Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Well, I'm impressed.

Yesterday I was worried about the engineers turning up. Well, they woke me up :shocked:, they turned up at 8.20 (my place is nearby the NTL Headend for Coventry) and they even phoned me to get my lazy **** outta bed. :)

I made the engineers the hot cups of tea they both deserved :tu:. Both of them are looking forward to the Virgin rebranding, one of them had a Virgin Wooly Hat on.

I was a bit worried when the picture from the TV Drive kept dropping out (I thought I had been given a box with a faulty HDMI connection) but a reboot fixed that.

As for the TVDrive itself, its a LOT faster then my Pace Box (which now has a new home in the bedroom). Browsing through the 8 day guide is great - program data appears instantly, I've yet to see the dreaded 'Searching....'. I've set up a few series records so I'll see how it copes with those.

I've had a few lockups, where the TV Drive appears to have a snooze before deciding to process commands from the remote control. This should be first priority for a code fix IMO.

The favorites system is different - you can select your most loved channels but you CAN'T select what order they appear in. This is no big deal however, since you now get a LOT more program data, a LOT faster then before. Of course, being able to record a program is the icing on the cake.

On Demand of course, is totally shagged for TV Drive users in Coventry (only 5 other people have Tv Drive in this area), so all VOD content and most of the help videos are MIA. VOD still works however, on the good old Pace box.

HD content is limited of course to BBC HD. It looks good, bloody good at times, but I'm convinced that my Toshiba can do better so I'll be messing around with the picture settings later.

All in all, a nice piece of hardware to own. Frankly, its worth having just for the extended, turbo-charged EPG. Now all we need are a few code fixes, VOD switched on and of course, those Sky HD Channels. :tu:

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Hello Chris

Sounds promising from your comments

Due for my TVD install on 12th January I'm have a Toshiba 27" HD TV any tips for settings it up or is it all done from the STB?

One other thing did the engineers do the HD setup for you as I've booked it for them to do it for me

Cheers

Bayonet

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Hi Bayonet,

I have a Toshiba 32" WLT 66 HD TV. I'm still messing around with picture settings on the telly to be honest, but once you have the TV Drive, you'll get a few display options for HDMI, including: 720, 1080, 720 wide and 1080 wide. I find 720 to be best for most telly (including football), and the TV Drive/Tosh will automatically switch between 4x3 and 16x9 pictures when you change channels (I have the 'Wide' picture format set on the Tosh).

The Engineers should bring a HDMI lead for you and they did most of the setup for me: they set up the 720 HDMI mode; Gave me a quick demo of the recording features, and showed me the wonders of BBC HD.

At the moment, I've turned off the 'MPEG NR' picture option on the Tosh since, IMO, the picture is a little better and the TV Drive goes a fair job of upscaling content to 720.

One thing to be aware of is that, according to the enginners, when the TV Drive displays error messages, it only displays it via the SCART output, so if the TV Drive starts to get seriously wacky, make sure you have the SCART and HDMI connected leads connected (I've been brave at the moment and have disconnected the scart so I can use it for my DVD player).

^^^ Hope that helps. :)


Following on from my review:

>>> I've encountered the 'dropped frames after watching recorded content' bug (there's a thread about this at Digital Spy). NTL need to fix this.

>>> The 'delayed response from remote control' bug is annoying and happens at random times during the day. NTL need to fix this too.

>>> There's a nice 'record by category' feature which allows you to select a list of programme types - for example, you can get a list of all football-related programs that are on today. You can then set up a reminder or set a program to record. Its a nice feature but it takes a good while for the TV Drive to get the list.

>>> The Parental Control is just....well, annoying (for me :p:), sometimes you're asked to enter your Parental Control PIN before you can watch recorded content which is rated 12, 15, 18 etc - there's no way to completely turn Parental Control off.

>>> There's a bug, well, 'feature' with the mini-guide - in settings, you can specify how long the mini-guide displays for, before it disappears. But the mini-guide will only remove itself from the screen when you DON'T press the left or right buttons to select mini-guide info for another channel.

>>> I recorded and watched 'The Unit' last night, it played back OK apart from the odd moment where the sound dropped out.

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Excellent

Thanks for the tips Chris I'll probably print this off and have it as a reference while I work my way through my new toy in a couple of weeks.

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Just hope they turn up for your install;) ,

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Hope your install goes well - with any luck, VOD will be working on your box when you get it. :)

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

As usual 'in theory' NTL have a good product but 'in reality' we're beta testing it while paying them to do so. Hope Virgin are better than the shoddy way NTL run their company!

