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Official DVICO TViX M6620N HD (ATSC/QAM) Tuner Topic - Page 52

post #1531 of 2110
4/20/12 at 7:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aleron Ives View Post

The problems with the TViX have been known for so long at this point that if DVICo wanted to fix them, they would have been fixed by now. It's likely that we'll never see the addition of CC support, a solution for the ION problem, the removal of the "meatball", or anything else, sadly. Thankfully they did add the ability to record and watch recordings at the same time in one of the updates, which was by far the biggest improvement made to the box since its release.

My Tvix has been working well for a while now, but I don't use it over the network or anything fancy like that. I just record OTA, edit, store, and playback.

I can forgive other shortcomings of this unit but the lack CC is inexcusable. The people who designed it are obviously not Americans. If they were, they would know that in the US CC is an integral part of a TV receiver.

But it doesn't matter because they won't listen. Their customer support sucks ass.

Having said all that, I still think Tvix is the best of its kind on the market.
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post #1532 of 2110
4/20/12 at 9:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidt1 View Post

I still think Tvix is the best of its kind on the market.

Agreed. I use both the recording and network functionality, and considering how much the TViX can do, I'm surprised that the CM7400 still gets all the attention. The TViX has more features (aside from the glaring CC omission) and fewer hardware problems for a lower price point, yet the CM7400 is always mentioned as the "only" alternative to a TiVo for OTA. Oh well, at least we know better.
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post #1533 of 2110
4/21/12 at 7:02am
From the MPC Club forums:

Quote:


There's not much news going on lately and now we have some, it's just plain bad. Not unexpected to come eventually, we regret to announce DVICO TViX is no longer among us... A lot of people out of the good old days have been fired or resigned with the Company and MINEVOX not pumping the product as they could / should have now opened the road for DviCo's burial. With the latest news floating in, we inform DViCo customers to no longer purchase products in the TViX line as support and updates will remain going downhill from here... (Mainly selling stock is what will happen now...)

Messages come in that sales, engineering and test teams have left the building and possibly only the name "TViX" could raise an interest from another company, however taking over the products and development will not be an option (nor do we believe this would stand a chance). As such, chances are slim ever there will be good support, decent updates or new TViX products coming by Minevox.

Rumor has it, the issues are caused by huge charge backs for licensing not paid were these were due making the expense for reviving DviCo TViX lines impossible. With a limited portfolio of outdated products riddled with issues and an X-Roid A1 Android device that doesn't take you anywhere near it's target, the cards are dealt as there will be no more updates for X-Roid either, despite the product having only recently launched. The only department left is the "STB" department... working on set top boxes.

For support
Several more serious distributors have announced already a container to support DviCo TViX customers that purchased their units via the resellers affiliated with these distributors. Chances are many will be left out in the cold once the device will fail for whatever reason and the ever so hopeful corrections made in updates... oh well... they will never come.

I did read elsewere that some portion of the devices would still be supported, but for how long?. The only decent thing they could do would be to release the source code and SDK so their customers aren't totally screwed. I went on their website and it still appears up, but click around a bit and you'll find a few already broken links.
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post #1534 of 2110
4/21/12 at 7:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by oshunluvr View Post

From the MPC Club forums:



I did read elsewere that some portion of the devices would still be supported, but for how long?. The only decent thing they could do would be to release the source code and SDK so their customers aren't totally screwed. I wet on their website and it still appears up, but click around a bit and you'll find a few already broken links.

This sort of makes sense. No posts from Kei since 2/29 yet her web site is still up. No comments of the VRX or RCA products either like was done to the CM-7400. I hope TPeterson will make a comment.
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post #1535 of 2110
4/21/12 at 10:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disto View Post

It still made pops and thumps with the optical cable.

OK, thanks for checking.

Guess we're just stuck with this "feature"...
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post #1536 of 2110
4/21/12 at 11:55am
Thanks for the update, oshunluvr. I'm now tempted to buy a spare unit while they're still available, seeing as it doesn't look like any decent alternatives are in the works from other companies. I'm also archiving the 2.1.0 firmware, the 2.1.3 Netshare, and some of the documentation in case the links die.
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post #1537 of 2110
4/23/12 at 2:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aleron Ives View Post

Thanks for the update, oshunluvr. I'm now tempted to buy a spare unit while they're still available, seeing as it doesn't look like any decent alternatives are in the works from other companies. I'm also archiving the 2.1.0 firmware, the 2.1.3 Netshare, and some of the documentation in case the links die.

Good idea. I downloaded all current and the last previous files just in case we figure out a way into them.
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post #1538 of 2110
4/26/12 at 3:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aleron Ives View Post

Thanks for the update, oshunluvr. I'm now tempted to buy a spare unit while they're still available, seeing as it doesn't look like any decent alternatives are in the works from other companies. I'm also archiving the 2.1.0 firmware, the 2.1.3 Netshare, and some of the documentation in case the links die.

