Which PVR to get?

[bidaw]

Well, I took the plunge and purchased a Conaxsat CNX-V1 rcvr. I bought it for the PVR functionallity, and so far I am pretty impressed. I haven't put it thru all of it paces yet, but I am anxious to record my motorized FTA channels on both C and Ku bands, via usals and 1.2 thru the VBox II. I have recorded to both a USB key and to a USB hard drive. Playback is crystal, timed recordings are on point, superfast in scanning for channels. The receiver is still new on the market, but their support team has been updating its firmware pretty frequently. My first impression is that I made a good purchase at $175 shipped on a PVR ready FTA box. I will update you guys when I start scanning in other birds and testing out the motors.

 

[concord]

Bidaw,

Any more comments about the Conaxsat CNX-V1? Does it have blind scan, etc?

Thanks.

 

[bidaw]

Bidaw,

Any more comments about the Conaxsat CNX-V1? Does it have blind scan, etc?

Thanks.

Sorry that it has been awhile since my last post as to the CNX-V1. To answer your question to the blindscan, not yet. The specs mention the powerscan feature, but to be honest, it just scans the transponder lists that are editable built into the box. Scans fast as all get out, but lacking so far as to blind. Hope that it is a feature to come...just as USALS was. When I got the box, USALS was in the specs, but not working. They just released a new firmware upgrade last week...now USALS works! And works it does! Impressed with the PVR functionality as well. Improvements have been made in firmware releases since I first purchased...Pause and resume functions upgraded, timers working as advertised and the picture quality of the recordings are as good as the live broadcasts. Not to mention that being as a USB solution, a whole lot easier to dump, modify, and burn the finished recorded product. The box has other features geared to people using it for other than FTA, PowerEPG for example...but no need to comment on that. So far, being a new box and all...pleased with the support on its shortcomings because it seems they are working on making it an all around good product. Will let you know if and when they finally kick in the blindscan.

 

[waters]

I had the pansat 5000 and the timer didn't work. I didn't have any problem with the screen freezing, but the pansat didn't last two years for some reason. I bought a coolsat 5000, which I am getting use to. I like the pansat setup better. hopefully it just me getting use to the coolsat. The reason I bought it was to have the blind scan. Seems that the coolsat has a better picture, but doesn't get some of the channels as strong as the pansat.
I am thinking about getting a recordable dvd player to do the recording. I just have to talk my wife into it.

 

[RVD420]

I would buy a standalone PVR (like ReplayTV ot Tivo) and just hookup a standard FTA box to it.

With a standalone PVR you can use it with FTA, cable, Dishnetwork, DirecTV, BellExpressvu, and Starchoice.

 

[bidaw]

I would buy a standalone PVR (like ReplayTV ot Tivo) and just hookup a standard FTA box to it.

With a standalone PVR you can use it with FTA, cable, Dishnetwork, DirecTV, BellExpressvu, and Starchoice.

I hear you on that front. I have an old Toshiba SD-H400 Tivo unit that I upgraded the hard drive on connected to my Pansat 2500a for FTA recording. Sad thing, there is not a guide for it, but can use it for a VCR...so it works. The thing I like about the Toshiba unit, it was one of the 2 or 3 machines ever made that had free lifetime basic Tivo service. I found it at a yard sale for $14 because the dvd player didn't work. I didn't need the dvd function...so I made out great. Anyway, difference between the tivo and CNX-v1 is that the CNX will change sat's on timed recordings and you can move the recorded content on the fly via the usb to a computer for instant editing. The tivo, you are limited to what your fta box can do...if it can change sats on a timer...great, you just have to sync the tivo time up to the dvb box. I'm rambling....sorry. Little sleep last night.

 

[WildeComputers]

Say, I was looking into purchasing the Conaxsat CNX-V1, but had a question. Is it possible to record OTA analog with it? I see there is the 'antenna' option, but I suspect this is the same as my current receiver, where you can switch from satellite to TV, if I run coax to that input.

 

[updatelee]

conax, like dreambox, or viewsat pvr wont record analog.

that would require a tvtuner and mpeg encoder, soemthing they never put in em

 

[Anole]

Bidaw -

Keep us updated.
A full review would be nice.
If that thing can actually do a real blind scan, I'm sure it'll sell like hot cakes.
Though, if it won't by now, I'm not holding out a lot of hope for it.

I would buy a standalone PVR (like ReplayTV or Tivo) and just hookup a standard FTA box to it.
With a standalone PVR you can use it with FTA, cable, Dishnetwork, DirecTV, BellExpressvu, and Starchoice.

While this would work as well as a VCR, the real trick for a good PVR/DVR is to record the exact digital bitstream from the satellite to the DVD.
In BEV/Dish PVRs, some cable boxes, and I think DirecTiVos, that's the way it works.
No quality loss by re-digitizing the video .
And your DVDs are then identical to watching live.
Also, there is considerable utility in having the timers, the tuners, the recorders (and in some cases the guide) all built into one box.

I have tried the Sonicview again with the latest software from the SonicviewUSA web site.
The box does work a lot better, but it still does not transfer from the box to your computer properly.
The box needs to be turned off to reset it before each transfer or they will not transfer properly.
When they do transfer, they do so at very slow speeds. (about 10Mbit/s) ...

Geez, it's wonderful to be pointed to these units with such potential.
But it's terrible to have the dangling carrot snapped away!

 

[Anole]

what's working for FTA PVRs?

I just love this thread.
So much useful info about one subject I obsess over - PVRs!

Anyone have any new info about any of the above?
I PM'd Larry about his SonicView just now, but read down further in the thread and realized he sent his back.
oops

I've PM's Bidaw a few times, and it looks like that box it running okay.
But doesn't now, and probably never will have blind scan.
[where's the thumb's down smilie?]

The DVR1000ci from GeoSatPro is interesting.
Of course, other than an online manual, there's no info, no scuttle-butt, no nothing about it.
Is this a private label of any other box that does have some cache?

Does anyone else hold my fascination with this subject?

 

[SatelliteAV]

The GEOSATpro DVR1000ci is a North American version of the popular Hyundai 880 series PVR. It is distributed mainly for reception of Glorystar Christian Satellite and private network reception applications. While the picture quality is outstanding, the unit does not feature USB file transfer or Power Scan.

 

[Anole]

The GEOSATpro DVR1000ci is a North American version of the popular Hyundai 880 series PVR.
While the picture quality is outstanding, the unit does not feature USB file transfer or Power Scan.

That's a darned shame.
Blind scan would really open up the market to FTA users.
Pretty much everybody would benefit from some method of file transfer (USB, LAN, etc.).

I looked up the Hyundai 880.
Doesn't seem to be much info about it nor sales of it in the west.
Perhaps it's sold under other names.
You'd think it'd be a mature box, from an experienced company.