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Magnavox 537, 535, 533, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575 - Page 319

post #9541 of 23752
6/3/10 at 2:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

For anyone wondering if their AR starts every time, there *may* be a diff. in whether the unit starts up on an analog vs digital channel.

I did just one test and found my original 2160 might not start AR if the unit starts on a digital channel vs an analog channel. I don't know how repeatable that is here, but it could make some sense since the digital channels take a "long" time to tune 1st time, so it might be influencing AR startup?

I noticed on some SKIP procedures that do some comm. with the TV that a digital channel causes "interference" hash while the unit it finding the digital tuner, so ... ???

Others might be able to check if any diff. in their system.

After reading all the posts about AR problems, out of curiosity I ran several AR tests on both of my 2160A's. To my suprise, the AR feature worked exactly as described on page 45 of the 2160A's Owner's Manual.

Both my units:
- are model H2160MW9-A
- have the old FW version
- are connected to the same OTA antenna
- have only digital channels programmed
- were tested in HDD mode. (Disc mode not tested.)
- started up in digital mode
- are HDMI connected to same HDTV

I wonder if the 2160's tuner, when in QAM mode, may be causing AR problems.


Am I missing something?
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

post #9542 of 23752
6/3/10 at 2:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by waldwolf View Post

After reading all the posts about AR problems, out of curiosity I ran several AR tests on both of my 2160A's. To my suprise, the AR feature worked exactly as described on page 45 of the 2160A's Owner's Manual.

Both my units:
- are model H2160MW9-A
- have the old FW version
- are connected to the same OTA antenna
- have only digital channels programmed
- were tested in HDD mode. (Disc mode not tested.)
- started up in digital mode
- are HDMI connected to same HDTV

I wonder if the 2160's tuner, when in QAM mode, may be causing AR problems.


Am I missing something?

Bizarro_Stormy is having problems with AR with the new FW version.
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post #9543 of 23752
6/3/10 at 2:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ss_sea_ya View Post

My dad had a problem with his Maggie recording some (but not all) TCM shows as the cable co DTA was setting the "copy protection" signal (on some shows). (He was connected S-Video to the DTA and HDMI to the TV. He found that it WOULD record if his TV was on. (It is connected via HDMI to the DTA and I don't think what the TV input was set to)...

FYI: Non of the TCM shows are supposed to be copy protected per TCM. So his cable co is adding that is for some reason.

I'm surprised you have a DTA with s-video output. Normally these little monsters are simple things that feed everything out by way of an RF cable on channel 3 or 4.

Are you sure he doesn't have just a regular cable box?

Whatever he's using, the cable companies can decide on their own to copy-protect stuff. Time Warner is known for copy-protecting EVERYTHING, for example.

If this isn't some glitch related to an HDMI connection (that can be corrected by taking that out of the equation), what he'll need to defeat the copy-protection is some type of video stabilizer or filter. (There are threads about these, one here in the DVD recorder forum- http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1008164 )

Be glad that he's using an s-video feed. If this was a case of a DTA feeding out over a coaxial/antenna cable, I don't believe any of the filters would be able to help.
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post #9544 of 23752
6/3/10 at 2:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colloquor View Post

Bizarro_Stormy is having problems with AR with the new FW version.

Yes, I realize Bizarro_Stormy is currently referring to problems apparently related to his recent FW upgrade, however, both he and Wajo (about 4-5 pages back) also discussed the subject of AR problems, involving units having the old FW, and the use of a "blank" finalized CD or DVD to possibly solve those intermittent AR problems.

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post #9545 of 23752
6/3/10 at 3:09pm
Discovered something about my 2160A that I thought was working correctly -- I hadn't realized that I had left a dvd in it. So the whole time I was just turning it on and letting it AR, it was working as I expected (maybe) BECAUSE there was a dvd in the tray. (I dont generally use that machine to dub, but did so a few weeks back and I must have forgotten about it) Feel pretty stupid that I didn't check before posting, but ... figured I'd mention it now, since when I turned it on last nite, as usual, to AR the news lineup .... nuthin had buffered. I will have to experiment a bit and will try it again tonight -- I may have inadvertently 'lost ' the AR by hitting the title menu first .... Will update the results later, but just adding this info cause it may not be a problem triggered by the firmware after all ...

