DS Forums

 
 

What features of your Humax HDR do you like MOST


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 23-04-2009, 08:54
DeltaX
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Devon
Posts: 103

We have lots of comments about things that people don’t like so just to add a little balance what are the things you like most. For me these are
[LIST=1][*]The ability record satellite channels without having to pay Sky, due to location freeview is not a serious option for me.[*]High definition programmes for free[*]The large storage capacity – 4 time more than Sky+[*]Being able to play MP3 files and view digital photos[*]The simple and easy operating system[*]I can use the remote to easily operates my TV, DVD recorder and amplifier[/LIST]
DeltaX is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 23-04-2009, 09:23
mrmarky
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,489
Love being able to record 2 channels and watch a 3rd (live) LOVE this.

Channels are perfect for us, we only watch the likes of BBC/ITV/C4/E4 BBC HD/ the rest of the channels on the sky platform were just repeats and not value for money (for our family)

Love that you can add a CAM for the CH4 HD stuff

and Huge Scope for More channels all the time, HD AND SD
mrmarky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 09:38
Tern
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,324
Extreme competance at basic functionality.

Skip forward and back (and with programmable durations - even though mine are still set at the defaults).

Very low standby power consumption.
Tern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 10:45
mrmarky
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,489
Yeah forgot the skip forward feature, You can more or less press 1 button and totally skip adverts gets a A+++++ from me
mrmarky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 11:04
froxfieldrover
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 253
Another vote for fast skipping ads and the other ways you can fast scan through anything. I also like the simple search function on the program guide - the 8 day epg is good enough for most things. Plus the info button is very handy.

Patrick
froxfieldrover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 11:11
awo1949
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Co. Donegal
Posts: 797
Firstly, it's my first PVR, so pretty much anything PVRish is a most liked function. It revolutionised my viewing as our domestic circumstances are such that we could only watch TV at certain times of the day and could never follow a series. Specific ones that spring to mind are

- Selecting a programme on EPG and just pressing a button to record it.
- Two programmes recorded simutaneously.
- Series record with recordings automatically sorted into folders.

Secondly, there are the freesat benefits. My HDR replaced a FTA receiver. My most like features are relative to that.

- The 7-8 day EPG.
- Automatic update of channels.
- Nice to have some HD.

Finally, things that stand out about the box itself.

- It runs cool and is very quiet.
- I like the flip down front which hides the controls. It gives the impression of being well made (magnets to hold it closed rather than springs that usually wear out).
- It's nice to know that its standby consumption is so low.
awo1949 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 11:59
mrmarky
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,489
Yeah actual noise of the box is virtually Zero, and box is cool to the touch no heat at all My sky+ box sounded like a Diesel generator, very loud !
mrmarky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 12:03
Darthchaffinch
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,104
I like the fact it's free, never failed, and is easy to record.

P.S. I have an old 8000 model (1 tuner), which models are you talking about please - as I want to uprade for he extra tuner(s) soon. Ta
Darthchaffinch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 12:47
LesU
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 69
The filing system where I can make folders and move recordings around and if I decide to delete a recording it asks me if I'm sure.
I've been used to a standard Sky+ box up to now with endless screens containing every program I've ever kept and the dreaded yellow button which, if you inadvertantly pressed it, deleted whatever you were on instantly.
LesU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 12:53
Caz42
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,805
The blue display ......and the skip forward button.

Apart from that I'm struggling a bit as I currently have a 14 day EPG, a box that has never failed to record, a button that skips between the 2 tuners, a history button, PIP, favourite channels list.....the list goes on I'm afraid.

I do like the Humax and the HD is great but feature wise I don't think it compares to my freeview and could have done better. I got Freesat for the channels I couldn't get on Freeview and having had a PVR for over 3 years I couldn't have just got a non recording box as I'm so used to a PVR now.
Caz42 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 12:55
maxwech
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: belgium
Posts: 292
It just works very well. And it's nice and black.
maxwech is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 13:05
Tern
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,324
The filing system where I can make folders and move recordings around and if I decide to delete a recording it asks me if I'm sure.
I've been used to a standard Sky+ box up to now with endless screens containing every program I've ever kept and the dreaded yellow button which, if you inadvertantly pressed it, deleted whatever you were on instantly.
Certainly the Sky instant delete is very bad UI.

However, imo, the Humax is even worse (although the extra safety does tend to redeem it) in that it goes way to far in the other direction.

I'm quite happy for the delete to ask for a confirmation but any UI that selects 'no' as a default after you've made four key presses to ask for it to do something (other than things that are extremely 'dangerous' such as formatting the drive) is not well designed.

At the moment you have to make SIX button presses for a delete (Select, down, down, OK, left, OK) which is excessive.
Tern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 13:24
Caz42
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,805
To delete on my freeview is, press red, you then have the option to press red to delete the whole prog, or blue to mark the prog for reuse should your drive become full. So 2 button presses all in, with the option to keep it until the space is needed......all within those 2 presses.

