View Full Version : Freeview PVR
I'll shortly be moving house, and I'm likely to ditch Sky+ due to the increasing cost/worsening content and moving over to Freeview with a PVR.
Has anyone got any suggestions for a decent PVR/Freeview hybrid?
i;ve got the thomson dvr4000 jobbie and it's been very good so far.
Arthur Fowler
10-10-2005, 13:19
Colin,
There is loads of stuff including a comparison page here:
http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/forumdisplay.php?f=90
I've got a Digifusion FVRT200. Whilst not perfect, it is pretty good and I am very happy with it.
megatron
10-10-2005, 13:26
I got the impression that all current pvr's are a bit sketchy, and most people on digitalspy seem to be holding their hopes on the holy grail that is the Humax 9200t.
http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/pvr-9200t.asp
Was just about to post the same thread :nuts:
Was looking at the PVR800oT/80GB which can be had for about 125 quid delivered, but the 9200 looks really good but is over 200 quid!
EDIT: On the 9200 though I really would have preferred network addition as will probably not have a HTPC near it as its for a bedroom.
Cheers people :) Might wait for the 9200 - when are they available?
Second half of October from what I can gather, so just a week or two.
That 9200 can only play MP3's though and does not seem to be able to play video downloaded from a PC, not much use to me :( May stick with the 8000T/80GB which is about 100 quid cheaper. Will have to wait to see what the final price point of the 9200 is.
A mate of mine has a Topfield TF5800PVR and is very impressed with it. Looks similar spec to the 9200 - dual tuner, USB2, 160Gb plus you can write/download your own software for it.
http://www.toppy.org.uk/ has lots of info.
megatron
10-10-2005, 16:21
That 9200 can only play MP3's though and does not seem to be able to play video downloaded from a PC, not much use to me :( May stick with the 8000T/80GB which is about 100 quid cheaper. Will have to wait to see what the final price point of the 9200 is.
Can some PVR's play Divx?
Can some PVR's play Divx?
Not sure, MPEG2 would have been ok. I haven't seen any that can do DivX, I guess some of the networkable DVD-R/HDD recorders might but not sure any of them have a DVB tuner build in?
To me the main problem with the Humax 8000 is you can't watch a previously recorded program while another is recording. In fact I wouldn't call it a PVR rather a DVR, but then again I also have a TiVo so may be spoilt
To me the main problem with the Humax 8000 is you can't watch a previously recorded program while another is recording. In fact I wouldn't call it a PVR rather a DVR, but then again I also have a TiVo so may be spoilt
Really? I've been very spoilt in the past as I had a ReplayTV PVR which was pretty much perfect!
If your looking for something that can do "season passes" and chase play then your options are limited. It is surprising that despite how long TiVo has been out not much come out to match it.
Please lets not have the Sky+ brigade up in arms as yes it is a good product, probably the best on the market at the moment but its not freeview.
Colin, try PVRUK.com for some comparisions
personally I know which I would replace first between TiVo and the Humax and even the wife would agree on this.
I agree on the Humax 8000 comment. I bought a 40Gb version cheaply a while ago, and whilst it has never let me down, not being able to do anything with it as it records can be a real pain :brickwall
I too await the release of the new dual tuner model. As said, seemingly just about all other PVR's have their foibles/bugs [even the mighty Toppy], hence I will hope to still stick with Humax.
BTW my single tuner model was a doddle to upgrade by simple slotting in a new 120Gb hard drive in place of the original :)
visualunderground
11-10-2005, 07:43
I recon these (http://www.kiss-technology.com/?p=558&v=users) guys will come up trumps at some point.
Andrew70
11-10-2005, 10:01
I've had a Topfield for a few weeks now and I'm very happy with it.
Although I haven't tried it, it has a USB connection for archiving off recordings onto a PC so that might be a consideration for the computer savvy people.
Last night I was watching Hell's Kitchen USA and didn't start watching until about 10 minutes into the programme. The Topfield has a setting whereby it somehow records the current channel in the background so that you can live rewind and pick the place to start watching from. By the end of the second commerical break I had caught up and was watching in realtime again.
A.
I recon these (http://www.kiss-technology.com/?p=558&v=users) guys will come up trumps at some point.
That looks about perfect if it had Freeview built in!
Arthur Fowler
11-10-2005, 10:04
Last night I was watching Hell's Kitchen USA and didn't start watching until about 10 minutes into the programme. The Topfield has a setting whereby it somehow records the current channel in the background so that you can live rewind and pick the place to start watching from. By the end of the second commerical break I had caught up and was watching in realtime again.
A.
Ditto on the Digifusion box. It's a good feature, especially for channels with adverts! :thumbs:
So are there any that have the handy one button recording like sky+? I would love to just go through a planner and mark the things I want to record.
I looked at the manual for that new Humax and it looked lke you still had to record manually. Not sure about the kiss one as its not out.
belgarion_v
11-10-2005, 12:30
So are there any that have the handy one button recording like sky+? I would love to just go through a planner and mark the things I want to record.
I looked at the manual for that new Humax and it looked lke you still had to record manually. Not sure about the kiss one as its not out.
