Please report your PVR results here. - ABA DSS

**boboisno1** · November 8th, 2008

I borrowed this thread idea from our friend Arboristman, even borrowed his words to, how lazzy am I.

report your pvr results here.
let us know what hard drive your using.how easy it is to setup and use.your likes and dislikes about recording and any limitations features/missing features of everything having to do with the personal video recording of the VS HDMAX please.

**boboisno1** · November 8th, 2008

I've read that a Western Digtal Mybook 500 gig works fine right out of the box no formatting needed. I will report more on this as I come across them.

frank.waldner · November 13th, 2008

I'm using a Western Digital Passport 160GB. I know the drive is SOLID because I have been using it on my computer for 9 months without problems.

But, my MAX HD doesn't successfully implement the PVR functionality. The recordings are there. Files have a .trp extension and are playable on my PC, but MAX HD can't playback EVER. It starts out OK, but then breaks up after 5-6 minutes and the receiver HANGS. A hard restart is needed. High Def is out of the question as far as PVR functions are concerned.

Another thing I noticed is that you can make a reservation for recording a future broadcast. When you turn off the receiver, a little red 'dial' gets lit up to indicate a scheduled recording will occur. But after the recording, and there are no more reservations, the red 'dial' still displays when the unit if turned off.

In my opnion, PVR functionality is FAR from being user-ready, and needs lots of work and testing.

Note to ViewSat - I would be willing to be a tester for this.

mr_status · December 16th, 2008

I'm using a Maxtor 300GB and am having no problems with recording or viewing. I haven't recorded any HD channels with this yet, but I did use an 8GB flash drive and it recorded just fine on an HD channel. Did have a lil problem (the HD Channell) when I needed to fast forward to a certain part. It would do it for a lil while and then all of a sudden would just restart to the beginning (could of just possibly been a problem with the flashdrive). I played around with it a lil and got to the part I wanted to and everything was fine. Had no problems fastforwarding with my external harddrive. Haven't tried to playback on a PC yet but was able to watch my shows from lastnite.

**rv1** · January 9th, 2009

I use a WD Passport 400gig. I record and playback both Hi-Def and Std. programs. It works right out of the box. Just plug in the USB and let the STB scan the drive. When done it will give you FAT 400 gig OK. Just hit OK and you are ready togo.

RV1

coronaslammer · February 19th, 2009

I'm using a WD 1TB "My Book" hard drive. I record mostly HD programming. It works fine as long as you don't fast forward beyond 2x otherwise the hard drive will lock up, or when you go back to play mode you will lose audio. I don't know if the WD hd is just to slow or the data transfer using a USB-USB mini cable isn't fast enough?!?! A STB with a nice internal SATA hd would would be ideal!!

One thing that I don't like is that it stores movies randomly.. not by record date, not alphabetically, just randomly!!

I did transfer some Blu-ray movies using a 3rd party software from my PC over to this which is nice to be able to not have to load/handle the disks but it is a little pointless because you are downgrading the video from 1080p to 1080i, which is the whole reason you go Blu in the first place!! You also you loose the 7.1 audio and turn it into a 5.1 “smear”. I haven't loaded any SD disk but i bet they would be fine other than they would not be unconverted to 1080i as most newer dvd players do. But just think how nice it would be to have up to 400 movies ready to go at a push of a button!?!?

Be WILD,

garrettbowman · February 19th, 2009

I used a HP pocket drive 80GB with no problems, I them switched to a Comstar 1TB and have had nothing but problems. Am going to return the comstar tonight and try a western digital.

Knee Dragger · February 19th, 2009

I did add a 16 flash drive with recorded shows from a vs 9000 hd played back fine on one, flash was not recognized on the second vs max I have. both did play back a 160gig portable seagate I have. have not got to the 1 T my book yet. those all were prerecorded shows.
still in the works.

garrettbowman · February 19th, 2009

So i returned the 1TB drive tonight and replaced it with a 2.5" 320GB Samsung SATA notebook drive with case. First show recorded fine, looks like the slower 3.5" drive with much more storage just couldnt keep up with the transfer rate of high speed usb

coronaslammer · February 20th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by garrettbowman

So i returned the 1TB drive tonight and replaced it with a 2.5" 320GB Samsung SATA notebook drive with case. First show recorded fine, looks like the slower 3.5" drive with much more storage just couldnt keep up with the transfer rate of high speed usb

Are you able to fast foward or rewind past 2x ? That would be a nice luxury..

garrettbowman · February 20th, 2009

I will check on the fast forward performance tonight after work.