Got the new machine from J & R yesterday, but haven't had time to unbox. Want to check it out to see if it's okay, but I plan to swap the drive ASAP, so don't want to record too much on it. (isn't that what I said the last time ... and the time before.. ?)
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post #9546 of 23752
6/3/10 at 3:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

For anyone wondering if their AR starts every time, there *may* be a diff. in whether the unit starts up on an analog vs digital channel.

Lets see if we can really track this "anomaly" down... as I'm not the only one with it...

Here are the input/output schemes which involve my 2160A:


1.) I'm on Dish Network, using their model 322 Dual Tuner box...

2.) No OTA/Cable antenna connected to 2160A, as I am receiving locals through Dish...

3.) I have no channels set on the 2160A (All analog/digital channels deleted)...

4.) Running S-Video/Analog sound out from Dish box to Line 1 inputs on the 2160A...

5.) Running S-Video/Analog sound out from 2160A to TV Line 1 inputs...

6.) Running Component Video/Coaxial Digital sound out from 2160A to Pioneer 1016TX Receiver's Component Video/Coaxial Digital sound inputs...

7.) Running Component Video out from Pioneer 1016TX Receiver to TV Line 2 input...

No HDMI connections at all...

I watch all TV through the 2160A's Line 1 video/audio outputs...


That's all connections involving my 2160A...
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post #9547 of 23752
6/3/10 at 3:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeKustra View Post

I still use Nero to burn CDRW from MP3 files on my computer. Watch it kid.

Yeah!! I'm still using Nero -- to burn DVD's of old TV programs I missed [download them first] - and then play them on my new 2160's. Actually, this is all new to me - so the word "still" is not accurate. I just started using a copy of Nero I bot a few years ago. Started burning CD's of 50' s music last Dec. And last week started burning DVD+rw's of DL TV programs.

I am having mixed results.

The files I DL are .avi files and a 1 hr program is ~ 350Mb.

When I used Nero to burn to the DVD video format, that produces DVD's I can play, but they take a very long time to burn & you can only get 2 hrs record time on a DVD. The 350 Mb .avi file converts to to approx a 2 Gb video format file.

When I used Nero to burn a DVD+RW[Memorex] to a DVD-ROM format , the files were 350 Mb. This loaded ok in the 2160, but I could not get it to play. A similar DVD that I burned in DVD Video format loaded & played with no problem. I tried these videos in my 2nd 2160 & got the same results.

The DVD-ROM disc plays on my PC - but it does not autostart - I have to manually load it & press play.

I really love the format of the DVD-ROM disc. You can get 12 1 hr TV programs on a disc vs 2. And it burns in 10 - 15 mins vs 1.5 hr. That is really great for what I am doing. I am DL previous years episodes of programs that I had missed - such as Mad Men, Damages, Durham County, Breaking Bad, etc. It is great to be able to get 12 Episodes on 1 DVD.

But I have to figure how to do it in a format that I can play on my 2160's. Maybe I am doing something wrong?? Here is what I did.

--- To burn the latest disc [.avi Format] from Nero, I used the "Make DVD Data" option, copied in the file titles I wanted, hit burn. It showed DVD-ROM[ISO] as the mode.

--- To play it on the 2160, I hit the DVD button, put it in the DVD, closed it. You could see it loading on the screen - but when it was done loading, the DVD content screen did not come up, as it did with the DVD video format disc. I hit all the buttons I could find & none of them made the dvd play or come up in any way.

Both the 2160 & Nero are new to me, so I may be doing something that is not quite right.

I looked in the 2160's owners manual, and on pg 64 it says under unplayable discs: DVD-ROM. Not a good sign.

Is there some "Magic" way I can put those .avi files on a DVD & get them to play on the 2160??

Any Ideas?

P. S. #1 I realize Nero will take the large files it converted to Video format & squeeze more of them on to a DVD. But I would prefer to use the .avi files if at all possible. It is much faster & more efficient, & probably will give a higher quality viewing experience.

