Visione VE4000

[wiredr]

soon to be released to the nz market , " The Visione VE4000 digital terrestrial receiver.

The VE4000 is a small receiver, only about the size of the DishTV S9000 12v receiver. And the Visione VE4000 is also a 12volt receiver with a plug pack. It will fit straight into a motorhome, caravan or luxury boat for perfect high definition reception with a simple UHF TV aerial.

The VE4000 also has no HDCP function so the high definition outputs via either HDMI or component. This is great for the older HDTVs that only have HD via component or that do not have HDCP built in.

the price is yet to be announced but indications are in the low 300's high 200 range .confirmed at $365 retail 8/7/08

[kiwisteve]

Looks like DTT boxes arriving in big flocks . I wonder how much after sales support we are going to see on all these products ???

[coolvibe]

soon to be released to the nz market , " The Visione VE4000 digital terrestrial receiver.

The VE4000 is a small receiver, only about the size of the DishTV S9000 12v receiver. And the Visione VE4000 is also a 12volt receiver with a plug pack. It will fit straight into a motorhome, caravan or luxury boat for perfect high definition reception with a simple UHF TV aerial.

The VE4000 also has no HDCP function so the high definition outputs via either HDMI or component. This is great for the older HDTVs that only have HD via component or that do not have HDCP built in.

the price is yet to be announced but indications are in the low 300's high 200 range .confirmed at $365 retail 8/7/08

I will post a review shortly basically if you want to record off the composite signal or even watch sd through component, forgret this box with the current firmware.
The importer is currently testing what they belive is a fix for this issue I will keep you posted.

[wiredr]

the middle ware update for the ve4000 is identicle to the extra terrestrial.
they also share the same video chip sti7100.
it also appears that the "draco. ve4000, and the extra terrestrial are all imported by the same company. interestingly boxes in europe with this chip are able to record via usb

[coolvibe]

the middle ware update for the ve4000 is identicle to the extra terrestrial.
they also share the same video chip sti7100.
it also appears that the "draco. ve4000, and the extra terrestrial are all imported by the same company. interestingly boxes in europe with this chip are able to record via usb

here are a couple of shots of the sdk for the 7100 I am sure you will all find it interesting.

[coolvibe]

new firmware already available at this link
http://www.visione-newzealand.co.nz/downloads/
No release notes though files time stamped with date 30/07/2008 sw ver 103
I would wait for the official release notes before upgrading
Dave
This should be the same as already on the box.

[Dimwitt]

Interesting..

Ethernet and dual RS 232 ports via Front Facia ??
Intended for ?

Could be quite a future planned for this box ?..

[coolvibe]

Interesting..

Ethernet and dual RS 232 ports via Front Facia ??
Intended for ?

Could be quite a future planned for this box ?..

Unfortunatly the ve4000 does not have any on the box or the chips on board to support Ethernet.
To quote a friend who is in the buisness.


It's a real shame that there's no good open source set top box projects. Software is basically the #1 failing point for all STBs, all are capable of amazing things if only the software actually implemented everything and worked properly (which it never does).

That's one of the things thats really dissapointing about this stuff - all the SDKs are locked down under "Death NDAs" so no one can ever figure out how to make these things work, even reverse engineering is almost impossible just because what you need to discover is so vast and it pretty much all goes out the window when the next generation of chip turns up.

Most STBs never really get a chance to realise thier full potential as software updates are usually quickly discontinued right before they're tossed in the garbage and replaced with newer models, often with even shittier software on them. HATE it.

so there you have it and I think I agree as well. These boxes all have pvr capabilities. It would seem that time to market is more important than what I would say is eventually essential. What is the point of HD, when you can not record your favorite shows on the box for later, in the same quality as the original content (record the transport stream for later easy by any standard with the hardware on board already).
There is no doubt that the first box that has pvr capabilitis in HD will be the top seller. As long as the user interface is well tested and is easy for the average user to use, something new developers seem to forget.
These boxes need testing by real embeded system test engineers not developers. If the VE4000 had beed tested by me I would not have the list of gripes that I currently have with this box. And this would be a better product for it.

