Beyonwiz T/U series comparison matrix

[prl]

I'm preparing a comparison matrix to extend the official matrix to add the U4 and to add more information to the comparison.

I'm a bit uncertain about what should be listed for PIP. The official matrix has: T2 - None, T3 - SD+HD, T4 - HD+HD. The official specs for the U4 doesn't list anything for PIP. How do the T series specs stack up against reality, and what should the comparison show for the U4? Or should I just back slowly away from this one?

Here are the current rows for the comparison:

Number of tuners
Simultaneous recordings
HDMI Output
LAN
HDMI Input
Front panel display
RAM/Flash
CPU
Transcoding support
PIP
IceTV
Analog Video
Digital Audio
Analog Audio
USB
eSATA
Internal HDD format (3.5" or 2.5")

For the more technically inclined:
Chipset
CPU model
Cooling (type)
Power supply
HEVC (H.265) decoding
Internal tuner details
Diagnostic output

Any suggestions for other rows? At the moment all I have for HDMI input is yes/no. Should it have more detail, and if so, what?

I'm putting it together in an OpenOffice spreadsheet. Does anyone have any suggestions for the cleanest way to present the table in a forum post? As an image would work, but I'd prefer not.

[exitguy]

HDMI Input - Yes/No (if Yes resolutions supported)

Models - in the column heading, 1 model per column for column B across
Specifications - in the row, 1 specification per row for row 2 downwards

Use an Excel spreadsheet and then convert the final product to PDF that people can either print or download

Having it in Excel means it can be update quite easily and the web update with the output pdf

[Paul_oz53]

I think you have opened a can of worms! My attempt to activate PIP on the U4 ended in tears, so to speak. Please don't take this as a bug report - I am not sure of the exact steps that lead to chaos. I got HD+HD PIP on LiveTV but attempting it on HDMI-IN ended up with a need to switch the power off to reset the machine.

The PIP setup screen mentions using "0" to alter the PiP mode. This caused me to toggle through settings which appeared to work at first but on repeated pressing to return to 'standard', the picture on live TV was a black screen with only the infobar and menus accessible but not the actual picture! Rebooting from Menu>>Power>>Reboot did not respond after a few minutes so I had to hit the power switch.

Regarding the T3, I have no idea what "SD+HD" actually means but it had never worked for me on HD! I only use the T4 on PiP for this very reason.

So, my immediate reaction is that PiP on the U4 only works for FTA. For HDMI-IN it is not working reliably.

[MrQuade]

It might be worth noting under HDMI the maximum supported resolution.
Same for LAN speed, and it might be worth mentioning the maximum throughput limit on the T4.
Web browser/HbbTV support (limited to ABC/SBS and no Freeview, and not suppoted by U4)

HDR support on the U4.
Something about audio codecs supported.

I think it is worth highlighting the exact PiP capabilities.

Maximum supported concurrent recordings.

Just trying to think of other points of comparison to other brands.

[prl]

HDMI Input - Yes/No (if Yes resolutions supported)

I'll happily add them if someone can tell me what they are.

Models - in the column heading, 1 model per column for column B across
Specifications - in the row, 1 specification per row for row 2 downwards

Yes, that's obvious, and it's already how I've done it.

Use an Excel spreadsheet and then convert the final product to PDF that people can either print or download

I've already said it's in an Open Office spreadsheet (Calc). I don't have Excel.

My preference is for something that will display directly in the forum, not something to download and view separately.

Having it in Excel means it can be update quite easily and the web update with the output pdf

That's why it's already in a spreadsheet, just not in Excel.

[prl]

It might be worth noting under HDMI the maximum supported resolution.
Same for LAN speed, and it might be worth mentioning the maximum throughput limit on the T4.

Those two are already in the list. The T4 can do about 300Mb/s, can't it?

Web browser/HbbTV support (limited to ABC/SBS and no Freeview, and not suppoted by U4)

I'll have to think about how best to present that, but it's probably worth having.

HDR support on the U4.

Good idea.

Something about audio codecs supported.

Might be a bit much, but if someone can say what they are for each model, I'll give it a go.

I think it is worth highlighting the exact PiP capabilities.

I agree. That's why I asked about what should go into the table.

Maximum supported concurrent recordings.

