REVIEW – DVX 555u set-top box/DIY PVR

Some months ago, I wrote about a set-top-box I picked up from Strathfield Car Radio called the DVX555u. It was unusual in that it was actually a do-it-yourself personal video recorder (PVR) as well.

Remove the back cover and there was the space, the IDE data and power cables to add in your own IDE hard drive.

At the time, it retailed for about $90 however it’s available now on Deals Direct for $49.95.

Now not only did this make a great little standard-definition PVR, will a little work, it was possible to extract to digital video stored on the hard drive and convert it to DVD. It could also capture (but not replay) high-definition digital TV streams as well.

Although IDE hard drives are starting to get a little thin on the ground in the face of the SATA2 revolution, they’re still available and you shouldn’t have much trouble putting together a 250GB drive and one of these little units for under $130.

Look, it’s certainly not perfect and there are a few features I wish it had (like using the USB interface for outputting video rather than accepting USB drive external storage for reading only) but it’s a compact little unit that actually gives you more functionality than many units I’ve seen at five to ten times the price.

The ability to actually get at the video stored on the drive and burn it to DVD is pretty cool especially at this price. Although the box only mentions a maximum of 250GB, the word is you should have no trouble getting a 400GB drive working in this unit.

The one thing in the manual that does need correction (and also in the on-screen display) is its capacity display. The unit claims to be able to fit 52 hours of video onto an 80GB drive. The real figure is closer to 30 hours.

But all in all, I love devices that give you options and certainly the ability to turn this set-top box into a fully fledged PVR for the price of an IDE hard drive is a definite plus.

SUMMARY:

* Add your own IDE hard drive to turn it into a PVR
* Possible to remove the drive, load it into your PC and with a small software tool, take the video off the drive and store it on your PC for burning to a DVD movie disc.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

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Comments (13)
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#1 written by Colin 4 years ago

Darren

Just finished recording a 300GB HDD and tried switching hard drives with a new 500GB drive so that I may save what’s on first drive to pc. I have an external IDE case that it’s in and it’s hooked up nicely but windows will not read the drive. So I go to Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Storage -> Disk Management only to be asked to initialize disk but i know that doing so will destroy everything on the drive which is DEFINTELY NOT AN OPTION!

What software is available to allow me to read a freshly recorded hdd from DVX555U in windows xp? (If nothing, what else will read this drive)
Does it make any difference that i’ve made the drive external rather than internal? (Internal is a LAST RESORT option)

Thanks

Colin

PS. If any more info is required about my situation, please ask.

darren Reply:
February 8th, 2009 at 9:56 am
You need a small driver tool. Let me dig it up and I’ll get back to you.

Colin Reply:
February 8th, 2009 at 9:58 am
not for the external case is it? i have a disk for that but that mentions windows 98 and i’m using xp pro

Colin

Thanks for quick response

darren Reply:
February 8th, 2009 at 11:07 am
No, it’s a driver for the file system they use on the DVX555u. Windows doesn’t understand it so the driver is like a language translator between the two.
- #2 written by darren 4 years ago
  
  You need a small driver tool. Let me dig it up and I’ll get back to you.
  - #3 written by Colin 4 years ago
    
    not for the external case is it? i have a disk for that but that mentions windows 98 and i’m using xp pro
    
    Colin
    
    Thanks for quick response
    - #4 written by darren 4 years ago
      
      No, it’s a driver for the file system they use on the DVX555u. Windows doesn’t understand it so the driver is like a language translator between the two.
#5 written by Colin 4 years ago

Been looking and found PVR101, does that sound like it?

darren Reply:
February 8th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Almost! Sorry, I forgot what it was and had to look it up myself.
You need http://home.exetel.com.au/billscomputers/hacking/Sigma.zip.
The DVX555u uses the TinyUDF file format and this driver should help Windows see the drive and load up the contents in Explorer.

Colin Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Hi again Darren

I can read the old drive now and now the new 500GB Drive will not record anything properly. The manual does not appear to specify a size limit, it’s hooked up correctly, it appears to record as per normal but when it comes time to play recorded programs there is NO SOUND and NO PICTURE. Everything else works like it used to, the only difference is the new hard drive.

have tried reformatting in the unit but it makes no difference, any suggestions? The new drive is a 500 GB Western Digital with 16 MB cache, The old drive is a 320 GB Western Digital model number WD3200AAJB-00WGA0, i think it has 8 MB cache

what are the manufacturers details since there’s no mention of it in the manual or on the box?

