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Channel Master TV CM 7400 HD DVR - OTA, Clear QAM, Internet Content - Page 59

post #1741 of 1939
9/12/12 at 8:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by videobruce View Post

That seems typical for PSIP data only Guides.
Question:
Does the data remain in the memory for each channel when scrolling through the Guide, or when returning back to that channel (any cchannel that was viewed in the Guide), cause the Guide to wait for updated data before it's programming is displayed?

PSIP data will remain after the box get it and the data will be discarded as soon current time will be out of that time span what is inside stored PSIP sata.
Edited by P Smith - 9/13/12 at 7:45am
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post #1742 of 1939
9/13/12 at 5:23am
I think that needs a little grammar correction.
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post #1743 of 1939
9/16/12 at 12:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bermguy View Post

Without putting too fine a point on it, let me say that the CM-7400 is the worst piece of electronic junk that I have ever owned. I sent Channel Master the following summary of my experiences. I also included detail for them (but not here - it's just too long). The unit has many other problems that I have not documented, at least not yet. This summary relates only to recording programs off the antenna and with the standard guide (being in Canada, I can't get the so-called "enhanced guide"). Nor have I discussed anything related to an Internet connection because I have not connected it to the Internet.


I live in Canada as well, and to get the enhanced guide I just entered a US zip code. I'm near Toronto, so I just entered a zip code from Buffalo since (googled it) and then it shows me the guide for both the US and Canadian stations I pick up. smile.gif

Quote:
Originally Posted by bermguy View Post

SUMMARY
This unit is of very poor quality. It does not perform as advertised. Summary of some of the problems with it:
1. The tuners are substandard. Severe pixelation of even quite strong signals makes many programs difficult to watch (or unwatchable) whereas the same signals are perfect on other devices. Mediocre signals are usually unwatchable on the CM-7400 while the same mediocre signals produce perfect pictures on other devices.


I'm having the same problem with pixelation, particularly on ABC and NBC; my LG tv has no problems with them at all and both are being reported by my LG tv as signal strength between 66 and 70% and signal quality of 100%, but on the CM 7400 there is a very minor blip in audio or some kind of minor pixelation every minute or two. It's not unwatchable, but very annoying! mad.gif
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post #1744 of 1939
9/17/12 at 9:01pm
So the eSata port is now active for external storage? I would much prefer to use an external attached storage, but customer service told me that the eSata port was not yet active. You've had luck attaching an eSata drive and have it recognized after a cold reboot?
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post #1745 of 1939
9/18/12 at 8:30pm
Man it seems like the channel master is the only one that people use here but it just some things I don't like about setting up recordings to happen every set time of the week.
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post #1746 of 1939
9/18/12 at 10:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SubaruB4 View Post

Man it seems like the channel master is the only one that people use here but it just some things I don't like about setting up recordings to happen every set time of the week.
Seems to me this one http://www.avsforum.com/t/1099071/the-official-avs-dish-dtvpal-dvr-topic is using 10 times more if counting by posts and replies.
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post #1747 of 1939
9/18/12 at 10:08pm
It's been out longer, so the topic has more posts. The number of DTVPal users is probably decreasing, since it's only possible to buy second-hand units now.
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post #1748 of 1939
9/19/12 at 8:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SubaruB4 View Post

Man it seems like the channel master is the only one that people use here but it just some things I don't like about setting up recordings to happen every set time of the week.
If you subscribe to the CM guide service, it uses name-based recording so you can set up season passes for a program and it will adjust recording times if the program's schedule changes in the guide -- just like a TiVo.
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post #1749 of 1939
9/19/12 at 8:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by P Smith View Post

Seems to me this one http://www.avsforum.com/t/1099071/the-official-avs-dish-dtvpal-dvr-topic is using 10 times more if counting by posts and replies.
Or just has 10 times more problems -- TVGOS anyone?
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post #1750 of 1939
9/19/12 at 9:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelson View Post

Or just has 10 times more problems -- TVGOS anyone?
Perhaps you are provoking ... but anyway, TVGOS issue is NOT related to the device.
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post #1751 of 1939
9/24/12 at 11:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelson View Post

If you subscribe to the CM guide service, it uses name-based recording so you can set up season passes for a program and it will adjust recording times if the program's schedule changes in the guide -- just like a TiVo.
But the thing is it's another thing I have to pay for.. I'm not so sure why it's hard to do.. My tv turning into one channel I get the whole listing for I think it's 8 hours in advance, does this box clear the settings each time you turn it on?
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post #1752 of 1939
9/25/12 at 5:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SubaruB4 View Post

But the thing is it's another thing I have to pay for.. I'm not so sure why it's hard to do.. My tv turning into one channel I get the whole listing for I think it's 8 hours in advance, does this box clear the settings each time you turn it on?
If you are talking about PSIP, it doesn't clear the info when you turn it off -- it just doesn't update anything unless you turn it on and scan through the channels. It only makes sense to implement advanced scheduling features if you have reliable guide information that goes out at least a week. There is no free lunch in this space. If you want reliable guide info, you have to pay to play -- and $50/yr is a pretty small price to pay to make a box you paid $400 for actually function like a DVR and not a glorified VCR.
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post #1753 of 1939
9/25/12 at 6:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by P Smith View Post

Perhaps you are provoking ... but anyway, TVGOS issue is NOT related to the device.
I'm not provoking, just simply stating that over time, devices with more than their share of problems generate threads with high numbers of posts.

