I saw that Digihome PVR80 and PVR160 are available from Bigpockets.co.uk for £39.99 and £59.99 respectively plus delivery. They are described "As New" and come with a 3 month guarantee.

Not intended as an endorsement or advertisement - I have nothing to do with Bigpockets. I just thought people might be interested.

I was just about to post about the PVR80. I didn't know about the PVR160. (Those links are crossed over btw).

Also check the add-for-free-delivery items to see if it's worth padding your order for.

Thanks kohare

I have just ordered a PVR80 from Bigpockets.co.uk.

Anyone who has received one, does it have two tuners (one record, one watch)?

Also, what version of the firmware does it come with? How long will I have to wait for the next over the air update?

Thanks, this is a great forum for information.

Yes.
I haven't purchased one so don't about the software fitted, and I guess that could vary.

I'm afraid you will wait for ever for an update. The last update for this model was in mid-2007 and Vestel have not provided any updates for this model or any of their later models so the prospect of an update for the T810 hardware software versions (which the PVR80/160 use) is nil IMO. The latest software for this model is Version 5.6. There are possibilities of obtaining this software and installing it yourself or even an "un-official" version which converts it to dual record. There are threads about these options in this Sub-forum.

Colin

Thanks Colin. Do you know where I can find the most recent firmware for the PVR80? All I can find is 4.9. Since then there has been 5.3 and 5.6 released (thats what it says here).

It seems that 5.6 was never circulated via OAD and was only available via RS232, so it must be somewhere on the net.

EDIT: Found It!

Many thanks.

Pleased you sorted it out. I meant to provide the link to futaura's webpage but I forgot. That is a very useful reference for Vestel owners. I use it frequently.

Colin

I'll second that. Would probably be useful to have a sticky linking to it in the Digihome forum.

Done! If a mod can make it sticky

Bought one of these last week at the £39.99 price, before he price went down over the weekend, followed by an increase in price yesterday.

Delivery condition is excellent 'as new'. Retail packaging, everything bagged in poly bags and with new remote batteries. (No SCART included).

Software is version V5.3.

So far it has worked flawlessly.

Silent in operation.

The unit does require a very strong signal. Stronger than my existing Echostar T101 STB.

I think I will have to put up an outdoor aerial. (approx 10 miles from Huntshaw Cross TX)

The only hiccups present are on the weaker mux's such as A and C.

Used the recorder to record 10 hours worth of mid-summer murder weekend on ITV3 (Sat and Sun) with perfect results.

Can some-one tell me which the apparent bug fixes were implemented in version 5.6 so I can decide whether I need to upgrade urgently.

Regards

Bill

Bill
I've had a PVR80 for over a year (with 5.3) & it has been running without any problems & I have no known bugs to fix.
I also bought a refurbished PVR160 (with 4.7) from SVP about a month ago which is also behaving impeccably.

Just got a PVR80 from Bigpockets.

Pretty pleased with it for the price.

It came with the 5.3 software.

I wonder if someone could help me with some info on the Digihome DTR 80 and DTR 160.

I'm considering buying one of these STB's as my old sagem PVR has bit the dust just after two years.

I would like to know how reliable the Digihome models are, any known bugs, problems or issues I should consider before buying?

I've seen this model in Argos for £84.99 and the bigger HDD for £94.99, or could I get this model any cheaper from a high street store or supermarket, as this model is in my budget range of £100, or should I consider a different brand in the same price range?

Any advice would be most appreciated..thanks in advance...

I've had the 160 for about 4 months now, supplementing my Virgin V+ box. Virtually flawless performance - i've recorded several hundred programmes, series record works fine (although it sometimes gives you repeats or 'next week's episode on channels like E4 as well as just he time slot you want - but hey! - just delete them). It's frozen on a handful of occasions when I've had to unplug it and on the odd occasion the channel it's tuned to doesn't display when you switch on, so you have to change channels and back again if that's the channel you want. Those are my only criticisms - picture/reception is excellent (although I live in a strong signal area, and I've read the tuner isn't all that sensitive). Highly recommended, got mine from Argos.

Note that the latest Digihome DTR series of PVRs have some additional features compared with the Digihome PVR series discussed in this thread.

You are unlikely to get one of the latest Digihome PVRs much cheaper than at Argos. You may get one or the equivalent from Asda or Tesco. The Digihomes tend to be the cheapest of the Vestel PVRs as they don't have the Low Power, CI Slot, HDMI or USB ports that the more expensive versions of the Vestel T825 series have. Otherwise they are virtually the same. You will get a good impression of the issues with them in the thread here.

Colin

In the end I went for the Wharfdale LP250DTR (T825 Ver 4.9) it also stated that the build was from 29th January 2008.

Haven't got a clue what the 4.9 means??

I haven't fully played around with the STB yet..so fingers crossed...hope it behaves ok for me?? seems like a nice box tho!!

Sent this back as it was doing my head in, it kept booting up every couple of hours during the early hours and kept waking me up and it crashed a few time when I changed channels..

So I swapped it for the Digihome DTR160 with T825 ver 2.7 from Argos haven't tried it yet, will see how it goes over the next few days!!