P. S. #2 I searched the web for an answer to this problem, and somebody recommend that I don't use Nero because it "sucks". The software he recommended costs only $119. I am not interested in that type of solution.

Jer
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post #9548 of 23752
6/3/10 at 4:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ss_sea_ya View Post

My dad had a problem with his Maggie recording some (but not all) TCM shows as the cable co DTA was setting the "copy protection" signal... He was connected S-Video to the DTA and HDMI to the TV. He found that it WOULD record if his TV was on. (It is connected via HDMI to the DTA and I don't think what the TV input was set to). So my theory was if the DTA didn't have the HDMI connection at all, it probably wouldn't set the copy protection on the other channels.

FYI: Non of the TCM shows are supposed to be copy protected per TCM. So his cable co is adding that is for some reason.

DTAs don't have HDMI or S-Video outputs.

HD converter boxes have HDMI outputs that have all manner of handshake issues and play right into the hands of cable company copy protection schemes. Try using component outputs to the TV after disconnecting the HDMI cables and changing the converter box HDMI setting to OFF.

Since recording from a cable converter box to the Magnavox hard drive is only through analog composite, S-Video or RF, copy protection should be a non-issue as long as HDMI connectivity is not activated or in use.

I have seven Magnavox, Philips and Panasonic recorders connected to a single Comcast Motorola DCX3200 HD converter box always tuned to TCMHD. We don't use HDMI connectivity with any of our Motorola DCH or DCX HD converter boxes or our HDMI capable recorders. I use component, S-Video and composite connections as well as daisy-chained RF pass throughs for my recorders.

We also have Motorola DCT SD converter boxes (with RF and composite outputs) as well as the lowly Pace DTAs (with RF output).

I've never encountered copy protection with TCMHD or TCMSD with any of these arrangements.
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post #9549 of 23752
6/3/10 at 5:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

Yeah!! I'm still using Nero -- to burn DVD's of old TV programs I missed [download them first] - and then play them on my new 2160's. Actually, this is all new to me - so the word "still" is not accurate. I just started using a copy of Nero I bot a few years ago. Started burning CD's of 50' s music last Dec. And last week started burning DVD+rw's of DL TV programs.

I am having mixed results.

Jer

So sorry, but like I said: I only use Nero 9 to make CDRW or CD-R for play in my car. I have never attempted any video operation. My old XP system works ok for internet access, and I never seem to have time to play with my Windows 7 laptop. Both have a DVD-RAM and I'd hope to play with the laptop someday soon. The H2160 has no problem with regular video DVD or music DVD, but even that doesn't work in my XP computer. Better luck on other threads of this forum. If it plugs in it's probably here someplace.
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post #9550 of 23752
6/3/10 at 6:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by artwire View Post

I do notice, though, that the number on tv for channel (for example 5.1) is one up on the 2160 sometimes -- the other nite I hurriedly set the recorder for 5.1, but got blank air, cause I forgot that on the 2160A, Fox channel 5 comes in at 5.12 . The weird thing is, if you go up one channel up after 5.12, it goes to 5.1 (after a brief flash of 20, another station) it tunes in what I believe is the "SD" version, but it didn't record by timer -- 5.1 does record if you click the record button 'live' and you can watch it on the 2160, but you cannot pre-set it to that number.

You have described the classic symptom of a channel that has been virtualized, and it is described in the sticky (see How Virtualized Cable-QAM Channels Can Cause "Oddities" in Tuning at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...tcount=131#CH6)
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post #9551 of 23752
6/3/10 at 6:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wajo View Post

No one has reported a HDD replacement yet on the new 513 and I doubt there will be any who want to risk their warranty until much later. I think it's doubtful they wrote new FW that allows a larger drive than 500GB... seems more cost-effective to use the same 2160A FW for a max. 500GB HDD? Disclaimer: this is pure, unadulterated speculation!

The new unit definitely has changed firmware.

Those who installed 320GB drives in their 2160s proved there is no support for 320GB because all they gained was 250GB of video capacity.

