Thank you LesU for that answer. Sounds easy enough then. Which replacement drive did you use for the internal swop?

GG

I bought the 1TB Western Digital AV-GP 3.5" WD10EVDS, which is the recommended one for PVR applications. This was back in July from CCLonline.com, the latest price from them is about £71 . I also thought it would be a good idea to use the old disk as a computer backup drive, so I bought a 3.5" External HDD enclosure for another £18+VAT. I have been holding the old disk in reserve, but I think enough time has gone by now for me to use the disk as a backup device.

I have had a GFSDTR500HD for 2 months now. Mine has serious issues:

1. very noisey fan
2. often fails record on auto
3. often fails to stop recording
4. often fails to record stating "unexpected internal error" as its excuse

Other than these, it is quite brilliant.

1. The fan is on all the time it is on or recording. even buried under a number of units, it is quite noticeable even during quiet films. When recording and not watching - this is the worst time. I can live with it though.

2. Failure to record on auto is probably an issue with the TV company not sending the signals that it should. It has the ability to be changed to a set number of minutes (up to 5) before and after. This still allows the serial mode to work as after each recording it searches over the next week for the next and sets this for the next recording.

3, Failure to stop recording is a BIG issue and I shall probably return the unit. No Point getting another one as it is a software glitch (version 1.4.1). You cannot even press the square stop button! The only way that works if you try it once or twice is to attempt to record two more programs so it burbs and tells you you cannot and kindly allows you to delete one of the three. This is usually successful. This happens when in non-auto mode, ie nothing to do with TV firm not sending some sort of start/stop signals.

4. I rang the help number about the "internal error" and was advised to "reformat" the disk. This of course deletes everything and so not done this yet so cannot report whether it works.

Clearly you can see that it has software issues. You can set the machine to automatically update, but no way to make it update, so I am not sure I have the latest software.

Hmm - what to do. I could return it, but some say the Humux has issues.

On the positive side, it is simple and user friendly, although you can delete recording without it asking "if you are sure". Setting up is great and it will allow non-sat channels to be manually watched.

It has a strange concept of a library screen that holds all programms to be watched with ones that are recorded.

Hope this helps someone. Please let me know if you can help me!

Richard

Thanks for that reply. Hmm, Food for thought. Doesn' the unit have vent slots at the top? I don't think you should have any other equipment piled on top of it! Try putting it on top of your other equipment so that these vent holes aren't covered. Maybe that will help with the fan problems.

GG

GG

You are quite correct that the vent is at the top. The legs of the unit on top provide sufficient room, in my humble opinion. This unit runs nice and cool (can never feel ANY warmth), so the fan must be to cool some small chip that I assume might get too hot rather than to cool the whole unit.

Ok, now I own a HUMAX FOXSAT, having returned the Goodmans gfsdtr500hd when it finally froze and crashed. Want to know my first impressions of the difference?

Particularly annoying[LIST][*]The HUMAX controller is not nearly as convenient, tiny buttons, tiny labels.[*]THE HUMAX guide screen is harder to read, the time being in white on a light grey background.[*]The HUMAX takes 20 seconds to turn on. Much longer then the Goodmans and then takes some more time to load the guide, just a few seconds, but noticeable.[/LIST]Annoying[LIST][*]The HUMAX cannot go directly to the guide, it has to go via a genre selection first. The Goodmans can have this turned off.[*]The HUMAX is less intuitive (for me). All the options, including returning and exit, are not shown, so you have to remember those buttons and not use coloured buttons. The back button sometimes takes you out of a menu, other times you must use exit button.[*]The HUMAX shows the date of your recording but not the time unless you press the i button.[*]The HUMAX seems to record all repreats in series link mode, not just the ones that the series at that particular time.[*]It may be me, but the HUMAX seems to have a very slight flicker, perhaps to do with the letter i after 1080i. My telly is 1080p. Perhaps the Goodmans did this. Not so noticeable. I can live with this.[*]I do not like the small media form on the TV background. Why not use the full telly size?[*]Getting channel 101 at the top of the list was easier on the Goodmans that somehow locked it there when using the program button to jump around. The HUMAX needs precision.[*] It is wider than the Goodmans, not allowing my Wii to sit next door.[*] Cursoring around the guide is not a smooth experience, it can be a bit slow and then go ok. Goodmans was smooth and fast.[/LIST]Am I moaner? I hope not (see below) but HUMAX - LISTEN TO THE COMPETITION! Even if their products do not work!

