Digifusion FVRT200 Digital Video Recorder

...so have DVRs/PVRs like the Digifusion series: FVRT100, FVRT150 and FVRT200

In fact DVRs seem even more vulnerable to a poor signal than STBs, perhaps because they are more complicated in that they record the digital signal onto Hard Disc in the same way that computers do. Any gaps in signal may corrupt the system and lead to the need to reset everything by re-formatting the hard disc, which is quick and easy to do but loses everything ...
...on DigitalSpy's Personal Video Recorder digifusion forum, and some useful modifications are explained there. The experts on this forum offer step by step ways of dealing with snags; although electronically illiterate I was recently thus able to remove the hard disc to correct its sector errors on my PC at no cost. Hard discs do develop errors or wear out but there is even a list of those which have been successfully used as replacements, so this ... more

This gadget is a Twin Tuner 'Digital Video Recorder' (DVR), or 'Personal Video Recorder' (PVR) which records to its own 80GB Hard Disc Drive. It can receive and record Digital Terrestrial (received through a rooftop aerial) Free-to-air TV

At around £125 (£90 'refurbished') it is not much more expensive than a video recorder but can do a lot more. In many areas the extra cost of an aerial upgrade needs to be taken into account but no monthly fee or other subscription is needed, and there is no facility for decoding pay-per-view digital programmes (TUTV)

We watch a lot of TV but have to hunt for anything interesting and the FVRT200 makes this as easy as possible. Because it displays lists of all programmes for 2 weeks ahead, with synopses, on the TV screen where they can be selected, the amount of button pressing is minimised

The basic features are not at all complicated, and the instructions are clear and non-technical

What can it do?
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''
Digital TV gives much better picture quality free of the familiar interference and 'ghosting' and a DVR also records programmes to Hard Disc (the type of storage device used by PCs)

The FVRT provides a DVT picture which is clearly better than the 4 set top boxes we have tried; for example it is more detailed and gives better colour than our Sony RDR-GXD360 DVD Recorder with digital tuner. In our set-up the picture quality is equivalent to that produced by a Sky+ box (v.3, Thompson)

FVRT models were supposed to allow (lower quality) compression of recordings to save space but, at least on 200, it has been suggested that this has never been sorted out and its use should be avoided to prevent 'lockups' (and consequent need to re-format the HD). So you really need to make recordings in SP mode only, and selecting 'record with subtitles', which do not have to be displayed, ensures that the SP setting is maintained

You can watch a previous recording while recording two new other different programmes at the same time. This is because, unlike a satellite receiver with one tuner and one dish, FVRT200 has two tuners and can receive 2 different channels and simultaneously access data already on its hard drive. These functions are similar to those on a Sky Plus Satellite receiver except that it receives terrestrial freeview programs, and does not require a satellite dish or a monthly fee. Lists of favourites and folders for recordings are also available and titles can be edited

In spite of all the fuss about Digital TV, this has really been around since satellite TV first started, so a similar range of terrestrial digital free-to-air programmes seems reasonably familiar. A simpler 'set top box' can receive these digital signals but usually cannot record them

As well as replicas of the 'normal' Analogue TV channels, BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, and Five (which is not available in many areas), free-to-air terrestrial digital TV provides BBC3 and BBC4, ITV2 and ITV3, UK History (documentaries), Film Four, More 4, BBC News 24, Parliament, and a collection of other TV programmes. A lot of digital radio programmes are also available and can be recorded using the timer

You can select what to record directly from the Electronic Programme Guide, ('EPG', see later) and each recording is automatically saved with the name of the programme. The labelled recordings can later be accessed from a convenient on-screen list, which is very well implemented, and is a great improvement over the business of hunting through a collection of VCR tapes

You can skip through the adverts on a recording, or mark sections to be saved (not very easy on FVRT) or start watching a recording while it is still in progress and go freely back and forth to various recorded sections

Teletext is provided and during certain TV programmes 'interactive' use of the 'Red Button' can, for example, allow viewing of whichever court you choose at Wimbledon, or a particular section of the news

There is also a useful feature called 'instant rewind': From the time you tune into a programme a section is continuously retained whether you decide to record it or not. You can then go back for up to 30 minutes if you need to answer the phone, get a coffee, or just fall asleep

If you pause two programs at once, both start saving the 30 minute section from that point, and you can jump back and forth to watch and/or rewind up to 30 minutes, as above

Will it work?
'''''''''''''''''''''''
The main difficulty is really over whether digital reception is good enough in your area but local aerial fitters should be able to advise about this, and an aerial upgrade might well be needed

