The DVR thread (Digital Video Recorder)

rrangan · 27th January 2008, 10:34

Do any members own "DVR" - (a settop box with digital video recorder having a 80 GB hard disk of Kaon make) from DishTV ?

I have one for the last 1.5 years and the "DVR" has helped us a lot - especially in getting my children to record their favourite channels and view them in "off study" hours.

Since friday morning it shows an error sign "Erro" in the unit and the TV screen hangs after the message "Rebooting ....".

There are others in Pune having the same issue and the DishTV call centre is of no help.

Wanted to know if any members having it in other areas are having this issue too ?

Sahil · 29th January 2008, 02:16

DVRs have come to India more than a year back, thats new to me ! How much did you pay for the dishtv DVR? Does Tatasky offer this too?

Nitin · 29th January 2008, 03:15

I'm not sure how the DVRs in India work,but when you receive an error message of some sorts,its usually due to the link with the satellite being lost. It happens often in Houston,thanks to thunderstorms. A reset of the transponder usually fixes the issue,albeit taking upto an hour sometimes.

rohitrk · 29th January 2008, 18:26

Hi,
I own DVR too for last 1.5 year and so far it was working fine. Even I have the same problem. This is the current workaround that I have figured out.

1. DVR looks up to perticular transponder/frequency for software upgrade when it boots.
2. If it is not able to connect to satellite, it boots anyway.
3. In our case it's able to connect but there is some problem at the DISHTV end that's causing the DVR to hang.

What I did
Called the customer service. They have no idea about DVR. They just asked me to take it to dealer. I really don't have time to do that. So I decided to debug it myself.
1. If you remove the first transponder cable connected to your antenna. DVR thinks that you are not connect to satellite and able to boot.
2. Now connect the transponder cable.
3. Search for all channel, copy it to tuner 2.
4. Now remove the transponder 1 cable forever.

So you loose one tuner but now DVR boots fine. You need to switch tuner once it boot to view your channel. This is only workaround for time being.

Hope it helps.

rrangan · 4th February 2008, 12:16

Thanks rohitrk for that tip, it got rectified from DishTVs end itself and we are back to recording and viewing programmes.

Sahil - The DVR I got was for 18K Rs. with one years subscription and installation etc etc. To the best of my knowledge, unfortunately DishTV has discontinued it. TataSKY too do not have it in their offer.

The advantage I have with the DVR other than recording is that it has a S-Video out and hence the quality of picture on my LCD improves drastically.

Mpower · 14th November 2008, 05:58

Anybody using DVRs in Bangalore. I'd like to get some feedback on which one to go for. Anybody tried TATA Sky's new service SKY+?

DTH ? Tata Sky DTH in India, Leading Satellite Television Provider in India, DTH services by Tata Sky, Direct-to-home, India

sammyboy · 14th November 2008, 14:03

Hi Mpower, one of our fellow bhpians (WIND) has posted in the DTH thread that he has bought the DVR. He might be able to provide some feedback.

clix22 · 20th November 2008, 11:39

Have ordered the + box today - install should be over the week end. Will keep you all posted.

Mpower · 21st November 2008, 06:45

Anybody using DVRs with regular cable (ie., without using DTH). Is it necessary to go with cable companies or can you buy DVRs separately.

kalpeshc · 21st November 2008, 09:50

Isn't Tata Sky Plus a DVR?

bigman · 21st November 2008, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Anybody using DVRs with regular cable (ie., without using DTH). Is it necessary to go with cable companies or can you buy DVRs separately.

You can buy DVRs sperately. However you might want to investigate dreamboxes. The dreambox 600 can be bought with a cable tuner and you can add a 2.5" HDD. If you know anyone who goes to China/Hong Kong then they are quite cheap over there.

navin · 21st November 2008, 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigman

You can buy DVRs sperately..

which ones are available or could you recommend. I was given to understand by Hathway and Tata that only DVRs purchased from them would allow one to record one program while watching a second.

I have a Panasonic Hard disk recorder that I use via tha RCA (Audio & Video-composite) outs but that has limitations.

Can one use Tivo/Replay DVRs with Tata Sky for example?

bigman · 21st November 2008, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

which ones are available or could you recommend. I was given to understand by Hathway and Tata that only DVRs purchased from them would allow one to record one program while watching a second.

I have a Panasonic Hard disk recorder that I use via tha RCA (Audio & Video-composite) outs but that has limitations.

Can one use Tivo/Replay DVRs with Tata Sky for example?

You can get a dreambox 7025 with 2 satellite tuners. Do you know what encryption method Tatasky use in india ? If you can get the right emulator then you can use your sky smart card in the dreambox and fit whatever size IDE drive you want for recordings. Also you could share the smart card via a LAN to other dreamboxes in your house. So you could have one in the bedroom, play room etc and do all this off 1 subscription.

SumitB · 21st November 2008, 21:16

TataSky uses NDS in India.

