Channel Master TV CM 7400 HD DVR - OTA, Clear QAM, Internet Content - Page 63

if you mistakenly asked about CM7000-PAL, just discussed last week in that main DTV pal dvr thread

I am just starting to look into other dvr's and have not looked through all the threads yet, I was just wondering if you can offload your recordings, since it seams very similar to the sat boxes which also seam to use a the same or simpler file system I was just curios if Pvrexplorer pro worked with it also

I am just starting to look into other dvr's and have not looked through all the threads yet, I was just wondering if you can offload your recordings, since it seams very similar to the sat boxes which also seam to use a the same or simpler file system I was just curios if Pvrexplorer pro worked with it also

if you still interesting in the CM7400 model, look at post#1007 otherwise, see other thread [DTV pal DVR].

The CM-7400 isn't a Dish/Echostar box like the CM-7000 was. The 7400 uses a standard Linux file system.

Sort of ... not compliant actually. See additional info around post#1007.

Nope, that is not it, the 7400 itself after given a command by the remote more often than not, reacts to the command about as fast a drunken snail, you always get that stupid little animated asterisk type "wait" icon that reminds me of the annoying Windows hourglass "wait" icon. It has nothing to do with it being a Dish like remote, I also have two other devices placed both to the left & right of the 7400 that do in fact use actual Dish remotes, and they work just fine.

I also use my CM-7400 with the local cable provider. You'll probably find like I did that it's a good idea to 'Restart' yours daily. Not only keeps pic quality better by causing the tuner to (I imagine) re-acquire the signals, but if signal quality is diminished these units often will skip scheduled recordings.

Regarding the cooling issues, in a previous post I mentioned that if your unit isn't enclosed in a cabinet, one solution is to get a small 'face fan', 6" or less, the type that has a clamp attached, and position it in such a way that it's blowing across the 7400 case. Mine's been operating at ambient room temp for nearly a year now, and while I still have occasional problems (mostly related to using it with a QAM cable source), they're mostly minor.

If you're subscribing to CM's PPG upgrade, you'll notice the remotes become mostly useless for about a minute once an hour when the unit connects to update the guide.
Edited by BenCartwright - 2/15/13 at 2:03pm

Will that work better than a laptop fan with usb connection?

Will work better, if you'll open a cover; adding the fan would be best with open cover, or its angled position at least.

Certainly.

Run anything off the unit's power supply via USB and you increase the power supply's work load. While the net result is a cooling effect, there's not much better a way than cooling the whole damn unit, case and all. Mine runs about 1-2 degrees above ambient room temperature measured with an IR gauge on the top of the 7400's case, about a 40 degree drop.
Edited by BenCartwright - 2/15/13 at 6:06pm

I'm trying it now with the laptop fan, since I already have one. I haven't tried it without, but the temperature reading at the top of the case is 80F. I don't plant to keep it plugged in all the time either, since I like to save energy, just because.

Per a reference on the "The Official AVS Dish DTVPal DVR Topic!"....

http://antennalogic.ecrater.com/p/17040669/entone-dvr-dual-tuner-for-antenna
It's also on ebay from them.

Entone Amulet 458 Hybrid Dual Tuner DVR
(Same features and operation as Channel Master CM-7400, but with a welcomed 3 speed menu selected internal chassis fan.)

You should start a thread. Don't forget:

Electronic programming guide and TV guide functions

Tuners
• Dual ATSC Tuners for antenna HDTV
• Clear QAM

Hybrid Tuners
• Dual ATSC
• QAM Cable

Really, start a thread. "Entone Amulet 458 Official Certified User and Owner Thread"

You do know that Entone wrote the firmare for the CM7400?
Edited by JoeKustra - 2/26/13 at 4:55pm

Is it actually a separate device? Judging by the pictures, it looks like a rebranded CM 7400 with a hole drilled in the back of the case for a fan, combined with a blue power LED, instead of the CM 7400's green one. Even the remote control is the same, except with a different logo at the bottom. Perhaps the CM 7400 -> Entone 400 relationship is the same as the Dish DTVPal -> CM 7000 relationship?

