my98redrex

If you want a cheap PVR then the Supernet/Wintel ones would probably suit. I've had an 80GB Supernet for years with no problems although a few people have had Ch7 locking up on record. You can get these cheap on eBay, some with 160gb and twin tuner. They wont effect your tv as the antenna just passes through. If you want DVD recording too then spend the extra and go for the panasonic DMR-EX75/85. I have one of these too and their brilliant. None of these though will provide 1080P but they'll still look great on your TV and provide the facility to record.

I have a Panasonic DMR-EX75 which is the older version 160gb and can highly recommend it. Easy to use, reliable, does everything you want with the bonus of DVD recorder including high speed dub from HDD to DVR. Has two AV inputs although one is on the front. Henry

I have a DMR-EX75 and I run Austar straight into AV4 on the HDD recorder just using RCA connectors. Make sure you select AV4 on the input selector of your HDD recorder and just hit record or set the timer and pick AV4 as your channel. Obviously make sure your Foxtel box is on the channel you want to record when you set for timer recording.

Sorry for replying to this post but the forum wouldn't let me start a new post. I have a Supernet 80GB PVR and am experiencing the lock up with Ch7. What causes this and can it be fixed? Henry.

I agree with most of the comments about Bose and the limitations of small cube speakers. I have a Yamaha theatre in a box system and while it's great for the price, you do get what you pay for and the laws of physics will prevail. If you really want small speakers, try auditioning Mirage Nano speakers. They're a specialist Canadian speaker manufacturer and for about $1600 they have a 5.1 setup that's a bit bigger than the standard cubes but smaller than bookshelf, and I thought they sounded impressive for what they are. http://miragespeakers.com/nano.shtml If you want a cheap and pretty good LCD look no further than the AWA 81cm for about $1400. Also, if you can't afford to spend up big on a twin tuner PVR, just get a basic PVR and another STB. Works out much cheaper if you what it more for convenience than quality. I have a Supernet/Wintal PVR and a Digicrystal HD STB off eBay for about $350. Might not be as good as a Toppy, but still does the job well enough for me.

I'll email them a request and see what comes of it. They don't seem to have a model with builtin DVD player though. (this is necessary to simplify installation costs and make it more idiot proof).

OK, I'll give you a bit more background. I need to buy about 200 of them for a resort development, so as you could imagine, going to a name brand and paying $500 more each really adds up. What I'm looking for is the cheapest one that's also the best of the worst lot so to speak. Some have nasty chinese panels, some like the AWA us LG/Philips panels. I found one called an Axion that was only 640x480 resolution! OK, it was only 20", but how nasty is that! Also, the ones I'm after have to have a built in DVD player, which kind of narrows it done. Avatec have contacted me directly and have been very helpful, so I'm just doing some background research on them now.

Anyone know what brand of panel Avatec use in their LCD's. Not looking for perfect PQ, just solid performance and reliability. Oh, and price of course. Considering also Conia and JNC. Any comments?

Maybe item 5 is a function of your input device. When I pause a dvd or digital tv, it's perfect. Ditto cue and review. Apart from turning it on or off, I never use the remote as all channel changes are done through STB and I only use one AV input and change the source on my AV amp.

Without comparing it side by side with other panels, which I haven't, you have to be impressed with what you get for the money. It would have to be one of the best BFYB panels available, especially with 3yr warranty. I do agree with some of your points though. It doesn't have the widest viewing angle and cycling through the inputs is a pain. Why they didn't add direct access buttons on the remote I don't know. Speaking of remote it's very lazy. It really needs to be pointed straight on and directly at the receiver to work well. By contrast, my Loewe remote can be pointed at the floor, ceiling or otherside of the room and it works. Does the 94cm have the same problems?

A friend just bought one prior to XMAS and paid only $1495! Good Value. The 91cm is also coming down in price at around $2495.

Wouldn't red, green, blue be RGB not Component? You might need RGB to DB15 cable and use the VGA connector on the TV and then select RGB-DTV on the input selector. Double check with your DVD player whether the output is RGB or Component. Henry.

