Walker WP12DTB Set Top Box

frankymail

I picked up one of these Walker Saorview boxes (WP12DTB) today in Powercity.

I just thought it would be of benefit to people if I let you know how I got on with it.

Firstly I knew I could pick up Saorview as I already own the PlayTV add on for the PS3 which is working well so I decided to go ahead and get a Saorview box for the Kitchen, which prior today only received analogue terrestrial, which are channels RTE One, RTE Two, TV3 and TG4 for those who are new to this.

The box was pretty easy to set up. The box does all the work really. It guides you through selecting language, region and aspect ratio and then scans through all the frequencies and then your done! The only thing through the set up which maybe could be changed was the default selection when selecting the 'output resolution' or 'video mode', The default selection was a standard definition option not '720p' or '1080i' A lot of people who don't understand the ins and outs of television modes and the difference between progressive and interlaced could just select the default option and be left with a below par viewing experience. People could think they are watching the match in HD when they really aren't! Just a thought.

The EPG and interface is really clear and easy to use as is the remote control. When using the channel +/- buttons it can take a second or two to change but you can flick through the channels using the menu bar at the bottom the screen quick and easily.

From looking at images I thought the blue colour of the menu would be tacky and cheap looking but it is in fact very clean and crisp. Also, the box came with with a HDMI cable which was handy!

Quality of the sound and picture is great too, which is expected. I'm looking forward to see the Saorview line-up expand in time and it's good to know that the approved box I purchased can provide service as Saorview evolves.

All in all i'm very happy with the purchase. Was also so simply to order from powercity.ie and then collect a while later.

liamtech

Well done - its good to see a solid review of this box which im sure many are considering buying, given the price - have you tried any of the PVR (record, pause, rewind, fast forward) functions on the box - this will obviously require a usb memory stick or hard drive

frankymail

I'm trying to route out a memory stick! Once I find one I'll let you all know how it goes.

khumbu

I have used PVR function of WP12DTB, with mixed results.

No issue with connecting (fat32) 16Gb usb key. I can schedule recording from epg (no series link at moment) Recordings play back fine but I recorded Sunday game live. I was unable to skip the Dublin/Offaly game to start of Tipp/Cork game. It kept jumping to the end of recording. I also recorded Criminal minds & had no issue skipping forward or backward. Not sure why I had problem with Sundays recording.

I tried to play the .ts files saved on stick through vlc & media player but they fail to play in either. The recorded programmes are split across numerous .ts files.

You can't record one channel while watching another.

liamtech

Sounds OK - can you pause live TV - because i have heard that although most PVR ready units can - this one cant!!!

BTW thanks again on your detailed reviewing of the box:D: I have been wondering about it for a while

khumbu

You can pause live tv..... though not by pressing pause. When you press pause a popup appears then disappears before it can be read it. I think it says please wait.... but nothing happens anyway.
As a work around, enter guide & select the programme you want to pause. Select record on popup, exit epg. Press menu button & select "recordings library" play the programme you have just started recording, now pause button works.

STB

khumbu wrote: »

I have used PVR function of WP12DTB, with mixed results.

No issue with connecting (fat32) 16Gb usb key. I can schedule recording from epg (no series link at moment) Recordings play back fine but I recorded Sunday game live. I was unable to skip the Dublin/Offaly game to start of Tipp/Cork game. It kept jumping to the end of recording. I also recorded Criminal minds & had no issue skipping forward or backward. Not sure why I had problem with Sundays recording.

I tried to play the .ts files saved on stick through vlc & media player but they fail to play in either. The recorded programmes are split across numerous .ts files.

You can't record one channel while watching another.

In all fairness to Walker - not playing the TS in VLC straight off is quite common regardless of what you recorded it on (many other boxes record in this format of raw transport stream).

You simply run it through TSDOCtor which fixes the stream and is then playable.

Does it have an option in the menu to record in another format ? Mpeg for example ?

Clareman08

I found that the Walker ts files will play directly in Media Player Classic which is a free download. Must check out Tsdoctor also.

I agree that the Walker is a very nice box in many ways, but as mentioned by khumbu the "pause live TV" function does not operate per the supplied operating instructions. I found that recordings tended to stutter on a couple of older USB sticks that I tried, but I recently picked up a Busbi USB 3.0 16GB stick (€34.99 in PC World) and this works well after re-formatting. Being rated for USB 3.0 means that it is also fast at USB 2.0. However, even this can get confused when fast forwarding at the highest speed on RTE 2 HD recordings.

khumbu

some more observations.....

When changing channel:- the banner pops up on screen instantly (displaying whats on etc.) A split second later sound comes through before picture appears (behind banner) But a split second later the sound drops out for a fraction of a second before returning. This happen each time a channel is selected.

I have not been able to access the programme description. The "i" button only pops up programme name & name of programme to follow on banner across bottom of screen. The description is only available in EPG mode.

As mentioned previously the pause/timeshift function does not work (as described on page 9 of manual) alternative method is to press "rec" then enter menu -> recordings library & start playback. Then playback can be paused. Firmware ver. 8.1 on box at moment maybe Walker will fix this bug on future version.

AVIs stored on usb stick playback by entering menu -> media browser. Tried 2 files & both played no problem.

When box has been switched off (in standby) for a number of hours, I have noted a high pitched buzz from the PSU. Switching back on the box stops the buzz. Can't tell if this happens on normally or an issue with PSU.

kierank01

khumbu wrote: »

some more observations.....

