ExpressVu 9242 HD PVR Discussion thread for Owners Only!

  • Thread starter Thread starter MAJOBIN
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I am getting my 9242 on Saturday a replacement for my 9200, I know the USB port is not operational, but is it powered to be able to power a USB Fan? Thanks in advance for any posts!
 
All the Tech can do is check the obvious things like Signal strengths etc, he will almost certainly just say the 9242 is defective if all else checks out, you will then get yet another receiver shipped out to you as a replcement.

These units do not appear as robust as was first thought, several failing to activate both Tuners, several with failed HD's etc.....
 
This 9242 is a real step backwards from the 9200. I cannot believe the 9 to 13 second channel changes and the audio dropouts. Off to ebay it goes. I thought the 9200 was bad but this thing is a real POS.
 
Yep. In Single mode, the feed to the TV1 outputs is mirrored exactly the same to the TV2 outputs. After all, you might have a 16:9 TV hooked up to one of the TV2 outputs -- it can't tell. (Yeah, it would have been better if they had provided a menu option to allow you to specify the aspect ratio of TV2, like they have for TV1.)
 
Kodemonkee, I would say the unit is defective. My new 9242 has no problem with HDMI feeding a 2006 Hitachi plasma, and no other problems so far. I use it it "dual" mode and the composite output on TV2 works great, as does the RF ch 60/62 which I feed back to my little TVs in bedroom and kitchen.

And thanks Archangel, Tom, and barter for answering my question re the HDD being always on. They could have a "wake-up" feature prior to a download or timer recording, or some sort of cache memory. I really see no need to keep an HDD running all the time. It's rather wasteful IMHO.
 
Don't tell me the 9242 is worse than the 9200? I was thinking of upgrading to the 9242 to get rid of my "jump to live" 9200. I guess I'll wait until Bell brings out the next PVR with the bigger hard drive. Why can't they get these things right the first time? Dish had this receiver in the US for a year already so they should have been able to iron out all the bugs.
 
I'm getting the same problem with audio drops. I've tried HDMI and Optical and it doesn't make a difference, they both drop! Has anyone called Bell about this?
 
As a new owner, the problem with the sort of forum splitting IMHO is that people looking to buy want to ask owners what they think and questions on the 9242, by splitting all the foums on this site it is much slower to get any sort of useful reply. Just my 2 cents on the subject as a new 9242 owner.
 
I wonder if any people with HDMI video trouble such as long times for HDMI to pick up on video or long channel changes are coiling and tying the HDMI cable into bundles if it's too long for the distance from their receiver to the tv.... If the cable is deformed by coiling and tying too tightly, the performance can be degraded. Note the minimum bend radius in the link is 1"- for a good cable. I've seen a lot of people choke the heck out cables with cable-ties to tidy up the mess of cables instead of planning the layout using correct lengths of cables. So DO NOT coil and tie HDMI cable in a bundle... Instead get a section the right length for your installation so you won't need to coil it. Each tv hdmi input could be affected differently by distorting the HDMI cable on its input. In theory, you could kill the performance of the cable by coiling it.
(just sayin')

Here is a link to an interesting review on HDMI cable: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/other/cable-benchmark/hdmi-cable-benchmark.html
 
There are tons of threads around here complaining about audio dropouts on HDNET from many BDU's so why blame it on the 9242?
 
My son was watching tv this morning and I was watching the news, and I got kicked off when it started recording another show. How many live shows can you watch when taping. I think only one.
 
I saw one as soon as they came out, channel changes were similar to the 9200, about 1 or 2 seconds, that same receiver now is at least 4 to 5 seconds. I don't think the software has changed but something has. Curious.

I know it should not be but could it depend on the amount of drive sapce available, I know sill yidea but just a crazy thought.
 
What is the difference between "Line Mode" and "RF Mode" The manual is unclear on this. I am using my HT for audio connected via Optical out. Which setting should I be using? I've also got a second tv connected via RG6

Thanks,
 
I think the firmware is v180... not sure i'll have to check tonight but when I look before the installation and activation it was v180.

First thing i really don't like and that's bugging me a lot.. it's the time it take to change from one channel to the other... almost 7 seconds of a black screen.

And the sound doesn't seem to be in synch with the picture, using optical cable.
 
I don't think anyone has mentioned the new recording options on the 9242. So far, I've found:

  • Under Timers, there is new Manual Timer option, allowing you to set the time & date manually as well as Type, Frequency and duration.
  • VuPass now has options to 'Set Resolution', 'Set Frequency'. The first one allows you to choose HD Preference, HD only or SD only.
  • VuPass has a nicer summary screen showing all the settings you've chosen before creating the timer.
  • There are HD logos over everything that's HD, including your timers.
  • I'm not sure if this is new, but if you hit the record button, then Options, you can Stop Recording, Extend End Time, Create Recurring Timer, and record entire event. Does the 9200 have that!?
Those are the only differences I've noticed so far, well, except that the PVR buttons on the remotes are now colored purple, green, grey, yellow and blue ;)

-Mike
 
I am renting a 9200, and I'm past the contract expiry. Today I bought the 9242, had FS price beat BB's $499. So I'll need to phone bell and make the swap, I believe they send me a box to return the rental, correct? Anything else I should be expecting from them when I phone? Is it dificult to get them to give me some programming credits or other bonus for committing to their equipment and service? Is there any way to move my recordings from the rental to the new box? :eek:
 
Well it may or may not be the 9242 but if I rewind and play the same segment I don't get the same dropout so it doesn't appear to be the feed, but the hardware, right?
 
Same problem for me with my 9242 and DPP equipment. I love the receiver except for the brutal channel changes which are worse on SD. HD channel change time is almost always within two seconds, SD channel changes are usually over five...:(

I have had the same problem whether the hard drive is empty or full.
 
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