This is both my first satellite PVR, and my first Humax PVR. I’ve been using it for 1 day now and I’m having some major problems using it. Hopefully someone can help…

(I have read the whole manual by the way and can’t find any answers there.)

1. First and foremost, the EPG cursor is really slow, sluggish and unresponsive. I’m wondering if my PVR is broken because it’s almost unusable at times. The speed is inconsistent: sometimes it moves almost at normal speed, and sometimes it can take 1 second+ between pressing the remote and the cursor moving. And then occasionally it gets so slow you just can’t use it, and it just crashed on me once.

This is driving my family crazy. We’re all used PVRs where the cursor moves at a fast, constant speed.

2. When I record something, it isn’t recording everything I already watched — only recording from the second I press record. What am I doing wrong?

3. If I want to record something that’s currently on, I can’t record it from the EPG, instead I have to switch to that channel and press record while watching it. What am I doing wrong here?

4. When I switch to the single-column EPG, the listings start from the middle of the screen, with older programmes above it in the top half. Why this is the default view is beyond me — who wants to know what’s already finished? So how do I make it start the listings from the top of the screen? The PVRs I’m used to show 10 (or 20) listings for each channel, so you can quickly and easily look through most of the day’s TV without having to scroll at all.

5. Also, presumably there’s no “now and next” mode?

6. Just to confirm: there is no frame advance feature on this PVR, right? I was gutted when I realised that. (Looks like it only pauses on keyframes, too.)

7. Is there any way to put the channels into groups, in non-freesat mode? (For example, it would be nice to be able to have one group for music, one group for movies, etc.) Surely Humax don’t expect their users to have one big list of hundreds of channels with no facility for sub-groups?

8. I haven’t begun the process of putting all the channels in the correct order/deleting unavailable channels yet. I was wondering: when I’ve finally done this task (which will take some time) what happens when I re-scan for new channels? Will all my work be lost? With Freeview, I never minded having to re-order all the channels again after a re-scan, because there are only about 30 channels. But with 370 channels, how on earth can anyone do this every time they re-scan?

9. Is there any way to get rid of those stupid (and pointless) numbers before the channel name? (The 4-digit numbers beginning with 5.) They just take up space and I find them really distracting.

10. The EPG data seems to “disappear” when I switch between Freesat and non-Freesat modes. I guess Humax didn’t intend anyone to switch between the two modes regularly? But why it disappears is a mystery.

My bigger concern is that after switching to non-freesat mode, the EPG listings never seemed to appear at all — even after waiting a few hours. How long do I have to wait before the EPG for freesat channels will populate in non-freesat mode? At the minute it’s totally unusable — even the now and next info on non-freesat channels hasn’t populated yet.

11. I thought Humas PVRs offered two custom skip lengths? I can only find one skip length, which is a bit disappointing.

12. One more question/comment: the LCD on the unit is terrible: if you look at it head-on, the background looks fairly black, but if you merely stand up, or sit to one side, the whole thing turns pale blue and looks really distracting. I’m just checking I haven’t got a faulty version?

My overall impression of this PVR is that it’s great to have so many channels; but that seems to be about the only “positive” of this machine I can find. I heard Humax made the most user-friendly PVRs but I’ve really been struggling with this thing.

One final question: is there a better satellite PVR on the market? I got the impression the Humax was the only model that will receive non-freesat channels, but maybe that has changed since I last checked?

A couple of suggested answers,

1) Two options with slow epg. One is to wait until it has downloaded all the info before you start moving around. You know when it has finished downloading as the sound of the tv program you were on comes back. It does take a minute or so. Other option is to press the schedule button, and then I think its the red button and that seems to take you to an already downloaded epg. It's a bit odd that the Guide button doesn't take you straight there as its a lot more usable. (Note - I am not in front of my own tv right now so i might have the colour of the button wrong sorry).

Generally the epg IS slow and needs fixing.

5) On the subject of 'now and next' what information is not provided by the 'single-column EPG' that you would normally see in 'now and next' ?


6) Frame advance.... you can't move forward single frames, but there is a button around the bottom right of the remote (the one above the 'wide' button) which allows very slow forward play if you press it s few times.


