DGTEC DG-HD500PVR

DGTEC DG-500PVR simple to use, has not yet crashed – A year or more ago, I found a DGTEC DG-DH500PVR at a local recycling depo. With all the complaints I hear regarding selective PVR band models, that old popular brand models worked while newer models are constantly accused of crashing and other annoying problems. Retail stores are limiting selling selective brand names, I collect old PVR units,… Read more

storing units, using the best performing units when needed.

Last month I pulled out of storage the above mentioned unit, recorded a dozen programs.

Goods points are: program timer is easy to program once users realize the program guide record mark has no relevant connection to manual program timer. Turning PVR on gives users almost instant recording; the PVR will record two channels at the same time, using both tuners.

Down side software problems are: program guide selection for recording has no configuring for late to end programs. Once a program is marked for recording, the program does not appear in the program timer list; the program guide is super slow to appear, often flashes in and out; seeing a program, users want to watch, press record, starts recording selected program, yet if the program exceeds the menu set record time, recording will end at set menu time. Pressing record button twice pulling up timer menu or altering record time, does nothing constructive.

If users want to program a record time within a week, record series programs week after week, day after day, manual timer selections all working fine.

not flashy, no file editing ability known by myself, yet I expect few modern models provide file editing.

If you have this unit and the unit is working, my suggestion is, don't throw the unit away as the previous owner did. Internet users may not find the Internet worth watching same old repeated programs.

My purchase price was $5.00.

Poor product and almost non-existent customer support – I have had this device for several years and have had to just accept its flaws. I got it cheap packaged with a TV. I have never been able to get it to record in the correct aspect ratio. You get two choices: everyone on-screen tall and slim, or losing the left and right edges of the screen so you only get the middle 2/3rds of the televised show… Read more

recorded. Customer service was dreadful - they simply said it's the fault of the TV ... or the user ... or the weather ... or ... leprechauns. Anything except their product. I've had several tech people look at it since and they haven't been able to get it working.

There are other issues with some of the display functions as well, but they're nothing compared to watching the middle 2/3rds of football games.

The only good thing about this device was that it was extremely cheap, as I suspect the electrical retailer knew it was very poor quality.

If it were a horse, you'd shoot it – I returned my DG TEC PVR after only 3 days of use. It was relatively simple to set up and tune etc. It took a little getting used to, to enable me to record but I got there in the end. I must admit (while the unit was working) it really impressed me. The picture quality and ease of recording was great. However.. This item was the biggest lemon… Read more

(electronically speaking) I've ever had the misfortune of owning. Literally within the first 2 hours of operating things started to go wrong. The picture would just freeze but sound still came through as normal. Switching off at the wall was the remedy. Great, this happened at least once every 20 mins or so.

Next the 'menu' screen would just turn on automatically and constantly flick between channels like it was possessed. Nothing would stop it. Even turning it off at the wall did nothing for as soon as it turned back on, it would start all over again.

I tried to get in touch with DG-TEC Australia direct. I may as well have been trying to contact aliens from outer space. They never pick up their phone and emails still remain un-answered. Been over a week now.

I purchased from JB HIFI, who acknowledged that they've had lots of DG-TEC products returned. Curious, I thought. You didn't tell me that last week when I bought the bloody thing.

Anyway, hats off to the staff at JB's. They replaced it with a new one. Fingers crossed this time. If this one craps out I'm going to bite the bullet and buy a Panasonic with my store credit.

I've since learned, from many many forum entries about DG-TEC that their products are generally very poor quality and their warranty's are worthless if purchased on line. Personally, I'll never buy their garbage again. Once bitten, twice shy.

Extremely Unreliable peice of kit. If it were a car, it'd be a Lada. If it were a horse, you'd put it down.

ok but frustrating – some times wile recording u can watch 2nd channel but changing channels wile recording will leave the record tv show with no sound for 4 sec each time you change channels 25 spots to set pre recorded tv shows but when u go to epg to recorded u miss ether start or end or both best to manually set time date and channel and allow over… Read more

time per and after for when tv shows run over scheduled by 5-10min

and some times you need to unplug it from wall other wise u cant record and change channels it freezes less you go back to the same channel you r recording.

bright led lights when tourned off at night u can walk around the room with out the lights on, twin tuner ,,,, softe where glitches freezes ,,, need to be powed off and on from wall some times bright led lights when tourned off