I have an AWA 81cm LCD TV and was considering wall mounting it. It has the std VESA mounts of 200x100. Where can I buy a wall mount for this. What's the cheapest way out of it. I don't need anything fancy and would prefer something sleek not the the big arms like plasmas have. Was considering something like this http://www.skunkworks.com.au/product_info....&products_id=88 Any feedback from those that have done it would be great. Henry.

Are there any DVD Recorders on the market with or without Hard Disk that have a digital tuner in them? They all seem to be analogue.

That's exactly what I thought. So what version is it?

According to Wintal web site, they have released a new firmware version on 9 Nov for the PVR-X10 but claim it may cause irreversible damage if applied to any other unit. As the Wintal, Digicrystal and Supernet are suppose to be all the same, could I use it on my Supernet. Also, does anyone actually know which version it is as the web site doesn't say. http://wintal.com.au/downloads.html Henry.

I did ask that question, be they didn't answer it.

I emailed SC10 today and got a return message from their engineer. Word is that transmitters at both Saddle Mountain and Yarrabah will be replaced this week with better units that should fix the problem. Hope they do it before Bathurst! Time will tell.

I'm getting very bad glitching with SC10 over the last week. The signal strength reads fine on all my STB's (3 of them) but it's still dropping out, particularly on the weekends and at nights. Tonight I watched it in analogue because the constant glitching and drop outs are too annoying. I recorded something on the weekend on the PVR and it was useless. Is it just me or is everyone getting this. I'm getting my signal from SM and have had all my installation checked and fine tuned. It may possibly be over amplified, but doesn't seem to worry all the other channels. If my signal strength is still reading high but it's dropping out, is that SC10's link from down south failing. If this is a SC problem, where do we complain. I'm dredding watching Bathurst on analogue, but just might have to do it! Please post your experiences.

The old model actually has 2 year warranty. You can see the specs of the old model here http://www.decktron.com/products/lcd_32_b.html and the new model here http://www.decktron.com/products/lcd_32_g.html Doesn't appear to be much difference. Still best to go with the newer one just for the extra warranty.

If you've got line of site, you might want to try an amplified indoor antenna. Saw one at K-Mart under the Antsig brand (made by arlec) which looks just like a long black plastic box designed to sit on your TV like a centre speaker. Don't know how well it will work but may be worth a try. Also I don't know if indoor antennas are affected, but Yarrabah works on vertical polarity while BK and SM are the more conventional horizontal arrangement.

Well that's another option. Get permission from BC to install your own antenna. If you're on the top floor it shouldn't be too hard. If you're not, you could find somewhere inconspicuous to run down the outside of the wall. Just be wary of penetrating fire rated ceilings. (Hint: if the dividing walls don't go to the underside of the roof sheeting and the top of the ceiling is pink then it's fire rated.)

Who do you call when this happens to find out what's going on and how long it will be out for? Not the local station I assume. Also, I have a VHF/UHF antenna pointing to BK and a UHF pointing to Saddle Mountain and I get two of each channel but only one for SC Ten. Do they transmit from BK?

Further to my last post, I must admit that out of all the stations, Ch10 recently has been terribly unreliable often dropping out and the STB taking longer to lock on when changing channels. I get my signal from Saddle Mtn and BK with two antennas.

You mentioned you were in a set of units. You may find that the amplification on the MATV system is weak. Most units are built on a budget and only have the bare necessities. Also, if they're not new, your signal may be effected by new buildings in the neighbourhood between you and the transmission tower. Even trees growing can do this. I had the same problem when I first went digital. The signal was glitching all the time which means the signal is borderline weak. If it were any weaker, the picture will just drop out altogether. Try installing an indoor amplifier on your antenna output to boost the signal. It may or may not work depending on how interupted the original signal is or if it's just weak. You can get them from Dick Smiths for about $50. http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefro...duct/View/L4215 Conversely, STB's can also react to over boosted signals which is probably less likely, but if it's the case, you can get an inline attenuator to reduce the signal. My signal strength went from 40dB to 70dB just by lifting my antenna up 1.5m to clear obstructions. So I guess your last option would be to lobby the Body Corporate to upgrade the antenna. Good Luck. Henry.