Colin

darren Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Actually, I don’t know who makes it – I bought my unit through Strathfield Car Radio however, as it is going through financial difficulties at the moment, I’m not sure how long it will be around.
I have to admit I’ve not tried anything larger than an 80GB in my unit (I know – slack!) but there reports I’ve read is that 400GB drives were working in it just fine.
Did you format the drive in your PC first before installing it in the unit? Not sure if that will make a difference or not but I’d be looking for anything you’ve done differently with this drive you may or may not have done with the other drive.
- #6 written by darren 4 years ago
  
  Almost! Sorry, I forgot what it was and had to look it up myself.
  You need http://home.exetel.com.au/billscomputers/hacking/Sigma.zip.
  The DVX555u uses the TinyUDF file format and this driver should help Windows see the drive and load up the contents in Explorer.
  - #7 written by Colin 4 years ago
    
    Hi again Darren
    
    I can read the old drive now and now the new 500GB Drive will not record anything properly. The manual does not appear to specify a size limit, it’s hooked up correctly, it appears to record as per normal but when it comes time to play recorded programs there is NO SOUND and NO PICTURE. Everything else works like it used to, the only difference is the new hard drive.
    
    have tried reformatting in the unit but it makes no difference, any suggestions? The new drive is a 500 GB Western Digital with 16 MB cache, The old drive is a 320 GB Western Digital model number WD3200AAJB-00WGA0, i think it has 8 MB cache
    
    what are the manufacturers details since there’s no mention of it in the manual or on the box?
    
    Colin
    - #8 written by darren 4 years ago
      
      Actually, I don’t know who makes it – I bought my unit through Strathfield Car Radio however, as it is going through financial difficulties at the moment, I’m not sure how long it will be around.
      I have to admit I’ve not tried anything larger than an 80GB in my unit (I know – slack!) but there reports I’ve read is that 400GB drives were working in it just fine.
      Did you format the drive in your PC first before installing it in the unit? Not sure if that will make a difference or not but I’d be looking for anything you’ve done differently with this drive you may or may not have done with the other drive.
#9 written by Colin 4 years ago

Hi again Darren

Original 300GB never went near pc before being used in unit and was formatted straight out of the packet in unit (the exact same way I started with new 500GB drive), but I tried what you suggested. I tried initializing 500GB in windows (via external case with USB) and created ~320GB partition and formatted in windows to make it similar to previous drive, whacking it back in unit but it made absolutely no difference even after I tried again to reformat once it was back in unit.

In order to make things less complicated by eliminating different file systems as an issue i purchased a 2nd dvx555u (again from strathfield, i understand the financial difficulties but it appears it’s business as usual which is good) with the plan to feed signal directly to pc and manually “download” programs that way. Wires dangling but it works perfectly. may have problems with synchronising but only set it up last night and my first transfer (about 20 mins worth) worked absolutely perfectly (including sound sychronisation).

Strathfield told me DVX is actually the brand but I can’t find any info when i google “dvx”. Where do I get more expert information about this product given there’s no manufacturer contact details with the product and you’re the only one that I know of who’s reviewed it and responded to me. I am open to more ideas and will take the time to try anything short of buying another 320GB IDE HDD. I’m sure a new 320GB drive will work but just got a 500GB for the very same purpose and don’t wish to do it unless it abolutely necessary.

Awaiting your next suggestion

Colin
#10 written by Monika 3 years ago

Hi Darren,
I too have a DVX-555U that i’ve had for just a couple of months now, everything was working great, I dont really use it for recording other than to watch programmes that cant be tuned into your TV. I’ve searched everywhere to find a solution, my DVX is now playing in black & white, do you have any idea how this could of happened? and how can I fix this?

Digress Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
I have exactly the same issue – but have been using the device without any problems for significantly longer.

I suspect the 3 RCA connection is the problem – investigating it at present.
- #11 written by Digress 2 years ago
  
  I have exactly the same issue – but have been using the device without any problems for significantly longer.
  
  I suspect the 3 RCA connection is the problem – investigating it at present.
#12 written by nathan 2 years ago

can this be used for a PVR for an xbox 360 and do u need splitter cables if so

Darren Yates Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
No, it’s just a straight PVR set-top-box designed to output straight to a TV.
- #13 written by Darren Yates 2 years ago
  
  No, it’s just a straight PVR set-top-box designed to output straight to a TV.
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