So, that's it for the Tvix line? If that's the case, buying a spare is not a bad idea. I don't know what to do if mine dies. I wouldn't touch the CM 7400 even at half the current selling price. And that PHD-VRX is not even in the same league. There are no good alternatives to the Tvix.
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post #1539 of 2110
4/26/12 at 4:17pm
I have yet to see any official word; all the news thus far has been relayed by supposedly reliable third parties. Judging by the lack of firmware updates or news from resellers like Kei Clark, I wouldn't be surprised if DVICo really is nearing the end of its life, though.
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post #1540 of 2110
4/27/12 at 3:20pm
Kie Clark has brackets available for extra HDDs that you may wish to plug into the PVR.

https://www.digitalconnection.com/st...tCode=TVIXHDB2

Mention was made earlier of some pretty unstable workarounds to plug in an HDD into the unit sans any bracket at all. Hope this solves the problem.
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post #1541 of 2110
4/28/12 at 7:11am
If Divco dies I do hope they open up the firmware to the user community. I think the 6620 hardware is very good. Small form factor, low noise, low power etc.

The firmware/software has some bugs/not so good "features". Would love to take a crack at improving it.
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post #1542 of 2110
4/30/12 at 1:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cah95046 View Post

If Divco dies I do hope they open up the firmware to the user community. I think the 6620 hardware is very good. Small form factor, low noise, low power etc.

The firmware/software has some bugs/not so good "features". Would love to take a crack at improving it.

Yes, I have contemplated similar. Wouldn't it be great if the following were to occur if the support 6620 is discontinued and the unit is dropped from Dvico's catalogue?
  • Access to the unit via ssh is discovered. Anyone?
  • The source code for the 6620 PVR system is made available under GPL or similar open source licencing.
  • A 6620 developer community emerges and gets on with the job of fixing the damn thang

It has only recently become clear to me that the unit was originally a video juke box. That explains why it excels in its storage and playback functions. And that also explains why the recording features seem a bit twitchy and in need of work.
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post #1543 of 2110
5/1/12 at 6:08am
There is always the art of reverse engineering...
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post #1544 of 2110
5/1/12 at 9:33am
Thread Starter 
Sorry all for the lack of communication....Minevox's future has literally been up in the air, and I've been unable to decipher what it is that they are trying to accomplish over there. The last news I received was that they have stopped development of the M6620/40 but going forward with Android and smartphone centric products.

I've been trying to stress the need for ATSC products, but it's been like talking to a brick wall, they seem to have no interest in further development. I've also reached out to some people that showed interest in third-party development but we seem to be at the end of hardware production.

But, never say never....
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post #1545 of 2110
5/2/12 at 8:13am
Kei,

Thanks for the update. Do you think there is any chance at all we could get them to release the software? There are at least dozens of us who would like a crack at fixing some issues and possibly adding features. Since they're no longer interested in the ATSC/PVR market, what would be the harm to them?

As a gesture in good faith from them; It would certainly go a long way toward good customer/vender relations with the company as a whole. It would help the sales of the remaining units and could also potentially spark outside interest in purchasing the hardware design.

You can consider my signature as the first one at the top of the petition!
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post #1546 of 2110
5/2/12 at 8:53am
BTW All;

Since there doesn't seem to be any viable alternatives for the US market, has anyone else looked into MythTV or XBMC? I am a few weeks away from updating my home server and planning on including the MythTV backend in the install. Tuners are always an issue, but I'm considering the Silicon Dust networked tuners.

The problems is you'll spend twice as much or more than the TViX cost but at least I'll have some control over the "features."
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post #1547 of 2110
5/2/12 at 12:52pm
And the new price is.....?

http://www.digitalconnection.com/Pro...vixM6620NP.asp
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post #1548 of 2110
5/2/12 at 8:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeKustra View Post

And the new price is.....?

http://www.digitalconnection.com/Pro...vixM6620NP.asp

Bloody well worth it. Even at that price

Regarding the dozens of us that would gladly work on and improve the 6620NP software, count me in. If the fruits of our efforts are open sourced.

Otherwise, perhaps consider applying your skilz to the MythTV project.

Better still, how about a video jukebox add-on to Myth, based on the M6620?
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post #1549 of 2110
5/2/12 at 9:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wintinbin View Post

Bloody well worth it. Even at that price

That's the MSRP. Kei Clark removed the DigitalConnection price, and the "Buy" button no longer functions. It's clickable, but it won't add the TViX to the shopping cart. I wonder what this means...
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post #1550 of 2110
5/3/12 at 4:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aleron Ives View Post

That's the MSRP. Kei Clark removed the DigitalConnection price, and the "Buy" button no longer functions. It's clickable, but it won't add the TViX to the shopping cart. I wonder what this means...