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Its still going to be run by the same people they arejust rebranding.

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

VOD is working ok in Swansea anyone got any photos of the TV drive itself and sizes HxWxD

I read somewhere it's bigger than the old Samsung STB just wanted to make sure it fits in my video unit

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Pictures and specs of TVDrive here: http://www.sciatl.com/customers/Source/7004921.pdf

It's 400mm x 285mm x 83mm. You'll also need to leave extra room round it for ventilation.

That'll be understatement, then :)

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Benn using my TV drive for nearly a week now. The only real complaint I have is the remote control one. This happend once when I was fast forwarding a recorded program at 32x speed. By the time the remote commands were working again, I had fast forwarded all the way throgh the recording. I had to rewind again.

High def is great on my Samsung LCD, with all the films on BBC1 also showing on BBCHD at the same time.

If they fix the remote bug, I will be totally happy (unless something els goes wrong)

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Thanks chaps looking forward to the install now

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Review update: Series links are working well (or maybe I'm just lucky). I have 6 series links and so far, its recorded everything I've asked it to. Sometimes I think its screwed up, before I realise that series link only records new episodes :tu:

Sometimes when re-ordering the priority list of series links it appears to lock up - its just says 'loading data, please wait' (or something like that), but pressing TV fixes it and it DOES actually save your priority settings.

I forgot to mention how quiet this thing is - I was worried when I read past reviews, but my TV Drive is around 5" away and its as quiet as a mouse. I wouldn't advise putting one in a closed cabinet - keep it well ventilated.

All recordings I've made since The Unit have been fine - no drop outs of sound.

IMO, the 'dropped frames' bug only appears after watching recorded content which was recorded when 2 tuners were in use. Other stuff I've recorded was only using the 1 tuner (AFAIK), and watching live content after watching those recordings has been fine, no dropped frames.

The only annoying thing really is the 'slow response to remote control bug' - as I type this, my TV Drive has been ignoring me for about 5 minutes now (maybe it knows I'm typing about it. :p: .....bugger it - its locked up - time for a reset)

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Getting my TVDrive installed on Thursday in Coventry. So thanks for the heads up on it being available Chris :)

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

My mate has had his installed and is impressed just sticks a bit sometimes between channels but so far he's pleased

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Had my install today very impressed if I wanted a free view box lol Im not even authorised to watch channel 5. None of my family pack channels are viewable the box has had 2 hits. The installer said there was a problem with the order and box not matching but called his gaffer to be told he will hit the box manually and it will be ok to run in 30 mins. Is this just the lets escape blag they use???? anyway called cs he hit box again to no avail I asked if it could be the box id or whatever not matching he said maybe but you could just imagine him shrugging his shoulders lol . Got a tech out tomorrow dont think that will help as I think its an account problem but ill see. Good job I kept sky + as a backup for when NTL ballsed it up ;)

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

I've always had problems. Every install of my STB (first one, replacement to first one, samsung) ballsed up like yours. Had to call back 2 or more times to get the channels added. Its even happened with package changes too.

Just have to persevere mate.

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

I aint paying till its working :)

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

:mad: The system that programs the boxes is up and down like a yoyo .Seen boxes put in days ago still not take the hit .A dummey box swap normally cures the problem but faults do not have this tool so we have been told only despatch does.If the system is working ok i have seen them hit in 5 mins but the contractors just like to do a runner :mad:

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

My installer told me that the server that matches cards to boxes was down and that it would kick back in sometime that day. In fairness to him, he kept in touch on his mobile to keep tabs on the status and chased it up when he felt it was taking too long.

I take it then that some installers work for ntl and some are sub-contractors?

Cheers

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

so tomorrow when the techs here and he hits a brick wall what do I tell him he needs to do ;) lol

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

If it is a fault tech hopefully he would of done a dummey box swap before he turns up .If the box has not got its package on i would then check the hit transactions by calling despatch to see if the hits have failed and why they have failed.A number of boxes have not been put on the system properly a batch of samsungs have had this problem and some tvdrive boxes.It is down to the tech that comes round some are quite clued up on the problems .As i said in my other post the system is up and down at the moment and some times the delay can be upto 1 hour we get updates all day telling us what the delay is:mad:

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Thanks for the info :)

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Zingle, I might be able to get this sorted tonight without an engineer visit, but I'll need quite a lot of information.

If you want, drop me a PM with:
Your account number,
Full name and address on the account,
Smartcard number, and
TVDrive MAC address

You can find the last two by going into Home, then Setup & Diagnostics, then Diagnostics.

