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Ferguson Ariva HD Combo

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13567…20

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    #62
    FRIENDO
    Registered Users Posts: 1,390 ✭✭✭FRIENDO


    Will try up to date Firmware/update, I seen some refrences in previous posts or can I download from Ferguson site.

    Will talk to the Father but he's the old school in relation to plugging everything out.
    Thanks for your help


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    #63
    KeRbDoG
    Registered Users Posts: 4,215 ✭✭✭KeRbDoG


    FRIENDO wrote: »
    Will try up to date Firmware/update, I seen some refrences in previous posts or can I download from Ferguson site.

    Will talk to the Father but he's the old school in relation to plugging everything out.
    Thanks for your help

    Well, if he is old skool then let him plug it out :) try a firmware update first anyway and let us know if that solves the problem. I can't test and the stb I have is always plugged in my parents


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    #64
    FRIENDO
    Registered Users Posts: 1,390 ✭✭✭FRIENDO


    I will look for the Firmware updates and report back, thanks


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    #65
    rurs
    Registered Users Posts: 594 ✭✭✭rurs


    Don't forget to back up your channel list first!

    I've had this happen once or twice, but mine is normally set to record something or other overnight, so it's normally on standby.

    Write to Ferguson, explain the problem, they might not reply, but it's the only way it'll get fixed.


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    #66
    sweetnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 8 ✭sweetnuts


    I've a question. Bought a Ferguson combo box from Tony & must say it's brilliant. However, I'm not able to pause live tv. I can record & it's working perfectly. Can anybody suggest a solution?

    p.s. I'm illiterate when it comes to computer jargon so go easy on me please.


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    #67
    rurs
    Registered Users Posts: 594 ✭✭✭rurs


    Enable Timeshift? Ithink it might be disabled by default.

    Main Menu>PVR>PVR setting>TimeShift mode>ON

    Or are you using a USB pendrive? One I tried would record, but not timeshift.


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    #68
    sweetnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 8 ✭sweetnuts


    rurs wrote: »
    Enable Timeshift? Ithink it might be disabled by default.

    Main Menu>PVR>PVR setting>TimeShift mode>ON

    Or are you using a USB pendrive? One I tried would record, but not timeshift.
    Thanks rurs. I've enabled timeshift but yes I'm using a pendrive. Must try an external hardrive.


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    #69
    victory10
    Registered Users Posts: 97 ✭✭victory10


    Joined boards.ie today and wanted to say hello and thank you to all the members who contributed to this thread.
    The idea of having a DTT and a satellite receiver in the same box, looked like a good idea about a month ago.
    As Ireland has the same DTT system MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 as we have now in Israel, I thought I would better shop from Ireland.
    Tried to find a reliable shop to buy two receivers from and noticed freesat.ie mentioned several times in this thread, so I contacted them and got friendly response with payment and shipment details to Israel.
    Now that I have the order delivered without any problems, I can only add that I would definitly shop again from them.
    I received the boxes yesterday, and got down to test it.
    Using a cable connected to the TV wallplate that is connected to a central distribution UHF antenna that I installed twent years ago, and seems to have finally paid off, I did DTT search and got our measly five channels without any problems.
    First disappointment was that the info bar text shows gibberish instead of Hebrew characters and ditto for the EPG text.
    Next, I connected the LNB cable coming from Hot Bird satellite, did a scan search, but no channels were found.
    Did a factory reset, searched again and voila, all the Hot Bird channels were received.
    Next I wanted to check teletext and subtitles and got my second disappointment, as Ferguson seems to have concentrated on the local Polish market and forgot about other foreign languages like German, French, Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, etc.
    Can't really blame them, as if the receiver is meant only for Poland, I don't think I have the right to complain about teletext and subtitle support. But it would have been nice to have a box that supports other languages.
    As mentioned before, the text font size is rather small and I doubt if Ferguson would do anything about it, ever.
    Looking back at my decision to buy the Combo, I think I would have been better off buying a local DTT receiver with Hebrew support and order an HD satellite receiver which has a good review about teletext and subtitle support. Ferguson 200 was on my shopping list, but I am sure that it has the same issues as the Combo.
    Oh well, I think that this is enough for my first post here. :)


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    #70
    victory10
    Registered Users Posts: 97 ✭✭victory10


    I wanted to test the PVR functions, so I formatted an 8GB SanDisk Cruzer Flash USB using FAT32 on the PC.
    Then added few files in *.mpg, *.jpg, *.mp3 and inserted the gadget into the USB front connector.
    Using the PVR/USB on the remote, I was able to play the *.jpg and *.mp3, but not the *.mpg files which is strange and would like to know if anyone has managed to play back any video files except the ones recorded with the receiver using satellite or DTT channels.
    Then did short recordings of about a minute each from channels Euronews (which has 9 audio tracks) and from ZDF (after making sure that German subtitle was being transmitted on teletext page 777).
    Uninstalled the USB flash from the receiver, inserted it into the PC, opened ProjectX application and dealt with each *.trp file separtely.
    The results were that I got all the 9 audio tracks and the video file from the Euronews *.trp file converted into mp2 and m2v files.
    The ZDF *.trp file resolved into an mp2 and m2v files only, and there was no *.srt file created for the subtitle, which is rather disappointing.

