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Magnavox 537, 535, 533, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575 - Page 712

post #21331 of 23766
8/15/12 at 5:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by K2E2C View Post

Thanks Wajo, I tried to call Funai to order the N78F0FUN burner (for my 515) and after being placed on hold and transferred twice I was told I had to do it via e-mail. I just sent the e-mail requesting to purchase the N780F0FUN and am awaiting a response. Hopefully they'll let me buy this one and I can install just the burner in my 515. Holding my breath that it's not actually the board that is causing the problem!

hi k2e2c...
not to worry, myfriend... if it is the board, i'm almost positive the 513 board will drop in and function in your 515.... the machines are almost identical, far as i know...

rgds,
ron g
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

post #21332 of 23766
8/15/12 at 7:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rkg22 View Post

hi k2e2c...
not to worry, myfriend... if it is the board, i'm almost positive the 513 board will drop in and function in your 515.... the machines are almost identical, far as i know...
rgds,
ron g

Thanks everyone for the advice and info. I was able to order the burner for the 513 this afternoon and hope to have it shortly. I'll let you know how it goes.

Just as a reminder of my problem, I noticed the burner in my 515 had failed a couple months ago when trying to burn some recorded kids shows. I hadn't used it much (only burned about 6 DVD's total!). I tried all the SKIP things, and taking it apart and cleaning, removing and reinstalling the cables, etc, etc...No glory. It will not burn, read or play any DVDs (including commercial ones) and it takes forever before the blue box warning pops up. I was able to get a J&R refurb 513 a short while ago and have been downloading the recordings from the 515 to the 513 then burning them (I had considered swapping hard drives but haven't). Finally decided to get a burner to fix the 515 and connect it to my upstairs TV when I received the "not available" e-mail.

Thanks again,
KC
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post #21333 of 23766
8/16/12 at 2:30am
It happens. There are certain types of failures. One is 'infant mortality', which occurs to fairly new products. You'll see higher failure rates that drop down over time. Then as a component ages and gets passed infant mortality there will be a leveling off followed by a slow rise over time as the component ages. You just happend to a component with an infant mortality failure. Thats why there are warranties. What they don't tell you particularly at best buy is that the typical year is plenty long to screen infant mortality and tha extnded warrantites are sold to be in the sweet spot of the failure curve (very little failures).
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post #21334 of 23766
8/16/12 at 10:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

No, I didn't say split the composite video with an adapter. I said split the AUDIO (L/R or red/white) from your sources to L1 or L2 of the Mag with two Y-adapters (audio cables).

For video, I suggested using the Mag's Video > Video Input menu to select either composite yellow or S-Video VIDEO input, depending on which source you were using at any one time.

wajo, I understood you and did not split the video input but left the original line connected to S-video and used the yellow video jack--video 1. Thanks
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post #21335 of 23766
8/16/12 at 8:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by K2E2C View Post

Thanks everyone for the advice and info. I was able to order the burner for the 513 this afternoon and hope to have it shortly. I'll let you know how it goes. (...) Finally decided to get a burner to fix the 515 and connect it to my upstairs TV when I received the "not available" e-mail.
Thanks again,
KC

Aren't the 513 & 515 burners just the same thing?
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post #21336 of 23766
8/17/12 at 6:10am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by profhat View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by K2E2C View Post

Thanks everyone for the advice and info. I was able to order the burner for the 513 this afternoon and hope to have it shortly. I'll let you know how it goes. (...) Finally decided to get a burner to fix the 515 and connect it to my upstairs TV when I received the "not available" e-mail.
Thanks again,
KC

Aren't the 513 & 515 burners just the same thing?

 

They have a diff. model number but I'm thinking they ARE the same burner but the OEM FW loaded on the PCB that comes with them is different, thus they have to have a diff. model #?

 

All FW for a model is on the "Main CBA" (PCB) that comes with each burner.


Edited by wajo - 8/17/12 at 7:12am
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post #21337 of 23766
8/17/12 at 11:33am
Funai just released their 2012 Corporate Profile brochure detailing a number of interesting items including:

  • Acquation of 360 patents ("...for products such as TVs, set-top boxes and DVRs...")
  • Funai did exhibit at 2012 CES in Las Vegas (..."Funai booth was located in a hotel near the main venue...")
  • Extended licensing agreements with Royal Philips Electronics through December 2015

Funai 2012 Corporate Brochure (4.3MB pdf)


smile.gif
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post #21338 of 23766
8/17/12 at 11:01pm
biggrin.gif
Many thanks to Wajo and all those that contribute to this post.
After having one of my 515's struck by lightning last month (still working on that one), earlier this week we had another storm roll through and both my 513 and my other 515 went dark. Without this thread I probably would have done the plug -- unplug thing with hope for a reset and probably have written both of them off. Because of your help I knew to do the Soft Reset with the On/Off button and both boxes came right back up. Thanks again for all your help.