Yes, the Topfield does this, you can set by timer, EPG (which can be easily modded to add a few minnutes to start / end), or just hit record to record channel being watched. You can have it in a mode where it constantly records whatever channel you're watching (so you can go back up to half an hour).
You can record 2 channels at once plus watch a 3rd (dependant on multipelx) or even watch something previously recorded, or even watch something being currently recorded but time-delayed.
Cracking bit of kit :thumbs:
Vince
mburton2
12-10-2005, 08:17
I have the Thomson dual tuner box.....had it about 18months. The tuners are not as "good" as the SetPal box I had before (needs a stronger signal to work without pixilation), but as the postcode cheaker says we cant get freeview, I think its working pretty well!
Its needed rebooting a couple of times, but if it broke today, I wouldnt think twice about replacing it with another one. One of the most used bits of kit in the house.
In fact I think I'll be buying one for my mum this christmas...
The Humax 9200 is now up for sale here at Play.com (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump.php?url=http://playcom.at/thedvdforums^QS^DURL=http%3A//www.play.com/play247.asp%3Fpage%3Dtitle%26r%3DELEC%26title%3D748690%26p%3D371%26g%3D471%26pa%3Dgenbrw) for 240 quid.
And here at Electric Shop (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump.php?url=http://scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AFClick.asp^QS^affiliateID=17278^QA^merchantID=71^QA^programmeID=271^QA^mediaID=0^QA^tracking=^QA^url=http%3A//www.electricshop.com/invt/4068hum115102a) for £219 inc VAT and delivery! :thumbs:
visualunderground
12-10-2005, 15:25
What are peoples reactions to this, are you going to be an early adopter or wait for bugs to be ironed out. My previous experiance with Humax has been very good. CS respond quickly and are very helpfull (I had their single tuner PVR/which was fantastic product at the time). However I bought the dual tuner panasonic machine and returned it in under a week. 5 secs + to change channels and dropped recordings for about £300 :(
What are peoples reactions to this, are you going to be an early adopter or wait for bugs to be ironed out.
Well for me I need a PVR ASAP so I reckon I'm going to wait for the prices to settle after a week or so - hopefully something round £199 / £209 inc VAT and Delivery and then go for it.
friedeggbutty
14-10-2005, 17:38
I've had a Topfield for a few weeks now and I'm very happy with it.
Although I haven't tried it, it has a USB connection for archiving off recordings onto a PC so that might be a consideration for the computer savvy people.
Last night I was watching Hell's Kitchen USA and didn't start watching until about 10 minutes into the programme. The Topfield has a setting whereby it somehow records the current channel in the background so that you can live rewind and pick the place to start watching from. By the end of the second commerical break I had caught up and was watching in realtime again.
A.
The Humax 8000 does that as well - it's always recording the current channel (at least half an hour, maybe more, only lost if you change channel or start playback) so you can rewind if necessary. I'd be surprised if the 9200 doesn't also do this. I've had a look at the manual online and much of the onscreen graphics and the way things work look the same for the 9200 as for the 8000.
I've been very pleased with my 80Gb 8000, which I've had a year and paid £146 for. The lack of a 2nd tuner and playback whilst recording has only been a minor irritant as I've also got an 80Gb HDD/DVD recorder so I can use that for some progs so there's always something to watch, but I'm still thinking about getting the new but I'll wait to see how the early adopters get on with it. Excellent forums to find out more are here:
http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?board=humax
Mr Silly
11-11-2005, 17:40
Question about the Humax 8000 - can you record with it, but watch a DVD at the same time?
Thanks
byronbayer
14-11-2005, 13:11
try 247electrical (http://www.247electrical.co.uk/epages/twentyfourseven.storefront/4378992200261b9827490a020f01059c/Product/View/HUMPVR8000T80) out. I orderd the Humax PVR8000T80 couple of weeks ago for the missus. To my shock it turned up the next day.
Mattie F
14-11-2005, 13:23
Had my Humax 9200 for a few days now (replaced a Pace Twin). Very impressed with it, especially the picture quality. Basically it does everything you want it to, has a quiet fan and doesn't lock up.
Can't fault it.
Matt.
mburton2
14-11-2005, 14:03
I think the DigiFusion is the one to go for at the moment (if you cant justify the price of the Topfield....like me)
Arthur Fowler
14-11-2005, 14:07
try 247electrical (http://www.247electrical.co.uk/epages/twentyfourseven.storefront/4378992200261b9827490a020f01059c/Product/View/HUMPVR8000T80) out. I orderd the Humax PVR8000T80 couple of weeks ago for the missus. To my shock it turned up the next day.
Bought my DigiFusion FVRT200 from them. Speedy delivery - abysmal post-sales service.
Mattie F
14-11-2005, 16:07
I think the DigiFusion is the one to go for at the moment (if you cant justify the price of the Topfield....like me)
Hasn't that one NOT got a digital out of any kind i.e. preventing you from connecting it to an AV amp via a digital lead?
I know you can do it via analogue but it still looks like an oversight to me.
Matt.
the thomson I have has optical out :) Twin tuners etc etc... What more could you want for a £150 box :)
But you have to admit, it does look a bit poxy :D , plus, does it have TUTV facilities? Like my Humax 9200T? And....does it have a 160Gb hard drive? ;)
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