Hi to all (UK and non UK readers)

Today i received my PV75120 twin DVB-T tuner PlayON!DVR and I am having one or two problems.

Has anyone with this unit in the UK managed to get a scan (auto or manual) to pick up ANY channels ? - my unit finds no channels at all and even if I manual tune to a known working frequency the unit returns an error on the scan. The frequency is verified working as the pass thru signal is powering the DVB-T input on my LCD TV which has all channels working fine.

Also has anyone noticed that the channels that can be manually entered have a large portion missing - numbers 33-58 can not be selected which is a problem as i know that channel 54 and channel 56 are used in this area.

Apart from that the unit appears functional playing back ISO , MKV & mpeg2 files tested so far from internal drive and external NAS drives. Recording using the AV-in works fine and the quality is not too bad but the picture is rather dark and the britghness control does not seem to do much except in extremes of dark or bright white.

All and any input would be grateful from fellow UK peeps and if some one at ACRyan staff can chip in it would save me getting a rage and demanding me money back

Cozzy

Hi Cozzy

Sorry I dont have a solution for you but I am getting the same issue living in Ireland. As soon as I do a manual scan it returns Error.

To add, I saw you other post and Male and female inputs are reversed on my box too. Also my tv picks up channels with the cable going into the playon and out to the TV.

Hopefully someone can help us.

Hi

Thanks for replying its at least some comfort to know someone reads and will reply to the threads.

No luck here getting any channels scanned using Auto or Manual.

More feedback is needed from UK & Ireland owners before we can reach any conclusions as we might both have broken boxes or it could be the DVR just isnt compatable with our TV broadcast systems. I would hope the staff tested ( at least a simulated test ) the signal system used in UK and Ireland.

If any European users can chip in and lets us know which countries are having success and failure may also help (possibly a new thread to gauge the DVR reliability and compatability).

Any staff wish to chip in and assure us its just a firmware glitch ???

Having waited so long to get the DVR I am somewhat reluctant to request an RMA as it does not work to a level to justify the cost we paid and is not working as advertised.

Cozzy

I have managed to tune in the UK (Winter Hill post DSO).
I started the auto tune but got impatient (Winter Hill is C/D so all channels are at the top end!!!)
and went to manual tune.

2 things to note:

1. you need to set the channel size to 8Mhz
2. the channel number listed does NOT match the channel numbers you may be familiar with (ie 21-68)
I am unsure to their numbering system but look at the raw frequency:

Ch 21 is 474Mhz
Ch 68 is 850Mhz

to get the others, simply add/subtract the multiple of 8Mhz (ie Ch22 is 482Mhz)

finally, I could not INITIALLY get the correct frequency range to correspond, it was stating around the 100Mhz - 200Mhz ish. I'm not quite sure how I rectified this but I *think* I went back and reset the country to the UK - then going to manual tune I could now select the frequency in the UK range as listed above.

Just as a confirmation THE UNIT WILL NOT RECEIVE DVB-T2 TRANSMISSIONS IE BBCHD, 4HD ETC which is a massive shame
If there is no plans to deliver a retrofit T2 tuner then this is (sadly) a show stopper for me
shame, I really want to like this bit of kit

**UPDATE**
to get the higher channels, go BACKWARDS on the channel numbers (ie use arrow LEFT instead of the "natural" arrow right), the value rolls back to the top end which allows you access to the manual channels you need


Steve

Hi all

Thanks for the reply havenveiw (Steve)

Sadly tried inputting the frequency of individual channels but with no success , just scans and then reports error. I know the roof antenna is working fine and dandy as I have tried 3 DVB-T enabled TV's on the same connector as the PlayOnDVR and all 3 TV's auto tune all channels with a good strength signal.

I think I have been sent a very dodgy unit as mine is now displaying other symptoms now with several lock-ups when trying to record through AV-IN so Im currently recovering the recordings I have made and gonna reset re-format and see if it plays ball.

Only other choice is request an RMA but with the parcel post/air problems at present it would most likely take a long long time and of course they probably dont have any left to replace it with anyway.

