Hello again!

My Showcenter has just gone to gadget hell, and rather replace it 
like-for-like (it was never really that brilliant) I am wondering whether 
it's possible to combine it's function and that of my aging-but-brilliant 
Tivo into some sort of all-in-one wonder gadget?

The PVR side would score points if it were able to manage a basic Virgin 
package and efficiently do a "season pass" type function (i.e. capture all 
episodes of specified shows).

The streamer/media-center function must work nicely with Windows - I don't 
want anything that requires a USB hookup, it must be accessible thru WiFi or 
ethernet (I have both).   I don't want anything that's restrictive of what 
content can be played (format, DRM etc.).

Am I asking too much?   How extentisable is the Topfield now - can it stream 
from a Windows PC?

I've noted that Siemens do a nice sounding box for PVR+Streaming but not in 
the UK.   Is Windows Media Center the thing for me?

Anyone any suggestions?

Tx

Mugwump wrote:
> Hello again!
> 
> My Showcenter has just gone to gadget hell, and rather replace it 
> like-for-like (it was never really that brilliant) I am wondering whether 
> it's possible to combine it's function and that of my aging-but-brilliant 
> Tivo into some sort of all-in-one wonder gadget?
> 
> The PVR side would score points if it were able to manage a basic Virgin 
> package and efficiently do a "season pass" type function (i.e. capture all 
> episodes of specified shows).
> 
> The streamer/media-center function must work nicely with Windows - I don't 
> want anything that requires a USB hookup, it must be accessible thru WiFi or 
> ethernet (I have both).   I don't want anything that's restrictive of what 
> content can be played (format, DRM etc.).
> 
> Am I asking too much?   How extentisable is the Topfield now - can it stream 
> from a Windows PC?
> 
> I've noted that Siemens do a nice sounding box for PVR+Streaming but not in 
> the UK.   Is Windows Media Center the thing for me?
> 
> Anyone any suggestions?
> 
> Tx 
> 
> 
I have a Topfield. My understanding is that you can hook it up to an 
ethernet port by some clever USB/Ethernet dongle kind of thing.  Don't 
know how easy this is.  You can find more info at www.toppy.org.uk go to 
the search page and search for 'ethernet'

Mystuff TAP gives you the "season pass" type functionality.  Very easy 
to install.

The Topfield TF5800 is a freeview box.  It can't record from an external 
source such as a Virgin cable box and it can't stream from network 
drives.  It is not a streamer.

As far as suggestions are concerned...I've been thinking about getting a 
Netgear EVA8000.  See 
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Entertainment/DigitalMediaPlayers/EVA8000.aspx 

It costs about £200

It can control certain PC-based DVB cards to act as a PVR which means 
you don't necessarily need windows MCE - you can continue to use XP - so 
long as you have enough disk space. It is also (according to reviews 
I've read) about the best at reading just about every video format going 
when acting as a streamer.  It handles HD formats as well as Standard 
def.  Netgear are fairly actively supporting it in terms of firmware 
upgrades.  Downside is that it's Netgear.  From what read, they don't 
have the best reputation in the world. But then it's always the critics 
that shout loudest.

Cheers,

Ian.