But I did try and set up a couple of recordings last night and they did not work. It seems like the receiver didnt even attempt to record as there were no fragments of the movies. I set another one up today so we will see how it goes,

I'll keep you posted

Knee Dragger · February 20th, 2009

with the 16 gig flash drive fast forward and rewind worked almost flawlessly. it does not do that with a hard drive. the fast forward with the flash drive though did not work that good past 8X speed. it might with a faster higher grade flash drive, I did buy a less expensive one at $19 datatraveler.

Knee Dragger · February 20th, 2009

oh one more thing on my v/s 9000 hd fast forward with a hard drive makes the box re-boot at times after it locks up. I have not tested the flash on that one yet......

coronaslammer · February 20th, 2009

Hey Knee Dragger, are you recording SD or HD? I wonder how much that makes a differnce with the ff and rw issue? I know that most of the HD programing I record is abourt 6-8gb for a two hour program.. Just wondering??

Be Wild,

Knee Dragger · February 20th, 2009

it depends, most all, 200 plus are HD,only have about 3 SD. how ever most E* hd is really 1080X1080i or 1440x1080i...smaller size file 2 hour at 3.5 to 4.5 or 4.5 to 5.5 gig. just a note so long as they transmit 1080i what ever the side to side resolution is...the 1080i will readout that on the display.....this way they can fit more 1080i on each TP.
HD movie and 1080i OTA 1920X1080i comes in at about is a larger size comes in at about 6.5 to 7 gig for 1 hour.
the reference was a 1920X1080i PBS HD movie and also tested on a hockey game.
I have not seen the super bowl yet as I was away from a TV. so I have not viewed it yet.
let me give hints on recording..... experience from vs 9000.
format disc fat-32.....do not partition, but remove all software that came with first.
after that install a new folder. my VS 9000 put all recorded movies in a VSHD folder.
it helps to have it there...and I have not recorded with my max yet so maybe you know which designated folder the movie goes to.
I had problems at times trying to record to a blank drive. with a folder there it went easy. if you do not put a folder on it just install the drive and start to record something. after a while open the folder when you access the PVR and delete the content. that will install the folder needed to record. I use to record 4 or 5 movies late at night and early morning while I was not watching TV. by having the folder installed I had no problem using the timer.
note: I did write a way to keep track and file your movies if you look under v/s 9K column. I also explain how to sort them (in folders) on your hard drive for easy access

garrettbowman · February 21st, 2009

Tried out the fast forward tonight on my samsung 2.5 320GB drive and it worked perfectly. Had it at 32x and it looked just like a dvd player

coronaslammer · February 21st, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by garrettbowman

Tried out the fast forward tonight on my samsung 2.5 320GB drive and it worked perfectly. Had it at 32x and it looked just like a dvd player

I’m jealous

coronaslammer · February 23rd, 2009

Update:

Today I recorded a 2 hour SD program using the Western Digital 1TB.. fast foward looks like a dvd up to 8x!! 16x and 32x the picture breaks up really bad but it will go back into play mode with out anyproblems.

Just incase someone is thinking about getting the WD 1tb..

Be Wild,

zettro · April 3rd, 2009

you got to defragment your hard drive else it wont detect it. mine took 2 days but worked perfect after

Knee Dragger · April 6th, 2009

FF with SD video is no problem at 32X. it is HD video and with mine it depends on
how much video is involved. high resolution of a full 1920X1080 is only able to
do a 2X speed. if it is a 1420X1080 I can get 4X if it is a 1080X1080 picture I can
FF at a 8X speed, I would guess the same for 720X1370. I have not tried it yet but
data information should be same size file.
32X with a full HD 1920X1080 would be nice.....I think I'm going to get a faster
flash drive and see.