Got an email from Beyonwiz offering this deal.
Beyonwiz PVR DP-Lite Refurbished ex demo model $79.95 (+$15 postage)
The above doesn't include a remote - they are selling remotes for an extra $39.95 or $49.95 depending what type you want. So all up for $135 you could have decent twin tuner 500GB PVR (albeit refurbished).
What about warranty ?? :)
This unit is a manufacturer refurbished Ex-Demo item and in perfect working condition. This is not a brand new item.The unit is fully operational, the unit has been fully tested for quality and functionality and updated with the latest firmware and features before shipping. It comes with a 30day Replacment Warranty Only.
Beyonwiz: http://www.beyonwiz.com.au/products.php?id=3
For those with non-digital AV output devices, could add the 2 channel Analogue to Digital AV input (component & S-Video) for extra $35 ($95 off the listed price of $130 when bought together) Often used to connect old Foxtel Box for recording analogue output, or could copy video tapes to digital. Acts as video switcher, can time-shift analogue input & timer record. http://dealspace.com.au/beyonwiz-lidic-new
Not a great machine, passable. I've had one for a while, and they are serviceable but have several flaws, the main one being my early model supported "Freeview" which means many limits on skipping ads or copying recoded TV shows (This model doesn't APPEAR to be Freeview, but double check if you grab one)
Another issue is the limited support on playing movies, many codecs aren't supported and mine frequently crashes or hangs when trying to play stuff.
Can't say the GUI is terribly snappy either, seems to freeze a lot.
For the price though, probably not a bad buy if you don't have a PVR. I also use the Logitech Harmony remote, the one that came with it was pretty crappy and my sound goes though another device so I wouldn't buy one. (edit, wouldn't buy the REMOTE with it I mean :))
"Freeview" which means many limits on skipping ads or copying recoded TV shows
Seems to me that Freeview is an oxymoron.
The freeview models were clearly marked and had different names and model numbers. These should be fine.
must skip ad's
Does skip ads…
Are you tired of boring and repetative commercials?
Who enjoys being stuck watching TV ads? Realistically nobody, there is no worse of a feeling than being drawn into a good moment on your favorite show only to have it go to an ad break, the Beyonwiz gives you the power to beat the ads by letting you fast forward, skip past or even edit out the ads on all of your recorded programs letting you watch TV your way http://dealspace.com.au/DP-Lite-Ex-Demo
on all of your recorded programs
ie. can't fast-forward live TV. What a ripoff!
Huh?
Problem is LIVE TV, not the Beyondwiz nor any other PVR for that matter.
Otherwise we can all be rich!
Very unreliable! A friend of mine had gone through 2 before he gave up…
I've had mine since 2009 I think (paid $399), still kicking along every day! way more responsive than the tv through the guide
What size & format external HDD can you attach to the USB input? How many USB inputs?
(I run a 3TB HDD plus 2TB (NTFS format) sometimes into a 1TB PVR with 2 USBs at the moment.)
The DP-Lite has only one USB port. Unit cannot handle NTFS. I wish they will work on the firmware to handle that. So far I had only attached 2TB external HDD's to them (the DP-Lite and the DP-P2). Had to format the HDD from the Beyondwiz (FAT32). If I remember correctly someone mentioned they use a modified FAT32, but I can read the formatted ext drives on my WinXP and Win7 machines.
They've got a friendly UI, easy enough for non-technical folks to pick up. Overall I'm very happy with features of the Beyondwiz. Logical layout of EPG display and recording timer list, easy to mark programs for recording, easy to edit details, etc.
Problems? SWMBO has claimed ownership of it. I found copying files to ext drives slow, slower than the claimed USB2 speed. Repeated operations of removing ad segments can sometimes hang it. I found a few recordings where I cannot delete the end bits of the recording. (I wish their developers will work on the last three issues, soon.)
Thanks!
USB copying is SO slow on all (20+) PVRs I have used (review units mainly).
Depends if it can still operate (eg play a recording & twin record) at same time as copying, without hanging - my usual test. (My 2007 PVR has to be shut down to copy, but the 1 year old $169 one handles whatever I throw at it & doesn't hang, even copying to 2 x 2TB via both USBs at same time.)
But FAT32 on a 2+TB!! Agh!
Copying via the network was fast on Topfields from memory.
Just bought a $70 Seagate 3TB from Aust Post for other PVR.
My current PVR lacks networking. Not sure how useful networking is.
You're welcome.
The Beyondwiz handles simultaneous twin recording and recordings playback without problems. I don't think there is an option to copy to 2 USBs at the same time (for the DP-P2). My PVR runs standalone, got to run a networking cable to it and see what happens one day:)
Only annoyance is when I am copying/moving recordings I cannot playback previously recorded programs. All previously-set timer recordings will start/stop correctly throughout the copying/moving process.
The Auspost $70 3TB looks interesting.
Thanks again - so it ties up playing but not recording while transferring files - no big problem. Pausing/rewinding live shows (especially chase play), WHILE doing memory/processor intensive tasks like twin recording of HD programs is my bench test. Even seen older Topfields hang/stutter with that.
