Questions about the R5000

[stuckless]

This is not Sage related, but according to the r5000 page, it says....

The R5000-HD is a Windows XP/2000/Vista (32-bit versions) based HDTV recording system installed in your set top box (STB) and connected to your PC via USB 2.0.

So if i'm reading this correctly, the r5000 has a windows computer embedded inside the STB and then connects to another windows computer using USB?

Just curious if anyone has looked inside their STB to confirm this?

Also, I was wondering if anyone has both the HD-PVR and the R5000, and which one you consider to be better?

[popechild]

Originally Posted by stuckless

So if i'm reading this correctly, the r5000 has a windows computer embedded inside the STB and then connects to another windows computer using USB?

Just curious if anyone has looked inside their STB to confirm this?

Also, I was wondering if anyone has both the HD-PVR and the R5000, and which one you consider to be better?

I'm pretty sure that just means that the software side of the capturing runs on a windows machine. The hardware modification is done inside the STB.

[stuckless]

I'm pretty sure that just means that the software side of the capturing runs on a windows machine

That's pretty much what I thought, but the wording was throwing me off. Still has anyone peeked inside their STB to see how extensive the modifications are? $550 for a hardware mod is quite expensive. I'm just curious how much modification they need to do, to cover that amount of money.

[matt91]

Doesn't the HD-PVR unit, assuming that the wrinkles get ironed out, negate the need for this mod?

[stuckless]

the HD-PVR does negate the need to for the r5000 mod. But i was reading somewhere (here or on another forum) that in Europe, in response to this new device, that some STBs are being shipped with component disabled. I also read that in Canada and US they are currenly lobbying to be able to turn off the component video output. So it may not be long before the "analog hole" is filled.... Again, it's just rumor... but i wouldn't be surpised if there wasn't some truth to it. Either way, I'm not willing to invest in $550 for a r5000 mod, and the 250 for the HD-PVR may be steep if my sat providor decides to close the analog hole. I'm hoping the HD-PVR will actually cause the r5000 mod to drop significantly in price.

[Berg]

Originally Posted by matt91

Doesn't the HD-PVR unit, assuming that the wrinkles get ironed out, negate the need for this mod?

Here is my take on this; While the HD-PVR solution does fill that gap there are still a couple of shortcomings to that solution that I think the R5000 mod addresses, from my understanding of the R5000 mod.

The R5000 takes the digital stream and saves it as is - so there is no analog processing and conversion back to a digital format.

The R5000 records both HD and SD content in this manner which the HD-PVR would not be able to do.

Should the content producer/provider ever decide to close the "analog hole" or downgrade the resolution on the component outs (which has been discussed/proposed a couple of times), the R5000 would still get the full quality HD content.

I don't know how well multiple HD-PVR will work.

Of course, this is just my thoughts.

I am really interested in this discussion as I am a week away from taking the plunge and sending two receivers for the R5000 mod. I am hesitating a little with all the HD-PVR talk, but I think the R5000 is still the better solution, albeit at a significant premium.

My two cents.

[Fluffdaddy]

my one cent.

Love my R5000 mod Vip 211 it have never let me down. Have a HD-PVR coming to today, so can't compare just yet. But If the R5000 mod was a cheaper I probably would get another and forget the HD_PVR for I have dishnet and the r5000 and Dishnet ird's are a match made in heaven. But $550 and a $99 needed r5000 software upgrade is just to much, when you have the HD-PVR option that is almost as good

If you have Cable or Direct-TV the HD-PVR seems to be a no-brainer.

[stuckless]

i can see the advantages of the r5000 mod... but I can justify spending that amount of money. I can't see what would be cost that much about the mod. I don't know much about hardware, but I would think that this mod is able to intercept the TS and redirect it. How hard can that be

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by stuckless

i can see the advantages of the r5000 mod... but I can justify spending that amount of money. I can't see what would be cost that much about the mod. I don't know much about hardware, but I would think that this mod is able to intercept the TS and redirect it. How hard can that be

About $550 hard.

Gerry

[Fluffdaddy]

They was the only game in town,they could charge what they wanted.


The 169 mod is crap and can not carry the R5000HD's used jock.

[kevine]

Originally Posted by gplasky

About $550 hard.