The advent of 'terrestrial' digital broadcasting by BBC etc. has been problematic because at present the digital transmissions are not powerful enough to give good coverage. It was decided that the good old analogue TV transmissions might be affected by interference from strong digital signals so the power of digital transmissions has been restricted until analogue is switched off. (April 2007 - previously signal strength was shown as 65%, but is now around 90%: as far as I know there has been no announcement, but perhaps they have recently increased transmission power)

Digital reception is not affected by normal interference but the picture breaks up if the signal is not strong enough so set top boxes have been troublesome and, for the same main reasons so have DVRs/PVRs like the Digifusion series: FVRT100, FVRT150 and FVRT200

In fact DVRs seem even more vulnerable to a poor signal than STBs, perhaps because they are more complicated in that they record the digital signal onto Hard Disc in the same way that computers do. Any gaps in signal may corrupt the system and lead to the need to reset everything by re-formatting the hard disc, which is quick and easy to do but loses everything which has been saved

It is a budget machine but, no more or less than the more expensive twin tuner DVRs, works only if the signal is strong enough; weather conditions can affect this, especially in marginal reception areas

The Electronic Programme Guide
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''
There are two types of EPG:-
1. FVRT uses the superior '4TV system' EPG, which is automatically downloaded from the airwaves at around 0300 and is stored on the hard disc - this means that up to 14 days in advance all the programme titles with useful synopses are instantly accessible from a list, and can be selected on-screen for recording

2. In contrast to this, the 'Freeview system' used by some other PVRs provides a list which is only for 7 days ahead. This has to be downloaded again each time you switch the machine on, and with some boxes the details can take quite a time to show up

Setting up
''''''''''''''''''''
With most VCRs you can just tune a channel on the TV to the RF output of a VCR, but FVRT does not have an RF output

You need to connect its best RGB/video (AV1) SCART output socket to the TVs input socket through a SCART lead, which is not supplied

The TV's TV/AV function is then used to select the right AV channel to display the picture from FVRT

There is a second (non-RGB) SCART output socket which can be used to backup recordings onto a DVD or Video recorder

Potential Problems
'''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''
The remote control is a little fiddly and plasticky, but there are plenty of alternative remotes available

The originally supplied 3A power supply was inadequate and caused crashes when it couldn't keep up. However once we obtained a 12v 5a laptop PSU the FVRT200 has been reliable. If within 18 months of purchase an updated type with higher capacity can be supplied free of charge

FVRT100 and 150 have 40GB (storage capacity) hard discs but FVRT200 has 80GB and the extra capacity can be useful - mainly because if you do use most of the space the system can become unstable and need a re-set by formatting the hard drive, thus losing recorded material or details of recordings already scheduled

Enthusiast's advice: repairs and modifications
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Much information is available on DigitalSpy's Personal Video Recorder digifusion forum, and some useful modifications are explained there. The experts on this forum offer step by step ways of dealing with snags; although electronically illiterate I was recently thus able to remove the hard disc to correct its sector errors on my PC at no cost. Hard discs do develop errors or wear out but there is even a list of those which have been successfully used as replacements, so this box may be better future-proof than most

The menus are good but the colours and graphics do not suit everyone, and the experts have collaborated to produce a patch system which can be installed using a £2 lead connected to a PC for a variety of alternative colour schemes. This can be combined with one to change the 'add scenes' feature which can remove a requirement to decide whether to generate scenes for each recording; If you do not, but instead later make one scene and then delete it, the skip button requires only 4 or five clicks to jump the adverts, and the patch makes this facility standard without the palaver

Maximum useable HD capacity is presently 120GB for machines using 4TV system. We find that even the 80GB capacity of the FVRT200 is not always quite enough so upgrading could be a worthwhile at upwards of £25 for 3.5" drive, or £45 for 2.5" laptop drive which is quieter and cooler running (although you can still only access a maximum of 120GB). There are detailed instructions on the forum, as well as a list of drives which have been tried successfully

Support and the future
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''
I understand that Beko has recently taken over and that a stripped down 'Sony' clone (SRVS500) of the FVRT200 has also been marketed, but the support line 08702 405 005 currently works well, offering replacement for about £80

Conclusion
''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''
This DVR works very well indeed and seems very good value

PVRs have had their teething troubles and brand loyalists or detractors, but I think Digifusion FVRT series has the best features, while it is the fast 14 day 4TV EPG which really sets it apart

(An FVRT400 model, possibly with 160GB, was said to be imminent but is still advertised as 'out of stock' so maybe it will never materialise)

tranx@ June 2006
Revised July 2007 

...less