I've had a Digihome PVR160 for a couple of years but its just died on me (full of unwatched tv programs / radio recordings!). I wondered if I could take out the hard drive and use it in a Digihome DTR160 just to watch the programmes?
IIRC, yes. Although it maybe depends on whether your DTR160 is a T816 or T825 model. Should be no probs if it is a T816. All use a similar disk structure, and the firmware is not located on the HDD, so swaps should be possible. There is always some risk that the DTR160 could say that it needs to reformat the HDD.
However, in what way did the PVR160 die? It could be that the HDD died.
To be honest I don't actually have a DTR160 yet but I was looking on Ebay for a replacement for the one that just failed and thought i may as well get a DTR160 (with the double tuner recording / better features etc.) especially if I can connect the old hard drive to it.
(I think the PVR80 I have is a T810 but i'm not sure what the Ebay ones are)
In answer to how my PVR160 died - the other day I noticed the graphics on the display panel were corrupted - also the hard drive kept starting/stopping so I turned it off at the mains. When I plugged it back in it just wouldn't switch on.
Sounds like the PSU has failed - if just a capacitor has "popped" then this would be a relatively cheap and easy repair job. I've heard the symptom of the front panel display being corrupt before.
BTW, you don't need to restrict yourself to a Digihome branded model. Any Vestel T816 or T825 model will be able to take the PVR80's IDE drive - full list of models at http://www.vestelpvr.futaura.co.uk/. For example, Argos are still selling the Alba ALDTR160 which is pretty much exactly the same as the Digihome apart from the name badge, although this can come in T825 or T845R flavours (your drive won't fit in the latter) and is currently priced at £129.99 again, but is regularly reduced to £69.99. Just to give you some idea regarding ebay prices. There is obviously an element of risk buying refurbished units off ebay because often these were returned to Argos because they were faulty.
Thanks futaura - I'll look into getting it fixed - that would be the best option if its not too much. Also the one at Argos is interesting at £69.99 (if they reduce them again - can't see them selling at £129.99!).