    I would like to ask a couple of questions please:
    1 - As there is an Ethernet connector on the back, but the Ferguson Combo user manual gives absolutely no information about how to use it (except that it says - for future use), please let me know if anyone has managed to connect it to the PC, how and what can I do with it.
    2 - How can I view mpg files copied to the USB flash?
    Is there a way of "cheating" the receiver to treat it as a *.trp file recorded using the box and so play it?
    In the Ariva 200 user manual it specifically says that:
    Video: In this tab, you can play back files in MPG format. High
    resolution MPG files can also be played back.

    So I find it rather strange that a higher end receiver can't do what a cheaper model does. (perhaps I am wrong and the Ariva 200 is newer than the Combo, but Ferguson should be able to add this important feature to the Combo in future firmware.
    Thanks for any comments.:)


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    #71
    rurs
    Registered Users Posts: 594 ✭✭✭rurs


    I think the Ethernet connection is intended for connection to the internet, not a pc/home network, possibly for automatic update of firmware. Obviously hasn't been implemented yet by Ferguson.

    I've had a look at the manuals for the ariva 100 & 200, it seems to me they are quite different internally (going by the UI), and so have completely different firmware. I wouldn't hold out any hope that the multimedia capabilities of these receivers will be implemented on the combo, nice as it would be.

    As regards tricking it into playing mpgs, you'd have to be able to create the .idx and .ifo files that are created along with recordings. Maybe analyse them with a hexeditor? I'm only really guessing here, might give it a go myself.

    Your other problem with the language setting must be very annoying. There are other languages available as a menu choice (including Russian Cyrillic), so if Ferguson wanted to, they could surely add Hebrew for your DTT, though as far as I see, very few channels on Hotbird have any EPG info anyway.


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    #72
    victory10
    Registered Users Posts: 97 ✭✭victory10


    Thanks rurs for your valuable comments.:)
    I managed to play an mpg file with the receiver.
    Needed to convert it first to *.ts file using ProjectX and then renaming the file as DATA00.trp
    The trick was to make a dummy short recording with the receiver, then replacing the recorded DAT00.trp with the converted mpg file, using the PC.
    The video was OK, but there is no sound. I will need to check why, perhaps use a different converter.

    As a by product of this test, it would be possible to trim out the recorded *.trp file (beginning, in-between commercials and the end points), but one should keep the original recording intact and play only with a copy of the whole subfolder on the PC, copy it back to the USB flash and only after checking that the trimmed file works well, then you can delete the original recording.


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    #73
    galtee boy
    Registered Users Posts: 1,487 ✭✭✭galtee boy


    Would anyone be so kind, as to post a picture of what the single EPG looks like on the Ferguson Ariva, showing Saorview and BBC/ITV etc on the one epg ?


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    #74
    rurs
    Registered Users Posts: 594 ✭✭✭rurs


    galtee boy wrote: »
    Would anyone be so kind, as to post a picture of what the single EPG looks like on the Ferguson Ariva, showing Saorview and BBC/ITV etc on the one epg ?

    Here you go...
    As you can see, there are 6 channels per page on the EPG, so in this shot, there are the 5 Irish channels + BBC1, the next page continues the BBC + ITV.
    You have to change to the channel you want to see EPG info for, so in this shot, details for RTE are shown. You can jump to the next six using the Right/Left buttons, or the page up/down buttons.

    There's also the channel list, which you get by pressing the "OK" button in the middle of the remote. You can scroll through channels here without changing channel, and it remembers the last information for the selected channel in the box on the right.


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    #75
    tommyire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭tommyire


    Hi all,

    Just got one of these a couple of days ago and just have a few questions;

    I’m using a 16GB USB stick for timeshift at the moment but the picture always becomes glitchey when it is on. Has anyone seen this before? I think it might just be that the write speed of the drive is too low. I also tried a 1GB drive but timeshift didn't work at all.

    Also, it often takes ages to change channel, like nearly 10 seconds. Is this normal for this box as my old one was almost instant? It’s a bit of a pain.


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    #76
    victory10
    Registered Users Posts: 97 ✭✭victory10


    Looks like you need to enable timeshift. It is in the menus somewhere.
    No problem with the picture when USB stick is installed. I have SanDisk Cruzer 8GB. Which model are you using?
    Channel change is a bit slow, but not that noticable.
    Check all connections and if everything is OK, perhaps you need to change the box to a different one, or test it in another sat system like at a friend's or the shop.

    Edit: BTW: Is your sat system fixed or motorized?


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    #77
    tommyire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭tommyire


    victory10 wrote: »
    Looks like you didn't enable timeshift. It is in the menus somewhere.
    No problem with the picture when USB stick is installed. I have SanDisk Cruzer 8GB. Which model are you using?
    Channel change is a bit slow, but not that noticable.
    Check all connections and if everything is OK, perhaps you need to change the box to a different one.

    Thanks Victory10.