Already there, listed against "Simultaneous recordings".

[prl]

Regarding the T3, I have no idea what "SD+HD" actually means but it had never worked for me on HD! I only use the T4 on PiP for this very reason.

IIRC the T3 can do SD+SD main and PIP, HD+SD main and PIP, but no other combinations.

I don't use PIP anyway, but the inconsistency of the implementations would probably lead me to avoid it even if I wanted it.

[prl]

This is the current state of the comparison:

[IanSav]

Hi Prl,

You may want to note that the T3 and T4 are no longer available.

1080i is also Full HD.

Regards,
Ian.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

It might be worth noting under HDMI the maximum supported resolution.
Same for LAN speed, and it might be worth mentioning the maximum throughput limit on the T4.

Those two are already in the list. The T4 can do about 300Mb/s, can't it?

Faster - just then I averaged 45MBps whilst the T4 was also recording. I'm positive in the past it used to hit 55MB/s when it didn't have much else to do.

[MrQuade]

Those two are already in the list. The T4 can do about 300Mb/s, can't it?

Close to 500Mbps in my experience.

I'll have to think about how best to present that, but it's probably worth having.

Maybe easier to list two rows "Web Browser" and "HbbTV". Though how to convey the information that it is not "Freeview Compatible" is another matter.

Might be a bit much, but if someone can say what they are for each model, I'll give it a go.

Perhaps just a high level subset of a slash separated list (MP3/AAC/DD/DD+/DTS/Dolby True-HD/DTS-MA). Might need to split over a couple of rows.

I agree. That's why I asked about what should go into the table.

Maybe the row title should be:
PiP (Main/Inset)
And the columns show the maximum supported configuration:
T2=N/A, T3=HD/SD, T4=HD/HD, U4=??...unreliable??HDMI-IN unsupported??It's complicated??

Maximum supported concurrent recordings.

Already there, listed against "Simultaneous recordings".

Whoops, missed that right at the top.

[Paul_oz53]

Regarding the T3, I have no idea what "SD+HD" actually means but it had never worked for me on HD! I only use the T4 on PiP for this very reason.

IIRC the T3 can do SD+SD main and PIP, HD+SD main and PIP, but no other combinations.

I don't use PIP anyway, but the inconsistency of the implementations would probably lead me to avoid it even if I wanted it.

Tried the T3 after dinner - these are the correct combinations. Main can be SD or HD but the PiP window only does SD. I occasionally use it if flipping between two live sporting events.

[prl]

You may want to note that the T3 and T4 are no longer available.

I intended to do that and then it didn't happen.

1080i is also Full HD.

I'm not sure. I suspect it's an advertising term meaning 1080 rows of pixels, so you may be right.

[prl]

OK, I've added:
Availability (with footnote on "Out of production" saying "PVR firmware still maintained. Manufacturer's System Development Kit (SDK) no longer maintained.")
HDMI Output - removed references to "Full HD".
HDMI High Dynamic Range support (HDR)
Web browser
HbbTV/Freeview+ (with footnote "HbbTV/Freeview+ catchup supported, no other functions. Catchup only supported on ABC & SBS – Commercial catchup is protected with Digital Rights Management (DRM).")
LAN - added footnote on T4 entry: "Has 1000Mb/s interface, but typically achieves a maximum of about 500Mb/s throughput."
PIP (main screen+PIP) - row heading clarifies what the entries mean.

I'm still looking for answers to (or information about where to find answers to):

• Supported HDMI input resolutions & frame rates for T4 & U4.
• Supported audio formats (all models).
• Suggestions about how to describe U4 PIP.

Current table:

Should I add information about support for WizTV?

[Altimes]

Typo in references to rs233 and rs234?

[prl]

Typo in references to rs233 and rs234?

Yes, thanks. Missed the auto-increment when I did the copy across the row in the spreadsheet

[Gully]

Great work Peter.

One suggestion with the layout of the USB ports. Given it already takes two lines, maybe split it into one line for USB2 and one for USB3 and then the details just need to cover the number and location. Makes it a little cleaner.

[prl]

Great work Peter.

Thanks.

One suggestion with the layout of the USB ports. Given it already takes two lines, maybe split it into one line for USB2 and one for USB3 and then the details just need to cover the number and location. Makes it a little cleaner.

