Is this okay? GG |
|
|
|
|
|
#18 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Quote:
Nice also to see an EPG with one more row, making it possible to see BBC HD in the same page as BBC1.
Is it possible to filter which channels appear in the EPG? Humax allow it by genre (which I never use) - I suspect that might be a Freesat UI requirement. I'd like to be able to select favourite lists as my EPG filter. GG |
|
|
|
|
|
#19 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 53
|
Do you need Two LNB feeds?
On the yellow label it states you need two LNB feeds - can you get away with one as per the Humax?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#20 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Quote:
On the yellow label it states you need two LNB feeds - can you get away with one as per the Humax?
GG |
|
|
|
|
|
#21 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Here are my results of tests done today so far. I don't know who asked what so you'll have to read through.
For the padding test, I set up padding at the beginning and end of five minutes. Then I set up the following, Will & Grace Channel 4 8.50am to 9.15am Heir Hunters BBC1 9.15am to 10.00am The Wright Stuff Five 9.15am to 10.45am The actual recordings when completed were as follows Will and Grace 8.45am to 9.14am Heir Hunter 9.15am to 10.06am The Wright Stuff 9.15am to 10. 50am So looks like the first recordings end padding was ignored in order to carry out the other two. Later I set up a recording of Coronation Street on ITV2 for 12.00 midday. Then I unplugged the unit from the wall at 11.30am and reconnected it at 11.45am to simulate a power cut. The Coronation Street recording still took place at 12.00am. So the unit does fully recover and continues with any scheduled recordings following a power cut. I set up a favrourites list of channels to test whether or not this favourites list might be included in the Genre tabs at the top of the EPG. Unfortunately at this time, this doesn't occur and you can only access your favourite list from the channel list button. However, I am sure this feature could be enabled by Grundig as then you would only view your favourite channels in the EPG when the favourites tab was selected. I plan to put up some more screen grabs of the different Genres in the EPG so that everyone can see how that works. GG |
|
|
|
|
|
#22 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Cradley, Halesowen, W.Mids
Posts: 1,047
|
Quote:
Here are my results of tests done today so far. I don't know who asked what so you'll have to read through.
For the padding test, I set up padding at the beginning and end of five minutes. Then I set up the following, Will & Grace Channel 4 8.50am to 9.15am Heir Hunters BBC1 9.15am to 10.00am The Wright Stuff Five 9.15am to 10.45am The actual recordings when completed were as follows Will and Grace 8.45am to 9.14am Heir Hunter 9.15am to 10.06am The Wright Stuff 9.15am to 10. 50am So looks like the first recordings end padding was ignored in order to carry out the other two. Later I set up a recording of Coronation Street on ITV2 for 12.00 midday. Then I unplugged the unit from the wall at 11.30am and reconnected it at 11.45am to simulate a power cut. The Coronation Street recording still took place at 12.00am. So the unit does fully recover and continues with any scheduled recordings following a power cut. GG Going off-topic (slightly) - does anyone know if Grundig have any plans to produce a Freeview HD+ PVR? |
|
|
|
|
|
#23 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 821
|
Sounds like real competition for Humax - thats got to be good news for all.
Hopefully for HDR owners it will mean Humax pulling their finger out and addressing a few known issues (the power cut one for a start !) and perhaps adding a few more bells (we all know they could enable network file transfer if they really wanted to !). |
|
|
|
|
|
#24 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 2,424
|
Just published some more photos of the UI showing the excellent Genre tabs in use across the EPG. Note everyone if you go to take a look at them that I always delete any channels from the 'all channels' list if I know that I will never watch them so you will all probably note that many are missing. However, it still gives you a good idea of how the Genre tabs work with the EPG. Pictures are here at http://www.flickr.com/photos/technog...7623334002836/
The other brilliant news is that you can now set up ITV HD in the Guide! Quite how long this has been working I haven't a clue as when I bought my unit, the addendum sheet included stated that it couldn't be scheduled at this time from the Guide. However, what doesn't occur is the small RED R doesn't appear in the guide as it should, but the recording then appears in the Library. I have it set up (in settings) to always ask and it does, it gives me the choice as per the Humax. GG
|
|
|
|
|
|
#25 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,460
|
Quote:
Quite how long this has been working I haven't a clue as when I bought my unit, the addendum sheet included stated that it couldn't be scheduled at this time from the Guide.
. Could you possibly test to see if you can view red button channels in non freesat mode- the BBC sport and music/other extra programme content screens are on 12441V, BBC NEWS multiscreen on 11954H, ITV interactive on 12402V?
|
|
|
|
![]() |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 07:35.




