arg! i wish i'd bought the Z500HD now! i managed to get hold of a 500HD a few weeks ago, and i've never seen anything designed like that. It looks like a skateboard gone wrong! At least it has a display though, i just hope it outputs useful information to someone sighted. They should've stuck to a conventional design. other manufacturers have and its not been a problem for them. anyone fancy swapping for a Z500HD? hahahaha just asking. i can't return this as it was a private sale between individuals and not from a company. ah well, at least the thing works and records, i haven't experienced much stuttering since i replaced the hard drive though i haven't tried recording 1 channel, watching another, and using speech yet. As someone said, these were built not with premium quality in mind but with components which may possibly have been classed as low grade, the hitachi hard drives for a start! rant over...
all the best, Mo. On 12/07/2012 21:33, John Land wrote:
The best of luck Ibrahim, unlike the Humax pvr's, these units have been put together with built-in obsolescence in mind; and not for those of us who take so much time and trouble in getting things right and valuing the few products that we can use straight out of the box! the speach is a bit hesitant on both of my boxes, so I'll be interested to know how you get on. I'm sure you know, as well as I do, not to expect too much on a long-term basis.Good Luck, John----- Original Message ----- From: "Ibrahim Gucukoglu" <ibrahim_gucukoglu@xxxxxxxx>To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 1:59 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: TVonics - Amy On Strike!Hi John.I've been doing some research on the two models as I've had a lot of confusing input on this list thanks to well meaning but ill informed individuals. The DTR-Z500HD is in fact a newer model than the DTR-500HD and is clad in an aluminium casing which is better for heat dissipation as well as being a more conventional design. I'll now have to dispose of or return this DTR-500HD which I ordered, that shouldn't be too much trouble and the DTR-Z500HD is on its way to me as we speak from Richer Sounds EBay Outlet.All the best, Ibrahim. -----Original Message----- From: John Land Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 11:45 AM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: TVonics - Amy On Strike!Ibrahim, it Is identical to it's twin. The only difference is that there isno display on the front. However, you need to bare in mind a couple ofcaviats. This machine was built to a price; and the components are not thehighest grade. More importantly, there is no internal fan in this unit, venting is totally inadequate and the plastic case doesn't act as a heatsink. If you are working the drive hard, (by recording two hd progs whilelistening to a third off the drive), the machine runs far hotter than itshould, thus creating potential instability for the hard drive. Fitting a larger drive could well exacerbate the problem; the larger, faster and moreefficient the drive, the more heat needs to be discipated. John----- Original Message ----- From: "Ibrahim Gucukoglu" <ibrahim_gucukoglu@xxxxxxxx>To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 11:15 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: TVonics - Amy On Strike!Hi Bill.I decided to play it safe and save the anxiety of having to return yet another product as faulty or unsuitable. I was sure that the DTR-Z500HD was practically identical to its twin, however a confusing message and my bargain hunting skills sniffed out the DTR-500HD for £126.95 so in all, I'm happy as I'm getting the same box as sold by RNIB and making an excellent saving of over £55.All the best, Ibrahim. -----Original Message----- From: Bill Chilcott Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 5:20 PM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: TVonics - Amy On Strike! Hi Ibrahim.Just to let you know that I have purchased the DTRZ500HD tvonics box from the Internet for £100,and I'm very pleased with it. It is nice and small and you can get to all the sockets very easily as they are spaced out better than the DTR 500HD. For example, on the DTR 500HD, if you have to use the scart socket it is practically impossible to use the USB socket. And the oneon the right hand side, you can only use if you prop the box up.I have had dealings with Bunwells and both Ian and Denise are very helpful indeed. There is a company called Electronic World in Wembley who at the moment have the DTRZ 500HD in stock for £100 but you have to collect it.Their phone number is as follows. 0845 539 9993.Someone on the list said that it does not have an HDMI socket. I can assureyou that the one I have does. If you or anyone would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact me. Kind Regards, Bill. -----Original Message-----From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf OfIbrahim Gucukoglu Sent: 09 July 2012 17:34 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: TVonics - Amy On Strike! Hi Yusuf.While this unit is going back to the RNIB, there is an alternative modelwhich might suit me better, that is to say theDTR-Z500HD which does also have the speech functions as an option. I've been in touch with a company called Bunwells who not only know about thecapabilities of these TVonics recorders with regards to accessibility,they'll also set up the units with speech ready for the customer and the price is some £50 cheaper than the RNIB. I've been told that Bunwells willbe expecting stock of theDTR-Z500HD within the week so I might buy one from them instead once I'vereturned this faulty unit. All the best, Ibrahim. -----Original Message----- From: Yusuf Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 12:50 PM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: TVonics - Amy On Strike! Ibrahim, I'm not going to try and convince you not to send your TVonics back to the RNIB, that's obviously your choice. All I can say is that mine has behaved itself very well since I bought it a couple of months ago. I've had upwards of 12 pages worth of recordings and I don't thinkI've had to do a reset at all. Admittedly I've had to turn it off and on a couple of times due to speech issues. It sounds like yours is a faultyunit. Yusuf On 09/07/2012 09:45, Ibrahim Gucukoglu wrote:Hi Carol.After my box crashed on me on no less than 4 occasions this morning, notto mention giving me hell with the speech with its stuttering and jittering, I'm sending this back to the RNIB for a full refund. I cant trust the box to record anything without worrying about the potential for hard drive failure, and that's not my idea of spending the better part of 200 quid so goodbye TVonics, it was nice knowing you. All the best, Ibrahim. -----Original Message----- From: Carol Pearson Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 9:30 AM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: TVonics - Amy On Strike! Ugh! I didn't like reading that as the thought of paying out for a new hard drive for this very new item doesn't appeal.I suppose there's no way of testing the drive in the TVonics either, isthere? I haven't had other problems and recordings have all been fine. Oh, what to do??? RNIB staff: Have you any thoughts here, please? Carol P ---- Original Message ---- From: "Mobeen Iqbal" <mobeeniqbal@xxxxxxxxx> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2012 1:04 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: TVonics - Amy On Strike!Hello Carol. This is probably due to a failing hard drive. The hard drives used in these machines were cheap hitachi drives, i've already had one behaving strangely. My box wouldn't offer me the option to format or to record. I have replaced the hard drive in the unit with a better drive made by seagate, formatted it and have had no further problems, no crashes, etc. Because the voice runs from the hard drive, if there are any errors on the drive or if its failing, it can cause you to experience crashes/freezing. I can replace the drive for you if you wish, please contact me off list and we can go from there. I'd recommend it to be honest, because if you do a lot of recording and the drive fails it would've been pointless you recording all those tv shows to watch later! all the best, Mo. On 07/07/2012 12:52, Carol Pearson wrote:Hi all, We have a fairly regular saying at home which is "Amy's on strike". This simply means that she fails to speak, often after booting up, when we first go to use her. Of course, we find ways round, sometimes needing to reboot the box again; but I wonder if anyone else is finding this problem and if you have a better solution than a bit of hit and miss and, finally, if you've concluded what's going on and why! 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