I'm just hesitating for a moment or two before I buy my new Hummy. I say hesitate because whenever I normally buy something just before a new model come's out I nearly always regret it .... and I know that is always going to be the same because there's always a next model .....

However there's one thing that will tip me over the edge either way and that is a bit of help speculating what the new Hummy will have as new function. My problem is, because I don't currently use one (although I have a couple of 9200's and I'm a sky user) I can't predict exactly what i'd like the new hummy to have ....

So I'd appreciate just a few ideas about what the additional functions are likely to be. I've heard streaming mentioned .. but with iplayer already on board I can't think of any applications that streaming would provide that I'd need. I also understand it might be more of a network media center. But not sure I need that either.

Any speculations about the new box would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff

Beyond the two you have mentioned nobody is saying so this is pure speculation and maybe wishfull thinking

A fix for the power cut bug

Timer facility for non-freesat mode

External Esata drive expansion port that can be recorded to

A fully functioning usals capability

Ability to copy whole folders to the archive drive just by copying the folder

Record up to 4 at once ala Icord

Be able to record the time shift buffer

Programme clash warning to take note off padding produced clashes

Better hdmi compatibility with certain makes of TV that work properly with other HD tackle but not the hdr

A fix for the aspect ratio problem introduced in the latest firmware upgrades

Improvements to the UI for File Manager

Display and LED intensity serrings in the Menu

Improved remote control sensitivity, currently very poor off axis

Additional options in the Schedule list
Show/Hide reservations that have not yet updated
Show/Hide all upcoming recordings within the epg sorted by series link

Improvements to the unwieldy epg search facility, eg capability to save your own searches and recall them

Capability to format usb connected drives in EXT3

Plenty here for Humax to get on with

I am sure others will have lot's of wishes

Another one

Menu oprion so you can equalise the DD and MP3 vulume levels when using S/Pdif

Many thanks.

Funnily enough my first reaction was ..."bl**dy h*ll .. I'm going to wait". But re-reading your list .... it's genuinely helped me to decide.

A'll I'm going to do with it is record the odd programme for watching later in the day or week. No MP3, not much archiving so no file manipulation. I'm going to replace the echostar sooner or later so will keep that system seperate.

Recognising that your post was a "wish list" then I think the current hummy probably does pretty much what I need. Thanks for your help.

Out of interest does the current hummy have live buffering that can be switched off?

Not intended to put you off at al,l basically the list would produce a class leading pvr. You can't switch off live buffering. If asked I could give you long list of pros over the other offerings

Given your minimal requirements it doesn't seem necessary to wait for the new model, especially as it will most likely be more expensive than the current one. Or else if it isn't more expensive then it will be worth waiting for the new model so as to get the current one even cheaper!

I'd love to see the ability to set timers remotely.

Generally the interface needs tidying up. (For example, if you select a series folder it would be good if when it opened it would place the cursor on the earliest recording in that folder).

It would be nice to be offered a choice to delete when you stop playback of a programme near the end.

Stop telling us that there is an alternate version of a programme on BBC/ITV HD when we've already selected the HD version.

Either add one click sub-titles or, at the very least, get rid of the spurious 'teletext' option so that you can program a remote with a macro for one touch sub-titles.

Direct archiving via TCP/IP (possibly 'pull').

Allow the option to default to the stored EPG (with parallel catch up) when 'guide' pressed.

Speed up navigation through the guide. In particular, make left and right move by programme so that it doesn't take several button presses to get past a long one.


Despite that rather long list I've been delighted with the box since I've had it.

try using the ►► button which will advance the epg by 2 hrs or ◄◄ to go back by 2 hrs.

That does work but it's much more intuitive to simply be able to go to the channel that you want and move a programme at a time.

If you're happy to just look at one channel at a time then pressing the green button within the epg will give you a portrait view and from there it is possible to move from one programme to the next irrespective of the programmes duration.

That, I didn't know.

I'll give it a try.