But as an aside, to say that "TVGOS issue is not related to the device" (DTV Pal or CM-7000) is completely absurd. Those devices were BUILT around TVGOS -- a guide service with sketchy distribution and uncertain future -- it is integral to their function and yet they can't handle the data for all the channels. Do you think that it was merely an act of whimsy that the next-gen CM-7400 abandoned TVGOS in favor of a reliable (albeit fee-based) guide service? I don't.
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post #1754 of 1939
9/25/12 at 6:50am
Quote:
they can't handle the data for all the channels.
I see you're not abandon blaming that devices ...
These are handling TVGOS stream just fine, regardless of your baseless acquisition. No need to make look better the POS 7400 that way.
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post #1755 of 1939
9/25/12 at 7:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelson View Post

If you are talking about PSIP, it doesn't clear the info when you turn it off -- it just doesn't update anything unless you turn it on and scan through the channels. It only makes sense to implement advanced scheduling features if you have reliable guide information that goes out at least a week. There is no free lunch in this space. If you want reliable guide info, you have to pay to play -- and $50/yr is a pretty small price to pay to make a box you paid $400 for actually function like a DVR and not a glorified VCR.

I've read in this forum that the free guide will only populate for the channel that is currently tuned in and the others need to be tuned to a channel before the PSIP data populates for that channel. My parents have a 7400 and it seems like the PSIP data is in the guide for all channels for at least 2-6 hours ahead of time. I don't know how often they flip through the channels though.

If it indeed only populates the PSIP data for the channel you are watching, it would seem that the second tuner (when not in use) could be scanning the frequencies behind the scenes to update the PSIP data for all the channels.
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post #1756 of 1939
9/25/12 at 7:43am
Quote:
If it indeed only populates the PSIP data for the channel you are watching, it would seem that the second tuner (when not in use) could be scanning the frequencies behind the scenes to update the PSIP data for all the channels.
For users it's seems obvious, but these ENTONE FW coders in Korea doesn't have a clue about it. frown.gif
Edited by P Smith - 9/25/12 at 8:29am
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post #1757 of 1939
9/25/12 at 9:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GopherClone View Post

I've read in this forum that the free guide will only populate for the channel that is currently tuned in and the others need to be tuned to a channel before the PSIP data populates for that channel.
Correct
Quote:
I don't know how often they flip through the channels though.
Often enough to keep it updated. It doesn't update otherwise. I suspect a good number of people change channels by surfing through the lineup with the channel up/down buttons. That's enough to keep the PSIP data current -- until you go on vacation.
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post #1758 of 1939
9/25/12 at 12:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelson View Post

Correct
Often enough to keep it updated. It doesn't update otherwise. I suspect a good number of people change channels by surfing through the lineup with the channel up/down buttons. That's enough to keep the PSIP data current -- until you go on vacation.

Not stating anything new here but this is a serious performance problem. This would seem an easy fix with a software update. Certainly this would have been communicated to CM by now. What are the odds we won't see it on the new firmware release.
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post #1759 of 1939
9/25/12 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GopherClone View Post

Not stating anything new here but this is a serious performance problem. This would seem an easy fix with a software update. Certainly this would have been communicated to CM by now. What are the odds we won't see it on the new firmware release.
As noted by Videobruce above, this behavior is somewhat "typical for PSIP data only Guides". Don't expect them to fix what they don't consider to be broken. The solution is simple and they have provided it already -- forget about PSIP and just subscribe to the guide. At <$5/month, it's a cheap deal and will unlock all the DVR functionality the unit has to offer.
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post #1760 of 1939
9/25/12 at 1:22pm

Makes me wonder how many pennies they saved by not putting in an automatic PSIP guide refresher.  The converter box version of DTVPal deleted expired guide data during standby and refilled PSIP up to 7 days out on startup.  On the DTVPal DVR  version, TVGOS-lite falls short on a couple channels, reverting to 24 hrs. PSIP, but even that is better than having to rely on channel surfing for guide info.

