Channel Master TV CM 7400 HD DVR - OTA, Clear QAM, Internet Content - Page 52

It's only a software issue. Does the update software only do "updates" to newer versions or accept whatever it is fed. My Sony Blu-ray and TV only go up. The Sony DVR and Mag DVDR don't care. Someone with a CM7400 will have to test it.

Joe, you are updating "firmware" to a piece of hardware. "Software" is a application for a computer. Same goes for these "apps" for your phone. The electronics of a DVR is the "motherboard".

The term "software" is often misused, covering almost anything it seems, just like the term; LED TV's.

Traditionally, "firmware" is just software that's stored in nonvolatile memory. It may even be written in the same instruction set as normal application software for the same machine, but it's expected to change only rarely or never. The term implies that it's more permanent than "software" but less permanent than "hardware".

Just as it is in motherboards and this DVR.
Using the term "software" is confusing, as bad as using the term "external hard drive", when in reality, it should be called a "hard drive in an external enclosure". More reason why "software" should not be used to describe data that is "flashed" to a piece of hardware.

I didn't mean to start a debate. I used to be a Software Engineer, so I naturally use software to describe all code being executed. I never met a Firmware Engineer. I used "software" in the general sense and I still do. This is so off topic as to be in another galaxy and doesn't answer the original question.

*ware is as generic as *gate. Think of it as evolution in action.

I have "no imbedded quotes" selected. Just another thing this new forum ignores.

I Definately want to record and view OTA content in HD, but was confused by a 'sticky' on another thread as to wether the CM-7400 could do this... Attn Newbies: You Cannot Record in Hi-Def Resolution on Current DVD Recorders. So, I wasn't sure if the CM-7400 would allow OTA HD playback. A channel guide is a must even if it's a minimal guide that's free. I don't care about editing or saving anything after i've watched it.

The CM7400 (with ventilation assist) will work ok to save and play in HD. Guide-wise I can't comment on. Also check the M6620N and PHD-VRX. The TViX may be a dead product.

You did say DVD. I hope you meant DVR. Else you are on the wrong thread. Only Blu-ray does HD.
Edited by JoeKustra - 6/14/12 at 3:45pm

Such a valuable website. Sorry, I've been researching so many products and possibilities, I became confused. I guess the CM-7400 or M6620N will do nicely.

Please read the last two pages of the M6620N thread before making a decision. It might be an EOL product. You can get a 500Gb drive pretty cheap used if all you do is delay and delete like I do.

I've owned the cm 7400 for a few weeks now.
Has anybody every experience this? Played a tv show from a 320 gig usb drive plugged into the front of the unit.
Played ok.
Then when it finished, I was looking through the directory for another show, and this round gear symbol showed up and was spinning around, like it was getting info, or something.
I thought it was accessing the internet to update something, or reading the usb hd.
But I unplugged the drive, and I still got the spinning wheel. This has happened twice.
Finally I unplugged the power supply and rebooted and everythings ok.
Wonder if this is common, or if there is a fix coming for it?


Also I noticed that the usb drive does not go to sleep when the unit is turned off, so I unplug it when Iam not using it.
My old wdtv didn't either, but the newer wdtv does.

Is this a USB powered drive or self powered? 3.5" or 2.5"?

Its self powered with a short usb cord. 2.5"

Interface (enclosure) make/model? Are these separate items or one of those 'all in one' combo's (HDD in a dedicated enclosure)?

Its from an old laptop hd I had encased in a "filemate" enclosure. 320 gigs,
When I plug it into the cm7400 it is always "on" and gets warm, so I have to unplug it when not in use.

So, in trying to decide which DVR to purchase, I ended up buying both the CM7400 and a Tivo Premier to compare the two. My intention was to find the best DVR for OTA viewing, so cable functionality was not reviewed.

Video quality - The Tivo was deffinitely the winner. The colors were way more vibrant on the Tivo.

OTA reception - Both units had about the same reception and pulled in the same amount of channels from my location. I do give the CM7400 higher marks because it holds a steadier picture when reception is interrupted. The CM7400 will pixelate a little bit, but the Tivo screen will actually freeze for a split second when the reception is spotty, making it much more annoying to watch.

Ease of use - The CM7400 is way more intuitive to use. It really behaves just like any other video component you've ever used. The menus are easy to navigate. It's easy to set up and make changes to settings. The Tivo on the other hand is more difficult to figure out. It's like they're just trying to be different. The menus are complicated and sometimes it's hard to find what you're looking for. The Tivo's remote is also missing basic funtions like a stop button, making it even more difficult to make it do what you want to. There is a pause button, but it doesn't give you the functionality of a stop button, like most DVR's where it'll give you the option to exit the recording or delete it. Also, the Live TV button and Swap channel button are the same, so I never know what it's going to do when I push it, and it always does the opposite of what I want.

Cost - This is obvious. The CM7400 is $400 with no monthly fee. To avoid monthly fees on the Tivo, you have to pay at least $100 for a unit and an additional $500 for "lifetime" service that only covers the lifetime of the unit, for a total of $600.

Heat - Normally, this shouldn't even be a part of a review, but in the case of the CM7400, it's neccessary because of just how hot it is. The reports are true. It is nearly "burn your hand" hot. The Tivo, on the other hand, is completely cool to the touch.

Boot time - The CM7400 boots up way quicker. Only a couple of minutes. The Tivo took several minutes longer when they were powered up at the same time.

