Aldi - Technosonic PVR £99.99 - Freeview

Searcher2

dc wrote:

C'mon Searcher 2, how did you manage that? Do you work at Aldi? if so, how many per store please?

Errrr.... I called in last thing to ask how many they had and how long before they opened I would have to queue. However, I saw a rack of them in the storage area and asked nicely for one.

BUT.... I have just been flicking through the freeview channels whilst another freeview channel is recording and I keep getting 'NO SIGNAL' and when I did get a picture I lost the sound!!!! Oh dear. I have a Sagem freeview box and never get 'no signal' issues so I may be queuing with the rest of you to swap it in the morning!

I would say there were at least 20 PVR's but hard to say.

dc

Most Freeview boxes suffer from software problems. Looks like you wont get much sleep, back to the manual.

Any clues on where it is from, apart from China, and are firmware updates and source mentioned?

:rudolf:

Searcher2

dc wrote:

Most Freeview boxes suffer from software problems. Looks like you wont get much sleep, back to the manual.

Any clues on where it is from, apart from China, and are firmware updates and source mentioned?

:rudolf:

I can't see anything that says where it is manufactured. There is a helpline number in the UK though which is not an premium number though which is good.

From the manual

Receiver upgrade

The PVR comes with a special feature that allows the PVR to be updated using software that is broadcast over the air and recieved via the aerial (when software is available)... It then goes on to tell you how to do it.... and says the PVR will automatically check at 03:00 for updates every day.

That's all it says about upgrades.

I have disconnected my AV receiver from the PVR and it seems to be working ok at the moment. The recording I made is fine even when I was getting NO SIGNAL using the 2nd receiver. I hopes it works because I can see how much better it is than a VCR already - if it is reliable! Big IF there.

dc

I would hang on to it for a bit, its like learning to drive. Aldi seem good with returns.
It seems very much like a similar model the Fusion 200t. I had one from Argos which suddunly had dimenture after about 8 months, took it back boxed,and got a full refund. This hopefully is going to be the half price replacement, hope the drive is 3.5" so a larger one can be installed if it fits the bill.

Thank you for your input, :xmassign: dc

creddish

Searcher2 wrote:

I can't see anything that says where it is manufactured. There is a helpline number in the UK though which is not an premium number though which is good.

From the manual

Receiver upgrade

The PVR comes with a special feature that allows the PVR to be updated using software that is broadcast over the air and recieved via the aerial (when software is available)... It then goes on to tell you how to do it.... and says the PVR will automatically check at 03:00 for updates every day.

That's all it says about upgrades.

I have disconnected my AV receiver from the PVR and it seems to be working ok at the moment. The recording I made is fine even when I was getting NO SIGNAL using the 2nd receiver. I hopes it works because I can see how much better it is than a VCR already - if it is reliable! Big IF there.

From the illustration in the Aldi leaflet it appears the Remote has about 10 fewer buttons than for example the Fusion PVR's. Can you confirm whether it has Fast Forward, Fast Reverse, Skip Forward (or similar function) Replay (or similar) and any other Button information that you can provide.

Thanks,

Colin

Edit:- Having now got one of these units the Remote supplied is completly different from the one illustrated in the leaflet. The one supplied has more buttons and at least some of the buttons do different things depending on what the PVR is doing at the time.

Searcher2

Mmm. Well - I can reliably get it to lose sound now. If I move from BBC1 to BBC2 to ITV1 using the up arrow, then ITV1 has no sound. If I move to another channel using the number keys (say 9) then back to ITV1 using the 3 button then I get sound!

The question is whether all machines are the same and it is a software bug or just a dodgy machine. If it is a dodgy machine then I may be better trying to swap it in the morning. I tried to do the software upgrade but there are none.... V1.0... I think the machine was only made in September.

Searcher2

creddish wrote:

From the illustration in the Aldi leaflet it appears the Remote has about 10 fewer buttons than for example the Fusion PVR's. Can you confirm whether it has Fast Forward, Fast Reverse, Skip Forward (or similar function) Replay (or similar) and any other Button information that you can provide.

Thanks,

Colin

The manual says 'pressing either key (<< or >>) repeatedly will change the rewind/forward wind speed' - this works fine (just checked). Also the < and > keys move you back or forwards 2 minutes. There is also a GOTO feature which I came across by mistake (press OK when watching a recording) which I cannot find in the manual.... where you can specify how many minutes through the recording you want to jump to. Having tried these functions I can't think of any other ones you would need.

One feature I expected to find but can't is the facility to watch a program you are recording. You only seem to be able to watch recording that are complete. Shame - as I think other PVRs can do this.

Anyway - mine is going back in the morning. The recordings are fine but watching live I get NO SIGNAL (especially on channel 5) and no sound on ITV1.

creddish

Searcher2 wrote:

The manual says 'pressing either key (<< or >>) repeatedly will change the rewind/forward wind speed' - this works fine (just checked). Also the < and > keys move you back or forwards 2 minutes. There is also a GOTO feature which I came across by mistake (press OK when watching a recording) which I cannot find in the manual.... where you can specify how many minutes through the recording you want to jump to. Having tried these functions I can't think of any other ones you would need.

One feature I expected to find but can't is the facility to watch a program you are recording. You only seem to be able to watch recording that are complete. Shame - as I think other PVRs can do this.

Anyway - mine is going back in the morning. The recordings are fine but watching live I get NO SIGNAL (especially on channel 5) and no sound on ITV1.

Thanks for that info. The GOTO and stepping back and forward seems good. But the lack of sound and signal is worrying.

Not all current PVR's allow you to watch a current recording before it is finished. Even the new and much more expensive Humax 9200 does not allow that (yet). There is a workaround where you stop the recording and start watching it frm the start and then set another recording for the rest of the programme. Messy but it is a way around it.

Have you any comment on the appearance of the on screen displays e.g. clarity and EPG information. e.g. is it like Sky with one line per channel over a 2 hour period or all programmes for one channel at a time.

Colin

dfarry

Searcher2 wrote:

Mmm. Well - I can reliably get it to lose sound now. If I move from BBC1 to BBC2 to ITV1 using the up arrow, then ITV1 has no sound. If I move to another channel using the number keys (say 9) then back to ITV1 using the 3 button then I get sound!

The question is whether all machines are the same and it is a software bug or just a dodgy machine. If it is a dodgy machine then I may be better trying to swap it in the morning. I tried to do the software upgrade but there are none.... V1.0... I think the machine was only made in September.

THis sounds like an aerial issue to me... even if Freeview works fine on another set top box...I would check your signal strength... perhaps even ask a friend or neighbour to try the PVR in their home.

LesD

Thanks for the info Searcher. Is the conclusion that it's worth pushing the little old ladies out of the way to get one?