Had a 1TB then added a 2TB on the main PVR via USB, so copied (with PC) the files onto the 3TB, leaving the PVR's internal 1TB no more than 1/2 full to minimise load on memory/processor. Still leaves front USB for transferring to memory stick etc. Not bad for $169 + $70
No NTFS? This will be a dealbreaker for many. FAT32 doesn't allow files larger than 4GB and most people will already have their media drives formatted as NTFS. Shifting data and reformatting is a PITA.
Thats a real pity because this looks like a nice piece of kit.
Having experienced this problem before, I know what a PITA it is - hence my question.
Quite common in older PVRs, even Topfields until software was improved.
Still for this price…. I'm still tempted.
I too have the problem on some recordings where I can't delete the end but I've found I can do it by deleting chunks at a time. Eg if I want to chop 10 mins off the end and it won't do it then I delete say the first 4 mins of that 10 mins off the end (set a bookmark at the point you want to delete from), then the next 3 mins then the next 3 mins. So achieves what I want and gets around whatever problem it is having.
I've had no problems twin recording and playing another at the same time. Not tried copying whilst doing that, given how slow copying is I wouldn't be confident it would handle it. Mine runs on a UPS as we have fairly ordinary mains power and if we get a momentary brown/black out during recording then the beyondwiz stops recording and corrupts the file of what it has recorded so far. This is probably not really a problem specific to beyondwiz though.
My opinion, the beyondwiz works ok, it's not exactly intuitive though (wife really dislikes it), the old topfield we had before was much easier to use and was only replaced because it was SD only. Probably should have got another topfield but reviews at the time said the beyondwiz was better.
Ouch! No deal from me.
Any problem restarting recordings / resetting the time after power outage is a real problem in a PVR.
Without its time setting, a PVR is just a turned off Set Top Box!! Pretty useless :(
Many recordings are made when asleep/out of the house. I travel overseas a lot & leave my main PVR unattended recording for months. A failure to reset the time would mean no further recordings would be made!!
Babysitting a piece of consumer electronics because it can't handle a foreseeable & normal operational matter is not on. I can see the need for an UPS! But it is an unnecessary work around of a design flaw, added expense, power consumption, complexity, & component to store in a usually confined space.
(Your post made me very glad to miss this deal - I had a nagging thought not to buy. So, um… thanks!)
Luckily not all PVRs suffer from this (early) poor design.
My ancient 2006 rebadged Homecast PVR finds the time after power failures, but loses recording being made. It's technology predates this PVR, but was superior in this aspect.
Even my 15 month old $169 1TB Aldi one will power up, get the time from TV signal, then go back to standby. Power failure during recording saves interrupted recording, & starts again when power is restored. (Happily found that out when I knocked the plug out.)
The promo video is good for a laugh, talking about no more video tapes… how this new thing called digital TV is here with 7, 10, ABC, SBS have a channel, … & EPG screen has shows in 2007. Not bad for its time.
Still available for $199 with 3 month warranty! http://dealspace.com.au/beyonwiz-dp-p2-twin-tuner-hd-digital…
Advice on this machine at http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1423653
eg
Q Anyone know how you get the DP-Lite to record direct to an external HDD?
A You cant.
Q I'm assuming that since it has Ethernet, it can play files from a DP-P2 across the network?
A Yes. You can play files from a network share or another BW
Q Is it possible to record a series with these sort of PVRs? ie. like in windows media centre when you press record twice.
A Yeas it is. It will record daily / weekly etc (about 5 dif setting on the day setting etc) but it will only record for the time set. If the show starts 1Hr later some times it will record the originasl time set and miss all or part of the show. You need ICE Guide for shows that shift time slots during airing.
Q Can the DP-Lite play the supported movie formats (wmv, avi, mpg, vob, mp4, asf, tp, trp) from the external USB-connected HDD?
A yes http://www.beyonwiz.com.au/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=319
Q you DON'T have to get IceTV to get the EPG on the DP-Lites. Is that true; it can use the current FTA EPG?
A Yep you don't need IceTV…you can use the FTA one.
Q I have just purchase a beyonwiz DP-Lite i & not being aware that when you turn it off at the power u loose the time & date because is doesnt have a battery to power the clock so everytime u turn it back on u have to reset the time & date??
A *I wasn't aware of that as well (with my dp-p2) until the power went off for some unknown amount of time during the night – due to storms in the area.
What happens is …..well, my understanding of it is …. when the pvr comes back on after the power outage, it is in standby mode, and the time won't be updated until the pvr is brought into normal operating mode (which means bringing the pvr out of the standby mode). That's when it collects the time and date details from the tv signals that it receives via the antenna. I think it can get the time/date from other ways too – such as from the internet. But I don't have my pvr networked, so it gets it from the tv signal.
(That is a worry! If recordings are set, it will not record any if it loses power for a short time, before recording starts.)
No front display on the Lite
No front USB port (back on though) on the Lite
No line in so cannot record/pause and external source
5.1 digital output
Site says OUT OF STOCK
Yes, Out of Stock. Reported.
I've got my Beyonwiz programmed into my Logitech Harmony remote. A multifunction remote is much better value than the fixed purpose Beyonwiz one.