One of the CF team can confirm I'm a member of ntl:Telewest staff, and I'd recommend you await their confirmation before sending your details to anyone. :)

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

I know your cool mate pm on its way

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

All appears sorted now big up to Quadplay for his help :)

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

hi
i had my tvdrive installed on tuesday and after adjusting the settings i.e hdmi output to 720wide the bbchd was brill.
i am a bit ****ed though as only bbchd is availible so it seems in the cardiff area can anybody confirm this as i have been on the phone to ntl for a hour and the girl knew nothing about the services they offer
i did not get a manual with the set and the on demand does not work. or is that not availible as well.
does this mean that i have extra costs just to get one hd channel if i had know that i would have gone with sky.
i have also e-mailed ntl 6 times to enquire about the hd services they have in my area but they have not the decency to answer my e-mails.
as you can tell a very angry
steve

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Steve

Only BBC HD at the moment...sorry.......poor I know. Theres always on-demand problems with the TVDrive, I think it's totally gubbed at the moment.

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

I have been told buy some of the guys i was working with at one of the head ends the other day that a new firmware version which will have the virgin media guide EPG and ondemand working will go live with 2 weeks as the want it on all cable receivers before the 14th of feb 2007

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

The On Demand issues aren't related to the Virgin-branded EPG. We hope to have those fixed within a couple of weeks.

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Hi quadplay is it right that VOD and Email on the TV Drive in the stafford area is not working yet?
If I go in to VOD i get a message saying its not availble and to try later.
If I go in to set up an email account I am told I do not entitled to use this service.
Spoke to CS they say its because its not released to my area yet.

Thanks
Andy

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

VoD is broken, but Email should work. Sounds like your account hasn't been provisioned for email. What's the exact error you get?

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Hi every time I try to set up an email account it tells me this subscriber is not entitled to use this service.
I get this on my TV Drive box and on my Samsung box which is downstairs.
CS tell me it is ticked on the Samsung box but not on the TV Drive box.
It seems like my account is messed up.
Thanks

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Call Faults on 151 from an ntl phone - you need your Interactive account refreshed and the entitlements re-sent.

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Will do mate but to be honest I am sick of calling them as they keep on saying its all ok at their end and that I will have to wait.

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Whereabouts in the country are you?

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

I live in Rugeley Satffs and as far as I know I am on the Satfford area

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

OK, if you'd like to drop me a PM with your account number, full name and address and date of birth (for security purposes), I'll take a look into this for you.

One of the CF team can confirm I'm a member of ntl:Telewest staff, and I'd recommend you await their confirmation before sending details to any poster.

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

TV Drive review update! :)

Came across an odd....'feature' last night after having the TV Drive for just under 2 weeks.

I was playing back a recording of NCIS and a reminder (which I had previously set) popped up for Battlestar Galactica (frakking awesome show BTW) on Sky Two. The TV Drive switched itself over to Sky Two - but the display on the front of the box continued to count upwards, as if I was still playing back the NCIS recording. I couldn't get the box outta its 'playback coma' and I had to reset it.

Speaking of NCIS - why is the series link (for Season 3 on Five) saying "One of Three"? There's 22 episodes in Season 3, shouldn't TV Drive be reporting this series link as "Ongoing" or even "One of 22"?? Meh, I'm nitpicking really, Series links aren't actually accurate on Sky+ either.

The 'dropped frames after using 2 tuners' bug seems to have gone! :shocked:, so I'm chuffed. No failed recordings so far; No resurrected series links from the dead (as some users have suffered); Deleted recordings stay deleted; The 'Copy to DVD' feature works for me ....the only thing which needs sorting out really is - you guessed it - the constant lockups, the Return of the VOD :tu:, and charging me the correct amount on the bill next month (please!).

Of course, knowing my luck the TV Drive will probably blow up later and I'll be moaning about it on here :p: but for right now, I'm very happy...and losing sleep thanks to watching VOD off the good old Pace box in the bedroom. Thank you, NTL - thank you for denying me sleep!!! :mad::p:

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Thanks
Quadplay your a star email now working on both boxes.
I wish all NTL staff knew as much as you.
Thanks again
Andy.

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Got to agree with that, it's the only thing driving me round the bend. Oh, that and the time it takes to view shows by category... I did a search for sitcoms, sat waiting for a couple of minutes, gave up and went to browse the forums. When I got back, after all the wait, it only listed shows on ABC1 and Paramount!