[sesamestreet]

There are already PVR capable boxes on the market that do record the transport stream o_O

[coolvibe]

There are already PVR capable boxes on the market that do record the transport stream o_O
Is that officially available in NZ, and most of all does it work correctly on playback. The Zinwell is almost there but the HK firmware is not intended for NZ. So why should the HK vendors make it compatible with NZ.
The only box I have seen is the sky HD PVR box and that is a pile according to the reviews. I have seen no dtt pvr stb's in any of the main electrical stores. In fact there does not seem to be very much at all that will record HDMI that I have seen. So the best bet is a stb solution just tell me which one that works with no hdcp component out. Then I can send this ve4000 back.

[kilaru]

Is that officially available in NZ, and most of all does it work correctly on playback. The Zinwell is almost there but the HK firmware is not intended for NZ. So why should the HK vendors make it compatible with NZ.
The only box I have seen is the sky HD PVR box and that is a pile according to the reviews. I have seen no dtt pvr stb's in any of the main electrical stores. In fact there does not seem to be very much at all that will record HDMI that I have seen. So the best bet is a stb solution just tell me which one that works with no hdcp component out. Then I can send this ve4000 back.


Check the Vantage HD6000T/NZ. It is PVR capable and works. I have one and it is an awesome box. Records HD and playback is no problem. You can get it from DTV Solutions.
Link: http://www.dtvs.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=22&products_id=64

It is not an acredited box so you won't find it at major retail stores.

[wiredr]

It is PVR capable and works. I have one and it is an awesome box. Records HD and playback is no problem.

questions ? can the recorded files on the usb connected hard drive be opened by another media player. if so which ones work with the recorded files.
how much data is written for 1 hour of recording. ?

[kilaru]

It is PVR capable and works. I have one and it is an awesome box. Records HD and playback is no problem.

questions ? can the recorded files on the usb connected hard drive be opened by another media player. if so which ones work with the recorded files.
how much data is written for 1 hour of recording. ?

DVBViewer will playback the files. Files are recorded in "trp" format, raw transport stream with only the selected channel. There is no conversion. There is one 40min file I have about 1.6Gb. This is really a HD PVR box. Haven't seen anything that has worked like this one. I found it hard to believe at first.

Cheers

[wiredr]

HI kILARU, with DVBviewer the files are stored as *.ts files , a 1hour HDD program runs to about 4.3gb .

[ahnz]

HI kILARU, with DVBviewer the files are stored as *.ts files , a 1hour HDD program runs to about 4.3gb .

Hi,

Actually DVBViewer will play back the file produced by the Vantage. It has been tested.

Also, file size will depend on the bitrates which are not constant for all programming. I have just done a test and currently the Vantage is producing a 76Mb file for one minute recording of TVOne HD which works to around 4560Mb per hour base on the one minute recording.

AH

[coolvibe]

Thanks for the info what is the max size of usb drive. I am thinking 320 gig+ would be nice.

This vantage box does not appear to support EPG. Not much good for a nice easy one touch record function.

[ahnz]

Thanks for the info what is the max size of usb drive. I am thinking 320 gig+ would be nice.

This vantage box does not appear to support EPG. Not much good for a nice easy one touch record function.

We have used the WD 320Gb External USB drive for testing. It works OK.
As for EPG, one touch recording is not possible as Freeview only transmits Now & Next via the EIT schedule and the MHEG-5 EPG application does not support one touch recording yet. There was no point releasing a MHEG-5 box with PVR functionality as it would not have the recording capability via the EPG application now. The receiver has timer functions so manual scheduling will allow recording similar to a VCR or HDD recorder, and, you can do HD with this one.

AH

[coolvibe]

The receiver has timer functions so manual scheduling will allow recording similar to a VCR or HDD recorder, and, you can do HD with this one.

AH
Thanks for the input. Does record feature do weekly and record over the same file like the panasonic hdd pvr. I find this feature really good so I don't have to keep doing housekeeping on the HDD. 320 gig sounds like a v good start. I have recorded ts streams on my pc and if you can play the ts stream from the vanguard using dvbviewer that means powerdvd 8 will also work.
another question what is the quality like through composite. or s-video is it down scaled correclty no double line artifacts. I need to also record to my old panasonic or send video to my none HD tvs.
finally what is the chipset.

1) It has a weekly record option. It has an option to delete older
files. Not necessarily the same one every week.