When changing channel:- the banner pops up on screen instantly (displaying whats on etc.) A split second later sound comes through before picture appears (behind banner) But a split second later the sound drops out for a fraction of a second before returning. This happen each time a channel is selected.

I have not been able to access the programme description. The "i" button only pops up programme name & name of programme to follow on banner across bottom of screen. The description is only available in EPG mode.

As mentioned previously the pause/timeshift function does not work (as described on page 9 of manual) alternative method is to press "rec" then enter menu -> recordings library & start playback. Then playback can be paused. Firmware ver. 8.1 on box at moment maybe Walker will fix this bug on future version.

AVIs stored on usb stick playback by entering menu -> media browser. Tried 2 files & both played no problem.

When box has been switched off (in standby) for a number of hours, I have noted a high pitched buzz from the PSU. Switching back on the box stops the buzz. Can't tell if this happens on normally or an issue with PSU.

Got the saorview box in Aldi today, and it seems to function identically to described here.

noise on changing channel, and live pause not working as expected, haven't checked the record-play-pause workaround.

There is one thing, that seems to be different, is that the when the time is set to auto, it goes to gmt+0 only, and will not go to gmt+1.
It seems to stay on gmt+1, when set to manual.

Clareman08

I have been using the Walker box for over a month now and one good feature is that both the box and PSU are very cool running. The PSU is virtually cold on standby and always silent, so khumbu, your PSU must be faulty.

Summer time has to be set manually on the Walker boxes also!

ted1

I don't think anything that requires an external drive via usb can be called a pvr. A true pvr requires two.timers.and a muc h better quality hard drive

watty

Technically if the TV can receive Saorview directly a PVR only needs one tuner. Like a VHS.

A setbox or TV with USB recording is a partial PVR, It's the digital equivalent of plugging a recorder with no tuner into a SCART socket.

A real PVR has internal sound insulated drive (rubber mounts in Sky+, Sky HD) and needs two tuners if it's for a TV that can't receive the signal directly.

Also for HD it requires a filesystem such as NTFS, EXT3, EXT4 or something proprietary that allows files any size and partitions any size. Virtually all the external "recording" solutions are FAT32 which is useless for HD film with Surround sound. Many are limited on partition size too.

Series link and EPG based scheduling is important too.

"high end" PVRs do speculative recording (Tivo one example), OTT/Push content (background recording of non-realtime transmission for later viewing) and even the ability to record ALL the programs on up to 10 or more designated channels continuously in loop several days or weeks long. Then no scheduling or +1 needed. You can watch ANY EPG program in past up to age limit on designated channels.

With 1T, 2T and 3T or 4T byte drive(s) such schedule free PVRs become feasible at regular domestic pricing. Actually scheduling a recording only means then that it's not deleted after the age loop time limit. Such high end recorders may have more than 2 tuners.

khumbu

STB wrote: »

Does it have an option in the menu to record in another format ? Mpeg for example ?

No alternative record format.

khumbu

Clareman08 wrote: »

The PSU is virtually cold on standby and always silent, so khumbu, your PSU must be faulty.

When option "low power" (in configuration menu) option set to "No" the PSU does not buzz only when set to "yes" buzz returns. Can you post Clareman08 what setting you have.

Clareman08

Very interesting, khumbu! I have "low power" selected in the menu from the beginning. With the box on standby, I went down on my hands and knees and pressed my ear against the PSU casing. I could hear a very faint "whistle" which disappeared when I powered the box on. The extremely faint whistle returns when the clock display extinguishes some minutes after returning to standby.

I think this is normal for modern switched-mode power supplies. I can only hear anything with my ear pressed firmly against the casing!

Dessiemc27

has anybody living close to the border bought one of these? We have a poor analogue RTE but put up a tv3/tg4 aerial and bought an mpeg4 box which gives us all the rte channels quite crisply indeed. We also get nearly all the channels you would normally get on a standard freeview box.

The problem being the box I got (ferguson ariva t60 ) looks like a cheap piece of kit. I have only had it in for 3 weeks and 2 boxes have failed. We reckon it could be due to power surges caused by power cuts during the high winds damaging the box.

I would get a walker box if i knew they could pick up the freeview channels from the bbc aerial we have up.

sesswhat

Dessiemc27 wrote: »

has anybody living close to the border bought one of these? We have a poor analogue RTE but put up a tv3/tg4 aerial and bought an mpeg4 box which gives us all the rte channels quite crisply indeed. We also get nearly all the channels you would normally get on a standard freeview box.

The problem being the box I got (ferguson ariva t60 ) looks like a cheap piece of kit. I have only had it in for 3 weeks and 2 boxes have failed. We reckon it could be due to power surges caused by power cuts during the high winds damaging the box.

I would get a walker box if i knew they could pick up the freeview channels from the bbc aerial we have up.

The walker box may be a step up in price, but not in quality.

You might as well go for a Freeview HD box at this stage, which will also receive the Irish channels.

You could consider a Humax or Icecrypt.

Freeview HD broadcasts will begin (late?) next year.

Certified Saorview boxes are available at argos.ie. They will work with Saorview and Freeview but NOT for Freeview HD.

Moggaman

This box has just died on me. Plug it in , there is no power light . Socket works fine ...is there a guarantee with these things.