Evesham iplayer - the Freeview PVR you've dreamt about!

[Bob Crabtree]

lucien, thanks - this is the URL - http://www.netgem.com/netbox/pvr/

I'm looking at the current version of software on the iplayer I hold and it's

4.7.20 - 21-Nov-2006.

My French is very poor, so I need to ask some questions:

* Is 4.7.20 the version that's recently been made available in France?

* What are the known new features of the latest version for the Netbox HD, whatever its version number?


Thanks in anticipation.

Bob

[lucien]

Sory for my English. I try to answer.

The last French update is 4.7.21. But The Netgem Team explain that 4.7.11 to 4.7.20 are update customised for broadband providers. So i think you have the last one.

Here the caracteristics of the 4.7.21 (sory in french)

1) PVR et Timeshifting USB:

. Enregistrement numérique TNT et TNT-HD sur disque dur USB
. Programmations complète des enregistrements
. Relecture des enregistrements, possibilité de naviguer dans la lecture et d'enregistrer des séquences
. Timeshifting : Enregistrement permanent de votre visionnage TV, avec possibilité de naviguer dans le temps et d'archiver des programmes

2) Mediacenter HD

. Activation des fonctions de navigation vidéo
. Optimisation de la navigation dans les grands répertoires
. Activation du 5.1 sur la sortie S/PDIF
. Activation du screen saver dans la lecture audio
. Possibilité de lancer un diaporama photo depuis un répertoire (bouton BLEU masqué)
. Possibilité de lancer une lecture séquentielle des vidéos d'un répertoire (bouton BLEU masqué)
. Possibilité de lancer une lecture audio en screen saver depuis un répertoire (bouton BLEU masqué)
. Possibilité de lancer manuellement le screen saver audio (appui long sur INFO)
. Changement de titre avec haut/bas/gauche/droite en screen saver (sortie du screen saver par toute autre touche)
. Affichage des vignettes photos dans les répertoires
. Affichage des infos de fichiers audio dans les répertoires
. Support de Windows Media Player 11

3) Autres fonctions

. Activation de la chaîne #92 pour gérer les favoris
. Activation de la chaîne #93 pour configurer l'accès à un flux multicast

4) Correctifs et améliorations (liste non exhaustive)

. Correction des problèmes de son (Péritel, sortie Mediacenter HD)
. Correction du grésillement et de la persistence d'images à la mise en veille
. Scan de l'ensemble des chaînes de la TNT payante (nécessite un re-scan)
. Changement des logos dans le popup INFO
. Intégration d'un DIAGNOSTIC / DISQUE DUR
. Fontion PING INTERNET dans DIAGNOSTIC / NETBOX

-----------------------

I put this info if you want to get a USB2 hard drive compatible with the Box
- WESTERN DIGITAL My BOOK 250Go 3"5/USB2.0
- WESTERN DIGITAL My BOOK 80Go 3"5/USB2.0
- LACIE Porsche LaCie 250Go 3"5/USB2.0
- RUE DU COMMERCE 250Go 3"5/USB2.0
- MEMUP Kwest 160Go 3"5/USB2.0
- FREECOM Classic SL 160Go 3"5/USB2.0

Not compatible:
- WESTERN DIGITAL My BOOK xxxGo "dual" USB2.0/FireWire

[daniel_owen_uk]

Interested in H264 playback, so a review that had that format (obviously with varying resolutions and bitrates) would be very helpful

[Bob Crabtree]

Interested in H264 playback, so a review that had that format (obviously with varying resolutions and bitrates) would be very helpful

Are there any specific resolutions and bitrates you'd like to know about?

[daniel_owen_uk]

Say 1280x720 for resolutions (makes sense).

Up to say 20Mb average (maybe a little high but you have to give it a run for its money).

Could you test the audio too, would be nice to see it playing at least 5.1 (I read on an italian site that it will do DTS-HD but I am not sure if you have the sort of equipment to test).

Would be perfect thanks

[lucien]

The french Netbox HD is able to give 5.1 (optical connector)

http: //www .netgem.com/produits_netboxHD.php?

