Pace Twin PVR
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The PACE Twin PVR (Personal Video Recorder) was launched in the UK in March 2003 and was the first to offer hard disk recording of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT or DVB-T) with no subscription. It was also known as the Pace 'Puma'.
If you're familiar with Sky+, think of it as Freeview+.
It received the following awards:
- Dec '03 Best Buy - What Video & Widescreen TV
- Dec '04 5 Stars - What Hifi Sound & Vision
Pace pulled out of the UK Freeview market (according to a July '05 press release).
Contents |
[edit] Background
[edit] Technical specification
- RF pass-through
- RF output ch. 21-69
- Two Scart Sockets: one RGB, one composite/S-Video, Widescreen 16:9 picture handling
- S-Video Out
- Composite video Out
- Stereo Audio Out (RCA/Phono)
- Optical Audio Out (TOSLink)
- RS-232
- Remote
- Power, Weight & Dimensions
3Kg Weight Inc Packaging (Approx)
355 x 65 x 270mm (W/H/D) Dimensions
115 - 230V AC; 50/60Hz Mains Power
36W Power Consumption
[edit] Features
- Twin tuner (Watch one digital channel and record another)
- Pause Live TV
- One touch Instant Record
- Chase Play recording
- 10 hours hard disk recording time
- 7 Day EPG (TV Guide)
- Create Favourite Channel Lists
- Now and Next programme information
- Archive recordings to VCR or DVD recorder
- Library option for Recorded Programmes
- Schedule recording timers from EPG
- Parental Locking
- Fast Forward/Rewind 2x-64x
- 1 Minute Skip Forward/Back (up/down arrow during playback)
- Timer padding (to 5 mins)
[edit] General Comments and Tips
- User Interface is intuitive
- Operation is virtually silent
- Timer Recordings are most reliable when unit is in stand-by (built-in protection against failed recordings)
- Don't save Timer Recordings while the box is recording (they can't be saved to reliable flash, only memory, so won't be retrieved in the event of a box reboot)
- If you experience poor reception while recording, carry out the Earthing Mod (see below)
[edit] Feature Requests
- Dual record
- Top-up TV slot
- Subtitle recording
Note that Pace has made it clear that no such feature requests will be entertained -- any future firmware updates will be bugfixes only - which is fair enough too!
[edit] Software updates
Release history and contents is here
The last Over The Air repeat download of v1.7.71 was listed as:
- Start 01/06/2006 - End 03/06/2006 Pace Twins PVR v1.7.71 Repeat
Further downloads are extremely unlikely since subsequent attempts to register on the Pace download notification list receive this reply:
Hello I am sorry but we currently do not have any plans to generate any new software updates for this box so we no longer send emails via this notification list. Best Regards Customer Front Office Pace Micro Technology plc Victoria Road, Saltaire, West Yorkshire. BD18 3LF www.pace.co.uk
Apparently Pace will carry out a v1.7.71 firmware upgrade for £10 including return postage.
[edit] Bugs
There is a maintained bug list here.
[edit] FAQ
- 1. What can the card slot on the front panel be used for?
Nothing currently.
- 2. Can I upgrade my hard drive to store more than 10 hours of TV?
Yes, it is possible to replace the existing 2.5" 20GB ATA drive to use up to 137GB of storage for over 70 hours of recording space. The recommendations are to use a similar replacement drive (Fujitsu drives are known to be quieter models) e.g. Fujitsu MOBILE MHS2060AT (60GB). The following drives have been tested and work unless otherwise stated:
- Add yours to the list please. (Please thoroughly test all recording and re-initialising functions first and indicate Firmware version in use).
- Fujitsu MOBILE MHS2060AT (60GB)
- Fujitsu MOBILE MHV2060AT (60GB)
- IBM Travelstar 4200rpm 40Gb (IC25N040ATC504-0) - Works fine, but clicking (seek noise) is quite noticeable during live pause and chase play.
- Fujitsu MOBILE MHT2080AT (80GB)
- Fujitsu MOBILE MHV2080AH (80GB) - Quiter still than MHT series
- Fujitsu MOBILE MHU2100AT (100GB)
- Fujitsu MOBILE MHV2120AT (120GB)
- Western Digital 80GB 2.5" Scorpio and "60Gb WD" - Asks the question whenever switched on from startup: "Your disk has already been initialised. Press OK to keep your current disk settings, press Red to setup your disk and delete all recordings". If OK is chosen then it works fine. This does not affect timed recordings. This is suspected to be due to a slightly longer spin-up time and may affect other/all Western Digital drives.
- Samsung 80GB 5400rpm (PC World product code 901870) AND Samsung 120GB 5400rpm HM120JC. Neither of these are suitable under firmware 1.7.71. Initialise OK and Record OK at first. Any attempt to initialise again such as to alter 'live pause' size will result in the message 'Disc has problems' appearing. The unit is fine again after re-installing the original 20GB Fujitsu drive.
- Seagate 40GB 5400rpm (ST94813A)
- Western Digital WD800VE 80GB works fine - does not cause startup question as above.
- next one...
- 3. How do I contact PACE for support?
Mail them here
- 4. How can I obtain a spare remote control?
Remotes can be purchased through the Paceshop website. Cost is £22 inc. VAT and postage.
- 5. How do I quickly select a program for recording in the EPG?
Press the 'Clip' button.
- 6. How do I quickly show the Signal info. from the channel List page?
Press the 'Info' button.
- 7. What are the steps to replace the hard drive?
