Hey,
I'm thinking of getting a Freesat box to go with my TV (it hasnt been installed yet, theres a tuner in it), I was wondering if Humax Freesat PVR is the best? It seems to have very good reviews

Also noticed the Radio Times is doing an offer on a Goodmans box but isnt Goodmans cheap crap these days?

Save your pennies and get a Panasonic... Humax used to be good, but not recently...

How much are they?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DM...8239250&sr=8-1

Wow. It's a lot more expensive than the Humax.

Do you really get a lot more for the extra pounds spent.

The Humax is actually an excellent product as vast majority will testify - if you need to easily cut to DVD though the Panny is your man. Humax doesn't connect to the PC well you need to use USB for transfer.

all you get more is i bluray dvd player with it i would go for humax i have that and its a amazing box but if you want both DVD and pvr go Panasonic if you want just pvr go humax.

What is important for me is the Humax has the reputation of having a very sensitive tuner.

The Panny would need to be as good.

The Panny does not have the advanced record functions of the Humax, i.e. if there is a clash the Humax will suggest times when the same programme is on at a different time. This is a very useful feature.

The others do not do a search/find function for programmes.

The Humax can transfer programmes to a USB disk (all be it slowly, which I hear is like DVD backup on the Panny) and then you can easily convert the video file for DVD archive or watch on a computer for later use.

The one good thing about the Goodmans box, it puts timer record programmes and recorded programmes in the same box, which the others don't, like SKY boxes. But it does not put series programmes into one box or if you select a programme to record you can not select series record from the EPG, you have to go into the timer record and then select series link... not good.

Harvard who make the Goodmans boxes recently sent out dodgy software to their other boxes then all hell broke loose.

Sagem, oh don't go there, I've had Sagem in the past, their boxes are renowned for lockups!

Yes the Humax has some bugs (all do).

Humax do actually watch these board and occasionally dip in and out (depending on the politics) and Humax users have a REALLY good forum at Hummy.org.uk

With iplayer soon Humax will have quite a good box.

I for one would like timer and recordings in the same area, but minor.

J

Just won £300 and off to get a Humax Foxsat HD Freesat .
Recorder. From Argos. Where can I get the cheapest HDMI cable. Even though I've won 300 quid money is still a bit tight as crimbo is on it's way.

Congratulations!!!

You get one in the box with the HDR.

Rgds.


Les..

Supermarkets are good for HDMI cables. Get the cheapest one you can find.

However, do you really need one? The HDR comes with one.

No you don't need to buy a separate HDMI cable. If it's missing then you got a return where someone snaffled the cable.

(That's the main reason I'm wary of Argos for anything - you are never sure you are getting an original, or something someone has returned.)

If you want bluray as well its even more.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DM...ref=pd_cp_ce_2

I was wondering if I needed to buy another HDMI cable or does the HDR come with a decent one?
I also read theres a way to get non freesat channels on Freesat if you do a manual set up? Then you can get hundreds of them.

It comes with an HDMI lead, you don't need another, don't fall for the snake oil that are expensive HDMI leads.

Yes, there is a non-freesat mode, although it is limited as regards recording, no EPG or scheduled timers. It's really only an adjunct.

Rgds.


Les..

Whats an adjunct mean? Does that mean an either/or thing?
I wouldnt buy an expensive HDMI lead just a cheaper one (the one I bought for my BD player was £7) as I;m worried the free one wont be good quality.

The free one is good enough, it's digital 0s &1s, you honestly do not need another one.

Adjunct - non-freesat is not the box's prime function, it's a Freesat box, who's full functionality is accessed from the Freesat EPG. Non-Freesat on the box is largely unsupported, it's there, but not as user friendly as the Freesat side.

If you have a recording starting on Freesat, you cannot be watching the non-freesat side at the same time, it will tell you to switch back, or do it itself if you are not around.

Rgds.

Les.

Thanks
What do you mean "digital 0's and 1's?"

Well, change of plan. I thought 250 quid so close to Christmas and a big family was a bit too much to spend. So I got a bog standard Bush HD Freesat box and a Freeview + box as mine is on it's way out. ASDA for 7 quid. Just need to set them up tomorrow, too knackered today, pissed up last night
Next win will be the Humax...

All digital broadcasting (and anything else digital) is a stream of data consisting of nothing more than 2 pieces of information a zero (nothing there) or a 1 (something there). That's what digital means, provided the equipment receiving the information can tell it's zero's from ones then the reception will be identical to the transmitted information

I think the Humax HDR is a brilliant bit of kit and have no hesitation in recommending it. I think that much of the negativity about it (which you can read in these forums) was totally unjustified. In any event the recent firmware update now makes those negative comments redundant.

What does the update do?

The alternative for those who don't have access to two cables from the dish which the Humax ideally needs (i.e. those in flats etc), would be the TechniSat HDFS which allows you to record to an external USB memory stick or hard drive. Cheaper than the Humax but as said, if you are limited by a single cable, it is a good alternative.

Update contains two things of real note :
- iplayer function (although not enabled at BBC end yet)
- ability to delete programs whilst a recording is in progress

Software was solid already so not much to fix.

Full details see http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/suppo...ategory_seq=65

Big things still outstanding :
- Fails to record after a power cut
- Not possible to record contents of the buffer
- No way to transfer recordings off the box over the network