Big Ronnie wink.gif
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post #21339 of 23766
8/17/12 at 11:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRonnie View Post

biggrin.gif
Many thanks to Wajo and all those that contribute to this post.
After having one of my 515's struck by lightning last month (still working on that one), earlier this week we had another storm roll through and both my 513 and my other 515 went dark. Without this thread I probably would have done the plug -- unplug thing with hope for a reset and probably have written both of them off. Because of your help I knew to do the Soft Reset with the On/Off button and both boxes came right back up. Thanks again for all your help.

Big Ronnie wink.gif

 

Man, you really need a UPS. Even the cheapest one at Walmart (I have two) should help, as described here.

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post #21340 of 23766
8/18/12 at 7:26am
SUBTITLE: Composite / S-Video / Component Automatic Switches...
.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeKustra View Post

...I never found a composite switcher, but there are many component switchers. I never looked for an S-Video/Composite switcher, which would be the best solution if your dish has that output...
.
I've been up WAY TOO LONG to provide RELIABLE answers, but, here goes anyway... wink.gif
.
  • I have a Sony 4-Port Automatic Composite / S-Video Switch that I bought online YEARS ago - can't say if they're still available.
    .
  • I have MULTIPLE Philips 4-Port Automatic Composite / Component Switches that I bought from Walmart B&Ms YEARS ago. At least one has RF OUT for my old 1970s Panasonic 19" "Free-With-New-CD" CRT TV.
    .
  • For SPECIALTY items like these, besides Amazon, I'd also check:
    .
    1. Monoprice
      .
    2. Meritline
    .
  • I'd *NEVER* use a Y-Cable for anything! {ThumbsDown}
.
I can provide Model Numbers, if requested, within a day or two... cool.gif
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post #21341 of 23766
8/18/12 at 9:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

you really need a UPS. Even the cheapest one at Walmart...
I tried to buy one there less than a month ago to use with a friend's cable modem and router only. I had to ask a clerk where to find one. He told me that can't be done at WalMart any longer, even though here where I live is the power outage capital of the US. I found one at Best Buy for $29.95 with the smallest 6v battery I've ever encountered. Torx driver required to remove it. Not APC, but brand I don't remember.
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post #21342 of 23766
8/19/12 at 1:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

Hi all,
I have the 2160A I am using with Comcast limited basic and no cable box. I program many new programs to start by timer. I watch/record only the hi-def channels.
I just got a letter from Comcast informing me that starting Aug 14, 2012, I will need a cable box or digital adapter on all my tv's to continue watching my limited basic channels. This is in support of their effort to get rid of all their analog channels.
I have a few questions about the effect this may have on my recording/viewing. Note: I have virtually no knowledge of what this digital adapter is/does. I will likely be selecting the digital adapter as opposed to the Cable box. Or maybe nothing at all if the options turn out to be all bad.
[1] Will I get a Hi Def signal thru this digital adapter?
[2] Will I need a separate comcast remote?
[3] If I set up my Mag to start and stop at certain times and change channels to the desired channels, will that take place, or will the digital adapter get in the way of the progammed channel change? If I chose the cable box, would I have a similar problem?
[4] Is Comcast bluffing, or are they really going to block some of the clear QAM channels?
Note: It says in fine print that Clear QAM tuner TV's will continue to receive limited basic channels 2-4, 6-7, 10-14, 16-19, 24, 95 & 96. I have not yet checked which QAM channels those are equivalent to in my area. or if they are hi-def channels.
I may have left out some important questions. Any other drawbacks to the Comcast actions?
Thanks in advance.
Jer01

Hi all,

Thought I would give you an update on this, in case any of you are going thru a similar experience. I waited silently for the change without contacting Comcast [CC] as Wajo recommended.

D-Day has come & gone and I am very pleased with the outcome. I lost access to the Analog channels, which I expected. You get the blue CC screen msg if you try to access one of these channels. But that does not bother me since I deleted almost all the analog channels after the scan process anyway. Everything else seems to be as it was before the change. I still get all the digital HD channels for the local OTA broadcasts and I still get WGN and Cspan. CC is still providing the Clear QAM channels for local broadcast channels + WGN + Cspan. And I don't need to to bother with any set top boxes or the little boxes [whatever they call those]. Great News!!!! For now. Not sure how much longer this will be the case. None of the channel numbers changed. I did not even have to rescan my TV's or Mags. Thanks for the good advice Wajo.

