Freeview Media Player

Hi all,

Thinking of purchasing one of these below

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300513812441

Looks like something that will suit me nicely, can someone confirm for me if this is capable of picking up Irish Digital FTA signals?

Thanks.

John mac

looks like it is.

The Playon!DVRHD includes 2 Digital TV (DVB-T) tuners,
so you can watch and record different channels at the same time.
Supports both MPEG2 & newer MPEG4 H.264 DVB-T broadcast,
.

fat-tony

I would suggest you verify how DVB-T recordings are handled on this box. The specs suggest the following:
Recording Format:

• Video: HQ/SP/LP/EP/SLP
  • mode: MPEG-2 MP@ML
• Audio: HQ/SP/LP/EP/SLP
  • mode: MP2 2-channel

This might be just for the recording of external analogue sources, but it would be wise to check that this mode is not also used for DVB-T also. It would be unfortunate if it downscales MPEG-4 HD signals to MPEG-2 for recording:(

further research...
I've looked at a couple of reviews (as the box raised my interest because it plays FLAC audio also!) and I still can't determine if it stores DVB-T transmissions natively. It seems to offer a selection of quality levels which implies that it is re-coding the video to some extent. It would seem to be a media player first with extensive network capability and the addition of twin DVB-T (not T2, but this is not relevant unless you're after Freeview HD) tuners provides a nice extra facility. I'd say that you definitely should verify recording capability before you buy, though.

yet more research (I'm starting to like the look of this box as it might be the answer to my other media playback requirements:)...

I started searching the user forums on the AC Ryan website and found the following reply from one of their staffers:

Roger
Post subject: Re: EPG - Schedule Recording changing recording quality
PostPosted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 12:17 pm
AC Ryan Staff
User avatar
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:05 am
Posts: 932

Bro if you're recording via tuner sorry to say that you cannot change the quality as it will record or copy the original stream. This is only possible through AV IN recording.

So the conclusion I drew from that is that the recordings from DVB-T tuner(s) are in their original format and that the quality options are only for analogue copying from the AV in sockets. Therefore the HD transmission resolution from RTE Two should be preserved. The problem with the box for the UK is that DVB-T2 HD transmissions can't be received at all - it's only equipped with DVB-T.

Kind of mixed reviews on the box as a media centre - interface seems to be a bit "clunky" but new firmware may resolve this.

John mac

thanks Tony,

fat-tony

It would be interesting if anyone with any practical experience of this product would post their views.

I did a lot of google research last night and joined the user forum on the manufacturer/developer's website to ask a few basic questions about HD handling/recording. It seems to be unique in the media player arena in that it has DVB-T tuners and could perform the dual function of being a media centre and DVR. It doesn't seem to have quite the class of the WD TV Live Hub, but then the WD doesn't have on-board tuners. I'm very tempted as it could combine my CD/DVD collection into a one-box solution with a Saorview PVR, albeit without MHEG and possibly very basic series link facilities. Neither myself or my wife view the RTE channels much - mostly news or radio and the occasional US drama series which she records.....hmmmm