just bought my archos 5 with dvr

[dj273]

Been reading alot on here about it and everything that needs to be done so It will "work" like it should.

So, What do you all think I should do to get it working right. any help will be good. I just ordered it from archos.com and I hope I didnt get in over my head. I dont even know what os it will have coming from them.

Here is what i do know.
1. I will be using it as both a web tab and a vid/music player. a movie recorder, and light reading. I would like to get the hack to the full andriod market.

2. I can find alot of things out and I love to play with my toys.

3. With the right knowledge I can do anything you all tell me.

SO any help is welcome and please do tell me everything I need to do.


Oh it was $229.99 with the dvr the 5 unit and next day air. Not a bad buy all all for all of this.

[photopaul65]

After my disappointment with Archos not releasing the 43 8gb in the US at the $199 price point, I've been considering this deal as well. $249 puts the 43 too damn close to the 70 in price, and the 70 is just to big to carry conveniently.

A few of my questions about the 5IT:
Have the DVR issues in the USA been resolved (guide provider needed for recording)?
One early Archos promo video for the 5IT stated that the device could record directly from a DVD with the DVR dock. Is that true? Never seen that mentioned anywhere other than that video. If the DVR won't function in the US, then the ability to record directly from DVD would partially make up for that.

[beermebeerme]

You will be pleased.
The dvr station will record from any type of player with component, composit, s video, or hdmi outputs. Just remember that it is not a pass through recorder. Once recorded you can watch on the tv of your choice. Find the market hack and install it. You wll have to set up a google mail account. I use Jorte as my personal calendar because it links to google calendar and I can update from my archos, my phone, or my computer and it updates everywhere. Look for cheap micro sd cards. Walmart has an 8gb for $24. There are tons of tutorials on youtube and even more step by step on these boards.

Again, enjoy and visit the boards often.

Randy

[paulus3476]

Just to clear up a few points the last poster made
1. It will not record from hdmi source - we wish !
2. It will record from tv even in the U.S , it just won't make scheduled recordings due to the lack of an epg , it will still make manual recordings
3. It will record from dvd player directly but, as most dvd's are copy protected, you will be left with a copy on your Archos that can only be played back on the Archos screen - this is why most people rip dvd's on a pc, the drm is removed and a much more versatile copy is obtained.
4. It will also record from rgb scart

[dj273]

I know all about the dvr only working on manuel in the USA. I have done my searching and things like this. so I know this and It doesnt bother me.

I am more looking at what updates I need to get and what apps work the best for you all. I know about the working apps in wiki. Just wondering about the firm ware updates and the keyboard hacks, market hacks, screen hacks, and things like that that arent in a list like the apps that work in wiki.

[photopaul65]

Go to know that the DVR works manually, not a big deal to me that I can't schedule it. I assumed direct DVD recording retained the DRM and can only play on the Archos, again, not a big deal. I rip most of my DVD's, but some movies just refuse to rip and convert properly (choppy or out-of-sync audio) so this method would be used for those rare occassions (or if I really don't feel like going through the 2-hour rip n' convert process).
This will probably be a "get me by" purchase until something better comes along. I really feel like the 5IT is a better size/form factor than the 43, and hope Archos gives us a Gen 9 hardware refresh.
Imagine a 5IT with a capacitive screen, physical hardware buttons (as to not take up screen space), an accelerometer, a 3mp AF still/video camera, HDMI out/retain DVR dock functionality, and running Gingerbread? (excuse me while I clean up the drool)
They could take out the GPS to save money and add it as an accessory snap on device.

[sweetypie]

Just to be ABSOLUTELY clear about this. You CAN do scheduled recording (or Timed Recording) but you have to create the "schedule" MANUALLY. The only thing you're missing is the EPG, where you can select a program and let the EPG make the recording "schedule" for you.

So you CAN set the DVR to record later, when you're not at home, therefore it does have a form of scheduled recording. You're not glued to the device just to record something.