Entone makes the 7400 for Channel Master. Search this thread from about year ago.

Ebay post indicates no optional guide:
Note: This unit does not have the premium program guide available, (14 day outlook, 50.00 per year subscription fee/ like the Channel Master CM-7400 DVR.) We find the typical 7 day epg (electronic program guide on this Entone unit more than adequate

Yeah, right.

Is the CM 7400 still being made/sold? It disappeared at Fry's quite a while ago, I noticed Amazon states it may never be back and Channel Master itself says it's out of stock... doesn't look good.

Another reason for a new thread.

That's the first thing that caught my eye when I looked at the linked specs. No optional subscription guide. What do they mean by "typical 7 day epg ". Probably just PSIP, what else is there. If it is PSIP, remember all the reports in this thread that the CM-7400 does not scan the channels on its own to update the PSIP info. Does this one?

CM-7000 = PSIP + TVGOS
CM-7400 = PSIP + subscription guide
Entone 458 = PSIP + no guide option

Looks like they are marching steadily towards manual VCR style programming while maintaining a very stiff price.

Entone made the Channel Master 7400 branded version. So I wonder if this model uses the same weak/problematic tuner? The major improvement with this Entone model seems to be the added fan to prevent overheating, but if it has the same bad tuner it is still a poor choice for me. I still have a 7400 that will not decode most of my major channels that my other tuners do.

 

My complete guess is Channel Master's exclusive contract has expired or they punted and the new guys don't want to bother with the guide service... sell off what they have in stock or what they can throw together.

It would be interesting to see, if the DVR will follow a path of TR-50/CM7k-DVR when ROVI cut TVGoS nationwide and left owner with short PSIP guide. How long the CM7400 EPG subscription will be supported ?

Ii posted this several weeks ago and after a reboot it went well for a few weeks but i am back at: I have a channel master cm 7400 for about 4 months now. The problems I have are: My channels are again coming in very disturbing and glittery. I did have this a few weeks ago. The channels come in very clear on my tv thought the tv tuner. I even tried to connect the cable directly to the cm 7400, still glittery. So it must be the tuner cm 7400 itself. Any new suggestions?

Buy or build a bigger antenna? The CM 7400 has a notoriously bad tuner.

Done :
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1461026/entone-amulet-458-hybrid-dual-tuner-dvr-a-cm7400-from-the-actual-manufacture-with-changes#post_23027759

The CM-7400 is currently out of stock from Channel Master, but may not mean it is being phased out. Could be their stock is empty and they are awaiting a new shipment from Entone. As they still have their Channel Master TV support site and still offer the extended guide/subscription service. So hopefully if their is a new batch it will include the updated version with the cooling fan. And would be nice if it has a better tuner. And they have also been out of their new CM-7777 preamp, but are supposedly awaiting a new supply. They truly need to do a better job of maintaining inventory of their major products.

Hey guys. Super newbie here. Wondering if anyone has a dumbed down guide to installing the eSata on the CM 7400 and wouldn't recommending which eSata model to buy and exactly what you need to install it. Thanks!

OK. Here is:
1. buy eSATA enclosure with a drive of your favorite size
2. turn off DVR and the enclosure's power supply
3. connect eSATA cable to the DVR.
4. turn on enclosure's power brick, then the DVR.

Done.

Ok. Sounds simple enough. I've seen multiple posters recommend this eSata :Thermaltake BlacX ST0005U Hard Drive Dock - 2.5"/3.5" SATA to USB 2.0, eSATAItem#: T925-1252 | Model#: ST0005U. Since it's just the dock you also need a Hard Drive Disk correct? Any recommendations for which one to buy or does that not matter as much as the dock?