Archos DVR Station Gen 5 for 405, 605, and 705 Players
by Archos
|
Our Price: $125.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $75.00 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Archos DVR Station Gen 5 for 405, 605, and 705 Players
Customer Review: Very Poor Quality Workmanship
Summary: 1 Stars
I have had this device since February 2008. When I received it, there was a little rattle that I could hear, but it worked fine. After about a month of use, all of the sudden it would not work. It would charge the Archos fine, but no output to the TV. I contacted Archos and they had me send it in, on my dime.
Well, if you haven't dealt with Archos customer support before, be ready for lots of waiting and people that know very little about their product. The first lady I talked to didn't know the difference between a DVR and the Archos unit. I finally got a ticket to send it in, and even though their warehouse is a short distance from my house, they required I pay for shipping. They spent 2 weeks trying to fix it, then sent it back. There was no difference in the performance. The same problem still exsisted. So I had to contact them again and pay for shipping, AGAIN! I just got it back, it is now October, and the S-video output still doesn't work. Luckily, I have an adapter for S-video to RCA so I know it somewhat works. If I didn't, I would have to go buy an adapter or a different cable. They only include an S-video cable with the unit.
So, buyer beware with this product. I also have an external battery pack that outputs to the TV and can plug into the wall for charging, so I would recommend that product instead of this one. It is cheaper, less bulky, and has less parts.
Customer Review: Worth every penny
Summary: 5 Stars
I received my DVR station unit promptly with the FREE super savers shipping (Thanks Amazon) and I think that the unit needs some explanation. If you want to record TV, you will have to use a VCR that has video output using some composite cables (not included). I have a subscription to Comcast and I have not tested out the TV Program guide for the Archos 605 (you need to download the guide from the Archos website) but I am pleased with the ability to record the on-demand content.
There are many options with the video recording feature, the highest being 2500 kbit/s and 48 khz for the audio. It is also possible to record audio only using the included red and white cables. Also, the nice feature is the ability for the input device to pass-through to the TV. For example, recording through composite cables from a Gamecube or PS2 appears choppy on the Archos 605 screen because the unit can only handle 30 frames per second but if you connect composite cables from the DVR to the TV in the output ports, the TV displays the gameplay as if there were no DVR connected, allowing someone to record from any standard definition device while watching in real-time on the TV.
However, the best feature by far is the included remote. It runs on 2 AAA batteries and the comfortable design has two seperate plastic covered slots
Customer Review: Worse Ever!
Summary: 1 Stars
This is the worse product ever. It works fine physically and you can watch movies that you convert, download, etc as long as they are of a certain format but if you would like to use it as a DVR and record TV you are out of luck.
The worse one is that they advertise on their site that you can record using a local directory. You know pick a directory, hit record and it put's in everything for you. Well that is not working and has not been working for months. The reply from their tech support is "I have been told the service will be unavailable for a while. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.". Translation for Archos of a while is usually 2-6 months.
Originally when I bought it I was stuck without a directory for 2 months, they finally got it going. I then switched providers last month and for a month I get the same reply back, in fact that option has been removed from the user options on their web page.
The other thing is that this device does not control certain devices. What I mean is that it will not turn on certain devices in particularly the Motorola devices from Verizon FIOS. Which means you either leave your cable box on all the time or you are stuck with a dust magnet sitting in your entertainment center.
DO NOT BUY!
Customer Review: Great device, but watch for burnout
Summary: 4 Stars
Basically I love this product. I've almost stopped using my dvd player because I can load up my Archos 605 player, put it in the dock and watch on the big screen without any fuss or bother -- that is, as long as it works.
The only drawback was the first unit I got lasted less than three months before burning out. I was plugging and unplugging the cables on a fairly regular basis because I was using the unit on more than one tv (won't make that mistake again), but I feel that is no excuse for such a ridiculously short lifespan. Luckily, I bought the docking station early in the holiday season when Amazon had an extended return/exchange period and to their credit they exchanged the defective unit immediately at no cost to me.
[edited to add on 2/27]
The day after I originally posted this review, my second dvr burned out. This time Amazon won't replace it, but they will refund my money. I'm getting a mini-dock instead which has only some of the functions I want from the dvr dock, but what can I do when the main dock does not work!?!
I really want love my Archos products, but none of it works right for very long. I wish Archos would build their products sturdier because I am getting completely fed up with them!
Customer Review: Not worth it.
Summary: 1 Stars
bought the ARCHOS 605 WIFI thinking I was going to have a great device and then found out each thing I wanted to do I had to get a plug-in for Internet or for certain format of videos or in this case the DVR station to download directly from my satelite connection. They don't tell you it doesn't work with DirecTV, only with DISH (if you buy the plug-in, $39) and if you want you are told you can sign up online and register the product and then they'll make accesible a TV guide programming for your area; two weeks and nothing, their system kept telling me "no tvguide programming available in your area". I live in San Francisco, CA. !!! CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS TOO. if you're lucky for them to answer the phone (i tried many times, more than 20 times in 2 weeks, and the only time they answer the phone, took 20 minutes wait with a voice saying, "you're very important to us" (LOL) the other times I would put the phone in speaker phone and run errands in the house while on hold and the longest it went was 40 minutes.... when i realized i'd forgotten about the call and the phone was still going on and on "your call is very important to us"
THIS COMPANY SUCKS>