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. Six 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, T825, T835, T845 or T845R.
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).
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Jumping/stuttering problems after Winter Hill digital switchover
If you own a Vestel T810, T816 or T825 based PVR, you
may be experiencing problems after digital switchover has happened in your area,
particularly owners using the Winter Hill transmitter in the Granada region (newer T835 and T845R are believed to
be unaffected - please correct me if I'm wrong!).
The symptoms are stuttering/jumping recordings and/or live tv (live tv might only
start to jump if recording certain channels, for example) which only started
happening on your box after digital switchover occurred.
Vestel are aware of the issue and are currently investigating the cause
as a matter of urgency, with field tests being carried out by a Vestel
engineer in the Manchester area. Vestel wish to thank everybody on their
patience regarding this matter while they work on finding a solution.
I would also like to thank everybody who responded to my request to add
their details to the list at pvrbugs.futaura.co.uk - login in (anonymously or not)
and then enter "167" in the "Jump" box after logging in. With your help
we managed to show Vestel how widespread the issue is and allowed Vestel
to find somebody to demonstrate the problems to their engineer. Feel free to
add your details there if you haven't already.
I would also like to hear from people (via e-mail address at top of page) who have
observed no problems with their T810, T816, T825, T835 or T845R based PVRs after
DSO occurred in the Granada region (Winter Hill transmitter) on 2nd December 2009.
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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 DTR0207 (Tesco) ·
Digihome PVR80 and PVR160 (Argos) ·
Dual DPVR80 and DPVR160 (Asda) ·
Durabrand DPVR801 (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 | 2006-07-17 16:42:44 | 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 | 2006-08-23 15:28:09 | 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 | |
| 5.7 | 2008-11-18 15:18:58 | OAD / RS232 | 30 seconds | Fixed support for 8K COFDM mode (previous versions fail to pickup channels on multiplexes switched to this mode after digital switchover) |
| 3.7 | 2008-11-19 13:24:51 | OAD | 60 seconds | Fixed 8K COFDM mode for Goodmans GHD8015F2 |
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) ·
Durabrand DPVR801 (Asda) ·
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 / RS232 | 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 tends 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 supplied on the Sharp TU-160HA |
| 6.8 | 2007-11-29 13:48:12 | RS232 | 30 and 120 seconds | Yes | Yes | Freeview Playback Group 2 |
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):
Alba ALDTR160 (Argos) ·
Digihome DTR80 and DTR160 (Argos) ·
Durabrand DPVR801 (Asda) ·
Hitachi HDR082, HDR162, HDR163 & HDR253 (Argos) ·
Logik LPVR168 (Currys/Dixons) ·
ONN DTR80 and DTR160 (Asda) ·
Sharp TU-R162H & TU-R252H ·
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 / RS232 | For non-HDMI units |
| 2.8 | 2007-11-13 18:12:13 | Factory | Hitachi HDR082/162 |
| 4.8 | 2008-01-29 ??:??:?? | Factory | Wharfedale LP160DTRHDMI |
| 4.9 | ????-??-?? ??:??:?? | Factory / RS232 | Wharfedale LP160DTR & LP250DTR |
| 7.2 | 2008-03-20 ??:??:?? | Factory | Sharp TU-R162H & TU-R252H |
| 10.2 | 2008-06-11 ??:??:?? | Factory / RS232 | Alba ALDTR160 |
| 10.2 | 2008-09-03 06:42:18 | Factory | Logik LPVR168 |
| 11.2 | 2008-07-30 ??:??:?? | Factory | Sharp TU-R162H & TU-R252H |
| 11.3 | 2008-07-28 ??:??:?? | Factory | Hitachi HDR163/253 |
| 12.3 | 2009-05-15 ??:??:?? | Factory | Hitachi HDR163/253 |
| 12.4 | 2009-06-22 12:57:21 | Factory | Hitachi HDR163/253 |
Vestel T845 based PVRs mark a departure from the software that evolved on the T810, T816 and T825 models. They first appeared in July 2008 and being Top Up TV+ recorders, they use the Top Up TV software / interface (same as use on Thomson Top Up TV boxes) which is completely different to all previous Vestel models. The hardware is apparently pretty similar to the T825, although the T845 uses a SATA HDD compared to the IDE drives that older models used.
Currently known variations include (alphabetical order):
Bush TU160DTR, TU250DTR, TU320DTR and TU500DTR (Argos) ·
Digihome DG250DTRA08 (Tesco) ·
Luxor TUTV2500 (Comet) ·
Sharp TUTV162H and TUTV252H ·
Wharfedale Top Up TV Digital TV Recorder in 160, 250, 320 and 500Gb flavours (Argos)
Vestel T845R based PVRs first appeared in October 2009, apparently as a direct replacement to the T825 models, and are pretty much the same as the T845 hardware-wise, but use an evolution of the familiar T825 software instead of the Top Up TV software. Again, the T845R uses a SATA HDD, unlike the T825 and previous models, and this is probably one of the reasons that the T845R was made due to SATA drives being cheaper than their IDE equivalents.
Currently known variations include (alphabetical order):
Alba ALDTR160 (Argos)
| Version | Build date | Release Type | Notes |
|---|
| 0.5 | 2009-08-24 08:28:18 | Factory | Alba ALDTR160 |
Vestel T835 based PVRs first surfaced in November 2009 (Argos models appeared in January 2010), and are substantially different to
all previous models. The box/chassis is much smaller, largely thanks to an external PSU and slim SATA hard drive. The downside is that connectivity is reduced somewhat with only a single SCART socket. Unlike previous models, the tuners are built into the main PCB and as such there is just a single RF in/out socket on the back, so no need for the loopthrough cable which the old models required. Also, there is no RS232 socket, but software updates can instead be carried out via the SCART socket. The software used has the same interface as previous models.
Currently known variations include (alphabetical order):
Bush B250DTRCA (Argos) ·
Bush BD320DTRCA (Argos) ·
Bush B500DTRCA (Argos) ·
Ferguson F20500DTR (Comet) ·
Hitachi HDR165 (Argos) ·
Hitachi HDR255 (Argos)
| Version | Build date | Release Type | Notes |
|---|
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