Power off the unit, remove cables. Remove the cover (three screws on the back upper edge and two screws on both side panels (seven in all). Slide the lid backwards slightly and then pull the back edge upwards to remove as the front top edge sits under the front panel. Remove the four screws holding the drive mounting to the unit and disconnect the drive cable from the main board. You may need to pull off the silicone sealant holding the cable on. Remove the four screws holding the drive to the mounting and remove the drive. Remove cable from drive, again you may need to remove silicone sealant. Reassemble in reverse order and then recable. Power the unit back up, and the drive will reinitialise. Note that the s/w is in flash so will not be affected by drive changes.
- 8. How can I be notified of any s/w upgrades?
Mail PACE here to be added to their notification mailing list.
- 9. Can I archive programs off the hard disk directly?
Yes, there is a utility TwinRIP that allows this to be done at faster than real-time speeds.
- 10. What is the "earthing modification"?
This modification has been observed on some later PACE Twins and on returned models. It seems to cure some reception issues (especially if poor reception or higher-than-normal signal BER figures are seen when both tuners are on the same channel - the latter occurs if you are watching a channel and press Record). There seem to be two variations of the mod:
- Soldering the outer part of any internal RF/aerial plugs to the sockets.
- Soldering an earthing strap between the two tuner boards.
Pictures may be seen here.
- 11. What is the new S/W Download Procedure?
It is advised, although not essential, that the disk be Initialised and the settings returned to Reset (from the menu) before accepting new software. Software is broadcast on the BBC1 and BBC4 channels.
This is the sequence for downloading software:
- After getting the invitation to download the new software, and setting it in motion, note the Version number in the box. Then start it off and the download takes place with a bar indicator. It is possible that the download will stall (often at about 80%), in which case, click on Return and Confirm. The box will initialise and end up in standby ready to start again.
- When the download itself is complete, installation starts and a warning not to switch off is given – check the start time when this message occurs so that if it stalls again showing the word “bad” on the box, the point 20 minutes after it has started will be known. Once this point has been reached, but not before, it is safe to power down completely at the mains (the handset will not work in this condition) and start a new download. First check that the software for both Master and Slave are reading the old version. If not, then you must contact PACE for advice.
- For a successful installation, the following displays appear on the front panel of the PACE box:
a. Countdown from 100 to zero in twos b. FLSh c. Good d. U21P (red and green LEDs come on) e. clrF f. PrGF g. U21P h. clrF i. PrGF 4. The box powers down 5. The box powers up 6. Display shows Init 7. The box powers down
- The sequence is now complete, and the box can be used. The software should be checked to see that it is upgraded, as some boxes have got this far but not in fact upgraded. If not, do a mains power down and repeat from the beginning.
- 12. Which Universal remotes work with the Twin?
OneForAll's response:
"The following remotes will either work straight away or can be downloaded over the telephone to work in a matter of minutes:
One For All Prime Line 4 URC7740 (TV,VCR,DVD,SAT/Cable) One For All Metallic 5 URC7552 (TV,VCR,DVD,AUD,SAT/Cable) One For All Metallic 6 URC7562 (TV,VCR,DVD,CD,AUD,SAT/Cable) One For All Kameleon 4 URC8040 (TV,VCR,DVD,SAT/Cable)- It is likely that one also has to be sent off for upgrade by One For All One For All Kameleon 6 URC8060 (TV,VCR,DVD,CD,AUD,SAT/Cable) One for All kameleon 4 URC8204 (TV,VCR,SAT,DVD) One For All Kameleon 6 URC8206 (TV,VCR,DVD,CD,AUD,SAT/Cable)
The following remotes will work but may be sent to OFA for an update to full key mapping.
One For All Signature 4 URC7040 (TV,VCR,DVD,SAT/Cable) One For All Digital 4 URC7544 (TV,VCR,DVD, SAT/Cable)"
Otherwise once the basic correct base device code has been found and if all the keys don't work correctly, then below is the full Pace remote keycode list that you can use to manually map any OFA key (using the KeyMagic function):
num 0,089 num 1,213 num 2,217 num 3,215 num 4,219 num 5,212 num 6,216 num 7,214 num 8,218 num 9,085 vol up,152 vol down,021 mute,059 channel up,155 channel down,150 power,181 TV1-TV2,148 tv/dtv,023 return,027 menu,020 guide,103 up arrow,086 down arrow,151 left arrow,090 right arrow,153 OK,149 subtitles,104 timer,234 info,102 skip backwards,235 skip forwards,231 play,106 pause,164 rewind,233 fast fwd,229 stop,228 record,154 exit,107 TV2 channel up,232 TV2 channel down,230 Text,100 Clip,169 List,105 Library,024 Red,087 Green,091 Yellow,084 Blue,088 slow,090
Others:
OmniRemote for PalmOS can be successfully used to replicate all the functions of the Twin remote. A database containing the codes can be downloaded from http://www.thesparrows.net/
- 13. Are there any short-cut keys not mentioned in the manual?
- Up/Down arrow keys - shift playback forward/backward by one minute
- Pressing Play while watching live - resumes playing the last viewed item from the library at its resume point
- List then Info - shows the Technical info for that channel
- Ch +/- - changes the recording being viewed in playback mode
- When in EPG, pressing Vol+/Vol- changes the visible scale on screen from 2 hours to more or less time
- Return toggles between current channel and the previous channel viewed
- Green key gets rid of the "Press red" interactive on-screen prompt, although it is activated by broadcasters, not part of the Twin's software, so doesn't work on all channels (e.g. The Hits)
- Pressing Record while viewing the same channel as currently being recorded will extend the recording end time to include the next programme (if viewing a different channel to that being recorded it offers to stop the recording and begin recording the current programme on the viewed channel)