Not very happy and not overly impressed by the forum support which used to be a lot better from ACRyan staff in the past when I used to lurk. Playback of media has been fault less but the general point of the product of being a PVR/DVR leaves a lot to be desired.

Cozzy

Cozzy,

what transmitter are you off?

I haven't actually tried inputting the frequency direct, I used the channel (ie the 21-68 range) method, but like I said you need to go backwards to get to the UK range because of the bug and there is an "offset"on the channel number. The "error" simply means it could not find a multiplex.

Steve

Hi

I believe the transmitter is Caradon Hill but there are a couple of other smaller relays as well. I can usually pick up 3 different transmitters although that may have changed recently.

Still nothing has changed and cant get any reception on the DVR and when I try to manual scan I cant even select channels 31-58 as the thing does not list them at all - channel list upwards and downwards is 13-28 then 59-107 using bandwidth 8Mhz.

Last night when it would not even record through AV-IN i tried a factory default and a HDD format and nothing worked and I also lost all audio in-out on the AV-IN. The problem required changing the HDD to solve it as for some reason the HDD had become corrupt and write protected

Anyway to learn today the unit is now EOL (end of life) and being replaced in a month makes me really and not in any mood for accepting excuses or only part working hardware so will be getting an RMA asap.

Not impressed at all - Not happy at all - Unlikey to recommend ACRyan in future even though I own 2 mini's that work great.

Cozzy

EDIT : I have now submitted an RMA request via email as the current state of the hardware I have is not fit for purpose. No idea how long the process will take and can only guess it will be a refund if they have sold out and no longer making the product.
Will update if and when I get any response
EDIT 2 : Having just hooked up the PlayOnHD mini in place of the DVR I can actually say that the mini has far superior output during playback which I did not expect. Another nail in the DVR's coffin I'm afraid so looks like I will be very much more inclined for a refund rather than replacement of my faulty box.
I was actually looking forward to this product but it is disapointing to say the least and a big let down. I hope everyone else is having a better experience and looks like I will go back to using an old DVDR to record any TV i wish to keep a while.

Caradon Hill, digital only, channels 21,22,24,25,27,28 correspond to frequencies(Mhz) 474,482,498,506,522,530 which correspond to PlayON channels 59,60,62,63,65,66



has this *ever* worked? - please don't be offended if I ask are you sure that the 2 RF leads are in the correct socket on the tuner cards?



EOL? where did you here this? can you expand on this? Steve is panicking!!!!!

Hi Steve

The unit has never found any channels since I have had it. 3 DVB-T tv's all work off the same co-ax lead from roof areial so its not the signal. According to one TV the signals are on channel 44,45,54,56,61 and a couple others i missed but ended with 75 DTV channels and 25 radio channels.

I am pretty sure the hardware is at dault as i have tried all combinations of connections without success unless the unit requires two seperate working inputs at all times which is the only thing I havent tried as i dont have a cable splitter to test with.

As for EOL look at the topic When will the Playon!DVR-HD get Shipped?? as someone who emailed ACRyan and has been informed the current DVR's are being replaced with a newer chipset from May. Not good customer service for those who have already purchased to find their product is being replaced within a week or two of receiving theirs.

Back on my problems ... unless you have to feed both inputs seperately and at the same time then there is nothing else I can try although i did try roof in one input and (crappy) supplied antenna in other with same no channels found results.

Cozzy

Cozzy-

you might find this link useful:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/tech/dso ... ntryv5.pdf

it is the OFCOM list for post DSO TX in your area so you will have an official list and should be able to work out what transmitter and what multiplexes are on what channels

also, I did a test and my unit will "tune" with only one antenna input (the one nearest the side edge of the unit with the input on the LOWER connector - contrary to the instructions). I also did a full auto tune (it took ages but did complete) again with just that one input.

I have now boxed my unit up and requested it to be collected and a refund issued. I ordered it when I was at the Gadget show live and was told that it would pick up Freeview HD channels!!! The chipset update you mention is the last straw! I couldn't possibly convince the current Mrs Havenview to put up with all of these discrepancies and divorce is expensive these days! I shall be waiting for the new humax freeview HD recorder instead!

Good Luck!

Steve