The lockups arn't doing the marketting any good either. Friends keep telling to go back to the old system because, "this new stuff is crap". :( I really think it's one thing that should have been fixed in a closed beta, before any rollout. However, it does appear to have been better the last couple of days?

The good news is that TVD managed to survive my two week holiday and recorded everything it should. The old TiVo also managed to control the live tuner nicely also for the few shows I set to record remotely. Hurrar!

It is a good system and does what it's meant to, but there are definately improvements which could be made to the speed and ease of use for programme searching.


A.

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Well Chris and all on here had the TVD fitted today

Engineer turned up a day early to witness the present Mrs Bayonet in not the best of moods due to severe dose of flu. That advert with the guy with chillies on his head and under his nose? well my missus actually wears them. So she sends him packing tried to contact CS but as it's a staff account can't touch it.

Anyway he turns up again this afternoon (with the wrong STB the SAMSUNG) comes back with correct STB installs it but didn't install the HDMI lead (although he did provide one) gave a quick run through and said the hit should come down in 2 hours. Nodded knowingly and he left. Had to go out for half an hour and when I got back number one son had set up the HDMI and everything was working luvvly jubbly. BBC HD on channel 108 is very good changed settings to 1080 but may change back to 720 as Chris said for the rugby or footy.

Recorded Deal or No Deal for Mrs B and very impressed with how easy it is. There is a bit of a delay when going through channels not that noticable but buying the HDTV seems now to have paid off. Couple of niggles I just realised no instructions with the TVD, engineer gave me the ntl book with PACE and SAMSUNG STBs but nothing about the TVD might need feeding back. I know most of the instructions are on screen but it may be a bit confusing to some people and I did check in the box the engineer left.

Hope the software updates improve the little things thanks to all on here for their help and advice Chris has my vote for most helpful post of the month

Cheers mate

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

There is a booklet for the TVDrive, came in the box with mine and had the card stuck on the front.

Follows the rounded rectangle design of the WhyCable? advertising. It doesn't half state the obvious though :D

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

can anyone tell me if only bbhd is availible on ntl tvdrive in south wales cardiff area.
not even the on demand is working
when are more hd channels coming on line????
anyone help
ta
steve

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

There is no VOD in the Cardiff area at present.

BBC HD Trial is the only channel avaliable at the current time. It is not know if or when other channels will launch on the HD service.

You should just take advantage of the clear HDMI upscaled picture, 3 tuners and 80 hours of storage space until more is known :)

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Your welcome. :)

Thanks to TV Drive, I'm able to watch tonight's footy while recording all new episodes of Stargate SG-1 AND Jericho. I'm beginning to wonder how on earth I managed without it until now.

The response to the remote is now near instant for me (as of 2 weeks ago) and for some other people, hopefully it will speed up for you in the very near future.

Apart from the 'mini-series' issue I raised in another thread, the only odd thing my box has done recently is to reboot itself twice this week while I was out at work.

Still no VOD of course, but having 3 tuners is the next best thing. :tu:

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

No nothing on mine swissie will have to make a call have an engineers mobile will check if he can get one for me

---------- Post added at 20:52 ---------- Previous post was at 20:37 ----------

Yes I'm recording the 2nd episode of Coronation St for Mrs B while I watch one of those alledged rugby sides from across the border try to beat our Gallic cousins Agen and making a good go of it too.

I used to get a lot of what I can only describe as smearing on our old Samsung STB but this seems to have stopped on the TVD

Re: Yet another TV Drive Review
 

Hi lads and lasses

Well here's an update on my TVDrive that's been installed for about a month now

For:-

Quality it's far better than the old PACE and Samsungs
HD I've put this in this part because it is better
TV guide quicker
TVdrive recording beats my video any day
Can control the sound from the STB remote found my set instantly
Can record TVD content to DVD or VCR

Against

The box does do some strange things at times it's slow guide freezes doesn't record what it should but I suppose when the software updates these glitches will be sorted out

The sleep feature have to start the box by clicking ok when I put my TV on first thing (bit picky I know but so what)

Limited HD content come on Richard sort it out with Murdoch althtough I see Discovery HD may be coming

The fact I can now record things to the TV drive means I don't get a look in now as my wife and daughter have found how to use it and are recording stuff like there's no tomorrow

No Golf Channel as on Sky

Unable to use favorites as the old STB where you set the faves and it would put all the unsuscribed content to the bottom of the pile Favorites isn't too bad though

And finally Chris Howell one for you

How can I hear the TV channels on my video but can't view the channels?

Is it because I'm connected on a HDMI cable or is my setup to the VCR wrong?