Thomson Dti500au Review Rq

[tom01]

Can someone kindly please relate their experiences with this Set top box? i.e. how is the Widescreen/4:3/Pan & Scan selection done (hopefully by one button on the remote) etc.

thanks ~tom

[lcdtech]

Tom,

I have just got one at work yesterday - plan to have a play with it this week-end. When I quickly looked at it the tuning is a hell of a lot faster and simpler also the signal strength meter seems to work in a logical fashion. Will let you know.

[tom01]

So how did it go?

Most interested in your review when you have time!

Regards tom

[cdbrown]

I have one of these and for me it works great as far as I can tell. In Perth I pick up 26 channels and thankfully with the STB you can select which channels should be skipped and what your favorites are.

It has SCART, S-video, RCA, SPDIF outputs (all these cables are supplied but I think they are only 1.5m long). Remote is small and easy to use but I have found that I can't get any of the radio channels for ABC and SBS. It is fairly cheap and does the job for me.

As for the widescreen/4:3 etc, this is done by the remote through the onscreen setup menu. This can be set to auto, but I have a widescreen tv so I have it set to 16:9

[tom01]

Thanks for the details. When selecting the display format (viewing on a 4:3 TV), is is just a selection with one button on the remote that toggles the format modes? I ask as with the original Thomson you had to go deep into 2 menus enter PIN numbers etc, just to change the display format, and I wouldn't be interested in purchasing this unit if this unit was similar.

Regards ~tom

[tones1503559511]

I purchased a DTI500AU this morning and was up and running in less than 10 mins, excluding time to cut a wider circle in the rear of the cabinet. The setup was smooth, and the system found all channels currently available, including the radio channels. The only confusing button is the one marked TV. It appears you can have this set up to control your TV but there are no instructions, codes etc. Anyone had any luck with this?

Regards

Tony

[Guest freshfilms]

I have this STB and also a Thomson WS tv. The little TV button on the STB remote allows the remote to control the Thomson TV, so for me this is great. (It's the reason I got the Thomson STB - so that it's completely compatable with the TV)

My only question is that the audio from the STB (to the TV through SCART) doesn't sound as good as I think it should. It doesn't even sound as good as the analog signal.

Does anyone know of a reason for this?

I have also attached the RCA outlets from the STB into my VCR for recording - would this take signal away from the scart? It doesn;t seem to have with the vision.

Any suggestions?

[cdbrown]

Unfortunately I don't notice any problem. I'm also using scart to the tv and s-video / RCA to the video. The loudness of the sound is lower through the stb than it is direct through the antenna even with the volume turned right up on the stb. And I didn't notice any change between when the rca cables were used and not.

Does this happen on all the digital channels? Have you tried adjusting the stb volume (perhaps having it right up is distorting the output audio signal?

[bizzibee]

The audio output level on SCART is lower than the audio output level on RCA sockets. This is because of the "Standards" relating to the SCART Socket

Use the RCA audio outputs if you have them. That's what I've done on my Thomson DTI352TH STB, and yes the audio output on the SCART was lower than the RCA output. That's why I'm using the RCA audio output and not the SCART for Audio.

This issue was detailed a fair bit on the old Forum.

Mark

[Guest freshfilms]

Oh. So it's just a level; issue, not a quality issue. That's fine, I'll just run the RCA split to both the TV and the VCR.

But how do you run the Svhs into the VCR? (unless you have an SVHS VCR I guess).

Anyway, I realy like the STB - would recommend it, but would prefer if it had 2 tuners. Maybe next time.

Thanks.

[Julian1503559540]

I have just installed this box.

Met most expectations except I get audio pops and the unit drops volume in response and then resume normal volume. I have since replaced all cabling (RG9) and flyleads and relocated the antennae to reduce cable runs. Still occurs and I also get intermittent loss of signal.

I live in a fringe area and need a masthead amplifier but the quality and strength (as measured by the unit) are 90+. I suspect the amplifier or power supply. My only remaining option to to fliter the power supply.

My advice to potential users in fringe areas is to expect problems with audio with digital, with analogue this is not such as nuisance, with digital the audio interferance can be very disconcerting.

[Harry1503559513]

I get audio pops and volume drop on my TEACDVB300. I have traced most of this to turning off a particular light in the house and also a microwave oven being turned on/ff. I have tried to isolate my power cables from my av cables and the RF in cable as much as possible and the problem hardly occurs at all now.