The only slight hiccup I had was in my bedroom, which is after a few splitters and a long cable run. I had to use the Analog feed to pickup CW, because I could not pull in the digital HD feed from CC for CW. After the change, the Analog CW feed was a blue screen. But CC also provides a 480p feed of most channels, including CW. So I am using the digital 480p feed for CW now.

In the literature [+ a robo call] CC sent me re this change, they made it sound like I would lose the HD local channel feed + WGN & Cspan. And I would only be left with the 480p versions of the local OTA channels. I wasn't even sure I would get such local channels as ION, THIS, PBS2,3, or Antenna TV - I do get them. They also made it sound like I would have to get their boxes to get that. Not so!

Dodged a bullet, for a while anyway. If & when CC stops providing clear QAM feed for the local channels, I will say goodbye to them and go OTA.

Jer
Edited by JER01 - 8/20/12 at 12:20pm
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post #21343 of 23766
8/19/12 at 1:57pm
Hi everybody,

Do any of you have any experience with the Channel Master 7400? I just ran across this this weekend.


http://www.hdtvexpert.com/?p=1767


What appeals to me is the fact that it has 2 tuners. Right now I have 3 H2160A's, although I only regularly use 2 of them. I have never recorded a DVD from them, so I don't need that feature. I definitely need the capability of recording 2 programs at once - I do that all the time during TV season. And the 2nd Mag is in a room with an old 27" CRT TV. So I don't enjoy watching the recordings I make with the 2nd Mag very much. I don't need a great deal of HDD capability, because I have a Seagate Free Agent Theater with a couple 2TB Hdd's for watching recorded programs. I basically need a time shifter with 2 tuners for what I want at the present time. I also want it to be reliable and easy to use. Seems like the CM 7400 might be a good choice for me if it is a good product.

PS I have not been keeping up with all the latest offerings from MAG, so I don't know if they have something that would fit.


Jer
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post #21344 of 23766
8/19/12 at 2:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

Hi all,
I have the 2160A I am using with Comcast limited basic and no cable box. I program many new programs to start by timer. I watch/record only the hi-def channels.
I just got a letter from Comcast informing me that starting Aug 14, 2012, I will need a cable box or digital adapter on all my tv's to continue watching my limited basic channels. This is in support of their effort to get rid of all their analog channels.
I have a few questions ....

Hi all,

Thought I would give you an update on this, in case any of you are going thru a similar experience. I waited silently for the change without contacting Comcast [CC] as Wajo recommended.

D-Day has come & gone and I am very pleased with the outcome. I lost access to the Analog channels, which I expected. You get the blue CC screen msg if you try to access one of these channels. But that does not bother me since I deleted almost all the analog channels after the scan process anyway. Everything else seems to be as it was before the change. I still get all the digital HD channels for the local OTA broadcasts and I still get WGN and Cspan. CC is still providing the Clear QAM channels for local broadcast channels + WGN + Cspan. And I don't need to to bother with any set top boxes or the little boxes [whatever they call those]. Great News!!!! For now. Not sure how much longer this will be the case. None of the channel numbers changed. I did not even have to rescan my TV's or Mags. Thanks for the good advice Wajo.

The only slight hiccup I had was in my bedroom, which is after a few splitters and a long cable run. I had to use the Analog feed to pickup CW, because I could not pull in the digital HD feed from CC for CW. After the change, the Analog CW feed was a blue screen. But CC also provides a 480p feed of most channels, including CW. So I am using the digital 480p feed for CW now.

In the literature [+ a robo call] CC sent me re this change, they made it sound like I would lose the HD local channel feed + WGN & Cspan. And I would only be left with the 480p versions of the local OTA channels. I wasn't even sure I would get such local channels as ION or Antenna TV - I do get them. They also made it sound like I would have to get their boxes to get that. Not so!

Dodged a bullet, for a while anyway. If & when CC stops providing clear QAM feed for the local channels, I will say goodbye to them and go OTA.

Jer

 

Thanks for confirming that the "Cableco Lie Factor" is still alive and well!

 

Let's hope nothing changes.. just make sure you don't let them know you exist! biggrin.gif

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post #21345 of 23766
8/19/12 at 2:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

Hi everybody,

Do any of you have any experience with the Channel Master 7400? I just ran across this this weekend.

