| Vestel PVR UK Information (Unofficial) | |
This page is a cross-reference for various models and configurations of PVRs
made by a Turkish company called Vestel and sold under a number of different brand names in the UK. Three hardware models are known about, and you can find out which yours is by looking at the sticker on the underside of the unit (or maybe on the box) which will contain either T810, T816 or T825.
You can find out which software build is installed by your box by pressing the menu button and selecting "Configuration", where you will see the software version number quoted next to "Receiver upgrade". If you move down to the version number and press OK and scan for an upgrade, you will be shown your software's build time and date (there can sometimes be different software builds with the same version number).
Vestel T810 based PVRs first began appearing in Summer 2006, and were a cheap dual tuner PVR, but only able to record one channel at a time (and you couldn't timeshift live tv while a recording was in progress).
The Vestel T810 PVRs were phased out around August 2007.
They were available in the following guises (alphabetical order):
Digihome PVR80 and PVR160 (Argos) ·
Dual DPVR80 and DPVR160 (Asda) ·
Evesham PVR160 ·
Goodmans GHD8015F2 ·
Grundig GUSTB80IV and GUSTB160IV ·
Hitachi HDR080 and HDR160 (Argos) ·
Maplin PVR80 ·
Sharp TU-160H ·
Techwood PVR80 and PVR160 (Tesco)
There were no noticable differences functionality-wise between v3.5 through v5.6 software versions - the newer software versions offer improved stability. All versions suffer from EPG population/retention problems (EPG is usually not fully populated to the full 8-days) and the infamous black line bug (bottom portion of picture is missing / cropped off, which may or not be visible depending on your TV's overscan settings).
| Version | Build date | Release Type | Feature Differences | Notes |
|---|
| Skip buttons |
|---|
| 1.2 | 200?-??-?? ??:??:?? | Factory | 60 seconds | Possibly unique to Goodmans branded units, with some functional differences compared to all other brands (e.g. 1 minute skip buttons, unlike the more common 30 second) |
| 3.5 | 2006-??-?? ??:??:?? | Factory | 30 seconds | |
| 3.9 | 2006-??-?? ??:??:?? | Factory | 30 seconds | |
| 4.4 | 2006-??-?? ??:??:?? | Factory / OAD | 30 seconds | |
| 4.9 | 2006-??-?? ??:??:?? | Factory / OAD / RS232 | 30 seconds | |
| 5.3 | 2006-09-19 ??:??:?? | Factory / OAD / RS232 | 30 seconds | This was the last version available via an OAD - repeated in February 2007 |
| 5.6 | 2007-06-08 ??:??:?? | RS232 | 30 seconds | |
Around Christmas 2006 somebody uploaded an unofficial software build (v1.0) that had twin record capability, much like the newer T816. However, although it mostly works fine, due to the T810's lack of DRAM (32Mb) there are problems with EPG population and non-working MHEG / interactivity.
Vestel T816 based PVRs first went on sale in July 2007 after being in development since at least January 2007.
The T816 is an evolution of the T810 hardware, with double the amount of DRAM (64Mb), and Freeview Playback Group 1 compliant software (although Sharp model was later released with Freeview Playback Group 2 support).
Currently known variations include (alphabetical order):
Digihome DTR0207 (Tesco) ·
Digihome DTR80 (Argos) ·
Evesham DTR160 and DTR250 ·
Goodmans GHD8020F2 ·
Grundig GUSTB250IV ·
Hitachi HDR081 and HDR161 (Argos) ·
ONN PVR80 and PVR160 (Asda) ·
Sharp TU-160HA ·
Technika 160Gb DVR (Tesco) ·
Wharfedale DTR160 and DTR250 (Argos)
| Version | Build date | Release Type | Feature Differences | Notes |
|---|
| Skip buttons | Accurate Recording (Event) | Series Link |
|---|
| 1.9 | 2007-01-?? ??:??:?? | Development | 30 and 60 seconds | No | No | |
| 2.4 | 2007-??-?? ??:??:?? | Factory | 120 seconds | Yes | No | This was the initial build shipped with most T816 units when they first hit retail |
| 3.0 | 2007-03-23 14:59:21 | Development | 30 and 120 seconds | No | No | |
| 3.3 | 2007-04-09 08:10:24 | Development | 30 and 120 seconds | No | No | |
| 3.4 | 2007-04-19 17:14:15 | Factory / RS232 | 120 seconds | No | No | Was shipped with early batches of Hitachi HDR081 and HDR161 |
| 3.7 | 2007-05-12 17:53:13 | Factory | 120 seconds | Yes | No | The last batches of most brands of T816 units were shipped with this version |
| 3.7 | 2007-06-21 09:51:42 | Factory / RS232 | 120 seconds | Yes | No | Supplied with Evesham units. Has some annoying little quirks, such as pressing OK to change to the current EPG channel doesn't work and trying to use the EPG during playback returns you to the library after closing the EPG, whilst not remembering the resume point in the recording. |
| 3.7 | 2007-07-04 14:22:30 | Factory | 120 seconds | Yes | No | Supplied with Hitachi units |
| 4.7 | 2007-07-13 07:21:55 | RS232 | 120 seconds | Yes | No | The target of this build is unknown, but contains some very annoying quirks. You cannot press info twice to get information on the current programme; the EPG always lists every channel (ignoring favourites and TV only settings) and the EPG is extremely slow and unresponsive compared to previous versions. It also depends to freeze/crash more often. |
| 4.7 | 2007-??-?? ??:??:?? | Factory | 120 seconds? | Yes | No | Shipped with Grundig units. Archive feature not present and pressing the OK button to start playback displayed a banner for about 5s before playback started. |
| 6.7 | 2007-??-?? ??:??:?? | Factory | 120 seconds? | Yes | Yes | Freeview Playback Group 2 for Sharp TU-160HA |
Vestel T825 based PVRs first surfaced in December 2007 in limited quantities under the guise of the Wharfedale DTR160 HDMI and DTR250 HDMI units from Argos. The T825 offers Freeview Playback Group 2 compliant software, and hardware is an evolution of the T816 hardware bringing new configuration options such as HDMI, CI slot, low power and USB.
In late January 2008, non-HDMI T825 units were made available, with the T816 model being phased out.
Currently known variations include (alphabetical order):
Digihome DTR80 and DTR160 (Argos) ·
ONN DTR80 and DTR160 (Asda) ·
Wharfedale DTR160 HDMI and DTR250 HDMI (Argos) ·
Wharfedale LP160DTRHDMI and LP250DTRHDMI (Argos)
| Version | Build date | Release Type | Notes |
|---|
| 1.7 | 2007-??-?? ??:??:?? | Factory | Wharfedale DTR160 HDMI and DTR250 HDMI only |
| 2.7 | 2007-??-?? ??:??:?? | Factory | For non-HDMI units |
| 4.8 | 2008-01-29 ??:??:?? | Factory | Wharfedale LP160DTRHDMI |
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