@bigman: Do you know of any reliable dealers in India selling Dreambox? I would be particularly interested in the 7020.

bigman · 21st November 2008, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by SumitB

TataSky uses NDS in India.

@bigman: Do you know of any reliable dealers in India selling Dreambox? I would be particularly interested in the 7020.

Same as UK then, you can use your original card in conjunction with ccam 2.09 (I think) to clear NDS. I would go for the 7025+. Best thing is that you can share the card to other dreamboxes (I would use a 7025 (or better) as your pvr and the basic 500 models in other rooms to share the card on the 7025).

Sorry I don't know of any dealers in India. If you google dreambox india you will get a few forum links where you may be able to find a dealer.

27th January 2008, 10:34	#1
rrangan Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 10 Thanked: 0 Times	The DVR thread (Digital Video Recorder) Do any members own "DVR" - (a settop box with digital video recorder having a 80 GB hard disk of Kaon make) from DishTV ? I have one for the last 1.5 years and the "DVR" has helped us a lot - especially in getting my children to record their favourite channels and view them in "off study" hours. Since friday morning it shows an error sign "Erro" in the unit and the TV screen hangs after the message "Rebooting ....". There are others in Pune having the same issue and the DishTV call centre is of no help. Wanted to know if any members having it in other areas are having this issue too ?
	() Thanks

29th January 2008, 02:16	#2
Sahil Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 6,292 Thanked: 7,607 Times	DVRs have come to India more than a year back, thats new to me ! How much did you pay for the dishtv DVR? Does Tatasky offer this too?
	() Thanks

29th January 2008, 03:15	#3
Nitin Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,294 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	I'm not sure how the DVRs in India work,but when you receive an error message of some sorts,its usually due to the link with the satellite being lost. It happens often in Houston,thanks to thunderstorms. A reset of the transponder usually fixes the issue,albeit taking upto an hour sometimes.
	() Thanks

29th January 2008, 18:26	#4
rohitrk BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: pune Posts: 92 Thanked: 14 Times	Hi, I own DVR too for last 1.5 year and so far it was working fine. Even I have the same problem. This is the current workaround that I have figured out. 1. DVR looks up to perticular transponder/frequency for software upgrade when it boots. 2. If it is not able to connect to satellite, it boots anyway. 3. In our case it's able to connect but there is some problem at the DISHTV end that's causing the DVR to hang. What I did Called the customer service. They have no idea about DVR. They just asked me to take it to dealer. I really don't have time to do that. So I decided to debug it myself. 1. If you remove the first transponder cable connected to your antenna. DVR thinks that you are not connect to satellite and able to boot. 2. Now connect the transponder cable. 3. Search for all channel, copy it to tuner 2. 4. Now remove the transponder 1 cable forever. So you loose one tuner but now DVR boots fine. You need to switch tuner once it boot to view your channel. This is only workaround for time being. Hope it helps.
	() Thanks

4th February 2008, 12:16	#5
rrangan Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 10 Thanked: 0 Times	Thanks rohitrk for that tip, it got rectified from DishTVs end itself and we are back to recording and viewing programmes. Sahil - The DVR I got was for 18K Rs. with one years subscription and installation etc etc. To the best of my knowledge, unfortunately DishTV has discontinued it. TataSKY too do not have it in their offer. The advantage I have with the DVR other than recording is that it has a S-Video out and hence the quality of picture on my LCD improves drastically.
	() Thanks

14th November 2008, 05:58	#6
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Anybody using DVRs in Bangalore. I'd like to get some feedback on which one to go for. Anybody tried TATA Sky's new service SKY+? DTH ? Tata Sky DTH in India, Leading Satellite Television Provider in India, DTH services by Tata Sky, Direct-to-home, India Last edited by Mpower : 14th November 2008 at 06:11.
	() Thanks

14th November 2008, 14:03	#7
sammyboy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ggn/Dehradun Posts: 1,842 Thanked: 521 Times View My Garage	Hi Mpower, one of our fellow bhpians (WIND) has posted in the DTH thread that he has bought the DVR. He might be able to provide some feedback.
	() Thanks

20th November 2008, 11:39	#8
clix22 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: bombay Posts: 95 Thanked: 224 Times	Have ordered the + box today - install should be over the week end. Will keep you all posted.
	() Thanks

21st November 2008, 06:45	#9
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Anybody using DVRs with regular cable (ie., without using DTH). Is it necessary to go with cable companies or can you buy DVRs separately.
	() Thanks

21st November 2008, 09:50	#10
kalpeshc BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 535 Thanked: 137 Times	Isn't Tata Sky Plus a DVR?
	() Thanks

21st November 2008, 21:16	#14
SumitB BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Shillong Posts: 986 Thanked: 263 Times	TataSky uses NDS in India. @bigman: Do you know of any reliable dealers in India selling Dreambox? I would be particularly interested in the 7020.
	() Thanks