Gerry

LOL

Originally Posted by Fluffdaddy

They was the only game in town,they could charge what they wanted.

I was just about to say that.

On a previous note, I find it hard to plunk down $250 on something that could become obsolete but I guess that is the same risk I am taking with clear QAM. In previous readings, I have read FCC mumbo jumbo regarding service level requirements. I could be wrong but I thought component was required for STBs. But then again, so is a working firewire port and look at how well that has been followed.

[stuckless]

It'll be interesting to see if the HD-PVR will drive down the cost of the r5000.

[R5000-HD]

Originally Posted by stuckless

It'll be interesting to see if the HD-PVR will drive down the cost of the r5000.

We are currently offering the R5000-HD modification at 20% off the regular list price plus free return ground shipping (US customers). Whether or not this price point will remain permanent has not been established so we recommend taking advantage of the sale while its on. Hopefully this will help out those of you trying to make a purchasing decision.

DIY installations - In response to continued requests we will be offering "Do it yourself" install kits. Greater savings are involved and they can be ordered in the usual manner via our website. Please contact us for instructions. We do not recommend this option for the casual experimenter since a certain amount of knowledge and skill is required to work with the surface mount technology used in the set top boxes.

-R

[Fluffdaddy]

Economics 101...............Competition works and is great for the consumer

[stuckless]

In response to continued requests we will be offering "Do it yourself" install kits

$350.00 for a DIY kit.... maybe for $200 it would start to compete with the HD-PVR. The ExpressVu 6000 mod is listed for $340... that means the DIY kits costs $10 more.

[R5000-HD]

Originally Posted by stuckless

$350.00 for a DIY kit.... maybe for $200 it would start to compete with the HD-PVR. The ExpressVu 6000 mod is listed for $340... that means the DIY kits costs $10 more.

Congratulations, you can add (but can't read)! The DIY kit that supports the Dish/Bell 6000 is $275.

-R

[lobosrul]

Advantages of the r5000:
Saves a pure digital stream

Disadvantages of the r5000:
Expensive ($550)
Can't easily be transfered from one STB to another
Generally can't be used with cable
Can't be used with mpeg-4 channels (and thats the majority now) on DirecTV

Advantages of the HD-PVR
Cheaper @ $250
Works with anything that outputs component video

Disadvantages of the HD-PVR
Analog hole *could* be closed at some-point (unlikely with sat. IMO)
Has to re-compress video

Hope this makes things a bit clearer, and this is assuming the HD-PVR bugs are ironed out. Also, I think with the r5000 you're forced into whatever resolution the channel broadcasting is using. With the HD-PVR I can force the STB to output @ 720p. 1080i Mpeg-4 is troublesome to decode in my experience, so everything @ 720p is an advantage to me.

[stuckless]

Congratulations, you can add (but can't read)! The DIY kit that supports the Dish/Bell 6000 is $275.

Agreed... Reading issue... My problem is the I own a 9242... so That was the DIY I was looking at. I was also looking at the "cheapest" solution that I could do if I were to buy a second 6000 receiever and send it in. I compared apples to oranges, I'll agree.

Either way... HD-PVR is going to kick the r5000 a$$ with it's price point. (Granted I'd rather have the r5000 mod, but given the price difference the HD-PVR is a much better value)

Good luck.

[Slipshod]

A few more pro/cons"

I'm not sure if people would consider this an advantage or a disadvantage... The R5000 won't record any overlays, menus, etc from the receiver. It only grabs the video stream. Kind of a pain if you need to reset some setting on the receiver. Of course it also doesn't display anything over the video, so it's seemeless from a UI point of view.

Also, the R5000 doesn't work with the music-only channels. HD-PVR should work with them no problem.

A short-term downside on the HD-PVR is that you'll have to wait for commercial-skipping to be available.

Long-term downside is that commercial skipping will take more CPU on it when it's available. I doubt it's all that much of a big deal though.

Cheers,
Slipshod

[stuckless]

A short-term downside on the HD-PVR is that you'll have to wait for commercial-skipping to be available.

Curious as to why the HD-PVR streams would not be supported by commercial skip software, but R5000 would? I thought that commercial skip just did detection of the recorded file? I've never used commercial skip, so this isn't a disadvantage for, but I may start using it at some time.