GREATEST POINT[LIST][*]So far, the product works to spec![*] The fan noise exists, but far far quieter than the Goodmans[/LIST]
What about other good points?[LIST][*]I like my recordings being in a different place from the list of ones to be recorded. HUMAX does this, not the Goodmans.[*]I like the way all series recordings are put automatically in folders. I may wish to break them out into date order with the rest. Perhaps this is possible, must investigate.[*]I like the alternative guide display format showing times on one channel on one day.[*]I like the fact that you can record a series with one click, not have to go back to the store to amend a recording like with the Goodmans.[*]I like being able to search for programmes by name etc.[*]I might like bieng able to folderize my recordings, although only 320Gbytes does not allow that many so perhaps this is unnecessary.[/LIST]
Last thoughts...[LIST][*]Whilst I like the fact that it will read form the USB port, mu current SanDIsk cruiser memory stick is registered but files ignored and cannot copy to it. I shall work on this one....[*]I have not tried it yet, but apparently one can conenct an ethernet cable from the internet and watch BBC iplayer. I shall stick with the wii, that atleast locks onto the wifi, not needing a long cable![*]The manual is in black and white![*] Havent tried non-freesat channels yet. Goodmans needed all the frequency info etc but worked for me.[/LIST]
In summary - IT WORKS - so far......

Hope this helps someone make the choice.

Keep checking the menu's you will find the option to turn this off

Thanks found that one.

Managed to find a few favourite non-sat channels. Quite a different experience from the Goodmans. No typing in strange frequencies, it loads the lot in and let you see the names. However, I have two issues:

The first is that the only way I know to fill the favourites in non-sat mode is to watch the channel for a few minutes and then switch channel. It seems to then add the channel to the favourites. One can delete them ok.

The second, is that to watch non-freesat, one must go via the menu button and switch the whole mode. Goodmans had a handy non-freesat tab on the guide. Do I want my other half to go via the menu button? I am not sure she would dare or I would trust her!

That sounds rather neat. Did the Goodmans continue to make scheduled recordings regardless of the mode you leave it in?

Watch out because the Humax doesn't.

I must admit that I never intended to record non-freesat programms and did not try. I also did not remember trying to watch non-freesat whilst recording freesat.

In summary, I cannot quelle your concerns about the Goodmans.

It does (or it did last time i tested it ) on my hdr provided you don't enter non-freesat mode in the pre 15mins of a recordimg being due it switches back to freesat mode to make the recording. Same thing happens if you put the box in sby fron non-freesat a freesat recording will switch it back for you.

Crikey - I'd presumed from comments made a long time ago that it didn't work, so I'd written-off the use of non-freesat mode recordings as I expect to spend most time in Freesat and taking advantage of the accurate record.

Now I can see that non-Freesat recordings might have some use.... if treated with care

Just be aware that a freesat recording takes precedence so if one starts during non-freesat recording it will stop the non-freesat to make the freesat recording. I have a phillips programmeable remote that has a timer capability that could be used to start a recording and end it if the box was left on and tuned to the right channel. I have not tried it because it's set up to boot the box for 5 mins just after midnight and just before 8am to get over the power cut issue.

Hi,

It's worse than that, it will abort a NF recording fifteen minutes before the FS programme is due to start, because of "Accurate Recording" (definitely a misnomer in this case).

Cheers, Alan.