Healing Hsr999

[ranant]

Check it out at www.healingdigital.com

[I am not a duck]

Picked up one on appro yesterday.

Took it home.

Plugged it in.

Turned it on.

Without referring to the manual set it up and programmed some record functions.

Now if I could only get the children away from the TV I might be able to play with it some more.

[agent86oz]

Ok I just got mine and was quite easy to use. I had a problem getting the computer to recognise the hard drive in the healing even though it went into USB mode immediately using USB lead. It ended up that only 2 of my 10 ports would work with it.

Ok then I found the software quite disappointing, basically load a file and then play it, it only played back and was very dark even on my Media Centre computer which records and plays with its own tuner fine.

I have a lot of codec’s installed but it seems that the file format is proprietary or I just don't have the right codec. I would like to be able to copy the files to the computer, edit and burn to DVD but that does not seem possible.

I have looked at all the files including the install file with textpad and cannot find any info to work out who wrote the software for the PC.

Anyone have any clues? Would be a great unit if the odd show you wanted to burn to DVD could be converted to a format that you could work with.

Oh now the computer will not detect the hard drive in the box again on all USB ports. :-(

[agent86oz]

I have found out the file format is the same as TopField and there are tools to enable you to convert the file format. The files on the drive only have numbers so if you have a lot it is just too hard to work out which one you want to copy off. The file conversion process is difficult. If you want to mess around with files then a better bet is to get a tuner in your computer. It would be nice to have a product like this that connected via network and operated more like a media player, a recording and sharing process without using a computer would be good. There are many DivX and other format players but nothing like a networked PVR that records as far as I can see. Basically the USB port gives little without a lot of work but it is a reasonable cheap twin tuner PVR.

[bellotv]

Picked up one on appro yesterday.

Took it home.

Plugged it in.

Turned it on.

Without referring to the manual set it up and programmed some record functions.

Now if I could only get the children away from the TV I might be able to play with it some more.

Yeah ' RE : the kids .

Its a bit like that .

What a great PVR .Really impressed !!! Once got rid of play icon via PVR setup menu it was all good.I,ve set up a few PVR's before but this one is a dream. Well done Healing

[Quelch]

Yeah ' RE : the kids .

Its a bit like that .

What a great PVR .Really impressed !!! Once got rid of play icon via PVR setup menu it was all good.I,ve set up a few PVR's before but this one is a dream. Well done Healing

I tried 'www.healingdigital.com'

Didn't get much sense from it !

What stores stock this new PVR and how much are they going for ?

[mtv]

I tried 'www.healingdigital.com'

Didn't get much sense from it !

Did you click on the model HSR999?

You should have seen the brochure with front & back pics, plus all the specs

[Quelch]

Did you click on the model HSR999?

You should have seen the brochure with front & back pics, plus all the specs

Yes I found it thanks !

I'd clicked on the wrong Laceys page

I didn't find any pricing tho !

(But that could be me)

Are they only available from Laceys ?

[longshot]

Looks like the HSR999 is a Coship CDVBT9200

http://www.coship.com/siteenglish/ProductD...=371&Menu=0

Seems it has an EMMA2 processor. Not sure what OS it is running out of the box.

[longshot]

I'm getting slight pauses on my HSR999. Not really dropouts (pixelations, pops), but just pauses and frame skips. Anyone else seeing similar?

[techo]

Looks like the HSR999 is a Coship CDVBT9200

http://www.coship.com/siteenglish/ProductD...=371&Menu=0

Seems it has an EMMA2 processor. Not sure what OS it is running out of the box.

Variants of this OEM model are used by several distributors in Aus. The Yess DVB-T2688PVR. Digicrystal 9070p and the Wintal PVRX2 are similar. I recently flashed my Yess DVB-T2688PVR with the Wintal PVRX2 189B2 firmware in the hope of activating the redundant USB port in these. Well it worked and is now asking for the RNDIS drivers for the Cypress chip used on these boards. Since the Yess and digi did not have the necessary PC software to access USB, I am now seeking copies of the PC software used by the later incarnations of this coship box. If anyone is interested in compressing their PC drivers used by this box and emailing it or post on a web server, I can give you web space if needed. I would be much appreciated.