Good idea. I've done something slightly different, though. I've kept USB as a single row, but put the USB2 and USB3 entries for the U4 on separate lines in the same cell. I've also put the "(N networks with USB tuner)" on separate lines within the cell in the Simultaneous recordings row.

[peteru]

U4 uses 7252S not 7252 - BIG difference.

Suggest keeping it online as a (read-only) Google Docs spreadsheet. Provide link and perhaps embed an optional screenshot.

No official PiP support on U4. Any traces of it should probably be removed from the UI as a bug. In reality, it can be done under some very limited circumstances, but those constraints are such that making PiP work reliably is not possible.

[prl]

U4 uses 7252S not 7252 - BIG difference.

That's not what the About screen says, but fixed. Thanks.

Suggest keeping it online as a (read-only) Google Docs spreadsheet. Provide link and perhaps embed an optional screenshot.

Maybe, but I don't (yet) use Google Docs. IIRC when I looked at them for file sharing, their T&C was a bit too "everything you think is yours is also ours" for my liking. I'll have a think about it.

No official PiP support on U4. Any traces of it should probably be removed from the UI as a bug. In reality, it can be done under some very limited circumstances, but those constraints are such that making PiP work reliably is not possible.

The U4 PIP support entry now says "No".

[Paul_oz53]

...

• Supported HDMI input resolutions & frame rates for T4 & U4.
  ...
• Suggestions about how to describe U4 PIP.

[/list]
...

Should I add information about support for WizTV?

U4 HDMI-IN:
Width: 1920, 1280, 760, 720, 480, 384, 360, 320, 240, 180
Height: 1080, 720, 576, 540, 360, 288, 270, 216, 192, 188, 144, 135
Frame rate: 60, 50, 30, 25, 24
Interlaced: yes/no

T4 HDMI-IN:
Width: 1280, 760, 720, 480, 384, 360, 320, 240, 180
Height: 720, 576, 540, 360, 288, 270, 216, 192, 188, 144, 135
Frame rate: 60, 50, 30, 25, 24
Interlaced: yes/no

Note: There are no restrictions on implausible combinations.

They each work best at their highest resolutions @60 Hz progressive.

U4 PiP display modes*: Standard, Cascade PiP, Splitscreen, Side-by-side, Big PiP, External PiP
* HDMI-IN is only supported as the main screen, not available (i.e. visible) as the inset screen.

It is interesting that it is not an official inclusion. It does seem to work ok on main services but I definitely found a nasty bug attempting to change the setup with HDMI-IN as the focus. With HDMI-IN as the focus, I had no problems with the TV services displaying.

I am not sure what External PiP actually does - it doesn't pick up the HDMI-IN.

I think WizTV is ancient history, so no.

[MrQuade]

I think WizTV is ancient history, so no.

He means the Android HDMI stick device which is a new product.

[prl]

I think WizTV is ancient history, so no.

He means the Android HDMI stick device which is a new product.

I do.

[prl]

U4 HDMI-IN:
Width: 1920, 1280, 760, 720, 480, 384, 360, 320, 240, 180
Height: 1080, 720, 576, 540, 360, 288, 270, 216, 192, 188, 144, 135
Frame rate: 60, 50, 30, 25, 24
Interlaced: yes/no

T4 HDMI-IN:
Width: 1280, 760, 720, 480, 384, 360, 320, 240, 180
Height: 720, 576, 540, 360, 288, 270, 216, 192, 188, 144, 135
Frame rate: 60, 50, 30, 25, 24
Interlaced: yes/no

Note: There are no restrictions on implausible combinations.

They each work best at their highest resolutions @60 Hz progressive.

I think that will have to go in footnotes!

U4 PiP display modes*: Standard, Cascade PiP, Splitscreen, Side-by-side, Big PiP, External PiP

I think all the display modes for PIP are common to all boxes that have PIP.

I think WizTV is ancient history, so no.

Not the one I mean

[Paul_oz53]

Aah, you mean the dongle! I have one what's worse. I had the ancient web service in mind.

Apart from its capabilities to add streaming to a U4 or a T4, its really a separate product that stands apart from this chart.

