When i decided to buy a hd pvr hd box i thought i would by a humax as i had had several humax sat boxes over the years and all had been trouble free.I knew before purchase that their freesat hd hd box did not have programme guide for non freesat,but i was unaware that it did not have a manual timer system,I was hoping that eventually they would upgrade ota to enable this but it has not happened
I am now stuck with a hd box which i mainly use on none freesat. You have to be there when the programme starts to press record button. Iam now at the point where i will have to dump the humax a buy a new box.Humax do not answer my e-mails and are obviously not going to upgrade for non freesat timer recording I know by these threads many others want non freesat timer and i cant understand humax reluctance to put a timer in It seems such a waste of a fine box

I'm not sure why Humax won't put in a manual timer (and by the same token I don't know why they didn't sort out a few of the other trivial bugs that make the UI look as if it was designed by a day release student) but the box is a Freesat box, not a general purpose DSat box.

What you are doing is like buying a small four door car and then saying you'll never buy another car from the same manufacturer because you can't transport 6 people and a fridge freezer.

Despite niggles the Foxsat is an excellent device that performs its main function admirably (unless you suffer from an unreliable power supply).

The only possible reason I can see for not buying Humax is that they cannot be trusted to sort out teething troubles in a timely manner.

It's a Freesat box, that's what it's designed for, and that's what it's sold as - the non-Freesat mode is a minimum legal requirement, not really a sales point.

Basically you bought the wrong box, if you want a FTA PVR then buy one, don't buy a Freesat box.

I was just writing a response to the OP off line and just went to publish when the two above post appeared and said it all for me.

Thank guys.

Have to say the Foxsat is a dedicated Freesat box, I must admit I thought a timer would have been included for non-Freesat recordings but if you knew that you mainly wanted it for non-Freesat then maybe an iCord would have been the best option. I wonder if there is a multi handset type device that has a timer and could be used to record unattended non-Freesat recordings?

Most people who buy a pvr from any manufacturer assume that it would have a timer you could use for recording from other sources , but this box was made for freesat with freesat spec not non freesat and bob says it will never be implemented, because of the cost .
I to assumed it would have one since it was a pvr infact I took it for granted it would have one, it does stray away from the norm in respect to pvrs in my opinion.
I certainly won't sell it at this time due to the cost of a new one, but in the future I will certainly check the spec of the next one before I buy.
I must say I am dissappointed with this aspect of the hdr , but its their company and they can choose to omit or insert what they consider the best cost option.

If it was that big a deal for OP then he should have done his homework I'm afraid.

I too am not pleased at the non-freesat functionality - lack of timer and no real motorised support, its very poor of them since its so close to being an excellent all round box.

I don't have the PVR version, just the Foxsat HD, but it is happily used with an H-H Motor. What do you think is lacking?

I'm really puzzled by this - its clearly branded as a Freesat PVR and the whole point is that you don't need to manually set recordings (in fact adding that to the interface would make it more confusing for others).

We're in the realms of real minority interest here.

Makes no difference. Its advertised as supporting non freesat mode so it shoudl be fully featured.

I'm with the orginal poster, if it had the mode it should have had the means to record within it. You wouldn't expect to buy a pVR and have to wait there to press the button in Freesat mode so why should your expectations be any different in non Freesat mode. If it was advertised as supporting non freesat mode then it should support it period.

It has seemed to be ever from the beginning as verging upon legally non fit for its purpose because of this. Whereas I wouldn't take mine back because of it, it has left me dissapointed as the DISCEQ feature left me wanting to set up mutliarm and pull in more programmes on non freesat, something I abandoned due to the lack of recording and the problems with switching modes such as non functioning timers or wiped out schedules (latter now resolved).

Well I've studied the Humax website and the Features & Functions makes NO such claim that I can spot.

It and the specification PDF are very specific: "freesat HD and SD channel recording".

If I found my HDR has any non-"freesat HD and SD channel recording" capability I would regard it as a bonus, not a critical failure!

Not really a critical failure or feature for me either, the ability to record from the Freesat EPG was the most important buying factor for me - but if a timer recording facility had been available in non- Freesat mode then it would have been a good thing for my purposes. It obviously wouldn't be expected to be as good as the Freesat mode!

When I first bought the box my expectation was to be able to receive and be able to make use of the Non Freesat mode and to be able to make timed recordings at least..
I would have thought that a reasonable basic expectation in any Satellite box that has a PVR - Freesat or otherwise.

However, through use of the box, as far as I am concerned non Freesat mode might as well not be there. It is so poor.

Although I am mainly very happy with the Freesat side of the box now. I too wouldn't buy another Humax product. They are far too slow to fix bugs.

Patrick

Nigel Goodwin;37081066]It's a Freesat box, that's what it's designed for, and that's what it's sold as - the non-Freesat mode is a minimum legal requirement, not really a sales point.

Basically you bought the wrong box, if you want a FTA PVR then buy one, don't buy a Freesat box.

This box has a lot more than minimum support in non freesat mode, it has multi satellite support,diseqc switching, and usals motor support,almost every other option EXCEPT a timer.
I bought it because of these features only to discover that there was no timer which I just could not fathom out as to why it was left out, I could not see the point in having non freesat mode with all these options without a timer.

I agree with you that Humax have gone well beyond the minimum legal requirement in the level of support they provide for non-freesat channels.

I too, would like a timer for such channels, but it is not a priority. The non-freesat functionality is FAR ahead of the comparable functionality on Sky+/Sky HD. In Ireland Sky advertise their service as including UTV. Not only is UTV not on the Sky EPG, it cannot be recorded, at all.

It doesn't support USALS since as soon as that option is selected the box changes the "2 cable" setting to "single cable" and will only then function as a single tuner recorder i.e. it cripples itself.

Ah, ok. I see now - as I said I only have the single tuner version and it's absolutely fine.

Will bear this in mind as, when, and if I ever decide a PVR would be useful. Thanks.

Yes it does ,my choice to use one cable.

If I wanted a Freesat single cable PVR with motor support then the Technisat would be the one, I had a Technisat Freeview PVR some years ago - Rolls Royce of the electronics world.

Hopefully, eventually, one of the team in Korea will give in to the deep family shame this is bringing and fix it.

I do agree this would have been a better option I have also owed some technisat products and they were of good quality,but when I bought the humax hdr the technisat was not an option because it was a single tuner model and I thought the humax would have a timer in non freesat mode and both cables would operate even when using a diseqe motor,how wrong was I.
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What on earth are finding to watch on the non-Freesat channels let alone record?

For 'normal' users they will never even look at the non-Freesat option. I did because I am a born fiddler but I soon put it back to Freesat as never mind the reduced functionality there appeared to be nothing worthwhile. Am I missing out on some good channels?

Nope I rather think it's the fact that you can record BBC HD non encrypted in non-freesat mode that's prompting the outrage over lack of timer recording in non-freesat mode

In any case there's a possible alternative method that I have not yet got round to testing that may even work with ITV HD.

Surely this is not strictly true. It can be manually recorded using 'other channels'. A pain I know but still possible.

Not sure about UTV but ITV HD on a HD box with the new epg can't be recorded

YES there are other satellites in the universe other than
astra 2 D with lots of free to air in french spanish german to name a few and some english programes as well .
If you are learning or can understand another lingo its very useful.
So born fiddler, fiddle some more you might just catch the bug.

You also find the European sports channels carry extra sport not available free in the UK - including some England internationals which were Setanta only in the UK.