(take out two spaces; not yet permission to post link)

[daniel_owen_uk]

http://www.soft.lt/hardware/default.asp

Would suggest a much more capable audio processor though.

[Bob Crabtree]

Say 1280x720 for resolutions (makes sense).

Up to say 20Mb average (maybe a little high but you have to give it a run for its money).

Could you test the audio too, would be nice to see it playing at least 5.1 (I read on an italian site that it will do DTS-HD but I am not sure if you have the sort of equipment to test).

Would be perfect thanks

Duly noted. I'll try to do this.

[Bob Crabtree]

http://www.soft.lt/hardware/default.asp

Would suggest a much more capable audio processor though.

All too cryptic for me - care to explain in a bit more detail what you mean?

[daniel_owen_uk]

Well the 7.1 is easy enough to explain, basically with a source with 8 channel audio, you would get 8 seperate channels of audio.

DTS-HD is (stolen from wiki)

DTS-HD Master Audio - Previously known as DTS++ and DTS-HD, DTS-HD Master Audio supports a virtually unlimited number of surround sound channels, can downmix to 5.1- and two-channel, and can deliver audio quality at bit rates extending from DTS Digital Surround up to lossless. DTS-HD Master Audio is selected as an optional surround sound format for Blu-ray and HD-DVD. DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD are the only technologies that deliver compressed lossless surround sound for these new disc formats, ensuring the highest quality audio performance available in the new standards. (n.b. DTS Coherent Acoustics coding system has been selected as mandatory audio technology for both the Blu-ray Disc (BD) and High Definition Digital Versatile Disc (HD-DVD) - [2])

I would imagine given this chips ability to play VC1 that sort of audio would be there. But you need an amp with DTS-HD capabilities to test, and this is hexus not avforums

Edit - http://multimedia.fnac.com/multimedi...netbox7600.pdf (slightly more reliable looking site stating the audio capablities)

[agentdav0]

First post for me, so hello to all!

Sent Bob a link by PM with some samples from various broadcasts

mpeg2 1080i50 transport stream with ac3
mpeg2 1080i60 transport stream with ac3
mpeg2 720p60 transport stream with ac3
BBCHD h264 1080i50 transport stream with ac3

If the all play ok, i'm buying a few! How are they for regular firmware updates? Is it a product i can trust to develop fast with good support and quick updates/fixes? PixelMagic have been very very slow with the MB200!

David.

[Bob Crabtree]

David,

Thanks VERY much - downloading now!

Cheers

Bob

First post for me, so hello to all!

Sent Bob a link by PM with some samples from various broadcasts

mpeg2 1080i50 transport stream
mpeg2 1080i60 transport stream
mpeg2 720p transport stream
h264 1080i50 transport stream

If the all play ok, i'm buying a few! How are they for regular firmware updates? Is it a product i can trust to develop fast with good support and quick updates/fixes? PixelMagic have been very very slow with the MB200!

David.

[Noli]

thanks everyone for all the info on this interesting looking product!

I was looking at getting a Panasonic DMR-EX85 which act as a 250Gb HD PVR and a DVD (all types) player and recorder and has DVT tuner included. As a bonus it has an SD card slot, HDMI output and upscales to 1080i (yeah I know that can just be done by TV set too but nice to have the option).

But what is really interesting about the Evesham / Netgem to me is that it can tune in to, output and *record* hi-def. Does anyone one know of other PVR / freeview boxes that are hi-def capable too? Are there any that have DVD players incorporated? Any info most appreciated! Though I understand that such a combination of features may not exist yet...

Noli

[daniel_owen_uk]

Lack of divx & h264 would stop me buying that, although admittedly it's more a network media player I am after rather than a freeview PVR.

[Noli]

me too but it's for my mum and she ain't gonna use divx or h264 - but might tune into hi-def free-view at some point in the future - speaking of which, does anyone know when high def will be broadcast in a significant fashion?

[Cliff203]

Bob, please forgive a new boy to this lark asking silly questions.

Is it possible to stream video from a PC or NAS device while simultaneously recording from air.

Will the ability to connect to USB externals allow direct saving to the external drive.