 

CM-7400, like the Pal DVR, is OTA antenna only. See HDTV Recorders forum for dual tuner units.

 

Three new Mag units coming, but none with multiple tuners.

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post #21346 of 23766
8/19/12 at 2:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

Hi everybody,
Do any of you have any experience with the Channel Master 7400? I just ran across this this weekend.
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/?p=1767

Jer

Please read thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1360146/channel-master-tv-cm-7400-hd-dvr-ota-clear-qam-internet-content/0_50

It has a clear QAM tuner. It did not function well with my cable (no PSIP) so I had to return it.

Also www.channelmastertv.com
Edited by JoeKustra - 8/19/12 at 2:23pm
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post #21347 of 23766
8/19/12 at 2:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

CM-7400, like the Pal DVR, is OTA antenna only. See HDTV Recorders forum for dual tuner units.
I think you'll find the 7400 can also do cable (clear QAM).
See: http://www.channelmaster.com/Channel_Master_TV_s/304.htm
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post #21348 of 23766
8/19/12 at 3:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck44 View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

CM-7400, like the Pal DVR, is OTA antenna only. See HDTV Recorders forum for dual tuner units.
I think you'll find the 7400 can also do cable (clear QAM).
See: http://www.channelmaster.com/Channel_Master_TV_s/304.htm

 

Right, I confused myself with my note that the "PAL/CM DVR" is antenna only... a diff. animal.

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post #21349 of 23766
8/19/12 at 4:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

Right, I confused myself with my note that the "PAL/CM DVR" is antenna only... a diff. animal.
If its any consolation, you're right almost 100% of the time. smile.gif
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post #21350 of 23766
8/20/12 at 2:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post



Three new Mag units coming, but none with multiple tuners.

Thanks Wajo. Two items I wish I had on my 2160a's:

1] A clock that can reliably set itself. Or a time fast/slow adjustment. I just hate having to reset the clocks on my Mags so often. As a comparison, I have 2 clocks that reset themselves & keep excellent time. Not expensive clocks. I also recently purchased an inexpensive 40" HD tv that set up itself when I plugged it in. It autoset its own clock. So It shouldn't add much cost to the Mag.

2] A usb port so I could easily & quickly plug in an ext Hdd. This would solve my problem of having to watch the recordings made on my 2nd Mag on the old 27" crt low def tv. If my mags had this feature it would take 2 minutes to move the ext hdd from mag # 2 to mag # 1, where I could watch the recordings on my 46" HD tv.

Are either of these features coming in the new offerings?

Jer
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post #21351 of 23766
8/20/12 at 2:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

Three new Mag units coming, but none with multiple tuners.

Thanks Wajo. Two items I wish I had on my 2160a's:

1] A clock that can reliably set itself. Or a time fast/slow adjustment. I just hate having to reset the clocks on my Mags so often. As a comparison, I have 2 clocks that reset themselves & keep excellent time. Not expensive clocks. I also recently purchased an inexpensive 40" HD tv that set up itself when I plugged it in. It autoset its own clock. So It shouldn't add much cost to the Mag.

2] A usb port so I could easily & quickly plug in an ext Hdd. This would solve my problem of having to watch the recordings made on my 2nd Mag on the old 27" crt low def tv. If my mags had this feature it would take 2 minutes to move the ext hdd from mag # 2 to mag # 1, where I could watch the recordings on my 46" HD tv.

Are either of these features coming in the new offerings?

Jer

 

You may already have Feature #1. Check out this Auto Clock help file on "The 11:57 Procedure."

 

Feature #2 will not happen, but these machines are relatively easy to set up for Dock-and-Play of unlimited number of HDDs, as described here.

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post #21352 of 23766
8/20/12 at 3:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeKustra View Post

It has a clear QAM tuner. It did not function well with my cable (no PSIP) so I had to return it.
Also www.channelmastertv.com

Thanks Joe. I would not have thought about the no PSIP problem. Is there any way to know ahead of time if my cable would have PSIP. Would the limited basic package have it - or would I have to subscribe to a premium package to get the PSIP?

I have a PAL digital to analog converter that has the PSIP function -- on one of my old tv's on an antenna . And it is an aggravation waiting for the PSIP to update every time I turn on that tv.


What did you think of the CM7400 otherwise?

With regard to the ota vs clear qam tuner on the 7400, there is a lot of confusion on various web sites on this topic. Several websites say it is for OTA. The channel master website says Dual ATSC/Clear QAM¹ tuner. But if you click on a 'Read More' link just undeneath the specs, it takes you to a different website that says it is for OTA. I get the feeling that some of the early info on the tuner was in error.


