Would like to change receiver...

[Schtooks]

Hi!

I have recently had installed a 'Head Medialink Black Panther 1card Premium S2 + IPTV (PVR ready)' receiver with a 45cm dish set up for German TV (HD). I have no complaints with regard to the channels I can receive but I don't like the receiver! I was told that I can add an HDD to it as it is PVR ready. So I did and although I can watch films from the hard drive, I can't record to it no matter what I do. I have asked the company if I have missed something or if there is software I need to download from somewhere but they were less than helpful. I thought a PVR will record as well as play stuff. Am I missing something here?! As this is proving somewhat tedious at the moment and all I want is an easy life, is there a receiver I could change this one to that will be able to record more than one programme at a time with it's HDD built in?

Thanks for your help! )

 

[Riverblue]

You are right, a PVR should record and playback your recorded material. I'm not familiar with your receiver, but I do know that many receivers are very "fussy" as to which hard drives that they work with. Some makes of hard drive are better than others. Also some are "fussy" as to the size of the hard drive, some will only work with a max of 500gb, some are ok with 1tb. Also how is the hard drive formatted? Most need to be FAT32, you might be able to format it with your receiver.

 

[Schtooks]

Thanks! I bought an external Samsung M3 portable USB drive which is 1TB and formatted it to FAT32 on the computer and when that didn't do anything I found out how to do it on the receiver but after about 6 hours of trying to get the stupid thing to work by Googling and trial and error and I have given up! I'm usually pretty good with computers and electronics but this thing has beaten me!

Can I buy any receiver that might meet my needs and just replace this one or do I need something specific? I'm not really au fait with this kind of stuff and only have knowledge of a Sky+ box which is made for us simple folk!

 

[Mickha]

Is this a Linux based receiver?
If so what image do you have installed?
With some receivers you have to mount the external hard drive, by going into the menu and assigning a path, to the hard drive.
There are many receivers, that can do what you want, with space for an internal hard drive, and multiple tuners, allowing you to record a number of channels, once set up correctly, but you would also need a LNB with 2-4 outputs, depending on how many channels you want to record, and additional cables run, from your LNB, to the receiver.
Most of these are also complex to set up, as they are Linux based receivers, and it takes time to learn how to use them, they are not simple receivers, like the Sky+ plug and play type, but they do have more support.
The top of the range are probably the VU+ Duo2, and the Dreambox 8000, which are also quite expensive, epsecially compared to your receiver.

I would advise you try a little more research, and try to find other owners, and see what hard drive they're using, and how they fitted it, before upgrading to a more expensive receiver.
Do you have a manual, or can you provide an online link, to a manual?
Can the installer help you, with information on compatible hard drives, and how to set it up?

 

[mariust5]

Simple Google search shows that this is not a Linux machine .

I would try a different HDD first or even a USB stick . Try a Factory reset and Firmware upgrade as well and if that doesn't cure it look for a different box .

 

[Schtooks]

Is this a Linux based receiver?
If so what image do you have installed?
With some receivers you have to mount the external hard drive, by going into the menu and assigning a path, to the hard drive.
There are many receivers, that can do what you want, with space for an internal hard drive, and multiple tuners, allowing you to record a number of channels, once set up correctly, but you would also need a LNB with 2-4 outputs, depending on how many channels you want to record, and additional cables run, from your LNB, to the receiver.
Most of these are also complex to set up, as they are Linux based receivers, and it takes time to learn how to use them, they are not simple receivers, like the Sky+ plug and play type, but they do have more support.
The top of the range are probably the VU+ Duo2, and the Dreambox 8000, which are also quite expensive, epsecially compared to your receiver.

I would advise you try a little more research, and try to find other owners, and see what hard drive they're using, and how they fitted it, before upgrading to a more expensive receiver.
Do you have a manual, or can you provide an online link, to a manual?
Can the installer help you, with information on compatible hard drives, and how to set it up?

Thank you - I'll give that a try!

 

[Schtooks]

I have no idea about any of this unfortunately and the manual is pretty much not worth the paper it's printed on - there isn't even a manufacturers website mentioned in it, I had to search for ages to find what I did. I'll do some more research as I don't like to be beaten by machines! lol I have been in touch with the installers and they just told me it will work with a HDD and didn't reply to my second email. Thanks for your advice - I'll be back to let you know when it's working... I may be sometime!

 

[battenfan]

Here are some firmwares, but I have no idea what they do.

http://www.alisat.ws/42435-alisat/app/ML%20Black%20Panter%20series/BlackPanther%201card%20premium/

and manual

http://www.alisat.ws/42435-alisat/app/User%20manual_word/

 

[Schtooks]

Thanks! The company sent me that link but I also have no idea what they do either!

 

[Schtooks]

I got it working! That's two whole Saturday's I've spent pfaffing! It was just the firmware, once updated it was a doddle! Thank you all, I am now a relatively happy bunny... Now realising I would like a box that can record two channels whilst watching another...! Ah well, I shall leave that one for another day I think!