It does provide a means to watch catchup TV and some streaming services. It has a better version of youtube and an implementation of Kodi as its major features. As much as I like it as adjunct to the Beyonwiz, I'm not sure what else to say.

[MrQuade]

Apart from its capabilities to add streaming to a U4 or a T4, its really a separate product that stands apart from this chart.

It does provide a means to watch catchup TV and some streaming services. It has a better version of youtube and an implementation of Kodi as its major features. As much as I like it as adjunct to the Beyonwiz, I'm not sure what else to say.

It can also be controlled with a U4 remote (not sure about the T4, If the control is just regulat HDMI-CEC or if there is some other Beyonwiz magic going on there)

[prl]

No magic. The U4 remote has a TV code set setting that can control the dongle.

[Paul_oz53]

Apart from its capabilities to add streaming to a U4 or a T4, its really a separate product that stands apart from this chart.

It does provide a means to watch catchup TV and some streaming services. It has a better version of youtube and an implementation of Kodi as its major features. As much as I like it as adjunct to the Beyonwiz, I'm not sure what else to say.

It can also be controlled with a U4 remote (not sure about the T4, If the control is just regulat HDMI-CEC or if there is some other Beyonwiz magic going on there)

I strongly recommend the keyboard/WizTV remote combination. I can never remember which buttons to press when I use the U4 remote. And the keyboard is vastly superior for moving the cursor and entering text.

[Henk]

Peter,

For the units with external power supply (T2, U4) a reference to:

- the minimum required amperage, and while there
- the output voltage.

By memory the T2 had an issue with an under-dimension-ed power brick.

[prl]

Good idea. I don't have a production T2, so what are the requirements for a T2 power brick?

[Grumpy_Geoff]

Good idea. I don't have a production T2, so what are the requirements for a T2 power brick?

Mine is marked as Model: "ZF120A-1203000". Output: 12VDC 3.0A
Very similar to this - https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/ ... 17735.html

[prl]

Good idea. I don't have a production T2, so what are the requirements for a T2 power brick?

Mine is marked as Model: "ZF120A-1203000". Output: 12VDC 3.0A
Very similar to this - https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/ ... 17735.html

Thanks.

[prl]

...

• Supported HDMI input resolutions & frame rates for T4 & U4.
  ...
• Suggestions about how to describe U4 PIP.

[/list]
...

U4 HDMI-IN:
Width: 1920, 1280, 760, 720, 480, 384, 360, 320, 240, 180
Height: 1080, 720, 576, 540, 360, 288, 270, 216, 192, 188, 144, 135
Frame rate: 60, 50, 30, 25, 24
Interlaced: yes/no

T4 HDMI-IN:
Width: 1280, 760, 720, 480, 384, 360, 320, 240, 180
Height: 720, 576, 540, 360, 288, 270, 216, 192, 188, 144, 135
Frame rate: 60, 50, 30, 25, 24
Interlaced: yes/no

Note: There are no restrictions on implausible combinations.

I should have said it, but I was really wanting to know what HDMI IN input resolutions/frame rates were supported. They're the encoder output settings. Though I think the comparison should show both.

[MrQuade]

Its probably enough to say for encoding 720p for T4 and 1080p for U4.

For input, they both work up to 1080p60, but there could be a multitude of lesser modes that behave oddly. I haven't taken the time to do a comprehensive test since the 1080 modes are generally all that has been required.

[prl]

Thanks. I'll probably go with something like that.

[prl]

I've moved Arlene's post about problems contacting Beyonwiz and U4 barebones availability to Problem contacting Beyonwiz support.

[Henk]

With the V2 model on the market, it might be worthwhile to add this model to the comparison matrix.

However the link in the first post does not work any more.

[prl]

With the V2 model on the market, it might be worthwhile to add this model to the comparison matrix.

I'll add it when its released.

However the link in the first post does not work any more.

That doesn't surprise me. The Beyonwiz site has just had a makeover. I'll try to fix the links, but there may not be anything there any more, especially not the old official comparison matrix.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

That doesn't surprise me. The Beyonwiz site has just had a makeover. I'll try to fix the links, but there may not be anything there any more, especially not the old official comparison matrix.

It's here - https://beyonwiz.com.au/wp-content/uplo ... 24x922.jpg

[prl]

Thanks, Geoff.