It's not something that is a problem all that often. Just occasionally when there is something on early in the morning - so it would tend to be just the one channel.


Edit: Excellent, thanks - that works really well. I remember seeing that view way back when I first got the machine but must have forgotten about it.

You're welcome. I use the protrait view now and then and one big bonus with it is that you can press the programme up and down button which will skip through the list at one page at a time, saving on even more button presses.

But whilst I waited i'd be spending £70 monthly on sky .....

You could reduce that to £10.00 month to record the fta/ftv channels (more channels than freesat). Or zero if you don't want to record

I'm still trying to make sense of my sub:

I currently have:

Entertainment Packs
Variety Pack
Children's Pack
Knowledge Pack
Style & Culture Pack
Music Pack
News & Events Pack
Premium Packs
Movies 1
Movies 2
Sports 1
Sports 2
Sky Boxes
Sky+HD box
Sky+ box
Standard Sky box
Multiroom subscription (x2)
HD Pack

I receive a permanent rebate of £10 monthly and pay £68:50 monthly ...... which seems more than the current charge ... but I can't make any sense of their charges.

23/04/2010 - 22/05/2010 Extra Subscription £10.00
23/04/2010 - Extra Subscription at no charge - VIP Offer £10.00 CR
23/04/2010 - 22/05/2010 Extra Subscription £10.00
23/04/2010 - 22/05/2010 Sky+ Subscription £0.00
23/04/2010 - 22/05/2010 Sky World with Family Pack £48.50
23/04/2010 - 22/05/2010 Sky+ Subscription £0.00
23/04/2010 - 22/05/2010 Sky+HD Pack £10.00
Subtotal £68.50

How on earth can one tell whether what they charge is correct ..... I've never been able to.

Jeff

If you posted the above in the Sky forum someone might be able to help.

Nice list Graham, I' just add to the following one:

Timer facility for non-freesat mode

The ability to be able to record in one mode whilst in the other or even in 2 modes simoultaneously.

One of the real banes of the current box, apart from the fact there is no EPG for non freesat mode is the fact that any recording scheduled in Freesat mode doesn't happen if your in non Freesat mode at the time.

There's little point in scheduling timers if they don't happen if you're not in that particular mode at the time.

Strikes me that what the box needs to have is both modes active all of the time but have one mode in the background memory so when you change modes you're mearly flicking between the two and not turning one on and one off.

That way recordings could happen in either mode, irrespective of what mode you're in or even simoultaneously in both modes subject to tuner availability. It would also allow for flicking between modes to be quicker and easier - maybe via a button on the remote control?

[quote=White-Knight;39953731

One of the real banes of the current box, apart from the fact there is no EPG for non freesat mode is the fact that any recording scheduled in Freesat mode doesn't happen if your in non Freesat mode at the time.

[/QUOTE]

It does on my hdr provided the recording is not due within 15mins when entering non-freesat. Done some more testing recently after Germany Calling lost a load of recordings. So far the box has switched back to Freesat mode to record all by itself. I have read some posts though that this is not reliable but so far it's worked every time. To be honest if you could set two timers in non-freesat now that ITV 1 HD is available in non freesat that would be a good step forward.

My speculation on capabilities of next Humax box: a box that actually works! Nah - highly unlikely given Humax's track record

Thats a bit harsh.

I'm highly satisfied with my Humax since the firmware changes and its highly reliable although I admit their failure rate does seem high.

Could have some improved features though.

Also Graham would add to your list:

Showing which channels have been moved / removed / added on a channel update rescan.

Nice one it's a pain to check every time just what's altered especially when it's a bit obscure, Revelation TV to Revelation for example.

Also Graham would add to your list:

Showing which channels have been moved / removed / added on a channel update rescan.[/quote]

it has already released details that the channel add screen will be removed and any epg changes will be done in the background a la sky

When a recording is set for a programme with the option for an SD or HD version the SD version indicates (in the guide) that it is set up as a being scheduled in HD (if recording the HD version) and vice-versa for an SD recording.