2) The manufacturer has not come back to us on the maximum size.
Probably as large as your USB drive is. At present NTFS is not
supported.

3) Composite quality is good.

4) It uses the ST chipset.AH
Thanks for the prompt response

continue on new Vantage thread.

http://www.dtvforum.co.nz/forum/showthread.php?t=640

[coolvibe]

As for EPG, one touch recording is not possible as Freeview only transmits Now & Next via the EIT schedule and the MHEG-5 EPG application does not support one touch recording yet.
AH

I have tested the EPG on the VE4000. It supports now next and you can go to the next day, I have not tested how far in advance you can go yet but it is over 2 days. It is slow to load the first time over 10 seconds (this is more a software issue it should be in the background at all times for responsiveness), It is pretty unresponsive once loaded due to software not reading in enough data from the stream and having to wait for the data to come in on the stream again when you change channels or day.
Teletext reads and stores the data so is very fast and responsive.
Time to market has its cost it would seem EPG in the case of the HD6000T.
And as for the VE4000 it is PVR functionality. I know which I would rather have, PVR. However I know that the VE4000 is being actively supported for NZ and should have PVR capabilities next year provided by the box manufacturer for NZ.
Dave
PS they could be using teletext data to get the schedules rather than the stream however it works so who cares how its done.

[sesamestreet]

I think he is referring to the MHEG-5 EPG not supporting one touch recording as of yet. So any receiver that claims to have PVR functionality coming will not be able to use 1 touch recording as you can with DVB-S PVR's.

The only way this will be possible is when the MHEG-5 EPG application is re-written to support 1 touch recording.

[coolvibe]

The only way this will be possible is when the MHEG-5 EPG application is re-written to support 1 touch recording.
As a developer, I find the fact that the application cannot support a calback to give the start and end times of a program a bit lame. I know it is not the same as "real program time recording" if the program is rescheduled but it is a start and not a big deal to implement.

[jabz]

I have tested the EPG on the VE4000. It supports now next and you can go to the next day, I have not tested how far in advance you can go yet but it is over 2 days. It is slow to load the first time over 10 seconds (this is more a software issue it should be in the background at all times for responsiveness), It is pretty unresponsive once loaded due to software not reading in enough data from the stream and having to wait for the data to come in on the stream again when you change channels or day.
Teletext reads and stores the data so is very fast and responsive.
Time to market has its cost it would seem EPG in the case of the HD6000T.
And as for the VE4000 it is PVR functionality. I know which I would rather have, PVR. However I know that the VE4000 is being actively supported for NZ and should have PVR capabilities next year provided by the box manufacturer for NZ.
Dave
PS they could be using teletext data to get the schedules rather than the stream however it works so who cares how its done.

Are you saying the Visione VE4000 has an EPG that is more than just a now and next display? Are you also saying the Visione VE400 can record like a PVR to an external harddrive?

[coolvibe]

Are you saying the Visione VE4000 has an EPG that is more than just a now and next display? Are you also saying the Visione VE400o can record like a PVR to an external harddrive?

Yes on both counts it does display epg for next day. It can record to usb with the correct firmware (not yet available). This is I belive in the development stages as soon as it is available it will be placed no doubt on the visione webite. Firmware udates are coming through so I expect this box to be a good seller once the initial issues are fixed. It does affect the prime terestrial signal as does the zinwell box in the christchurch area where the signal is not strong. To remove all artifacts you have to remove the power to the box. I just have issues with the composite output at present.

[satelliteman]

yes, market is getting flooded...with OEM's of differring HD terrestrial boxes..
but only the BESt will survive.
The E.T box, or extra terrestrial has nothing to do with Drako units , except quality is very comparable.They are not from same factory...Vision 12v is though...E.T appears more stable than visione, as it has a built in p/supply..
One should steer clear of sommetts...bad...units, have tested, and heard a rumor they freeze up after two days...
units called triones, yess, digitnet, teac,JCMathew, are reportedly all cheap OEM's from coship...also with numerous headaches and unstable software, as wee have heard from differring sources.Sommet and Haute are from same factory...too.!!

We know that the E.T will have software avail soon off website for PVR upgrade, using Freeviews new mheg5 stream data...etc...
website for E.T I think is
www.freeviewnz.com
if anyone needs any help with any pointers