Elderly aunt uses a Tvonics DTR-Z500 to receive and record UK freeview. Alongside this, she has a Ferguson Ariva 250 which receives Saorsat.
The setup is that the antenna for terrestrial is fed into the DTR-Z500HD antenna input. There is then a HDMI output from the box to the TV. This allows her to view and record UK Freeview (note: she is located in Northern Ireland).
In order to watch RTE, she is too far north to pick up Saorview, so like majority of people here who do not have Sky, she gets Saorsat. This is provided via a Ferguson Arriva 250. This allows here to view Irish television. The HDMI output from the Arriva 250 is input into HDMI 1 of the DTR-Z500HD. This allows her to switch between both providers using the DTR-Z500HD remote control.
In another room, she has viewing ability only via a LG TV internal tuner for UK Freeview and another Ferguson Arriva 250 for Saorsat.
See image of arragement:
The problem is that whilst watching TV via the DTR-Z500HD, for both UK Freeview and Saorsat there are occasional screen freezes and loss of signal. It is becoming more frequent. There is no issues in the other room - signal strength and clarity in the other room appears to be fine.
So, I'm ruling out a signal issue and pointing the finger at the setup. As both Saorsat and UK Freeview are affected, I'm pointing the finger at the DTR-Z500HD - something related to the TV Out. I'm currently ruling out the TV too.
There was a considerable period of time where the boxes were stacked on top of each other (DTR-Z500HD on the bottom), so I would not rule out an overheating induced problem.
So my question is, can anyone recommend a box which would suit an elderly person with a simple to use EPG so they can record their programmes etc? Am I looking at a linux box here? There are no ethernet points in the room, so it would need to work with WiFi.
Any suggestions for a suitable box or resolution for the current setup? I really don't want this elderly person to have this issue much longer as they live alone and its their main means of entertainment.
Thanks.
The setup is that the antenna for terrestrial is fed into the DTR-Z500HD antenna input. There is then a HDMI output from the box to the TV. This allows her to view and record UK Freeview (note: she is located in Northern Ireland).
In order to watch RTE, she is too far north to pick up Saorview, so like majority of people here who do not have Sky, she gets Saorsat. This is provided via a Ferguson Arriva 250. This allows here to view Irish television. The HDMI output from the Arriva 250 is input into HDMI 1 of the DTR-Z500HD. This allows her to switch between both providers using the DTR-Z500HD remote control.
In another room, she has viewing ability only via a LG TV internal tuner for UK Freeview and another Ferguson Arriva 250 for Saorsat.
See image of arragement:
The problem is that whilst watching TV via the DTR-Z500HD, for both UK Freeview and Saorsat there are occasional screen freezes and loss of signal. It is becoming more frequent. There is no issues in the other room - signal strength and clarity in the other room appears to be fine.
So, I'm ruling out a signal issue and pointing the finger at the setup. As both Saorsat and UK Freeview are affected, I'm pointing the finger at the DTR-Z500HD - something related to the TV Out. I'm currently ruling out the TV too.
There was a considerable period of time where the boxes were stacked on top of each other (DTR-Z500HD on the bottom), so I would not rule out an overheating induced problem.
So my question is, can anyone recommend a box which would suit an elderly person with a simple to use EPG so they can record their programmes etc? Am I looking at a linux box here? There are no ethernet points in the room, so it would need to work with WiFi.
Any suggestions for a suitable box or resolution for the current setup? I really don't want this elderly person to have this issue much longer as they live alone and its their main means of entertainment.
Thanks.