Funai had to modify the firmware in order to support 320GB drives and my pure, unadulterated speculation is that other changes include native ATA support so as to eliminate the cost of the adapter. It would not surprise me to learn that the usable capacity has increased to 2TB because that's where drives are at today.
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post #9552 of 23752
6/3/10 at 7:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sydyen View Post

The new unit definitely has changed firmware.
...
. It would not surprise me to learn that the usable capacity has increased to 2TB because that's where drives are at today.

I'm salivating if that becomes reality, I'll have to sell my Maggies and buy these 513s.
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post #9553 of 23752
6/3/10 at 7:45pm
That would be nice, even if doesnt go up to 2tb.

I might try it, i mean probably going to get 513 on amazon, and i kinda need a backup 1tb for my computers (1 desktop and 4 latops of the family), so i might before it becomes a computer back drive... but amazon has late june shipping + 1 or 2 month by boat... another might test it out before.
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post #9554 of 23752
6/3/10 at 7:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bizarro_Stormy View Post

Lets see if we can really track this "anomaly" down... as I'm not the only one with it...

Here are the input/output schemes which involve my 2160A:


1.) I'm on Dish Network, using their model 322 Dual Tuner box...

2.) No OTA/Cable antenna connected to 2160A, as I am receiving locals through Dish...

3.) I have no channels set on the 2160A (All analog/digital channels deleted)...

4.) Running S-Video/Analog sound out from Dish box to Line 1 inputs on the 2160A...

5.) Running S-Video/Analog sound out from 2160A to TV Line 1 inputs...

6.) Running Component Video/Coaxial Digital sound out from 2160A to Pioneer 1016TX Receiver's Component Video/Coaxial Digital sound inputs...

7.) Running Component Video out from Pioneer 1016TX Receiver to TV Line 2 input...

No HDMI connections at all...

I watch all TV through the 2160A's Line 1 video/audio outputs...


That's all connections involving my 2160A...


This gets confusing digging through all of the unrelated posts about nero and particular tv program, yeesh. I started a thread on this exact subject, and someone interjected with some off topic question. Anyway, http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1249628
Is the thread where all of this info about the Auto Record Buffer should have been posted.

I have done many types of tests, all of the above and then some including factory reset and unplugging for 8 hours. The "solutions" listed throughout this huge thread are the only ones that work.

I still feel the actual problem is the DVD drive. I have asked a couple of times to see if someone with a working and non-working device could swap drives and have the non-working device work correctly but have not gotten an answer. This type of troubleshooting is standard computer/electronics stuff, replace with a noon-working device with a known working device.

I don't think it is firmware unless you include a bad component that the firware is stored in, bad or "mostly working"eeprom, where a bit or byte has been dropped.
It can also be a bad data line from or to the DVD drive.

I returned my 2160A today and do not have one to do anymore testing with, broke is broke. I should get the replacement some time next week.

Besides changing DVD drive some one could simply look at the drive model number and see if a non-working one is different from a working one, in regard to the AR problem. That would only involve removing the cover, I think. You have to eliminate to trouble shoot and at this time the finger is pointed at the DVD drive. Once the drive is removed from the equation the tuner can be checked, once the tuner is checked then it goes to the cpu and logic then to board level discrete components.

Ok, back to the blog/party line style of this giant thread. Start a new thread people, it isn't that hard.


Thor
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post #9555 of 23752
6/3/10 at 8:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thor__ View Post

...Besides changing DVD drive some one could simply look at the drive model number...
Thor

These two posts have photos of a spare DVD Drive and the associated CBA for the original 2160 non "A" model (of 2008 manufacture):

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...5#post18290205

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...9#post18290219

Notice that the model/part number and date code is found on a sticker on the rear of the DVD Drive.
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post #9556 of 23752
6/4/10 at 6:35am
posted my latest AR results in your 'loop' thread, Thor, but the short answer is I realized that I had accidentally left the 2160's DVD mode engaged after finalizing the discs, so it wasn't buffering the AR properly. Flip to HDD and mystery solved (for me, at least). It's now working as expected, again.
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post #9557 of 23752
6/4/10 at 7:01am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by artwire View Post

posted my latest AR results in your 'loop' thread, Thor, but the short answer is I realized that I had accidentally left the 2160's DVD mode engaged after finalizing the discs, so it wasn't buffering the AR properly. Flip to HDD and mystery solved (for me, at least). It's now working as expected, again.

