I'm thinking of getting one of these but i've been put off mostly by my experience of the EPG of the Foxsat HD

The biggest problem with the this EPG for me is the fact that you have no option to build a favourites list. I often surf through looking to see what's on, and it takes forever to cycle through dozens of channels that hold no interest - hundreds in non freesat mode.

This is accentuated by the slow speed both horizontally and vertically. If i pan right, i find i tend to press the button more often than i need as i'm never sure if it's "caught up" and when i pan back again, sometimes details seem to disappear from some cells. Often, it's just not there in the first place.

Finally, the 30 seconds or so without a picture every time you enter the epg and the fact that that picture is then obscured is very annoying.

From what i understood, these were problems arising from the freesat restrictions, and a single input, rather than poor design by humax, but the fact is they still existed, and i don't know if time - or changes that apply to the HDR - have made any difference. That's why i pose the question.

I'd like an EPG like the 9200t, which is excellent, although it seems to be running a bit slowly at the moment after recent changes. But it's still faster than the foxsat and only 20-odd channels to negotiate.

Anyway, if my criticisms are ill-founded or outdated i'd love to know. Thanks in advance.

With the HDR you can press the schedule button followed by the red button. This calls up the buffered epg whilst the video and sound continue and with the transparency set to high the screen can be viewed under the graphics.

I have a HDR and a HD, and the EPG is pretty much the same on both. I also have a 9200T, and I think the EPG on this is far worse than the EPG on the HDR/HD.

Why? Does it do anything better than the 9200t does it? What's wrong with the 9200t?

Thanks for the info Gaseous, it seems a small improvement. But the real deal-breaker for me is still the lack of a favourites option.

You can always delete the channels "that hold no interest". Then they won't be listed in the EPG.

That's a fair point i guess. And i suppose i could have two lists - freesat and non-freesat - which might be useful.

I suppose it's not quite as flexible as a proper favourites epg in terms of modifying it. The other problem i can see is the frequent channel updates which i presume will mean i have to go through the rather laborious process at regular intervals.

Still, it is a possible solution - food for thought - thanks.

[quote=autolycus_ds;38426266]Why? Does it do anything better than the 9200t does it? What's wrong with the 9200t?

The time shift on the 9200 takes forever, Foxsat HDR has a single 1day button, so much easier.

It's just a personal preference, based upon nothing more than the look and feel of it. The EPG on the 9200T uses horrible drab colours, poor quality icons and just looks plain ugly compared to the EPG on the HD/HDR, which uses better colours (and it also benefits from a higher resolution [HD] display). The awful remote on the 9200T doesn't help, with many of the frequently used functions hidden behind a flap.

MOB - i was referring just to the EPG, but i have to say i've never had any timeshift problems with the 9200t.

bryhhh - thanks for clarifying. I guess colour and icon prefs are valid, if subjective, observations, but I still recon the 9200t EPG functionality is superior. BTW - I don't think the flap obstructs the EPG use, but i agree it's a pain. I unclipped mine - it's very simple to do.

[quote=autolycus_ds;38441554]MOB - i was referring just to the EPG, but i have to say i've never had any timeshift problems with the 9200t.

I am referring to the epg. Try shifting it to Tuesday's programmes - press green button, press left twice, press day four times, press right, then OK. On FoxsatHDR just press 1day button four times.

I am with the above poster navigation of the epg on the 9200 is a pain. Best is Foxsat-hdr, next is Topfield 5800 and last is Humax 9200. And as for epg load times from boot the 9200 sucks big time. The 5800 is way quicker even though neither buffer the epg.

I apologise - i took 'time shift' to be pressing pause when you get a phone call in the middle of a program, so i didn't really understand your post. And i almost never use the facility you mention - i guess i should plan ahead more

And i must admit the Foxsat HD populates the list quicker than the 9200t.

If i were to delete channels to produce 'favourites' lists, is it possible to turn off the channel updates, or would i have to be on my toes every time i switched on to make sure i didn't have to redo the list?

It should retain your edited channel list and just add any that are 'pushed' by freesat. It will revert to the full list if you do a factory reset though.

Edit: Also in non-freesat mode if you thin down the channel list it won't repopulate completely on a rescan unless you perform a factory reset first.

The EPG is fine so long as you use the hidden schedule/red button access to it. Humax evidently did not think that anyone would be stupid enough to press the button marked "Guide" and expect instant access to the current EPG.

Deleting channels from the guide is the only answer to the lack of a favourites list although every time channels are added to the EPG you have to find and delete them, which is a bit of a nuisance.

I've not interest in a favourites list so have never looked into it but I have come across a menu that gives the option to add a channel to a 'favourites group' (it looked like you could have 5 groups)

Does anyone know what that's about or how it works? Would it help the OP?