Probably just means they forgot to remove the "buy" link when they added "call".
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post #1551 of 2110
5/3/12 at 7:46am
My understanding is that their stock is getting low. They probably don't want to accept an on-line order they can't fulfill.
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post #1552 of 2110
5/3/12 at 9:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by oshunluvr View Post

....I am a few weeks away from updating my home server and planning on including the MythTV backend in the install. Tuners are always an issue, but I'm considering the Silicon Dust networked tuners.

The TViX does, of course, play back PC-recorded HDTV files very well. If you're considering this approach do check out CW_EPG as a low-cost* way to set up TiVo-like season passes for your favorite shows. It works with Silicon Dust as well as all DViCo PC tuners.

*The software is free but you need a $20/yr subscription to the listing data to use it.
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post #1553 of 2110
5/3/12 at 10:02am
Since Microsoft has announced that Media Center will be an "economical 'media pack' add-on to Windows 8 Pro," it is pretty clear that they want to pull back from TV recording. A very small percentage of users ever configured Media Center in Win7. This may result in renewed interest for options like CW_EPG.

-Dave
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post #1554 of 2110
5/3/12 at 10:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DPlettner View Post

Since Microsoft has announced that Media Center will be an "economical 'media pack' add-on to Windows 8 Pro," it is pretty clear that they want to pull back from TV recording. A very small percentage of users ever configured Media Center in Win7. This may result in renewed interest for options like CW_EPG.

-Dave

Or that the patent infringement case(s) they have been battling and apparently losing will cost them licensing monies which they presumably have not paid up until this point and therefore they decided to charge for the functionality since they likely would have to pay royalties for new products like Win8?
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post #1555 of 2110
5/3/12 at 1:02pm
I wonder if the price went up or down. I'm still tempted to pick up a spare, but I'm not sure how good of an investment that would be. Electronics sometimes have a short shelf life if they aren't being used, and I wouldn't want to get one now and keep it boxed up, only to have it develop a problem from disuse that would render it useless as a spare when I need one.
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post #1556 of 2110
5/3/12 at 3:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aleron Ives View Post

I wonder if the price went up or down. I'm still tempted to pick up a spare, but I'm not sure how good of an investment that would be. Electronics sometimes have a short shelf life if they aren't being used, and I wouldn't want to get one now and keep it boxed up, only to have it develop a problem from disuse that would render it useless as a spare when I need one.

Here's your chance:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/vbcla...do=ad&id=17295
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post #1557 of 2110
5/4/12 at 11:33pm
File Copy Headaches

The 6620 seems reluctant to copy certain files from the main HDD to an ext HDD connected to the USB.

Example: I have a folder containing about 50 GB of files and sub-folders on the main plug-in SATA HDD. When I attempt to copy the entire folder over to the USB HDD, the PVR shutsdown (!)

It seems whenever the PVR gets its knickers in a knot, it simply shutsdown. I guess that is one very coarse way to handle exceptions. Now if we could only get at the system log to see WTF!

In the case I mentioned above, the copy went ahead just fine once I removed the VIDEO_TS folder, which was a DVD image.

Perhaps the 6620 is worried about the MPAA, SOPA, PIPA, COICA, the IRS, the FBI, the CIA and other such nasties.

Oddly, I have in the past been able to copy other VIDEO_TS folders from one device to another using the 6620. I suppose the success of the copy operation depends on what's inside the folder ...
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post #1558 of 2110
5/4/12 at 11:38pm
What was the size of the largest file in the VIDEO_TS folder? It's at least possible that there's a problem with the large file support over USB. I assume your external HDD was formatted with NTFS.
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post #1559 of 2110
5/5/12 at 9:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aleron Ives View Post

What was the size of the largest file in the VIDEO_TS folder? It's at least possible that there's a problem with the large file support over USB. I assume your external HDD was formatted with NTFS.

The largest file in the VIDEO_TS folder is exactly 1 GB.
I have copied files over 4GB is size to the USB device.

Found the problem.
Above the VIDEO_TS folder was a file of zero bytes, thus:
  • Folder to Copy
  • -- Zero byte file
  • -- VIDEO_TS

Once I removed "Zero byte file", the copy proceeded just fine.

I have only had this unit for four months and the bug count is seriously rising. Sigh.

What's worse, this is one of the better units on the market. I have had a Topfield and a BeyonWiz in the past and they had more bugs than a hostel bed in Vancouver.
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post #1560 of 2110
5/5/12 at 10:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wintinbin View Post

File Copy Headaches

The 6620 seems reluctant to copy certain files from the main HDD to an ext HDD connected to the USB.

Wintinbin,

Are you connecting the USB cable after the TViX has booted? If you are, trying connecting the USB cable first and then powering up the TViX. There are two different USB routines, and the one that is launched after the TViX has fully booted has issues. If you want to read more on this subject, take a look at this thread:

http://www.mpcclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26217

-Dave
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