Unfortunately, I don't think this is true.

I can switch my original 2160 to DVD drive and it keeps buffering, it's just the buffer menu that can't be activated to show that buffering. You have to have the unit on HDD drive to bring up the buffer menu.

Note to others: IF you happen to have left your machine on the DVD drive, then turn it on, you'll think the machine isn't buffering because the menu won't appear as long as the machine is on the DVD drive!

You can test this by making sure the buffer is working and noting the total time in the AR menu, switch to DVD drive which changes the on-screen menu to DVD type, get rid of menu, stay on the DVD for a short time, switch back to the HDD drive, press PAUSE and you should see a total time longer than when you left it, indicating that the buffer continued thru the drive switch.

Disclaimer: This is not to suggest there aren't machines out there that might not start buffering on power up.
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post #9558 of 23752
6/4/10 at 7:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Compubooth View Post

Colloquor, I checked this morning on my 2160A with the FW update already applied and everything appears to be working correctly. I also checked yesterday and will continue checking to ascertain any problem, but so far mine apparently functions correctly.

This morning I thought I had an AR problem but I really didn't. Each day, I continue to check to see if I find any AR issues. Before turning TV on this morning, I turned 2160A on. In a few minutes I turned TV on and immediately checked to see if AR started by pressing pause button. The display did not change from Live TV as I expected, in other words, I thought, "Uh oh, AR didn't start!". Then I remembered that last night before turning off everything, I had done a high speed dub so 2160A was in DVD mode. I pressed HDD button and then pause button and display changed to show AR had started (more importantly, it started from the time I had initially turned the 2160A on 10 minutes earlier).
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post #9559 of 23752
6/4/10 at 8:03am
yep, that's good news! I just assumed mine was not AR-ing because I didnt see the menu (when on DVD). I complicated my first test because when 'nothing happened' I started clicking a lot of remote buttons to see if I could activate something, including the title menu (which must have dumped the buffer). Self fulfilling prophecy!


EDIT: I just tried it on DVD setting, and yes, mine is also buffering correctly, you just dont see it unless you switch back to HDD mode. I also tried Wajo's suggestion to use the menu to backtrack by time setting, rather than <<<< rewinding to the beginning and it's a much faster way to get back to the start of the AR.
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post #9560 of 23752
6/4/10 at 8:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sydyen View Post

The new unit definitely has changed firmware.

Those who installed 320GB drives in their 2160s proved there is no support for 320GB because all they gained was 250GB of video capacity.

Funai had to modify the firmware in order to support 320GB drives and my pure, unadulterated speculation is that other changes include native ATA support so as to eliminate the cost of the adapter. It would not surprise me to learn that the usable capacity has increased to 2TB because that's where drives are at today.

I thought the 2160 "used/saw" up to 500 (PATA) Gig???

The A model 500 (SATA) Gig.
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post #9561 of 23752
6/4/10 at 10:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by timtofly View Post

I thought the 2160 "used/saw" up to 500 (PATA) Gig???

The A model 500 (SATA) Gig.

It was my understanding that the 2160A can recognize the 500 fine (in fact, I'm just about to install one), but not 320GB, which it downsizes when formatting to only 250. It wasn't that it couldn't take more than 250, just that it didn't recognize 320 as an acceptable formatting size. (that was before firmware update, no idea if that has changed now)
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post #9562 of 23752
6/4/10 at 11:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

Yeah!! I'm still using Nero -- to burn DVD's of old TV programs I missed [download them first] - and then play them on my new 2160's. Actually, this is all new to me - so the word "still" is not accurate. I just started using a copy of Nero I bot a few years ago. Started burning CD's of 50' s music last Dec. And last week started burning DVD+rw's of DL TV programs.

I am having mixed results.

The files I DL are .avi files and a 1 hr program is ~ 350Mb.

When I used Nero to burn to the DVD video format, that produces DVD's I can play, but they take a very long time to burn & you can only get 2 hrs record time on a DVD. The 350 Mb .avi file converts to to approx a 2 Gb video format file.

