Chuck,
We use two DVRs that are in boxes provided by our local fiber optic
provider. We use them to time shift programs that are broadcast on the
cable networks, and to save favorites for future viewing.
The problems we have experienced have all involved the hard drives that
are installed in the boxes. They do not seem to be as reliable as my
computer hard drives. My wife lost about 25 hours of recorded programs
when I had to get a new drive installed a couple of weeks ago. No cost
to me, but a real nuisance.
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
On 12/6/2013 3:28 PM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
> Thanks again for even more comments and good suggestions but I've
> noticed that no one has even mentioned a DVR. Is there a reason?
>
> Chuck Norcutt
>
>
> On 12/5/2013 7:20 PM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
>> Thanks all for your comments. It seems I should follow Moose's advice
>> and give the Panasonic Blu-Ray player a try. After looking through the
>> PDF manual for the device it appears that the interface/menu the Blu-Ray
>> player presents may be the same as the Panasonic TV. I'm not clear
>> about that since it's all a bit cryptic but there's an unlabeled diagram
>> that looks a bit like the interface the TV set provides.
>>
>> My problem with the Panasonic Blu-Ray player is that the thing is worse
>> than an early Windows computer for locking up. Press some buttons in
>> the wrong sequence and it may go catatonic. Of course, there's no
>> on/off switch that is not controlled by the catatonic software so it
>> requires dropping the power to wake it up. It should be easy enough to
>> move the network cable to give it a try. Maybe I can even download a
>> firmware update. Not likely I think but it sure could use one.
>>
>> Chuck Norcutt
>>
>>
>> On 12/5/2013 5:24 PM, Moose wrote:
>>> On 12/5/2013 1:03 PM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
>>>> I've recently subscribed to NetFlix and Amazon streaming video services
>>>> and loving it. ...
>>>>
>>>> But when I go to Florida I'll still have an HDTV set to use and a router
>>>> not far away but the TV there has no built-in streaming capability.
>>>> What external device do I need to buy to keep NetFlix and Amazon coming
>>>> in?
>>> My sons say AppleTV. Certainly it works well at one son's house
>>>
>>>> I think the Panasonic Blu-Ray player I have will do that in some
>>>> fashion or other but that seems an odd way to receive video.
>>> You make the old fart mistake of thinking of it as a disc player. It's a
>>> computer designed to acquire video and send it
>>> to a TV. Why should it matter whether it reads it from a disc or receives
>>> it from WiFi?
>>>
>>> That said, the firmware that does these things varies a lot in capability.
>>> When our DVD player died, I bought a Panny BR
>>> player, It went back in a couple of days for a Samsung. The Panny's ability
>>> to play videos from anything other than a
>>> disc was pitiful. A call to support made it clear they had no plans to
>>> improve it. The Samsung is very good. I do a fair
>>> amount of that.
>>>
>>> For example, a recent TOP mentioned a documentary about photographer Saul
>>> Leiter. I downloaded it from the web and can
>>> watch it on my TV. When our DVR went blooie during a trip and when there's
>>> a power outage, I simply jump on the web and
>>> grab the missed episodes. Even with Netflix and Hulu+, there are a lot of
>>> shows not available, or not available in a
>>> timely fashion.
>>>
>>> OTOH, the Sammy is very slow with Netflix, much slower and clunkier than
>>> the AppleTV. But that's likely mostly poor
>>> firmware for that function. This subject just reminded me that there is now
>>> a wifi router acting as repeater right above
>>> it. I ran a cable to the router. That's made Netflix more responsive, but
>>> not yet great.
>>>
>>> 'Twere me, I'd try the Panny BR player. If it works, you're home free. If
>>> not, then you can add a dedicated streaming
>>> device.
>>>
>>> Slow Stream Moose
>>>
--
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