So, hope that helps anybody trying to decide between the two. I decided to keep the Tivo and return the CM7400. As you can see from my review, I mainly preferred the CM7400, however the one thing that made me stick with the Tivo was the heat factor. The CM7400 was so hot. I just didn't feel safe with it. I was seriously worried that it might actually catch on fire. Now in reality, that might never happen, but I just didn't want to take any chances. I've seen that some people have had success in using laptop coolers to keep the CM7400 cool, but I think that electronic products should be able to stand on their own, so I didn't purchase one. It's such a dissapointment, though. If only Channel Master had taken more care in designing their unit to reduce heat, it would have been the perfect low-cost, OTA DVR alternative to Tivo. Maybe they'll fix it on future models, but that probably won't do me any good now that I'm locked into a lifetime Tivo subscription.

The live TV button [and the whole remote] can be confusing. It's my first dual tuner unit, so I guess I will learn.

The "boot time" is a non-issue for me since I never put the TiVo into "Standby Mode". If I did, it would take one second to get running. BTW, don't use Standby Mode. It has a bug. There is no change in power consumption once the TiVo is plugged in.

Your review was nice. I never had an issue with heat since it wasn't happy with my cable company and I had to return it.

Odd timing. Today a call came from a person who said he was from Channel Master. He wanted my opinion of the CM7400. I guess he got my number from the registration and didn't know I had returned the unit. He was nice and seemed interested in my issues. He seemed to understand PSIP, cable, cable cards and other functions of the unit. I explained the CM7400's inability to detect my channels properly and indicated he would pass the information to the engineers. He was, in my opinion, in the USA. I mentioned this forum and thread but didn't bring up the product being dropped by Walmart or that the CM site has so few reviews. Walmart had over 1000 customer reviews of the Funai 2150A before they ran out of product. Same with the 515H, for which a new series has been been announced.

All in all, it was nice of CM to take an interest in post-sales satisfaction. Quite refreshing.

I would recommend to try CM7000-PAL and compare it with any of your OTA DVRs.
Edited by P Smith - 6/21/12 at 10:48pm

 

How long did you use both? As an example TiVo's Live TV and Enter (Last) buttons serve completely different purposes. I agree they might be confusing at first but once you know what they do they bring a lot of advanced features to the table. Other items like Boot time are virtually irrelevant as I might boot my DVR a few times a year tops. Not trying to dismiss your take as it's perfectly valid and who knows maybe you used both for a few weeks... :) However I think without using them for a while it's hard to draw any conclusions about daily usage. As an example conflict resolution would trump almost anything else (for me).

 

Don't worry you can cancel your Lifetime within 30-days if you change your mind.

I thought about that, but I think that the CM7000 has been discontinued and I didn't want to get a used unit.

I had them both at the same time for a couple of weeks. You might be right about the advanced features once I get used to the Tivo, but my point was about ease of use and intuitiveness. If there is a learning curve or you have to get used to something, that detracts from those things. I've had my Tivo for a couple of months and I'm still trying to figure out how to get it to do what I want to at times. Meanwhile, I can pick up my girlfriends cable remote and have no problems operating her DVR. Also, I get what you're saying about the boot times being mostly irrelevant, however the Tivo took so much longer to boot than the CM7400 that I thought it was worth mentioning. I think that it could come into play if you have a brief power outage and your favorite show is on.

You have neglected one of the primary features of the TiVo you get for that extra $200 -- the comprehensive 14 day channel guide -- for the life of the unit. With the CM-7400 all you get for your $400 is PSIP channel information which goes out a day if you are lucky and does not update itself unless you turn on the unit and scan the channels. To get a comparable guide with the CM-7400 you have to subscribe to it for an additional annual cost of $50 -- every year for as long as you own it.

Now that you have had your Premier for a couple of months, with the new fall season coming can you envision using a DVR without a program guide?

Actually, I had no problem using the PSIP gude. I think that it usually had about a week of data, which was good enough to me. If I had kept the CM7400, I would not have purchased the premium guide.

There is no 'stop' button?? What are you suppose to do, just keep on watching it? But, with PSIP data for a Guide, it makes the DVR almost worthless for most. A few hours from the present time is completely useless to most here. I can't imagine how anyone could deal with that in this day and age except someone who only had a VCR. I can't understand how any company, or imported in this case, would ever try to sell something like that. Obvious logic would scream potential fires and lawsuits for starters. The company that bought the Channel Master name, doubtfully designed this.

BTW, very good review. You should place it in Amazon.

Then you are in a exception market, surely not the norm. Six hours is standard here with a few exceptions for 36 hours or so.
If I can't program the Guide a week ahead, it's useless AFAIC which includes ePVisions DVR.

If you will look back, around post#1008 you'll know who is the designer/mfgr.

You hit left arrow to exit a show. Yeah, it's annoying coming from other DVRs, but you get used to it - left arrow is like the escape key on a PC and gets you out of most stuff.

Kinda stupid isn't it?
Ok, does it save where you left off? As in, you have to leave and you are only half way through a two hour program.

You have the option: continue or start at the beginning. Same as the DHG.

How about post 1005?
I remembered seeing that which I knew (even without that post) this surely isn't made by the owner of the Channel master name. It appears they (PCT) contracts to some electronics design company, they contract to a electronics manufacture who then contracts to a circuit board manufacture and the product gets assembled and turned over to the seller.

Wasn't the original 'Pal' designed in Europe?

If you have a programmable remote, like a Harmony, you can always program the TiVo left-arrow to the stop button. Actually, I never use the left arrow, I have Menu and Exit buttons on my Harmony programmed for the TiVo "now playing list" and "live TV" functions respectively. They also do the same thing as a stop button.