When I used Nero to burn a DVD+RW[Memorex] to a DVD-ROM format , the files were 350 Mb. This loaded ok in the 2160, but I could not get it to play. A similar DVD that I burned in DVD Video format loaded & played with no problem. I tried these videos in my 2nd 2160 & got the same results.

The DVD-ROM disc plays on my PC - but it does not autostart - I have to manually load it & press play.

I really love the format of the DVD-ROM disc. You can get 12 1 hr TV programs on a disc vs 2. And it burns in 10 - 15 mins vs 1.5 hr. That is really great for what I am doing. I am DL previous years episodes of programs that I had missed - such as Mad Men, Damages, Durham County, Breaking Bad, etc. It is great to be able to get 12 Episodes on 1 DVD.

But I have to figure how to do it in a format that I can play on my 2160's. Maybe I am doing something wrong?? Here is what I did.

--- To burn the latest disc [.avi Format] from Nero, I used the "Make DVD Data" option, copied in the file titles I wanted, hit burn. It showed DVD-ROM[ISO] as the mode.

--- To play it on the 2160, I hit the DVD button, put it in the DVD, closed it. You could see it loading on the screen - but when it was done loading, the DVD content screen did not come up, as it did with the DVD video format disc. I hit all the buttons I could find & none of them made the dvd play or come up in any way.

Both the 2160 & Nero are new to me, so I may be doing something that is not quite right.

I looked in the 2160's owners manual, and on pg 64 it says under unplayable discs: DVD-ROM. Not a good sign.

Is there some "Magic" way I can put those .avi files on a DVD & get them to play on the 2160??

Any Ideas?

P. S. #1 I realize Nero will take the large files it converted to Video format & squeeze more of them on to a DVD. But I would prefer to use the .avi files if at all possible. It is much faster & more efficient, & probably will give a higher quality viewing experience.

P. S. #2 I searched the web for an answer to this problem, and somebody recommend that I don't use Nero because it "sucks". The software he recommended costs only $119. I am not interested in that type of solution.

Jer


The 3575 plays AVI files, the 2160 does not, no way around it. A $40 DVD from Walmart that says DIVX somewhere on the box will.
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post #9563 of 23752
6/4/10 at 11:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dangerdoc1 View Post

The 3575 plays AVI files, the 2160 does not, no way around it. A $40 DVD from Walmart that says DIVX somewhere on the box will.

Yes, that's the best way to go since the common wisdom is not to use the 2160 as a DVD player. This avoids real-time demand upon the unique laser assembly used in the 2160.

It's best to use a less expensive, full-featured DVD player to play DVDs.
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post #9564 of 23752
6/4/10 at 12:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dangerdoc1 View Post

The 3575 plays AVI files, the 2160 does not, no way around it. A $40 DVD from Walmart that says DIVX somewhere on the box will.

Hi Dangerdoc1 & DigaDo

Thank you very much for the info. That sounds like a reasonable road to go down. You saved me a lot of work pursuing other leads that would have taken me in the direction of trying to convert the AVI files to a form the 2160 could handle. And I will not be using up the useful life of my 2160 laser on stuff a cheapo unit could do.

I can't believe there is not more interest in this topic here. I am thrilled that I will be able to view past "quality" TV Series that I missed at the time.

Jer
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post #9565 of 23752
6/4/10 at 1:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

Hi Dangerdoc1 & DigaDo

Thank you very much for the info. That sounds like a reasonable road to go down. You saved me a lot of work pursuing other leads that would have taken me in the direction of trying to convert the AVI files to a form the 2160 could handle. And I will not be using up the useful life of my 2160 laser on stuff a cheapo unit could do.

I can't believe there is not more interest in this topic here. I am thrilled that I will be able to view past "quality" TV Series that I missed at the time.

I'm curious to know if the 2160 would play those AVI files if you changed their ext. to mpg, mpeg or mpg2?
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post #9566 of 23752
6/4/10 at 2:30pm
I just could not resist the Memorial day sale at J&R! Paid $147.94 - 7.95 Bing cashback = $139.99 final cost.