    I'm using a 16GB ScanDisk Cruzer Blade, think the write speed in only around 4MB/s. I will try another couple of drives. I have timeshift turned on alright, maybe the 1GB drive is too small? Is there spec anywhere for what is required (capacity, speed etc.?)

    Ya, sometimes channel change is okay, but sometimes I'm looking at a black screen for a while thinking the channel is gone off air. Until it eventually appears.

    It's on the 025 beta firmware.


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    #78
    victory10
    Registered Users Posts: 97 ✭✭victory10


    The recommended write speed is 8MB or 9MB. If you are certain that the Blade is 4MB/s then this might explains the glitches.
    No idea about the minimum capacity but an external HDD (with external power supply) is limited to 750GB.
    The format has to be FAT32.


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    #79
    rurs
    Registered Users Posts: 594 ✭✭✭rurs


    Have you tried changing channel with no USB drive connected? If the ones your using are too slow, it might be taking time to buffer before the picture appears.

    Does it happen on all channels, or only ones on a certain transponder? If the latter, your dish might be slightly out of alignment. Or, as Victory10 said, check all the connections are tight, and that the f-connectors are secure on the cable.

    It shouldn't take more than a second to change channel if everything is right.


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    #80
    tommyire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭tommyire


    victory10 wrote: »
    The recommended write speed is 8MB or 9MB. If you are certain that the Blade is 4MB/s then this might explains the glitches.
    No idea about the minimum capacity but an external HDD (with external power supply) is limited to 750GB.
    The format has to be FAT32.

    Thanks, that probably explains it all right. I'll have to go get a new external HD so. Just want to be sure it will do the job before I buy.

    Thanks for your help.


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    #81
    victory10
    Registered Users Posts: 97 ✭✭victory10


    Just one more thought, did you use the box as is or did a factory reset to clean it out from the default setup?
    For Factory reset you need p/w 0000
    Leave the USB out during this process.


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    #82
    tommyire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭tommyire


    victory10 wrote: »
    Just one more thought, did you use the box as is or did a factory reset to clean it out from the default setup?
    For Factory reset you need p/w 0000
    Leave the USB out during this process.

    Ya, I've tried a factory reset all right. Thanks.


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    #83
    victory10
    Registered Users Posts: 97 ✭✭victory10


    Here is the link to the USB spec.
    http://www.ferguson-digital.eu/en/faq/odbiornik-ariva-hdcombo/201-what-kind-of-external-hard-disk-can-i-connect-to-ariva-hdcombo.html


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    #84
    tommyire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭tommyire


    victory10 wrote: »
    Here is the link to the USB spec.
    http://www.ferguson-digital.eu/en/faq/odbiornik-ariva-hdcombo/201-what-kind-of-external-hard-disk-can-i-connect-to-ariva-hdcombo.html

    Perfect, thanks for that! I like how they use the words "some" and "should", no promises!


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    #85
    Tony
    Registered Users Posts: 11,325 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    tommyire wrote: »
    Perfect, thanks for that! I like how they use the words "some" and "should", no promises!

    Unfortunately they have to use that type of language in case one does not work for reasons other than the box itself. A small minority people are quick to get on your case if you say something definitely works and it does not for whatever reason.

    Its the same if someone asks me if a freesat box will work with an old sky dish, I'm obliged to tell them it should work if the dish is working ok, not it will definitely work.

    Desktop PC Boards discount code on https://www.satellite.ie/ is boards.ie



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    #86
    leshogan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 61 ✭✭leshogan


    KeRbDoG wrote: »
    Edited the favourites on the box mostly, then some more edits in the editor software.
    I think I got a little delete happy initially :) so i might have deleted BBCi/stream-0 etc. by mistake. Missed Press TV & Russia Today - arse, will manually add those in which I noticed I could only do via the editor? Any way of doing this via the boxes menus I wonder...

    KeRbDoG any chance you could post your most up to date channel list, makes life very handy and is much appreciated.

    Also how do i get the correct time on the box?


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    #87
    KeRbDoG
    Registered Users Posts: 4,215 ✭✭✭KeRbDoG


    leshogan wrote: »
    KeRbDoG any chance you could post your most up to date channel list, makes life very handy and is much appreciated.

    Also how do i get the correct time on the box?

    Currently traveling, should be able to give yea a new download/update this weekend if thats cool


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    #88
    Tony
    Registered Users Posts: 11,325 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    leshogan wrote: »
    KeRbDoG any chance you could post your most up to date channel list, makes life very handy and is much appreciated.

    Also how do i get the correct time on the box?

    heres one you might find usesful

    Desktop PC Boards discount code on https://www.satellite.ie/ is boards.ie



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    #89
    leshogan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 61 ✭✭leshogan


    thats great thanks


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    #90
    Tony
    Registered Users Posts: 11,325 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    leshogan wrote: »
    thats great thanks

    My pleasure

    Desktop PC Boards discount code on https://www.satellite.ie/ is boards.ie



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    #91
    Tony
    Registered Users Posts: 11,325 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    Is anyone using the ferguson to get DTT HD from UK freeview ?

    Desktop PC Boards discount code on https://www.satellite.ie/ is boards.ie



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