The Channel Master CM-7000PAL
Review and Pictures by CLIFF STEELE, Somerset Ky.
Contact 4css@windstream.net
Hi again Denny.
As you may remember I ordered your HD Stacker antenna from you & Rhonda about a year ago. I as many just grew tired (& going broke) paying for a majority of worthless sat (or cable) channels that tempt one to contract with one or the other for fees that continue to rise over time.
After the install of the stacker I added a Channel Master rotor..not all that costly but I was to discover that with it up their on the roof with the 3’ tripod I was able to really pin point literally a few dozen digital TV broadcast channels well over 100 miles distance from our home up here in the Kentucky hills.
I was to miss one feature that was removed along with the black box & other remote boxes after I returned all the sat boxes..(at my cost!!).the DVR..Digital Video Recorder. that I used to rent by the month over a period of...well I really don’t want to think about that non-returnable cost.
I was soon to see an ad for rebuilt DVR’s sold by “Tivo” so ordered one. I was to discover two problems, one being a contract fee to use the product,second the dual tuners had extremely poor sensitivity to the point that I was to loose 1/2 of my channel reception !
I was able to slide under the contract by just days and returned the unit. I was now on a quest to find a recorder to have sensitivity , reasonable in cost, and record all the stations we normally viewed, but allow us to review them when we wanted..and skip through all of commercial times! ..You mean to tell me that one can actually use them to record a TV show..??!!)
I found that a company, CHANNEL MASTER had purchased the rights of a small DVRand was retailing the CM-7000PAL DVR for an affordable cost. I read over the specs and was to discover the antenna in/outs were as hot (if more so!) as our new 55 inch Sam sung !! (both have visual signal strength on screen indicators)
The recording hrs of the CM-7000PAL were plenty adequate for all our programs...40 HD hrs! & more for non HD broadcasts.the IR hand controller is a clone of the older sat companies and does about everything but wash your socks and butter your bread.
The complete set up is all computer driven!! just answer the questions as each step prompts you...(Duahhaa!)
Antenna input along with RCA comp outs of the CM-700PAL even allowed me to use the tuner less TV in another room. I used HDMI cables to review all of the recordings..and was astounded by the fantastic picture quality!! absolutely no loss of original digital reception!! (sort of like that old ‘is it memorix” commercial.)..but on this CM 7000PAL DVR its impossible to see any difference!! I could go on for pages to explain the many features but one I want to stress is..its FREE...FOREVER! plug it in and it will pay for its self within a year over pay Tivo.
When SONY finally got their long awaited computer interface “Google TV” in production I was to buy this unit (a DVD player is included) also and find it is 100% compatible with the Channel Master CM-7000PAL DVR..even the small RF handheld KEY BD controller!! Unreal these days that one brand will operate another!! We used to have 5 assorted remotes on the table..but no more. All the functions work via the SONY system, record, play back, if, slow ect ect. I used all HDMI cables between all the units for “0” line losses and easy & fast hook up. A special LED (light pipe) line for DOLBY sound also ties into our home/amp/ speaker system along with the Channel Master CM-7000pal.
Now we can also view all our computer data on the Sam Sung 55, watch AND record, playback all our free digital TV stations , play DVD’s and view web movies via net flix...
Well I have to take a breath now........
Lets just say that you will not be disappointed with Channel Master's new CM-7000PAL DVR & at a cost that is well affordable.
CLIFF STEELE, Somerset Ky.