Jer
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post #21353 of 23766
8/20/12 at 3:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

Thanks Joe. I would not have thought about the no PSIP problem. Is there any way to know ahead of time if my cable would have PSIP. Would the limited basic package have it - or would I have to subscribe to a premium package to get the PSIP?
I have a PAL digital to analog converter that has the PSIP function -- on one of my old tv's on an antenna . And it is an aggravation waiting for the PSIP to update every time I turn on that tv.
What did you think of the CM7400 otherwise?
With regard to the ota vs clear qam tuner on the 7400, there is a lot of confusion on various web sites on this topic. Several websites say it is for OTA. The channel master website says Dual ATSC/Clear QAM¹ tuner. But if you click on a 'Read More' link just undeneath the specs, it takes you to a different website that says it is for OTA. I get the feeling that some of the early info on the tuner was in error.
Jer

PSIP is often stripped from cable, but not always. It's easy to tell though. Just find a station that is shown as having a PSIP and see if it moves the channel number. You get WXYZ. It transmits on OTA channel 41. The PSIP mapping will make it show on 7.1 in 720p. If not, it could be your cable feed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WXYZ-TV

The cable channel could be anything (really) and it could show as analog (probably 7) and SD and 720p HD. Or not. The subscription tier from your cable feed has nothing to do with the PSIP. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSIP Probably all OTA stations support the PSIP. It's local ABC so it should be someplace.

My short story on the CM7400. It found the clock as soon as I enabled the network. I did a channel scan and it built a table of all my scrambled channel only (all disabled). I manually enabled the first scrambled subchannel and it was my first clear QAM subchannel. I decided to stop. I sent it back after using it for 20 hours. So it's speculation that it's my lack of PSIP, and they may have fixed this. I follow the CM7400 thread.
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post #21354 of 23766
8/20/12 at 9:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by stapler1234 View Post

Funai just released their 2012 Corporate Profile brochure detailing a number of interesting items including:
  • Acquation of 360 patents ("...for products such as TVs, set-top boxes and DVRs...")
  • Funai did exhibit at 2012 CES in Las Vegas (..."Funai booth was located in a hotel near the main venue...")
  • Extended licensing agreements with Royal Philips Electronics through December 2015
Funai 2012 Corporate Brochure (4.3MB pdf)
smile.gif

GREAT!! Thank you very much! smile.gifsmile.gifsmile.gif
Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

Dodged a bullet, for a while anyway. If & when CC stops providing clear QAM feed for the local channels, I will say goodbye to them and go OTA.
Jer

I'm agree. Why pay for a BAD/POOR service? mad.gif
Edited by profhat - 8/20/12 at 9:32pm
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post #21355 of 23766
8/21/12 at 12:34pm
With the MDR's 533, 535 and 537 schedule for early release, I've been wondering what MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) these new systems will carry.

As the MDR515 was "phased out", asking prices soared from around $249.98 to over $1599,99, despite the fact Funai (per 234's post) never raised their price. Even WalMart joined that "feeding frenzy", repeatedly raising their prices from $249.98 to their currently quoted (but unavailable) price of $329.98.

Your guess? confused.gif

wink.gif
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post #21356 of 23766
8/21/12 at 8:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by stapler1234 View Post

With the MDR's 533, 535 and 537 schedule for early release, I've been wondering what MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) these new systems will carry.
As the MDR515 was "phased out", asking prices soared from around $249.98 to over $1599,99, despite the fact Funai (per 234's post) never raised their price. Even WalMart joined that "feeding frenzy", repeatedly raising their prices from $249.98 to their currently quoted (but unavailable) price of $329.98.
Your guess? confused.gif
wink.gif

Interesting thought. I was lucky and bought my first New 515 through Walmart for $170.00.
Bought my second 515 through Craigslist used for $25.00
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post #21357 of 23766
8/22/12 at 10:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stapler1234 View Post

With the MDR's 533, 535 and 537 schedule for early release, I've been wondering what MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) these new systems will carry.

As the MDR515 was "phased out", asking prices soared from around $249.98 to over $1599,99, despite the fact Funai (per 234's post) never raised their price. Even WalMart joined that "feeding frenzy", repeatedly raising their prices from $249.98 to their currently quoted (but unavailable) price of $329.98.