Surely that couldn't have been too difficult to do instead of 6!!
Caz42 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 13:31
froxfieldrover
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 253
Certainly the Sky instant delete is very bad UI.

However, imo, the Humax is even worse (although the extra safety does tend to redeem it) in that it goes way to far in the other direction.

I'm quite happy for the delete to ask for a confirmation but any UI that selects 'no' as a default after you've made four key presses to ask for it to do something (other than things that are extremely 'dangerous' such as formatting the drive) is not well designed.

At the moment you have to make SIX button presses for a delete (Select, down, down, OK, left, OK) which is excessive.
Ooohh - and there was I trying to be ever so positive about the things I quite like about the box... oh well the truth will out..

Patrick
froxfieldrover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 13:40
Tern
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,324
To delete on my freeview is, press red, you then have the option to press red to delete the whole prog, or blue to mark the prog for reuse should your drive become full. So 2 button presses all in, with the option to keep it until the space is needed......all within those 2 presses.

Surely that couldn't have been too difficult to do instead of 6!!
That sounds much better, except, it would be better if you had to press two different buttons to do the delete. An accidental double press or misselecting the function in place of something else with an expected confirm box and the safety feature is defeated.

This is similar to something people often get wrong in program UI's. You press return to select the currently highlighted function and then return to accept in the confirm box.

I know this is getting extremely picky, particularly in a thread that's supposed to be about what we like about the Humax, but there is a wealth of material available on good UI design so there's really no excuse for not getting it right.
Tern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 14:34
b33k34
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 107
Just goes to show how different views are:

2. High definition programmes for free. - great.
3. The large storage capacity – 4 time more than Sky+ - great
4. Being able to play MP3 files and view digital photos - no thanks, clutters the interface so would rather it wasn't there
5. The simple and easy operating system - disagree. Confusing and over complex.
6. I can use the remote to easily operates my TV, DVD recorder and amplifier but its' such a nasty remote i wouldn't want to. it went straight in the drawer to be replaced by a Harmony.

I too like the low standby power consumption, silent running, small box, good looks and configurable ad skipping.

Also, standard disc formatting means an easy upgrade (1tb when my disc arrives)
b33k34 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2009, 19:13
germanycalling
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Singapore
Posts: 709
Will only have 4 days at home in May and my trusty HDR should mean I don't miss anything important! Need a bit more than 8 hours on VHS at LP mode! Just hope I don't fill the disc up! Series record is so useful
germanycalling is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-04-2009, 08:17
swedish cook
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 821
I used to have a Topfield Freeview PVR (probably the best Freeview PVR), things I like most versus this box :

- HD (especially on projector for football)
- Nice sexy menus and recording thumbnails
- Comes on quickly (really, compared with old box!)
swedish cook is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-04-2009, 11:06
macc_ladd
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rainow, Cheshire
Posts: 50
I expect I just missed it in the manual, but how do you change the skip forward duration from its default?... if I could do this it would be my favourite feature too!
macc_ladd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-04-2009, 11:15
awo1949
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Co. Donegal
Posts: 797
I expect I just missed it in the manual, but how do you change the skip forward duration from its default
Page 44 of the manual.

Menu - Settings - Recording. "Instant Replay" and "Skip Forward" are the ones you want.
awo1949 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-04-2009, 14:01
antonyjohnston
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 223
I've only had it working for a day, and it's my first PVR, so I also think just about all of it is the best feature However, without a doubt the best thing for me is being able to watch a recording before it's finished.

For example, I'm currently watching the snooker, but wasn't able to get to the TV until 35 mins after it started. Being able to start watching right away, instead of having to wait until it's finished — it's a 5 hour broadcast! — is superb. I have no idea if other PVRs offer this too, but either way I love it.
antonyjohnston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-04-2009, 14:14
grahamlthompson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,289
I've only had it working for a day, and it's my first PVR, so I also think just about all of it is the best feature However, without a doubt the best thing for me is being able to watch a recording before it's finished.

For example, I'm currently watching the snooker, but wasn't able to get to the TV until 35 mins after it started. Being able to start watching right away, instead of having to wait until it's finished — it's a 5 hour broadcast! — is superb. I have no idea if other PVRs offer this too, but either way I love it.
Most pvrs (it could be all) offer chasing playback. Even my single tuner freeview (Humax 8000) offers this.
grahamlthompson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2009, 10:20
--Mark--
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Zummerzet
Posts: 128
One other thing I like is that the 'Press RED' irritation automagically disappears after a few seconds with this box, I hope this doesn't get 'fixed' when/if an update comes out
--Mark-- is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-05-2009, 16:49
davidredge
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 740
...........
davidredge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-05-2009, 08:22
jonesyboy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,330
The overall build quality of the box. Low power consumption, but above all the picture quality on SD and HD

Not keen on the menues, however I will get used to that.

A quality product which will get better once the software/firmware is updated. On this I am happy with Humax taking there time with this to get it right.
jonesyboy is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 09:22.