[paulus3476]

Also , there is no need to do any conversion to the dvd's - ripping simply removes the copy protection and you can then drag and drop the .vob files onto the Archos, it will then play them seamlessly just like you're dvd player would ( dvd plugin required ) without audio sync probs etc.

[photopaul65]

Nice to know it plays straight .vob as well (learning a lot here, thanks!)
I still convert after ripping for other devices laying around, a necessary evil for unsophisticated gadgets like the ipod touch and PSP

[coolstrutter]

Just to clear up a few points the last poster made
3. It will record from dvd player directly but, as most dvd's are copy protected, you will be left with a copy on your Archos that can only be played back on the Archos screen - this is why most people rip dvd's on a pc, the drm is removed and a much more versatile copy is obtained.

Oh fudge...i didn't know that....my otherhalf is going to buy me a dvr station as part of my Christmas but im sooooo disappointed that the dvd's i have recorded onto my Archos 5 IT 500GB will not play back on any television via the dvr station due to copy protection.

[sweetypie]

Just to clear up a few points the last poster made
3. It will record from dvd player directly but, as most dvd's are copy protected, you will be left with a copy on your Archos that can only be played back on the Archos screen - this is why most people rip dvd's on a pc, the drm is removed and a much more versatile copy is obtained.

Oh fudge...i didn't know that....my otherhalf is going to buy me a dvr station as part of my Christmas but im sooooo disappointed that the dvd's i have recorded onto my Archos 5 IT 500GB will not play back on any television via the dvr station due to copy protection.

Interesting. The question begs to be asked, without a DVR station, how did you record those DVDs onto your Archos?

[coolstrutter]

Just to clear up a few points the last poster made
3. It will record from dvd player directly but, as most dvd's are copy protected, you will be left with a copy on your Archos that can only be played back on the Archos screen - this is why most people rip dvd's on a pc, the drm is removed and a much more versatile copy is obtained.

Oh fudge...i didn't know that....my otherhalf is going to buy me a dvr station as part of my Christmas but im sooooo disappointed that the dvd's i have recorded onto my Archos 5 IT 500GB will not play back on any television via the dvr station due to copy protection.

Interesting. The question begs to be asked, without a DVR station, how did you record those DVDs onto your Archos?

I have the Dvr-Snap On sweetypie i record my dvd's onTO the Archos using that method it was included in the package deal from QVC.

[sweetypie]

Aha. Me too. And in Tony Limerick's presentation (the Europe MD) on QVC, he said that copied DVD's would be unable to be played back through a TV, due to DRM, only on the Archos' native display.

I love the little DVR snap on. It's so small and portable, but extremely useful and simple to use. I used it to copy over to my Archos a load of Films recorded from TV, last Christmas, from my Sony PVR and my VirginMedia Plus box.

And I used it at my friend's house to record old VHS wedding videos - she was very pleased to get them in digital form.

The future looks like it's not going the "recording" route though, with the Gen 8 devices. "Streaming_R_Us" for Archos now, I think.

Good luck with your Archos and DVR station.

[louie]

Just to be ABSOLUTELY clear about this. You CAN do scheduled recording (or Timed Recording) but you have to create the "schedule" MANUALLY. The only thing you're missing is the EPG, where you can select a program and let the EPG make the recording "schedule" for you.

So you CAN set the DVR to record later, when you're not at home, therefore it does have a form of scheduled recording. You're not glued to the device just to record something.

There is a timer feature? I can set a start and end time and it will start and stop recording as programmed? What is meant by pass through device recording?

Jason

[beermebeerme]

Yep. There is a timer so you can schedule recording. It will not select a channel so your cable / satellite box must be set for the correct channel. Many such boxes allow for auto tuning whch is how, I do it. I set xmine for the wee hours when no one is awake.