[charlesc]

... I would like to be able to copy the files to the computer, edit and burn to DVD but that does not seem possible.

....Would be a great unit if the odd show you wanted to burn to DVD could be converted to a format that you could work with.

When the unit is connected to an XP system via the USB port, the disk drive in the HSR999 appears as a 'Local Disk' and is assigned a drive letter by XP. The disk management tool shows the drive as a 'basic' disk type, FAT32.

No drivers or software as such needs to be installed. The software application that is on the CD is very basic, and allows the media files on the HSR999 to be accessed from the PC over the USB link, and played back on th media player that is part of the app. If you just want to copy the files to your main PC, you don't need that software at all.

The captured file names are fairly cryptic, but relate to the channel. ABC and TEN below.

1 KB GROUPS00.GRP

2 KB 0TENA000.INF

142,128 KB 0TENA000.PVR

2 KB 0ABCA000.INF

297,416 KB 0ABCA000.PVR

2 KB 0ABCA001.INF

1,179,512 KB 0ABCA001.PVR

2 KB 0ABCA002.INF

The files with the .PVR extension can be copied off the HSR999 via the USB cable, and the editing program VideoRedo Plus will work with them. The captured PVR files are MPEG TS (transport Stream) format. Very similar to what you would end up with on the PC if you were capturing with an internal DVB-T capture card, or one of the external USB solutions.

The only trick I had to do with VideoRedo was to select a different PID (Program Identifier) for the audio, as the default it selected has no audio in it. The file could then be edited as normal, and a standard mpg file made from it. This could of course then be used to make a DVD.

The unit seems easy to operate. I'll have a further play with it over the next week and see how I go.

EDIT: Here are the file specs for a typical file:-

File Name: E:\_PVRABCA000.PVR

File Size: 304553984 ( 0.28 GB )

Program Duration: 00:06:22.11

File Type: TS Stream

Encoding: MPEG 2

Video stream Id: 512 (x200)

Encoding Dimensions: 720 x 576

Display Size: 720 x 576

Aspect Ratio: 16/9

Frame Rate: 25.00 FPS

Bit Rate: 15.000 Mbps

VBV_Buffer: 222 KB

Profile: Main/Main

Progressive: Prog or Int

Chroma: 4:2:0

Audio Format: Layer 2

Audio Stream Id: 650 (x28a)

Audio Bit Rate: 256 Kbps

Audio Sampling Rate: 48000 Hz

(Note the standard audio PID loads in VideoRedo Plus as x240, and must be changed to the x28a shown above).

[charlesc]

If anyone is interested in compressing their PC drivers used by this box and emailing it or post on a web server, I can give you web space if needed. I would be much appreciated.

Just let me know what you need, in the meantime I'll try and work it out.

EDIT: These are the details reported by the system for that USB port item. The top para details the column headers, the lower one the values. Hope you can read the info needed. I can get the driver used and send it to you if that is what you want.

VID PID I/F # Device Description Location Information Product (USB Device) Friendly Name Mfg (Registry) Mfg (USB Device) Mfg (VID) S/N (USB Device) LowerFilters DriverKeyName HardwareID Registry Path Instance Sort Instance # ParentIdPrefix Usb Device Type 2 Composite Crossreference USB Device - PTIUSBF.SYS Filter Driver Link

067B 2507 USB Mass Storage Device Mass Storage Device Mass Storage Device Compatible USB storage device Prolific Technology Inc. Prolific Technology, Inc. {36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}30 SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB\Vid_067b&Pid_2507

[charlesc]

BTW, this unit is a true dual tuner unit.

It will record two different scheduled programs (different stations, not just one transport stream with dual content) via its scheduler, and you can watch a captured program from hard disk at the same time.

You can also manually start two programs recording of course.

It is an SD unit though, but that's fine if that's what you want.

PVR FAQ

"* True twin (2.0) tuner capabile PVRs are rare. They can manually or automatically record two things at once while allowing the user to view a previously recorded show as well. Currently, only the Humax Smart, MediaSTar, Toshiba HiDef and Toppy are true twin tuners".