8) Not completely sure, but I don't think you will lose your re-ordering/deletions when you rescan. I say this because I deleted a channel...then decided I wanted it back, and could not get it with a simple rescan..the only way I could get it back was by resetting to factory default then scanning. Why not do some limited re-ordering and then try a rescan and see what happens.

10) It is odd that you are not getting now and next info in the epg in non freesat mode. I read somewhere in the manual that now and next is all you get in non freesat...so you should at least get that but I wouldn't bother waiting for anything else !

Hmmm. Overall you seem to have routed out a hell of a lot of problems in a short space of time.....most of them I have noticed myself but haven't kept me awake at night and will probably be straightened out with future software updates. I think the box is very good and I am still enjoying using it like it is new even though I've had it a month. (and I don't even work for Humax...or a rival Company)

Thanks for the answers, Portable.


Thanks for that. You have also confirmed that my box isn’t faulty. Presumably everyone has this sluggish EPG.


The single-column EPG only shows you what’s on the currently selected channel.

What I want (which other PVRs have) is a mode where you can see all the now and next info at once, without having to move the cursor around much (other than going from page to page). The “table view” EPG mode sort of does this, only it’s extremely badly designed and you can’t see half the programmes as they’re truncated. The Foxsat does offer a “now” mode, allowing you to only see what’s currently on — which I find more useful than the table mode. But there’s no “now and next” mode.


Good idea, thanks.


Well the manual says you can’t get EPG data for non-freesat channels. That makes sense, as they’re not on the EPG. But why should EPG data vanish from Freesat channels when you switch over? I hope the EPG data will appear eventually, but if it doesn’t, it would make non-freesat mode all but useless.


I’m good at doing that! The last PVR I bought, I found 150 faults/bugs in the space of a few days. I’m trying to be selective with the above list!

Oh, and here’s a new one I just found…

13. I just tried to play back a recording, and I got an error telling me the recording failed due to a conflict with other “higher priority” recordings.

Now that has to be a bug. Why would a PVR allow the user to schedule a recording if it knew all along the schedule was impossible due to a conflict?

OK got your point on the now and next. I actually find the single column one (for want of a better name..) very useful as you can select a specific time frame in the evening when you might be watching tv and flip through to see what is on any channel at that time.

I am 99% sure I have read somewhere in the manual that the epg shows only now and next for non freesat. By the way, perhaps the bigger issue is that even if you succesfully find a program in non freesat EPG you can't reserve is either to watch or record !. Spotted that one yet ?

On the subject of problems recording..I don't know if this relates to your problem,..but I think the box is not (yet) clever enough to switch back to freesat from non freesat when you have scheduled a freesat program to record. This I think has been the cause of a few mysterious recording errors that I have experienced myself.

Here's one other gripe from me. Why on earth does the table EPG show half hour times, 11.30, 12.30, 1.30 etc. rather than showing 12.00, 1.00, 2.00 etc. Hope somebody knows what I mean ! It's driving me bonkers trying to work out what time I am looking at...

Phew!!
For a start, I have the Humax Foxsat pvr, and the EPG's instant (as opposed to my dad's Humax freeview, which takes longer than Gordon brown to say "Sorry").
Clearly a fault with yours.
You record the programme you are watching with the record button.
You can group the programmes, perhaps it's easiest in "Favourites" mode. It probably helps to delete all the rubbish first, then sort out what's left.
The numbers - eg 102 for BBC2, have three digits, just like on Sky!! You will get used to that.
The EPG data will disappear as you switch to non-freesat.
As for the rescan, if you do it on your own accord I am not sure whether the deleted programmes come back, but I do know that when they suggest a rescan (by an on-screen display) and you follow the instructions, all you will get is the new channels added, and the deleted ones stay away. You can delete the new channels.

I think the box takes time to get used to, especially copying onto external drive/stick (I can do it, it took many attempts, so don't ask!!) but it is a great piece of kit.
However, if the EPG is slow to populate, try doing it when you are only on BBC1 (after deleting all the rubbish channels to make less information) and if that doesn't work, I would take it back and get a replacement, if the replacement has still the same problems, get a refund.
The more who ask for refunds, the more chance Humax have of doing something about it (both on Freesat and Freeview sets).

Same here, no issues with EPG response, instant (but it would be nice if the channel kept playing in the background !) - could poor EPG response be due to poor Eurobird reception ?

