Archos DVR Station Gen 5 for 405, 605, and 705 Players by Archos
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List Price: Our Price: $53.99 You Save: $46.00 (46%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Archos DVR Station Gen 5 for 405, 605, and 705 Players
Digital camera Review: Good docking station, TERRIBLE DVR
Summary: 2 Stars
The GOOD:
If you want to dock your Archos to your TV or you Entertainment Sytem to listen to music, watch video, or browse the web, this is cool The remote is a much better interface for web browsing than the archos itself.
The BAD:
If you want a DVR, forget it.
1. The DVR station does not have a tuner. This means that you have to make sure that your TV (cable box, etc) is on the right channel and you cannot watch anything else at the same time.
2. Only unprotected recorded video can be watched on your TV. If the original video stream is pretected (like most DVDs), you can only watch the recorded video on the Archos screen, NOT on the TV screen. You also can't watch your protected recorded video anywhere else like your PC. Some folks claim that some cable/dish providers protect ALL their content. That would mean that you could only record with your VHF antenna, until that's obsolete next year.
SUMMARY:
I think it's a good product that may be worth $85 as an entertainment docking station with remote for your Archos. It's a horrible DVR.
Digital camera Review: DVR problems
Summary: 2 Stars
I purchased this to go with my 605 Archos Wifi. The 605 workes great does what I want it to do see review.
However the DVR has been nothing but trouble. I plugged 605 into the DVR station and it would not record or display on the TV. Called Archos support put on hold for 30 minutes then when I got through was disconnected not sure who was at fault. SO I sent an e-mail to Archos support hoping for a quick reply, several hours later (longer then I would like to wait) they sent me an e-mail with a list of things to check, connections and settings with a statement that if this doesn't solve the problem call for an RMA to have the station repaired. Rather then the RMA I returned the station for exchange at Amazon. Received the Station the next day, great service. Plugged the station and 605 to the TV and cable box it worked great no problems. THe station worked for a few days but then no display again. Called archos and had to go through the whole process again. This time sent the DVR station to Archos. I had to ship the device at my expense and no waiting to get it back. Web page for checking support says 10-15 days and is very minimal on the information it gives and only updates once a day.
The DVR station is a feature I looked foward to using but it has not worked out. Hopefully it will be returned and I will have no more issues. So I recommend being ready to deal with issues on the DVR. How ever the 605 is a great device that gives me the freedom to watch movies, listen to music and surf the web as well as 160 GB portable hard drive. Think about what you want and read the other reviews. I knew the potential for problems.
Digital camera Review: Convenient remote, yet poor quality and limited connections; cheaper alternatives available
Summary: 2 Stars
I have had three pretty major issues with this product, but it's still worth keeping IMO.
1)The quality is poor. It is acceptable by my standards, but it is not the same as playing the movies on the Archos itself, from your computer, or burning them to a DVD and playing them. This may have something to do with the analog connections. The other quality problem is that I have an HD-TV and the only options for output are NTSC and PAL (although the aspect ratio can be changed). I can't seem to find a way to avoid stretching.
2)My whole entertainment system is HDMI-based. I do have the option of using component, but the system does not have a component-in or a HDMI-in/out. Only s-video. This also poses a problem as my system does not convert s-video to HDMI. Therefore, I have to run an extra set of cables that are poorer quality.
3)Due to my issue above (my dvd and directv only output in component or HDMI), I cannot use this as a DVR. I have also read in other reviews that the DVR side may not be as useful anyway w/o a tuner
Summary:
I would highly recommend the batter charger. This allows for charging from a wall outlet, remotely with the batter, and also offers TV out cabilities which are the primary reason that I'm using this. I guess the only draw back is the lack of a remote.
Also, I believe that there is a travel DVR that may accomplish all of the same stuff but cheaper. Unless you really want the remote (which I do), I would recommend the smaller, cheaper, more portable alternatives. I can accept the poor quality, limited connections, and lack of DVR for the sake of having a Remote to use. I'm keeping mine and can say I'm satisfied for my needs.
Digital camera Review: Archos DVR Unit
Summary: 5 Stars
WOW! This is one product that I don't think I'll ever use all of the features. Too many to mention. Great for transfering videos from your TIVO or DISH to the unit for portable viewing. A great product and well worth the purchase!Digital camera Review: yin & yang
Summary: 5 Stars
Highly recommended add-on to your already impressive Archos 605 wifi. I can share whatever I am viewing on my unit to a larger TV screen for everyone to enjoy. And as in any DVR, you get TV show schedule via download that could be recorded. It says the first year program subscription is free, I wonder how much it costs afterwards?