iView-3500STB - Low cost DVR speculation thread

The user manual indicates it tunes VHF/UHF. AFAIK there is no UHF on cable?

The parent company name is "Wiltronic Corp". I wonder what or who these people are applauding?;.
http://iviewus.com/info.php?catId=263&f=companyProfiles
Anyone every heard of them??


After a short search, I find this;
http://www.manta.com/c/mmydr8c/wiltronic-corp

Looking further I find these;
http://www.chamberofcommerce.com/chino-ca/9745553-wiltronic-corporation/ Which can take you to here;
http://www.rjtech.net/info.php?catId=263&f=companyProfiles

Lastly;
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Edited by videobruce - 3/28/13 at 10:06pm

All, I purchased one of these units to install at my church. I did a basic review over at Amazon, and posted some pics. videobruce commented on that review and has requested a more extensive review, but to be frank, I don't have a ton of free time, the unit is not at my house so it requires a trip up to the church building to mess with it, and it is only ~$45. Spending too much time documenting every aspect of this box just doesn't make much sense.

I am happy to help answer specific questions, so If you want me to check for something on the unit for you, let me know and the next time I am working up there, I will try to get the information you request.

FWIW, I purchased the box because I needed an inexpensive HD ASTC tuner to feed a video switcher, and this one seemed to be as inexpensive as they got. The PVR function was just a bonus to me, and we won't utilize that functionality much. It is currently hooked up to a projector for March Madness in a youth area via the composite video output, so keep that in mind when asking me to check things on it. I have verified that component and HDMI work as expected.

-Joe

I find these tables helpful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_broadcast_television_frequencies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_cable_television_frequencies

Only 19 left after my order for one.........for $46 I don't see how one could go wrong, just a HD tuner is many times that cost, as long as the PQ is good.......one reviewer at Amazon said it was not.....I'll post back(mar27-ap1 dd).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BFIJQ10/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATEIAOX4E5W7L
Edited by jjeff - 3/21/13 at 6:44pm

The description I read on amazon says that the USB port on this device is an Input. I don't see any indication on Amazon that this device can record.
Yes, I know what the manual says . . .
Edited by WS65711 - 3/21/13 at 6:45pm

The whole thing sounds like a big mess but according to reviews it's supposed to be able to record. Like I said for the price it's cheaper than one can purchase a HD tuner for, it will be interesting that I can guarantee

The literature and the site makes things confusing. No mention of ATSC, only QAM. The statement "converts digital broadcasts" only adds confusion, leaving the reader to guess or assume the actual meaning. But, for $45..............

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Edited by videobruce - 3/21/13 at 9:52pm

When you do, open it up, take a number of clear closeup photos of the main board and the main chips.
Mainly the main processor and the video related chips. Inquiring minds want to know. It may be only $45, but it could be beneficial to know.

You have a PM.
Edited by videobruce - 3/22/13 at 6:08am

Yes, the unit can record and play back through the usb port. It creates a folder on the filsystem (I can't recall what it was called) and keeps its content in that folder. It allows for scheduled recordings and playback, pausing of live playback(fast forward and rewind, too, if there is a buffer). The unit will also play back media files accessabel on the filesystem.

IMO, picture quality is good.

It is not an expensive piece of equipment and I am sure you get what you pay for. But, I think the value proposition is high, especially if you need an HD capable tuner. I believe you would be hard pressed to find a better HD tuner for this price.

To a hard drive or just a USB stick?
Is the "buffer" always running or can it be turned off?

can you let us know where to get the cheap 2000STB? Thanks!

For anyone interested, bundlecity.com3500stb has it for $45 free shipping. They have a 10% off coupon on their website. So the final is $40.
Edited by lgxb - 3/22/13 at 9:43am

$45 isn't "cheap" enough?? Sheesh. How cheap do you want this stuff?

I am asking him iview 2000STB he mentioned, not 3500stb.

Here's a refubished 2000STB for $39.95!

 

Here's the original 2000STB page.

 

Also, the 3000STB appears to have only RF in/out and Composite YWR out, no HDMI?

You can record to either, but you will need a fast enough thumb drive to handle the needed data rate. (I don't know how fast, I just know from experience that a cheapo drive will not cut it).

I don't know if the buffer can be turned off or not, I will need to check on that.

FWIW the vendor I purchased this from, Wespotpourii for $43.43 no longer seems to have the 3500
Now Amazon is highlighting Kamcor LTD for $36.99 + $7.49 shipping.
Several other(7) sellers listed about the same price.
Doesn't tell how many they have now.....I suppose since so many sellers??

$5 less than this is new.

jmoretti; Thanks.

M2TS is a container format used on Blu-ray discs and camcorders that is just slightly different from vanilla TS. A DVR like this is surely just dumping the current transport stream to disk without alterations, as there is no way it can transcode on the fly with such meager hardware. I would assume that it is stripping extra channels from the mux, though, so you probably don't get recordings that contain every channel on the network you're watching.