Howard, is your s foxsat HDR or just a regular PVR ?

If it IS the HDR the you should get your gold plated as its the first one I've heard of that has an instant EPG.

In any case you must be in orbit, as it takes at least a few minutes for anybody on earth to get the EPG data through.

...deleting channels you don't watch so that EPG infor does not need to be downloaded sounds like a good idea.

Humax Foxsat HDR. Had it for a month nearly, and no probs at all (so far...)
My dad's Humax Freeview has all the problems I'm supposed to have!

Howard, I read your post again. You say on the one hand that the EPG is instant, and then at the end of your post that it takes a while to populate...(?)

I'd put the gold plating on hold until we know if your EPG is quick or not ! ..and I'd advise GrandDizzy to also wait for confirmation of this before deciding he/she has a fault and slogs the box back to the shop.

PS I forget who was complaining about the channels not playing in the background when you are in the EPG...well they do, but only after the EPG data has finished downloading.

Having read some of this stuff tonight I'm starting to think that I just don' t spend enough time worrying about PVR's.

Howard, I bought a HUMAX 9150 Freeview box for my girlfriend 6 months ago and was so impressed I just bought one also for my mother and set it up today. Absolutely no issues whatsoever with either of them (the boxes not the women). Seriously, not one fault big or small. What's the problem with your Dad's, did you expect it to cook him dinner or something ? !

Read again...I wrote "if the....." as in "if the machine you have got", rather than "mine"!!
Clear??

Actually no,..but never mind.

He spends ages waiting for the EPG to populate, and sometimes it never does. Even on BBC1.
I have e-mailed Humax about it (no reply yet), if I haven't heard by mid Jan I'll write to the MD, and if there is no response by Jan 31 it's going back for a refund.
No excuses, the EPG should populate, fully, within 30 seconds, otherwise what's the point??
My Dad isn't the only one with the problem, judging by threads here and on other forums.
Can't blame the signal either, Winter Hill's about one mile from his house, and he can see all of the transmitter.
If it's an inherant problem with Humax freeview, they should recall all the sets until it's sorted.

I have noticed the slow population of the EPG but had thought that was just a freeview thing rather than a Humax issue. I have two tvs (not Humax) with built in freeview and also a old freeview box kicking around,...all three take just as long to completely populate their EPG's.

My freeview telly's EPG populates almost instantly....I just don't get what's wrong with the Humax freeview box.

OK. I have now decided that I HATE this machine.

It seems as though there is no way in Freesat mode to rearrange the channels or re-name them! So the first channel on my list is “BBC 1 South West” with no way to either move it or re-name it! That might not bother some people, but I can’t tell you how angry this makes me.

So, baiscally Humax give you this choice. Either:

A) You use the mode where you can’t see the EPG at all, or schedule any recordings. (Which is useless to me.)

B) Or you use a mode where the channels are all jumbled up and you can’t rearrange them or rename them. (Which is useless to me.)

1 day of using this machine and already I can’t wait to get rid of it. In my opinion, it’s garbage. If there isn’t a much better Freesat PVR on the market, I’m going to forget about satellite altogether. I can’t bear to use this thing.

Not being able to zip the cursor around the EPG quickly; not being able to see the listings clearly; and all the channels being in a random order — I actually find it upsetting. It’s like getting in a car only to find it can’t excede 10mph, only has 1 tiny window, and forbids me to put my gloves in the “wrong” compartment.

Freeview PVRs (in particular the DigiFusion, or the Topfield with MyStuff installed) are so much easier and more enjoyable to use, despite being 5-year-old PVRs. This Foxsat is brand new, and utter rubbish in my opinion.



I should say, I mean no offence to anyone who loves their Foxsat. Things like this just really irritate me, but obviously not everyone has the same requirements in a PVR as me.

Don't panic.

Find a specific fault (anything that is says it should do, but doesn't), take it back, get a replacement, see if that does all it says it does.
Then, if you've no joy, get a refund, and write to the manufacturer telling them why.

Are you sure that what you got was what you thought you'd get? eg- you can re-arrange/rename stations, but only in non-freesat mode (easy). In freesat/non-freesat, you can delete channels to make navigation easier. In freesat you can simply press OK on the EPG and the programme/series will (should) be recorded.
The listings - in freesat mode, are extremely clear, providing you have deleted the rubbish. Much better than Sky, IMO.

