Hi

Just changed my PVR from a Digifusion to the ASDA Dual PVR. Except for not being able to record two programes at once, I think this unit is far better.

Anyway, to the issue.

I have noticed that the picture provide by the PVR seems to be shifted up by about 4 or 5 millimetres. This means that as well as the usual blackline that goes around the TV Tube, there is an extra thin black line at the bottom. It is not enough of an issue for me to return the unit (especially after all of the problems I had with the Digifusion ) but just wanted to know if anyone else had spotted this issue.

Many thanks

The ASDA Dual model WILL do twin record if you change the firmware via the serial port

Re wide screen what firmware version is on it ?

There is a sticker underneath that tells you or you can check it in the menu option.

Its probably 4.9. The latest version is 5.3. If you leave it on it should update to Ver 5.3 at 3:00am when they next broadcast it.

Regards

Jerry
Last edited by jerrysimon : 20-03-2007 at 14:52

I'm pretty sure that is currently version 4.9. Hopefully the update will be sent again soon

Is the widescreen issue that I have noticed, a recognised problem with this version of the firmware?

I am not sure what bugs are in 4.9 but as I said, I understand that updates are broadcast around 3:00am which should take you up to 5.3 eventually.

Its not done everynight and I have seen details somewhere of when they do it.

Regards

Jerry

You mean this: http://pvrbugs.futaura.co.uk/view.php?id=59 ?

It's not a widescreen issue per se, since I can reproduce it on 4:3 too. Vestel are aware of the issue - here's hoping they can provide a fix, but as yet there is none. The Sagem DVRs have the exact same issue, so I suspect it is possibly due to the STx5100 chipset which both the Vestel and Sagem units use, or failing that shared middleware.

I can see this same problem when viewing using my 14" portable but not on my normal 32" TV.
If your TV overscans by the normal sort of amount then the problem is hidden.
Maybe you have access to the service settings of your TV so that you can either lower the picture position slightly or slightly increase the overscan all round so as to mask the problem.

I have set the box to 4:3 then set my TV to letterbox mode so it chops off the black stripe.

The widescreen pic appears to be fine in this mode

Many thanks for the replies.

The problem itself (like I mentiined earlier) is not enough for me to want to take the unit back. I do like the unit and it appears to be less problamatic to the Digifusion box that I had three replacements off - each one had something different wrong with it

Perhaps the best option is to try and get into the service menu for my tv which is a Bush RF6685 28 inch widescreen. I have looked on the internet, but nothing so far.

Thanks again for everyones replies.

Mine's a 4:3 TV set to letterbox. I didn't notice the "missing lines" reported by other Digispies until watching the video of the Iraq "friendly fire" incident - then the second line of the air crew's words were completely missing.

So if one were watching a movie with 'low' subtitles, it could be a real problem.

My Digihomes are 3.5 and 3.9, I do hope there's an update broadcast soon.

parthena

Parthena,

Those are older versions the latest is 5.3. As I said these are broadcasted occasionally so leave it connected up you should get updated with 5.3 eventually.

There is also a setting in the menu option where you switch off automated update so best check that is set to update as well.

If you want to update to 4.9 in the meantime or to twin record, both firmware updates are available on the web and you can do it via a serial cable.

Jerry
Last edited by jerrysimon : 21-03-2007 at 15:07

I've got the updates and the serial cable ready - it's a question of psyching myself up to do it

I have hardly any 'issues' with my PVRs as they are, so I wonder if I should risk updating and getting jumpy pics and slow EPG (I know about minimising number of channels); and also, if 4.9 doesn't offer anything special, I thought I'd wait for 5.3 - although even that one doesn't fix the bottom cut-off of the pic.

Then again, I'm hankering after twin-record because I have so many 'peripherals' connected up to one TV and I'm easily confused

parthena

Hi everyone.

Sorry to add my two penny-worth.

I too have noticed (quite markedly!) the said black line at the bottom of the screen on my Digihome. Infact I did take two boxes back to Argos originally, because their help line said it was a fault. If you look carefully at the instructions though, there is a line on some of the screen shots, hinting that perhaps it is not been unknown to Vestel for along time. I am glad someone else has picked up on it, since I was beginning to think it was my poor quality portables (I use three, and all have the same line to a greater or lesser degree). Some other sites I have been to have hinted that infact this is a hardware bug, although it is interesting to note that on downloading the files to a PC, the pure raw TS data in the files doesn't carry any hint of a line! Hence, when file downloading has been perfected, there will be no need to worry about this little problem (I agree though, it is extremely infuriating seeing the line - I am not a fan of wide screen - 4:3 everytime for me!).

As to file download, I have had some direct conatct with Vestel, Cabot, and other interested parties, and I am getting nearer I hope, to being able to work out the best way to treat the .trp files. I am a bit slow because of health, but I'm gradually getting there! I am also trying to trace details of the STM5100BUB chip at the centre of the mainboard. Quite a few sources say they can obtain it (all Chinese just about), but it is clear that STM no longer manufacture the chip, and it is now made by BSI, who are very reluctant at present, to release info. One thing is for sure, the board supports far more box functionality than presently admitted to by Vestel, and I would very much like to play around with the hardware, should documentation materialise, to see what is already there that can be used ( eg, a ready made USB port).

Anyway, nice to say hello again after a while - regards to all.

Tim (Nottingham).