Maybe the Healing HSR999 should be added to the list.

[pgdownload]

Searched around Charles but couldn't find the quote as indicated (I removed the units a while ago as I couldn't keep tracking all the new models) - unless its just in a quote somewhere? Good to hear the Healing is such a good performer.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[aztec]

BTW, this unit is a true dual tuner unit.

It will record two different scheduled programs (different stations, not just one transport stream with dual content) via its scheduler, and you can watch a captured program from hard disk at the same time.

You can also manually start two programs recording of course.

It is an SD unit though, but that's fine if that's what you want.

PVR FAQ

"* True twin (2.0) tuner capabile PVRs are rare. They can manually or automatically record two things at once while allowing the user to view a previously recorded show as well. Currently, only the Humax Smart, MediaSTar, Toshiba HiDef and Toppy are true twin tuners".

Maybe the Healing HSR999 should be added to the list.

TEAC HDRM7250 also fits.

[charlesc]

Searched around Charles but couldn't find the quote as indicated (I removed the units a while ago as I couldn't keep tracking all the new models) - unless its just in a quote somewhere? Good to hear the Healing is such a good performer.

You might be right Peter, the original may have gone a long time ago and everyone just keeps passing on the old text. I'll have a look.

[techo]

Just let me know what you need, in the meantime I'll try and work it out.

EDIT: These are the details reported by the system for that USB port item. The top para details the column headers, the lower one the values. Hope you can read the info needed. I can get the driver used and send it to you if that is what you want.

VID PID I/F # Device Description Location Information Product (USB Device) Friendly Name Mfg (Registry) Mfg (USB Device) Mfg (VID) S/N (USB Device) LowerFilters DriverKeyName HardwareID Registry Path Instance Sort Instance # ParentIdPrefix Usb Device Type 2 Composite Crossreference USB Device - PTIUSBF.SYS Filter Driver Link

067B 2507 USB Mass Storage Device Mass Storage Device Mass Storage Device Compatible USB storage device Prolific Technology Inc. Prolific Technology, Inc. {36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}30 SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB\Vid_067b&Pid_2507

Thanks charlesc that maybe just what I need. You quote the contents of the usb identifier. I have been busy lately and haven't had time to read all the dtvforum content until now. Based of this info I will try to write an *.inf file soon. If you are willing and have the time you may care to search any software disks for *.inf files one of those will have the relevant OEM usb details in the correct format needed by the my OS. Thank you again you your interest in this matter.

[charlesc]

If you are willing and have the time you may care to search any software disks for *.inf files one of those will have the relevant OEM usb details in the correct format needed by the my OS.

The CD software disk that comes with the unit had no drivers on it, just the v simple Media Playback software (single .exe install file) that will play back the .pvr files the unit captures.

I have also searched the Windows inf folder for instances of 'prolific' in any of the inf files, no matches found.

Any other ideas?

[Electronicman]

Just for those who would like a bit of a report on the HSR 999.

I have had my unit for about a month now - am very happy with it for its price especially with the 160Gb HDD

Got mine from Lacey's. It has a few idiosyncrasies; as longshot reports of the pauses in some recorded shows. It is like a pause, then jumps ahead about 1.5 seconds, bad sectors on the HDD maybe? I might have to reformat it one day!

I like the true twin tuners - you can program it to record two different broadcasts that commence at the same time ie both programs say from 7.30 to 8.30pm. It will automatically start the second program 1 minute later ie at 7.31pm! To overcome this, there is a menu option to adjust for program time offsets ie start earlier/finish later. I have it set to start 3 minutes earlier than programmed time and finish 10 minutes later than programmed time. This way I can program it for the times advertised and if the programs start earlier/finishes later, all will be recorded.

Another irritant I found was that the programs are stored as to what the "Now and Next" info bar has on it at the last time that broadcast channel was watched. To further explain, if I watched 20 to 1 tonight on Win and I had it programmed to record Win tomorrow afternoon from 2 to 3pm, that program would be named 20 to 1 but under the actual time of Wednesday May 2nd 1400-1500! But all is not lost as the programs can be renamed via a menu function - albeit only with about 40 characters in both upper and lower case, numbers and about 4 symbols and a space (and limited to about 15 characters in length)!

