Following on from our review of the Archos 5 we’ve been testing out the optional DVR station over the last few weeks.
The DVR station allows you to connect your Archos 5 to a TV set-top box. This allows you to record TV directly onto the Archos 5. You can then detach the Archos 5 from the DVR station and watch those recorded TV programs wherever you are, maybe on the train or in the office for example.
When the Archos 5 is connected to the DVR station you can also send the output to your TV. This means you can browse the internet, as well as watch photos and movies from your Archos directly on your TV screen.
The final thing the DVR station offers is faster battery charging time too.
Box Contents
This is what you get in the box.
- DVR station
- Wireless keyboard/remote control with batteries
- 2 scart cables
- A/C plug with either a 2-pin or 3-pin configuration
- Documentation and setup guide
Setup
Setup is fairly straightforward. Using the provided scart cables you connect the DVR station to your set-top box and TV. At one end of these cables is a scart connector which plugs into the back of your TV and set-top box. The other end of the cable consists of audio and video connectors which plug into the back of the DVR station.
The DVR station also has a HDMI port which means that you can connect the DVR station to your TV using a HDMI cable (not provided), rather than the supplied scart cable.
There are also a set of USB ports on one side.
In our tests we used a Samsung LCD TV and a Sky HD box. We connected the DVR station to the TV using a HDMI cable. The DVR station was connected to the Sky HD box using the supplied scart cable.
We experienced no issues during the initial setup and within a few minutes we had output from the Archos appearing on our TV.
The next step in the setup process is to allow the DVR station to control your set-top box. The DVR station needs to do this so it can record TV programs. This involves setting up the DVR station so it can automatically turn your set-top box turn on and off, and well as change channels.
There is a setup wizard which guides you through this process. You select your set-top box make/manufacturer from a selection list on the screen, and then the DVR station will test a variety of transmit codes to see if can turn the set-top box on and off. After each code is sent you’re prompted to confirm whether the set-top box was turned off.
Once this step is completed it then tests to make sure it can change channels on the set-top box. Again you’re prompted to confirm whether the channels are changed OK.
If you’re going through this setup process then we recommend you get the latest Archos 5 firmware which adds support for more set-top boxes. When we first tested the DVR station last year we could not get it to control our Sky HD box, it was only when the latest firmware was released that we overcome this issue.
Once the setup process is complete the Archos 5 will download TV listings from your set-top box onto the Archos TV Scheduler. Using the TV scheduler on the Archos 5 you can then view TV listings and record TV programs.
Wireless Keyboard
The DVR station includes a small wireless keyboard. When the Archos 5 is connected to the DVR station you can use this keyboard to control the Archos. The keyboard makes data entry slightly easier than using the Archos on-screen keyboard, but it is still fiddly to use in our opinion.
The top left of the keyboard includes a control wheel for controlling the mouse cursor. We didn’t get on too well with this, it needs to be more responsive.
The wireless keyboard is OK but the keys are just too small for our liking. We’re not sure why Archos just didn’t include a full sized keyboard. It would have made controlling the Archos wirelessly so much easier.
Internet Browsing and Media Streaming
Next we tested the TV Out feature on the Archos 5. This allows the Archos 5 output to be sent to your TV. This means instead of browsing the internet or watching movies or photos on the Archos screen, you can view them on your TV instead.
We experienced no issues in this area. We were able to connect to a wireless network, browse the internet and stream photos from our media server onto our TV screen.
Battery Charging
One of the problems with the Archos 5 is the long time required to charge the battery using the USB cable. In our tests anything up to 7 hours which is too long. The DVR station enables much faster charging times, in our tests the charging times are more than halved when using the DVR station.
TV Recording
So, how does the DVR station perform as a TV recorder. In our tests it is OK for recording individual programs, we managed to record several programs this way. We were quite impressed with the picture quality when played back on the Archos 5. We recorded both SD and HD content without any issues.
But there are issues when recording multiple programs. We setup the Archos 5 to record 4 different programs overnight. The first 3 recorded successfully but the final recording failed (it said the file was damaged or incomplete) and the Archos 5 had completely frozen.
The only solution was to use a pin and press the reset button on the side of the unit. Listening to our readers this is not an isoloated case either. Hopefully this can be fixed with a future firmware release, but in the meantime you need to watch out for this.
The other problem is recording programs back-to-back. When a TV program is recorded, 2 minutes is automatically added to the start and end. So a program running from 8:00 to 9:00 will record from 7:58 to 9:02. This means we’re unable to record a second program from 9:00 to 10:00 since the Archos says it conflicts with the earlier recording.