Hey, I'm not here to sell freesat (!) but I acknowledge it takes some getting round (I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to my 80-yr-old mum) but once you've "got it" you're away. You may just have a dodgy set - or maybe a dodgy dish which has corroded a touch, or has been knocked out of line by the wind.

Try another, and then if it's no better for you, ditch, get a refund, and write to Humax. Their addy's on their website.

Thanks, but unfortunately I got it second hand off eBay (saved me about £40). So no taking it back to the shop!


I think I’ll be writing to Humax anyway. I’m inclined to voice my frustration at using their machine and offer a few suggestions.


Sky’s EPG is a joke, and a disgrace.

Here are some pics of the Topfield Freeview PVR. This is the kind of thing I’m looking for in an EPG:
Now & next mode
Single-channel mode
Grid mode


Well the dish only went up a few days ago and the signal strength is showing very high, so I doubt it could be the dish. I had hoped it was just a faulty box, but from the comments here, it seems most people struggle to get their EPG cursor to move. To clarify, when I press, say, up or down on the arrows, the cursor will move probably 1 second later, or longer. But quite often it just doesn’t respond at all for several seconds, or (after lots of pressing) it skips 2 places.


Good advice, and I will consider trying another unit somehow.

I didn't realise it was a second-hand jobbie from e-bay!! Thought we were discussing a brand-new box from a shop....
Remember that people who sell stuff second hand (could be third hand/fourth hand....) are getting rid of stuff they don't want - and there's a reason.
Looks like you've been had for the sake of forty quid. Have they had an older dodgy box and sold it on to you??

I had a Topfield 5800 before my Freesat, swapped to get HD, HDMI and iplayer. The Topfield EPG that comes with the machine is ***SHOCKING***, you have posted pics of the replacement EPG you get when you load some extra bolt-on software. The ability to load bolt on software and replace the EPG is fairly unique to the Topfield and is BRILLIANT.

Compared to every other STB and PVR (including the out of the box Topfield EPG), the EPG on the HDR is the best. Above you questioned how the EPG population can be instant when it needs to come from the satellite - well theres this thing called memory, the HDR caches the EPG data and displays it, at least mine does.

The above posts are looking more and more like a troll - would anyone really buy a secondhand HDR from ebay to save just £40 ?

The Topfield EPG can be seen here http://www.toppy.org.uk/newusers/manual2a.php - how bad is that ? Four channels at a time and you can't really read half the program names either.

Download new epg press guide and wait for 30 sec. Instantly display of the buffered epg - press schedule and then red (this works even when both tuners are recording)

Something clearly wrong with the box. You have far too many problems. Mine is near flawless after the update.

Swedish cook.....yes I had my suspicions from the outset, especially given the Christmas morning timing, and the complete absence of any positive comments which would be impossible from am impartial viewpoint. Very sad for a Christmas morning...

To everybody else who has a Foxsat HDR, I suggest you enjoy it and avoid this feed.

Please, please, it is Christmas.


Humax follow the Freesat Specification, it is Freesat that impose the limitations you describe in Freesat mode. Given that, you are unlikely to get a better Freesat PVR. I agree that the ability to schedule and record programs on non-Freesat channels would be nice. However, the ability to record at all is a bonus. (I pay a hefty subscription to Sky and can't record any ITV region or BBC 3 or BBC 4.


Cm'on, that's well over the top.
No technology is perfect, but the Humax PVR is very good, apart from a few annoyances, and a manual that lets the product down. It takes a little time to get used to but it is well worth the effort involved.

If you don't like the Freesat approach, fair enough. However, don't hold Humax to account for issues outside their control. You will always get more customization with a setup you can tailor to your own requirements. The trade off is the time, effort, expertise and cost involved.

What I really want is to integrate everything into a single solution such as Windows Media Player. The concept is simple - all media available on a single server, ideally with a touchscreen interface. I got it a long way, as a Christmas project, including integration with Sky encrypted channels. However, I did it as a hobby and it wouldn't have been practical as a paid piece of work. (Then Sky changed their bloody cards and I can't use them in my CAM any more.)

Seasons Greetings.

Hillel.