Where it really comes in its own is when networks run their scheduled programs over time and one would like to watch a different network before the other program finishes. The PIP makes this a brilliant to work with - start recording other network, finish watching original program, then watch the recorded program in timeshifted mode! You soon catch up to real time by skipping past the ads!

Two other small irritants I have noticed and these are that programs can only be fast-forwarded 2x, 4x, 8x, 12x etc and not jumped forward in a set 30 sec block as my Panasonic DMR EH50 HDD recorder does. Commercial skip so to speak! This FF time is slow and jerky if you are watching a previously recorded file and recording two other broadcasts! Lastly, the unit does not have AV inputs. Everything can only be recorded from the tuners. Sometimes you may want to record from the composite video input!

My computer is too far away from the living room for me to try out the USB link as yet, but I may invest in a longer USB cable/repeater one day and try the editing functions! This would be handy if it was under menu control on the HSR 999 as it is with the Panasonic!

As I said, a brilliant unit for its price, I'd rate it an 8 - 8.5/10. Hopefully it has been an insight for some of you!

[techo]

Any other ideas?

Thankyou very much charlesc, your assistance, has bean very valuable to me. I decided to look back through my notes and discovered the earlier coship PVRs have a little yet important difference. Whilst your machines use a Prolific USB controller chip mine has a useless cypress chip. I might try to source the Prolific chip just to say it works. The Wintal PVR2 Version 189 B2 firmware runs very well on my Yess T2688. Since I discovered it supports the SCART outputs of the Yess, I see no reason to change it. I would be interested in the version firmware your Healing has, you should be able to see it in your system information menu.

[charlesc]

I would be interested in the version firmware your Healing has, you should be able to see it in your system information menu.

The Healing HSR999 reports the following:-

Hware v 104

Sware 187 Final Jan 30, 2007

You do not seem to have a high view of the Cypress chipset. I don't know it specifically, but I know a manufacturer of some equipment I use that uses some of their chipsets. They seem to highlight use of the Cypress chipsets as being very desirable. The one identified (TetraHub) is maybe a special high performance one.

"3.5-inch USB 2.0 HUB featuring CypressCY7C65640A TetraHubTM High Speed USB Hub Controller"

[longshot]

Got mine from Lacey's. It has a few idiosyncrasies; as longshot reports of the pauses in some recorded shows. It is like a pause, then jumps ahead about 1.5 seconds, bad sectors on the HDD maybe? I might have to reformat it one day!

As I said, a brilliant unit for its price, I'd rate it an 8 - 8.5/10. Hopefully it has been an insight for some of you!

I'm getting very occasional pauses when watching real-time. Havent watched any recorded shows yet other than 10 mins here and there. I wonder if the disk spins down when no recording or playback is occuring. It certainly spins up when starting the machine. Could be disk is the issue, but could be something else. Maybe it is even the way this box responds to signal dropouts - no pixelation or pops, just a quick freeze.

[Electronicman]

I'm getting very occasional pauses when watching real-time. Havent watched any recorded shows yet other than 10 mins here and there. I wonder if the disk spins down when no recording or playback is occuring. It certainly spins up when starting the machine. Could be disk is the issue, but could be something else. Maybe it is even the way this box responds to signal dropouts - no pixelation or pops, just a quick freeze.

No, no freezes in real time viewing or timeshifted viewing. Just the odd pause on a recorded program. Don't know about the HDD spinning. I know my Panasonic HDD "sleeps" after about half hour.

[charlesc]

Maybe it is even the way this box responds to signal dropouts - no pixelation or pops, just a quick freeze.

Your antenna signal may be close to the digital cliff edge, and when it occasionally reduces further you see this 'freeze'.

One way you could do something simple to check if this might be happening is to get a couple of in-line attenuators from Jaycar/DSE. Plugged into the antenna input, these would reduce the antenna signal input to the STB/PVR. Maybe get a 4 dB and a 9 dB one. If your reception is borderline, these attenuators would make it worse and you could see how the STB/PVR responds.

The better way to do it of course is with a digital field strength meter. That would really tell you what is happening.