This meant we were unable to record back-to-back programs which in our opinion is a major setback in the current design. Again we hope a future firmware release can fix this problem.
Another issue we ran into a couple of times was the Archos 5 freezing up when used with the DVR station. The only way to fix this was to do a reset. We’ve read that predecessors to the Archos 5 suffered a similar problem, caused by overheating, so that is one possible cause. Perhaps when the Archos 5 is left in the DVR station too long it overheats?
Summary
If you’re looking for faster battery charging, and the ability to browse the internet and stream media to your TV, then the DVR station performs reasonably well.
But there are issues when recording multiple programs, and back-to-back recordings do not work. The wireless keyboard is too small and not really that useful either. A full sized keyboard would be a welcome improvement in the future.
We also experienced several occasions when the Archos 5 would completely freeze up when used in conjunction with the DVR station.
If Archos can iron out these issues (hopefully via a future firmware release) then we’d recommend this device more, watching recorded programs on the Archos 5 is very good. But in it’s current format we’re not convinced it’s a good buy. Beware of the issues before splashing out on one of these.
Buy the Archos DVR Station from Amazon.
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14 responses so far ↓
1 Nathan // Feb 3, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Would you be able to plug a USB keyboard into it perhaps? Might have to look into a more multimedia version of a telly when I get better internet
2 Dean // Feb 3, 2009 at 10:24 pm
According to this forum post the answer is yes.
3 Archos 5 Review // Feb 8, 2009 at 10:08 pm
[...] If you would like to know more, then read our Archos DVR Station Review. [...]
4 Billy // Jun 6, 2009 at 4:40 pm
You say it is not possible record back to back programs as they each overlap by two minutes but you can use the Archos settings to easily change that to 0 0r 1 minutes
5 Dean // Jun 6, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Billy,
Have you got some instructions on how to change the settings to 0 minutes. When I reviewed this item I couldn’t find such a setting.
Also I’ve heard a couple of people report problems recording back to back programs on different channels. Let’s say you record a program on channel 1 and then another on channel 2 back to back. A couple of people have reported issues where the Archos continues to record on channel 1 instead of changing to channel 2 for the second program. Have you experienced any issues like this at all?
Thanks.
6 Matt // Jul 1, 2009 at 1:20 am
I know what Billy is talking about:
Start up your Archos, tap the “TV” icon, and select “TV Scheduler”. Hit the upper right file button, go into “Settings”. Here, you should see a “Pre-record Margin” and “Post-record Margin” Just set both to 0 min. I just did this just now, on the latest firmware. I hope this helps, and if you already figured out this solution, then I apologize.
7 Jane // Aug 4, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I went through the set up wizard and all the codes worked. When I set the dvr to record a show it does not turn on my cable box and only a black screen records. The codes work in the test, but not when it comes to actually recording. I sent the unit into archos and they said nothing was wrong with the dvr unit. Anyone else experience this problem?
8 Toria // Aug 25, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Hi Matt, I tried this, changing the margin to 0 but it just reverted back to 2 minutes either side which means the unit won’t record back to back shows! I do have the latest firmware and am just getting completely fed up with this unit. I think it’s going back to Amazon as ‘unfit for purpose’ as it’s also crashing regularly, losing wifi signal and many other anomalies!
9 Renzo // Jan 13, 2010 at 2:41 pm
you guys know if you can use the usb on the side to connect your digital camera?
10 Dean // Jan 13, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Renzo,
I’m not sure.
You could try posting your question on the Archos 5 review or try the archosfans forum.
11 ronnie // Feb 6, 2010 at 5:25 pm
iv got the archos5 with dvr and i have got sky hd could someone help me to find the code for sky so that i can have the archos work the archos. iv the samsung sky hd thanks for your help
12 shaun // Feb 26, 2010 at 7:18 pm
hi can any body tell me before i buy one of these stn can it record dvd to the archos thks shaun
13 john jefferson // Apr 25, 2010 at 11:42 am
i have a archos dvr station.this is the first working dvr thing that ive experienced first. i know about dvd’s,vcr’s,mp3′s,ipod’s,cause i have a lot of them at home.about the archos dvr station so far im having problems to get it on the screen so i will know to record.my cable box is scientific atlantic 2350 i know it hooks to that.my tv is by sanyo flat screen.and i have a sanyo dvd recorder, a lot of vcr recorders.i just want to know what do i have to do to hook up the archos dvr station up if can explain please do thanks
14 Rome // Jun 30, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I have mine connected to my ps3 and the video is bad. you can not read a word just video.
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