"Ian"  wrote in message 
news:13gkv9pt8vrd864@corp.supernews.com...
> Mugwump wrote:
>> Hello again!
>>
>> My Showcenter has just gone to gadget hell, and rather replace it 
>> like-for-like (it was never really that brilliant) I am wondering whether 
>> it's possible to combine it's function and that of my aging-but-brilliant 
>> Tivo into some sort of all-in-one wonder gadget?
>>
>> The PVR side would score points if it were able to manage a basic Virgin 
>> package and efficiently do a "season pass" type function (i.e. capture 
>> all episodes of specified shows).
>>
>> The streamer/media-center function must work nicely with Windows - I 
>> don't want anything that requires a USB hookup, it must be accessible 
>> thru WiFi or ethernet (I have both).   I don't want anything that's 
>> restrictive of what content can be played (format, DRM etc.).
>>
>> Am I asking too much?   How extentisable is the Topfield now - can it 
>> stream from a Windows PC?
>>
>> I've noted that Siemens do a nice sounding box for PVR+Streaming but not 
>> in the UK.   Is Windows Media Center the thing for me?
>>
>> Anyone any suggestions?
>>
>> Tx
> I have a Topfield. My understanding is that you can hook it up to an 
> ethernet port by some clever USB/Ethernet dongle kind of thing.  Don't 
> know how easy this is.  You can find more info at www.toppy.org.uk go to 
> the search page and search for 'ethernet'
>
> Mystuff TAP gives you the "season pass" type functionality.  Very easy to 
> install.
>
> The Topfield TF5800 is a freeview box.  It can't record from an external 
> source such as a Virgin cable box and it can't stream from network drives. 
> It is not a streamer.
>
> As far as suggestions are concerned...I've been thinking about getting a 
> Netgear EVA8000.  See 
> http://www.netgear.com/Products/Entertainment/DigitalMediaPlayers/EVA8000.aspx
> It costs about £200
>
> It can control certain PC-based DVB cards to act as a PVR which means you 
> don't necessarily need windows MCE - you can continue to use XP - so long 
> as you have enough disk space. It is also (according to reviews I've read) 
> about the best at reading just about every video format going when acting 
> as a streamer.  It handles HD formats as well as Standard def.  Netgear 
> are fairly actively supporting it in terms of firmware upgrades.  Downside 
> is that it's Netgear.  From what read, they don't have the best reputation 
> in the world. But then it's always the critics that shout loudest.
>

I tuned in a Sony Freeview PVR\DVD recorder combo for a friend the other day 
(I can't remember the model number) it had a couple of  inputs and recorded 
perfectly from an (Sky) external source.

> Cheers,
>
> Ian.
>

"Ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message 
news:FivOi.27919$c_1.12359@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> I tuned in a Sony Freeview PVR\DVD recorder combo for a friend the other 
> day (I can't remember the model number) it had a couple of  inputs and 
> recorded perfectly from an (Sky) external source.

A PVR that can record Sky that wasn't a TIVO?  You'll have to get us more 
details as I didn't think this was possible.

Steven.

Steven wrote:
> "Ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message 
> news:FivOi.27919$c_1.12359@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>> I tuned in a Sony Freeview PVR\DVD recorder combo for a friend the other 
>> day (I can't remember the model number) it had a couple of  inputs and 
>> recorded perfectly from an (Sky) external source.
> 
> A PVR that can record Sky that wasn't a TIVO?  You'll have to get us more 
> details as I didn't think this was possible.
> 

And even if it is, isn't it getting the integrated EPG that's the 
problem when it comes to external cable/sat inputs? Without a single 
integrated front end for Freeview *and* cable or satellite flicking and 
recording it's still going to be a pain to use...

"Steven"  wrote in message 
news:13gl18ls21t4r6a@corp.supernews.com...
> "Ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message 
> news:FivOi.27919$c_1.12359@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>> I tuned in a Sony Freeview PVR\DVD recorder combo for a friend the other 
>> day (I can't remember the model number) it had a couple of  inputs and 
>> recorded perfectly from an (Sky) external source.
>
> A PVR that can record Sky that wasn't a TIVO?  You'll have to get us more 
> details as I didn't think this was possible.
>

It had two external inputs L1 and L2 and linked with a SCART lead from his 
Sky box definitely recorded (as a test) part of a programme onto its hard 
drive, although I spent so long buggering about with it that I never even 
got around to the DVD part which I'm going back to sort out when he returns 
from holiday, when I'm there again I'll make a note of the model number and 
let you know.




> Steven.
>

"Ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message 
news:N4wOi.27962$c_1.826@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> "Steven"  wrote in message 
> news:13gl18ls21t4r6a@corp.supernews.com...
>> "Ivan" <ivan'H'older@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message 
>> news:FivOi.27919$c_1.12359@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>>> I tuned in a Sony Freeview PVR\DVD recorder combo for a friend the other 
>>> day (I can't remember the model number) it had a couple of  inputs and 
>>> recorded perfectly from an (Sky) external source.
>>
>> A PVR that can record Sky that wasn't a TIVO?  You'll have to get us more 
>> details as I didn't think this was possible.
>>
>
> It had two external inputs L1 and L2 and linked with a SCART lead from his 
> Sky box definitely recorded (as a test) part of a programme onto its hard 
> drive, although I spent so long buggering about with it that I never even 
> got around to the DVD part which I'm going back to sort out when he 
> returns from holiday, when I'm there again I'll make a note of the model 
> number and let you know.