Your guess? confused.gif

wink.gif

With nothng to go by but guessing, and wild speculation, I would guess that the three models will come out something like, the $330 price for the high end model, $250-$275 for the middle one, and ~$225 for the lower end one.
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post #21358 of 23766
8/22/12 at 10:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

Man, you really need a UPS. Even the cheapest one at Walmart (I have two) should help, as described here.

I'm kind of in the same boat, though I haven't lost any equipment - yet. I have a Panamax unit protecting the main DVDRs, and it's paid for itself several times over. When we're not having a drought, we can get violent thunderstorms, and with the recent drought, I was noticing power fluctuations.

Just a week or two ago, I was watching TV in the living room and the lights in the room suddenly got brighter.....had a box fan running in the bedroom and I heard it speed up. Just as I glanced at the Panamax, the LED on the front panel was reading 130 volts before the protection circuits cut out. Last week, I came home twice to find the LED alarm clock in the bedroom flashing and the Panamax tripped. Even with good surge protectors, I keep the computers completely unpulgged when I'm not actually using them.

Of course, none of this helps if I have timers programmed on the Philips and Magnavox DVDRs, so I'm thinking of going the UPS route just for those.

One question: Has anybody had success using a UPS not only to keep the juice going to a DVDR to cover power outages, but also to RUN a Funai DVDR for a recording?

Obviously, running the machine for any length of time is going to take a UPS unit with a much larger battery.
Edited by doswonk1 - 8/22/12 at 10:48am
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post #21359 of 23766
8/22/12 at 10:54am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by doswonk1 View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

Man, you really need a UPS. Even the cheapest one at Walmart (I have two) should help, as described here.

I'm kind of in the same boat, though I haven't lost any equipment - yet. I have a Panamax unit protecting the main DVDRs, and it's paid for itself several times over. When we're not having a drought, we can get violent thunderstorms, and with the recent drought, I was noticing power fluctuations.

Just a week or two ago, I was watching TV in the living room and the lights in the room suddenly got brighter.....had a box fan running in the bedroom and I heard it speed up. Just as I glanced at the Panamax, the LED on the front panel was reading 130 volts before the protection circuits cut out. Last week, I came home twice to find the LED alarm clock in the bedroom flashing and the Panamax tripped. Even with good surge protectors, I keep the computers completely unpulgged when I'm not actually using them.

Of course, none of this helps if I have timers programmed on the Philips and Magnavox DVDRs, so I'm thinking of going the UPS route just for those.

One question: Has anybody had success using a UPS not only to keep the juice going to a DVDR to cover power outages, but also to RUN a Funai DVDR for a recording?

Obviously, running the machine for any length of time is going to take a UPS unit with a much larger battery.

 

My APC 330V, 250W Walmart cheapo only lasted ~10-15 minutes with 5 PhilMag DVDRs and a 47" LCD in Standby, good enough for a short outage.


My goal is just to retain clock and timers during a short outage. If I replace it, I'll go with a larger capacity unit for longer standby or just in case I'd want to run one DVDR or the TV while power was still out. I also moved the Tv to an surge-protected plug and not battery backed.

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post #21360 of 23766
8/22/12 at 11:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by doswonk1 View Post

Has anybody had success using a UPS not only to keep the juice going to a DVDR to cover power outages, but also to RUN a Funai DVDR for a recording?
Obviously, running the machine for any length of time is going to take a UPS unit with a much larger battery.

They only require 33 watts, so even the smallest UPS will run one for quite a while if nothing else is pulling power off the battery at the same time. Ordinary HD cable boxes require similarly little as well, and likely little more for a cableco PVR or HD sat receiver.

Larger units generally mean bigger batteries. Unless extended outages are extremely rare in your area, if you want enough for a two hour movie uninterrupted, a $40 unit is likely too small. I'd go for at least a 750VA to provide some margin after the battery starts approaching EOL, which could well be less than 3 years. Go still bigger according to TV size if you want to watch the whole time the power is out.

Here, an outage of more than 30 seconds but less than 50 minutes is unusual, while less is very common and more is disappointingly often. I have a lot of equipment in my entertainment center, with far more bricks and power cords than the outlets on combined 2200VA, 1100VA and 800VA UPS units provide. I have 3 6 station power strips full and another part full to enable everything to be on without having to pull plugs to put in others. When an extended power outage hits while I'm recording I turn off the A/V amp and other non-essentials to preserve battery life, and use the TV speakers if I need to be watching during an extended outage.
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

AVS › AVS Forum › Video Components › DVD Recorders (Standard Def) › Magnavox 537, 535, 533, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575