I also have an amplifier on the RF for an extension TV. I used to have the AMP before the STB but now have relocated so it does not boost the signal to STB. That also may explain drop in pop !

[TerryA]

I have just installed this box.

Met most expectations except I get audio pops and the unit drops volume in response and then resume normal volume. I have since replaced all cabling (RG9) and flyleads and relocated the antennae to reduce cable runs. Still occurs and I also get intermittent loss of signal.

I live in a fringe area and need a masthead amplifier but the quality and strength (as measured by the unit) are 90+. I suspect the amplifier or power supply. My only remaining option to to fliter the power supply.

My advice to potential users in fringe areas is to expect problems with audio with digital, with analogue this is not such as nuisance, with digital the audio interferance can be very disconcerting.

Hi again,

I would also be checking the actual connections to the aerial - even if it is only slightly older, any corrosion on connections can reduce enough signal to give you problems. If the aerial in question is a WISI EE06, check the spade terminals on the block connector, where the outer cover clips on - if these are in any way covered in corrosion, renew the aerial - cleaning & polishin rarely removes the problemns in the unit we have found in that location.

[TerryA]

I get audio pops and volume drop on my TEACDVB300. I have traced most of this to turning off a particular light in the house and also a microwave oven being turned on/ff. I have tried to isolate my power cables from my av cables and the RF in cable as much as possible and the problem hardly occurs at all now.

I also have an amplifier on the RF for an extension TV. I used to have the AMP before the STB but now have relocated so it does not boost the signal to STB. That also may explain drop in pop !

Hi again,

If the DVB300 is giving you audio quiirks, pay very close attention to the images on-screen. We have been testing the Teac DVB300 software for Teac, as our local area has a problem & they will shortly have an update available.

The problem was severe pixellation on 10 & less pixellation on other commercials (ABC & SBS were unaffected) The other channels showed very slight pixellation that was barely detectable, but did give audio 'popping', so take a good hard look at the affected channels - you may benefit from the software update also, when it's released.

[Julian1503559540]

Thanks Terry

I also tried a TEAC before the Thomson and was advised by TEAC that a software upgrade might assist with audio popping. I never got around to it (I have an issue with products that I have to fix on purchase).

However the TEAC problem was quoted in their advice as occuring during channel change - so it may not have helped at all.

Thomson has also suggested that I choose a "digital" amplifier one suited to the band used in Canberra (hard seeing it is UHF and VHF) and one with F connectors.

Note : I have separate aerials for UHF and VHF (offset) as it gives me better non-digital reception for the other TVs in the house. All my signal is bounced, I have no direct line of sight.

Any ideas /suggestions on a good masthead amplifier with F connectors. I have a Kingroy (I think that is brand) now.

Julian

[TerryA]

Thanks Terry

I also tried a TEAC before the Thomson and was advised by TEAC that a software upgrade might assist with audio popping. I never got around to it (I have an issue with products that I have to fix on purchase).

However the TEAC problem was quoted in their advice as occuring during channel change - so it may not have helped at all.

Thomson has also suggested that I choose a "digital" amplifier one suited to the band used in Canberra (hard seeing it is UHF and VHF) and one with F connectors.

Note : I have separate aerials for UHF and VHF (offset) as it gives me better non-digital reception for the other TVs in the house. All my signal is bounced, I have no direct line of sight.

Any ideas /suggestions on a good masthead amplifier with F connectors. I have a Kingroy (I think that is brand) now.

Julian

Hi again,

The software we have been testing for Teac relates to a problem on the NSW Central Coast - it shows up with pixellation & popping audio on the commercial streams, so once finalised & released, it may well help you out - if the popping audio is there, you may also see extremely subtle pixellation, which is very hard to pick unless you watch it closely for some time on the main offending channel.

In regards to the amplifier - are you talking masthead amplifier - you may need to go with a higher quality one with low-loss characteristics. Almost all current masthead amps are listed as 'digital picture compatible'.

F-Connectors are certainly an excellent way to go, but the rating of the amp in conjunction with your aerial is definitely something that needs to be looked at. The GME/Kingray brand is quite good, as are the Hills, but there are others out there. Give us some idea of what kind of aerial(s) you are using, cable run lengths etc..., cable types & we might be able to steer you in the right direction. Also, what rating your masthead is & the general reception in the area.

Possibly best to either email me directly or maybe start another thread for this post so others may benefit - if you start another thread, please email the location so I can check on it in case I miss it in the bunch.