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post #1761 of 1939
9/26/12 at 12:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelson View Post

As noted by Videobruce above, this behavior is somewhat "typical for PSIP data only Guides". Don't expect them to fix what they don't consider to be broken. The solution is simple and they have provided it already -- forget about PSIP and just subscribe to the guide. At <$5/month, it's a cheap deal and will unlock all the DVR functionality the unit has to offer.
Which again, begs the question of why you'd pay for this box and the guide service when a Tivo Premiere w/lifetime sub could be had for the same money (or within $50-$100). Or roll your own HTPC for approx. same cost, and either would be a far superior DVR. Irrational anti-Tivo thinking, I suppose.
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post #1762 of 1939
9/26/12 at 2:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by slowbiscuit View Post

Which again, begs the question of why you'd pay for this box and the guide service when a Tivo Premiere w/lifetime sub could be had for the same money (or within $50-$100). Or roll your own HTPC for approx. same cost, and either would be a far superior DVR. Irrational anti-Tivo thinking, I suppose.
I like the Tivo because it also uses cablecard but that life time price is a little steep.
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post #1763 of 1939
9/26/12 at 8:36pm
Quote:
why you'd pay for this box and the guide service when a Tivo Premiere w/lifetime sub could be had for the same money (or within $50-$100).
As much as I hate to admit it, I have to agree inspite of I think about TiVo's complete monopoly of "grid" type Guides. mad.gif

The stupidly between the owner of the "Channel Master" name (it's now a name only) and whomever actually manufactures this not to properly rectify the overheating by a very simple modification of the casting to the plastic case and whatever firmware updates needed to correct the numerous recording/playback & GUI glitches and the over price tag, TiVo is the better option.

There I said it.

.
Edited by videobruce - 9/26/12 at 8:43pm
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post #1764 of 1939
9/27/12 at 9:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by videobruce View Post

As much as I hate to admit it, I have to agree inspite of I think about TiVo's complete monopoly of "grid" type Guides. mad.gif
The stupidly between the owner of the "Channel Master" name (it's now a name only) and whomever actually manufactures this not to properly rectify the overheating by a very simple modification of the casting to the plastic case and whatever firmware updates needed to correct the numerous recording/playback & GUI glitches and the over price tag, TiVo is the better option.
There I said it.
.
It is disappointing that we do not have more choices for OTA DVRs. I guess the market is just to small. I am OTA only and really only need 4 tuners to deal with conflicts but currently have 8 available in 4 devices. I currently have:
  1. An original Series 3 TiVo with lifetime
  2. A TiVo HD with lifetime
  3. A TiVo Premiere with lifetime and
  4. A HTPC using a dual tuner HD Homerun on my network

I do have some reception issues and the TiVo Premiere is the worst of the bunch in handling them. I think if someone can pick up a used original Series 3 or TiVo HD with lifetime service and an upgrade hard drive in the $350 range it is about the best value you can get for a full function OTA DVR.
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post #1765 of 1939
9/27/12 at 11:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by atmusky View Post

I do have some reception issues and the TiVo Premiere is the worst of the bunch in handling them. I think if someone can pick up a used original Series 3 or TiVo HD with lifetime service and an upgrade hard drive in the $350 range it is about the best value you can get for a full function OTA DVR.
I agree completely. With the problems reported here with the 7400, the Series 3 Tivo is/was the best bet for people looking for a fully functional hassle-free OTA DVR. I also tried a Premiere and found its reception performance inferior to the Series 3 at my location. If the tuner had gotten better reception I would have kept it active.

I really wish someone could do everything right and make a true Tivo competitor. It would be awesome if someone could match the reception performance, guide and conflict management of the Series 3 and maybe pair it with plug and play hard drive upgrade/replacement options.
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post #1766 of 1939
9/27/12 at 1:25pm
But the series 3 Tivo don't support the M-card cable cards?
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post #1767 of 1939
9/27/12 at 1:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TCDTV View Post

I really wish someone could do everything right and make a true Tivo competitor. It would be awesome if someone could match the reception performance, guide and conflict management of the Series 3 and maybe pair it with plug and play hard drive upgrade/replacement options.

 

How is that not Windows Media Center? :)

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post #1768 of 1939
9/27/12 at 2:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles R View Post

How is that not Windows Media Center? smile.gif
Because Windows Media Center requires building and maintaining a PC, and dealing with more than just a simple remote to control it all. The Tivo doesn't require any active maintenance on the part of the user and blends seamlessly into the living room.

Windows Media Center is a great option for those who don't mind dealing with all that, but a true competitor to the Tivo should integrate into the livingroom just as seamlessly, IMHO.
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post #1769 of 1939
9/27/12 at 2:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SubaruB4 View Post

But the series 3 Tivo don't support the M-card cable cards?
Which is irrelevant if you're using it as an OTA-only DVR, which is how atmusky and I were evaluating it.
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post #1770 of 1939
9/27/12 at 4:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TCDTV View Post

Because Windows Media Center requires building and maintaining a PC, and dealing with more than just a simple remote to control it all. The Tivo doesn't require any active maintenance on the part of the user and blends seamlessly into the living room.

 

Is Harmony not a simple remote? That's all I use. Active maintenance... what's that? Don't believe I have done any of that for two months involving DVRing. Blending seamlessly... what's that. My HTPC is quieter and uses less power than the TiVo it replaced. I do agree you can beat on your HTPC (endlessly) if one wishes at the same time one can treat it as an appliance. Thinking of it as a PC is more of a mindset than reality.

 

Since this is off topic and has been covered in various threads... that's that for me.


Edited by Charles R - 9/27/12 at 4:08pm
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