ReplayTV 5040
 

Ok I got one of these :)
Is there a way this machine can be used ONLY for recording after the grace period is expired :?:
I don't care about the guide. I just want to use it as a standalone recoder :roll:

-kwag

Hi Kwag.. :lol:

I bought one about a year ago. I remember hearing that the NEW thing
was that you HAD TO COMMIT to the deal or else they weren't going to
plug you in. I'm not sure how ReplayTV works, but I suspect that it's going
to be pretty much the same thing (deal) or worse. Anyways..

From what I could remember, people were buying the 30 day deal ($7) and
then cancelleling it, and capturing the listing to a file or something like that.

Then, later, they would retreave it, and use THAT list indefinately. The
downside was that you would never have an updated list, and if they made
any changes to the channels, you'd lose out.

Or, if you had a friend, you could have him/her upload a new list to you,
and you could continue on your merry way.

I think it stinks that they FOURCE you to take their offer, but that's the way
it is. But, a lot has changes, and things may be totally different now.

Oh, O returned my unit, cause after the first eletric-shock I got, while plugging
it in, had me running back. I was cheap, and got the floore model for
$99 bucks I think. Anyways..

Sorry if I couldn't be of more help to ya. At least it bumped up the topic :)

Have a great one pal..
-vhelp

Hey thanks vhelp :)

The way the new series 5000 works is that you either pay $9.95 a month, or you pay $250.00 one time only. Then you have the guide for lifetime (unless they go broke and then you're screwed anyway!). What boils me is that if I don't pay neither, then the unit is useless 8O
You can't even record in manual mode :!:, and that stinks :x
Other than that, the quality is amazing, and the features are just excelent. It has a 10/100 Ethernet port, and I connected it to my lan, and I can extract the MPEG-2 files from the unit from any machine in my network. I haven't done any KVCD encodes from it yet, but I have only one day left to make up my mind and pay the $250 or return it to the store with some lame excuse :?
I really like the quality, and it beats the quality that my DMR-E20 produces :!:

-kwag

Kwag..

I see you have a new toy (or had for a while, but forgot ta "do tell") hehe..

The only thing left, to convence you to keep it is a NEW, decent quality
Satellite source, and you'll probably become hooked :?:

welp.. back to my app design.

Take it easy. I've got a 4 day LONG weekend hehe..
-vhelp

Finally... Kwag has ReplayTV.
 

You can absolutely use the device as a recorder only! It is never going to be as simple to use as a VCR but there are ways to make it close.

I have a couple 5040s. I have upgraded one to 120GB without trouble. I will be putting a second 120GB in sometime in the next couple of weeks.

I have been using it to capture VHS and DVD directly through the inputs. I also use it for the TV listings and recording shows but that is optional. In fact, if you are happy with the current software build you don't have to let it connect for updates or anything. Just use it as is.

What I have found useful are the hidden codes for getting at menus. In particular, changing the input device is burried in the menus. You can pull it up immediately using:

888 Zones

This will bring up a display to change inputs. If you are going to use this as a digital VCR that will be important. There is no way I have found to change the default input... it jumps back to the TV in.

Does this mean you will be adjusting the optimal script to be optimized for ReplayTV source?


Grantman

Grantman

Re: Finally... Kwag has ReplayTV.
 

Without any subscription :?:
Please say yes, and make my day 8O

-kwag

Re: Finally... Kwag has ReplayTV.
 

I haven't tried that yet, so I don't know the result of encoding the MPEG-2 from the RTV->KVCD :!:

-kwag

The ReplayTV is going back to the store :!:
I love the features, but I just learned they filed for chapter 11 in May 8O
It's a shame, because its really a great machine. But there's another reason I'm returning it. I tried to activate the unit on their web site, and guess, no area codes for Puerto Rico :x So I have to call customer service and see if they can activate manually over the phone.
Also, they only support DirectTV and Dish Netwotk systems. They do support my local cable company, but 4DTV which is what I have is not supported 8O :x
Anyway, tomorrow it's going back to the store. And guess what :?: I just got back from another store with this :mrgreen: http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp...Model=DMR-E80H
So my old DMR-E20 is now being cleaned and packed, and will probably find a new home in the next couple of days, as there are a couple of people that are interested ;)
Tomorrow, I'll probably capture some satellite clips, and encode them to KVCD. Then I'll post some samples :cool:

-kwag

@ Kwag..

wOw..

Now, I wonder where they got Mosquito's from :wink: not here.. hehe.. You would think they were hanging around here :?:

-vhelp

They ALL probably are :mrgreen:
And yes, the TBC features of ALL the Panasonic DMR line is just incredible. Even in my older DMR-E20. The VHS->DVD transfers are just freaking amazing :!: The copy IS better that the original VHS 8O. The TBC stabilizes the image, and you don't see the head wabble, etc. you normally see in the VHS tape :!:

-kwag

Here's little 7 second sample I just encoded from a high quality capture on the Panasonic DMR-E80H. It's from an analog satellite channel (4DTV). The source is 29.97fps interlaced, so I just added Bob() to the optimal script, and encoded at 29.97fps with KVCDx3 (528x480) with CQ=55 ;). http://www.kvcd.net/e80.mpg

-kwag

hi Kwag..

What's YOUR movie channel quality like down there ??

I have found that watching some PPV channels (when they show the first
5 minutes free (and black bar at bottom for phone no)) for every Movie
that is shown (DirecTV offers this, as a teaser) Most Movies are in pretty
good quality, but as an example of my RaNt, that new Movie, "Ring" is all
"chizeled" and low bitrated. Well, it WAS a darkly lit scene from what I
gathered during the first 5 minutes in that room they were sitting in.

Hay, while I'm at it, have YOU noticed that the Movie "The Panic Room" is
ONLY on Sbit disks ?? hehe... That movie seems to be of a dark nature.
I W8ONDER why its only on Sbit. Also, I have it on VHS, and it's ONLY in
WideScreen 1.78.1 AR (AFAIK) I haven't seen it yet, but I noticed
that on the VHS package, there is NO notice of "Digitally Record" or
"Digitally Mastered" on it. So, its definately gonna be poorer quality than
if done "Digitally" 8O :!:

:idea: Maybe I'll do some playing around today w/ this movie and my ADVC-100

Well, see ya later. Just checking out your sample. D/L'ing it now.
-vhelp

I'm on C-Band with a 4DTV receiver. If the satellite signal is strong ( >88% ), the analog channels are solid and clear. The HBO digitals are crap :!:, but then again, it might be my receiver because it's the first generation of 4DTV receivers.
So I get better captures from the analog channels :roll:

-kwag

Replay PVR Or Build a PVR?
 

I picked up a Replay 3020 at the local junk store for $13 bucks. Of course it didn't work. So I did a little research... I pulled the hardrive out of the unit. It was a Quantum fireball 20 gig. I slaved it into my PC. Then I Used this patch program I found. Patched it. and it works now (for over a month) It's plugged into the phone line and downloads the channel guide every night. This is an older replay... No way to hook it up to a LAN. But it got me thinking. What if I just built a computer that could do the same thing? (Minus the downloaded channel guide) And burned KVCDs of all my favorite shows? What would be the ultimate computer for this? Pretend price is no object. Let me know what you think.

Hi videodrome,

If I was to do that, I would use Linux :!:
I believe there is a very good PVR project that runs under Linux, and supports the WinTV PVR-250.
I just can't trust Win(XP,2000,9x,ME) for long uptimes. Imagine, you're recording your favorite show, and all of a sudden your machine freezes :lol:
Not so with Linux ( Or any other U*IX ;) )
Check sourceforge.net

-kwag