Thanks Ivan.

On 9 Oct, 09:56, "Steven"  wrote:
> "Ivan" <ivan'H'ol...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>
> news:N4wOi.27962$c_1.826@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > "Steven"  wrote in message
> >news:13gl18ls21t4r6a@corp.supernews.com...
> >> "Ivan" <ivan'H'ol...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> >>news:FivOi.27919$c_1.12359@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> >>> I tuned in a Sony Freeview PVR\DVD recorder combo for a friend the other
> >>> day (I can't remember the model number) it had a couple of  inputs and
> >>> recorded perfectly from an (Sky) external source.
>
> >> A PVR that can record Sky that wasn't a TIVO?  You'll have to get us more
> >> details as I didn't think this was possible.
>
> > It had two external inputs L1 and L2 and linked with a SCART lead from his
> > Sky box definitely recorded (as a test) part of a programme onto its hard
> > drive, although I spent so long buggering about with it that I never even
> > got around to the DVD part which I'm going back to sort out when he
> > returns from holiday, when I'm there again I'll make a note of the model
> > number and let you know.
>
> Thanks Ivan.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Yes, I set one of these Sonys up for a customer a month or two ago.
Not sure what model. It does have control over the Sky box with a
small IR emitter and it uses its own EPG which has the Sky listings.
I dont know much more than that, though, as I was there to install Sky
plus and I just set the rest up as part of the job.
I was also installing a Global "Plus Combiner" with the old Sky box
and the Sky Plus box on top of each other so  both boxes could feed
all rooms with full remote control of both boxes. I fed both Sky boxes
into the Sony (scart 1 and 2) and set the Sony up to be in control of
the old Sky box. In this way, the Sky Plus works as usual and can copy
to the Sony and when the Sky plus is recording two at once, the Sony
can automatically control the other box for a third recording (if they
can find three worthwhile things on at the same time!)

Ive just looked it up on the Sony web site.
This is the one and it has set top box control, including Sky.

RDR-HXD870

http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProduct.action?product=RDR-HXD870S&productsku=RDRHXD870S.CEK&site=odw_en_GB&pageType=TechnicalSpecs&imageType=Main&category=DVD+Recorder#tab

widgitt wrote:
> Ive just looked it up on the Sony web site.
> This is the one and it has set top box control, including Sky.
> 
> RDR-HXD870
> 
> http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProduct.action?product=RDR-HXD870S&productsku=RDRHXD870S.CEK&site=odw_en_GB&pageType=TechnicalSpecs&imageType=Main&category=DVD+Recorder#tab
> 

Hmmm.

Just been reading through Sony's User manual. It supports Guide+ for the 
EPG (that's updated from ITV1 analogue, and Eurosport from Satellite), 
and also the freeview EPG.

Mentions Dual DTT tuners but, of course, no dual DTT recording - which 
is the holy grail many still seek for a unit with HDD/DVD-R...

Just over £200 - seems a good price for what it can do!

<http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2007/08/06/Sony-RDR-HXD870-Digital-Video-Recorder/p1>


-- 
Adrian C

"widgitt"  wrote in message 
news:1193013373.223577.179650@i13g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> Ive just looked it up on the Sony web site.
> This is the one and it has set top box control, including Sky.
>
> RDR-HXD870
>
> http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProduct.action?product=RDR-HXD870S&productsku=RDRHXD870S.CEK&site=odw_en_GB&pageType=TechnicalSpecs&imageType=Main&category=DVD+Recorder#tab
>

As yet I haven't been back to see the people, but I'm pretty certain that 
the display was on the left hand side not on the right, so I can't verify if 
it's the same model.
Also I have to say that I thought that the remote control was a nightmare of 
complexity to try and explain to a couple of 70 year olds.. and that was 
even before getting onto the DVD section!