This one is for my living room - which is really my office. Spend a lot of time there on my computer. But there is also a small couch overlooking a TV. Hooked it up to a 27" cheapo analog CRT TV. It did not have an AV or Input port, but it did have a GAME ywr port. I figured that should work & it did - the picture looks GREAT! I now have a nice 27" digital TV in my office. And it should last me a long time because it has very few hours on it.


Set it up -- I'm getting pretty good at this! Again it was impeccably clean and in perfect shape. Oct 2009 build date. Almost no usage:

* dvd write - 00 min, dvd read - 35 min, cd - 1 min

* HDD power on - 22 hrs

This one did have 3 titles on the HDD - only partially full. The first 2 units did not have any titles. Profit margins must be getting squeezed -- this ond did not have any batteries - they stamped the owners manual "batteries not included".

What a great deal this was!

Jer
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post #9567 of 23752
6/4/10 at 3:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JER01 View Post

I just could not resist the Memorial day sale at J&R! Paid $147.94 - 7.95 Bing cashback = $139.99 final cost.

This one is for my living room - which is really my office. Spend a lot of time there on my computer. But there is also a small couch overlooking a TV. Hooked it up to a 27" cheapo analog CRT TV. It did not have an AV or Input port, but it did have a GAME ywr port. I figured that should work & it did - the picture looks GREAT! I now have a nice 27" digital TV in my office. And it should last me a long time because it has very few hours on it.


Set it up -- I'm getting pretty good at this! Again it was impeccably clean and in perfect shape. Oct 2009 build date. Almost no usage:

* dvd write - 00 min, dvd read - 35 min, cd - 1 min

* HDD power on - 22 hrs

This one did have 3 titles on the HDD - only partially full. The first 2 units did not have any titles. Profit margins must be getting squeezed -- this ond did not have any batteries - they stamped the owners manual "batteries not included".

What a great deal this was!

Jer

I jumped on the J&R deal as well. This unit is replacing my trusty Panasonic DMR-E85H, which has served me well for many years, but the capacitor issue finally struck. I've replaced them and it works again, but I really couldn't resist (especially at this price) updating to a unit with a digital tuner that could record widescreen SD copies of HD programming. I have a TWC HD DVR in the same system, but will use this for overflow recording for those times when a third concurrent recording is required.

I have it fed with TWC cable feed and all the HD broadcast QAMs look and record very well even though the HD channels are downres'd.

Sooner or later, I will also get around to transcribing all my S-VHS home movies of the kids to DVD... it's about time... they are now 24 & 27 years old!
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post #9568 of 23752
6/4/10 at 4:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thor__ View Post

This gets confusing digging through all of the unrelated posts about nero and particular tv program, yeesh. I started a thread on this exact subject, and someone interjected with some off topic question. Anyway, http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1249628
Is the thread where all of this info about the Auto Record Buffer should have been posted.

Thor...
Would you like me to copy/paste my posts related to AR over to your thread?

Is there any way to slightly change the title of your thread to
"Magnavox 2160A Auto Record (6 hour loop start) trouble-shooting" or something similar?

You're right, it does get confusing...
tons of tuner related questions and the like...
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post #9569 of 23752
6/4/10 at 4:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sydyen View Post

The new unit definitely has changed firmware.

Those who installed 320GB drives in their 2160s proved there is no support for 320GB because all they gained was 250GB of video capacity.

Funai had to modify the firmware in order to support 320GB drives and my pure, unadulterated speculation is that other changes include native ATA support so as to eliminate the cost of the adapter. It would not surprise me to learn that the usable capacity has increased to 2TB because that's where drives are at today.


Could you imaging wading through a 2TB hard drive trying to find a program on a Maggie? Yikes!!!! One of the weak points of these neat little machines is scrolling through the HDD. I'm up to 25 "pages" on my 500G as it is and it's no fun trying to find something.
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post #9570 of 23752
6/4/10 at 4:48pm
Here's something that should be of interest. A new super slim 2.5" HDD. There should be a decent power reduction from existing 2.5 drives.



http://www.bhinsights.com/content/sl...n-storage.html
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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