Pass through recording is the type found on vcr and other type electronics. The signal goes through the recorder to the tv. With the dvr station the signal goes to the dvr station. The only way out is to play the recording. My box has two outputs so I can watch and record at the same time if I want. With only one output jack, one would need to split the signal coming out or connect and disconnect the cables as necessary.

Enjoy,

Randy

[sweetypie]

Pass through recording is the type found on vcr and other type electronics. The signal goes through the recorder to the tv. With the dvr station the signal goes to the dvr station. The only way out is to play the recording.

Sorry to be picky, but again this is not strictly true.
The VCR, PVR etc is really two devices in one box, when compared to the Archos AND the DVR station. The VCR is the Archos and DVR station combined.

So, to compare the two, you need to compare the VCR with THE ARCHOS SITTING IN THE DVR STATION, not just the DVR station alone. The pass through "intelligence" comes from the Archos, not the DVR station.

So what does this mean? It means that, with your cable box connected to your Archos, with the Archos sitting in the DVR station, and TV Out selected on the Archos, then "Video Recorder" selected on the Archos, you WILL see your cable box output on your TV.

So the strict sequence is:

Signal from cable box to DVR Input
Signal from DVR Input to Archos
Signal from Archos to DVR station Output
Signal from DVR station Output to TV.

So you see, if you remove the Archos from the DVR station, there is no link from DVR input to DVR output, so no "pass through" from the DVR on its own.

The practical effect of this is that, you cannot have a setup where the only connection from your cable box to your TV is via your DVR station, and expect the family to be able to watch TV when you leave the house with your Archos in your pocket. It needs the Archos to be in the DVR station to work.

Sorry to seem argumentative, I'm only picking up on the suggestion that "The only way out is to play the recording." With the Archos in the DVR station, you CAN watch live TV, not just recordings.

It should be noted though, that, if you normally watch Hi Def on your TV, from your cable box, you won't get HI Def when watching via your DVR station. Remember that, although the DVR station has HDMI Output, it doesn't have HDMI Input. The input comes via the Scart cable.

[dj273]

Been a week so far and all is going good with the 5it. i have the google market on it and about 100 songs on it and a couple of movies.

dont know how to play FLv. movie format though. downloaded them from hulu and cant get them to play.

Also somewhere along the way I lost the archos media player. Any help on how to get it back???????

this little thing is great.

you mean to tell me that i have to unplug the dvr every time i leave home if im not recording???? is there a way where i dont have to do this????

I would like to leave it hooked up and be able to watch tv when the 5it isn't docked. then when i want to record something all i have to do is set it in the dvr and set it up and record.
I dont want to have to plug everything up every night.

anyhelp would be great..

[beermebeerme]

....as I posted earlier, you can feed the dvr from a 2nd output if available or use a splitter with feeds to the dvr and to the tv.

Randy

[coolstrutter]

Aha. Me too. And in Tony Limerick's presentation (the Europe MD) on QVC, he said that copied DVD's would be unable to be played back through a TV, due to DRM, only on the Archos' native display.

I love the little DVR snap on. It's so small and portable, but extremely useful and simple to use. I used it to copy over to my Archos a load of Films recorded from TV, last Christmas, from my Sony PVR and my VirginMedia Plus box.

And I used it at my friend's house to record old VHS wedding videos - she was very pleased to get them in digital form.

The future looks like it's not going the "recording" route though, with the Gen 8 devices. "Streaming_R_Us" for Archos now, I think.

Good luck with your Archos and DVR station.

I have had an email this morning from "advancedmp3players" as i had asked them when they would be getting more stock of the DVR station and this is the reply i received........
"Thank you for your email. We've now been informed that this DVR station has now been discontinued by Archos so we will not be receiving any further stock unfortunately."
In the email they sent me the link to purchase one direct from Archos but it is double the price that advancedmp3players were charging right upto last week when they were taking advanced orders for it.

[paulus3476]

They can be bought for as little as £65 new - google is your friend