Hi all,

I am trying to work out which PVR to buy.

The Humax is well liked here and on other forums, partly (mainly?) due to custom firmware.

However I have some specific questions:
[LIST=1][*]Standby power - ES runs at over 16w in standby, is that right, sounds high![*]Speed from start-up - do they respond well from standby?[*]EPG speed - even with the Humax button trick, how do they compare?[*]Channel change speed - are they instant like freeview, or slight delay?[*]Picture in picture / split screen - can you browse channels whilst keeping one of them static?[*]Favourites - given that you cannot change the order of the channels on FS boxes (unlike Fview boxes) can you call up the EPG for your favourite lists? How many lists/profiles can you have?[*]Use of USB port - other than f/w updates, what can you do with it?[*]Network port - what can you do with it?[/LIST]
thanks for your thoughts!

missed 9.

9. surround sound is this only via s/pdif or also hdmi?

Can't help with the Echostar except 1. The high consumption in sby is to maintain the slingbox capability. It should have a sub 1W sby mode like all new pvrs have to have due to eec power regulations.

Foxsat-hdr takes about 30 seconds or so to boot from low power sby, boot is instantaneous if box is recording or in the pre 15 minute look for AR codes.


Changing channels by going up or down or choosing from epg is more or less instant. If you have to key in 3 digits (and the optional OK) it takes longer,

No PIP

EPG doesn't follow favourites (unless you use the web interface where you can set up different channel groups)

USB port archive recordings to USB drive (and replay from same). Upload non native video with the aid of AV2HDR

BBCi player, ITV player, BOX OFFICE 365, media streaming of SD recordings and control of the box in a web browser using the modified firmware, direct ftp access to the internal HDD.

Surround sound by HDMI and optical S/Pdif.

Thanks GT.

Strange regarding the PIP, as I saw an old Humax Freeview (non HD) in action and that had it!
Do any freesat boxes do PIP of any sort?

For 1), does that mean if I do not set up Slingbox functionality (or switch it off when not needed during the wk) it will revert to 1W?

For the EPG, does that mean you HAVE to go through all channels unless you have removed them from the main list? You are saying I cannot have a couple of profiles like I can on my Panny TV?

Yes if you do it on the actual box. As I said you can customise the epg with your own profiles if you use the web interface.

As you say the SD Humax Freeview pvrs had PIP. There's none on the Humax Freeview HD pvrs either. May be HDCP on HD channels make if difficult/impossible

You need an Echostar owner to get a defintive answer re standby power.

Hi,i have both machines,both are good, the Echostar has a couple of power options- normal standby, in which it boots up in around 10-15 secs or "ultra low power mode", in which it takes around 30-40 secs to boot, this mode also disables "sling facilities". USB port is only used for software downloads at present, EPG is fast, as is channel changing, for more info check out- www.myechostar.com, lots of info there. Good luck

@bigbobjoylove
thanks for the link, I will try and find answers there.
But rather than cross posting there, if I cannot - might nudge this thread...

What are key difference between the two do you observe the most?

Hi, the Echostar seems a bit quicker for looking through menus,channels etc and picture quality is excellent. Had this PVR for over 2 months now and had no issues, Recording programmes/series is a breeze. Manual scanning for "non-freesat" channels is slow though with every Transponder/frequency having to be added whereas the Humax definitely has better, more sensitive tuners and the option to just scan all Transponders for picking up other channels in "non-freesat" mode etc. Also, the Humax has hidden menus enabling access to multi satellites providing you have additional LNB's on your dish pointing at them. Hope this helps, like i said both are good PVR's

Yeah, as others will tell you on this forum, my ability to convince our freeholders to install a multi-dish solution for our apartment block fell on deaf ears. So not sure how useful that Humax feature will be.

I therefore also need to read about the changes the custom firmware make to the Humax. Do you use that? Did that still perform slightly less well compared to the EchoStar?

Sorry, but i've no experience of using the custom firmware on the Humax, there is a very in depth review of the Echostar on Amazon by a purchaser/poster, even includes his own photographs of inside the Echostar machine which is worth reading. There are some very knowledgeable folks on here regarding the Humax firmware though.Good luck

As a new convert to the modified firmware and web interface I can tell you it's pretty amazing

Sitting next to this tab in my browser are 3 open tabs

One has a customised epg on it, the next an one screen remote control (hopefully soon to get timed macro capability) and detailed recording schedule (complete with all future events within the epg and a search facility).

Opening ftp sofware gives you direct read write access to the HDR's hard disc (Using Corel FTP Lite which I happened to have).

Lack of programme archiving capability would rule out the Echostar for me.

The customised EPG, what are the main benefits?

As I understand you can add nonFreesat channels to the main list.
Can you also move, change and delete the channels (freesat and non freesat) so that the EPG only lists the channels you want, in the order you want?

Are there any other onscreen benefits to the custom firmware, or is it mainly that FTP/archiving capability?

I might miss some of the capabilities.

You can create your own customised epg groups and include non freesat channels (there is of course no full epg data for non freesat channels). You can also add the BBC-interactive streams as channels and set manual recording timers. afaik you can't change the order but capability to create groups make this not really neccessary.
Should shortly be able to set timers for non-freesat that will survive housekeeeping.

Navigation is much improved with for instance a goto Date and time option.

You can stream unencrypted content to DNLA capable kit, including portable devices.

Package management makes it a breeze to add/remove pacgages and check for updates.

Convenient recorded content browser.

Probably missed a lot more (just a beginner )

Freesat channels can be deleted, but not re-ordered.

Non-freesat channels, once scanned can be re-ordered and any not required can be deleted on the HDR before using the Channel Editor to chage them into freesat mode.

I think given that I will only have 28°E services. At the moment I will only miss Sky News as a non-FreeSat FTA. I am not sure which other channels I would want to watch.

Maybe Dave will become a non-Freesat FTA channel.

But both of these I get on Freeview straight on the TV.


If there were movie channels or sports channels that I could receive I maybe more interested in these non-Freesat modes.

Echostar have recently added DiSEqC 1.0 (LNB switching only) to their box but I haven't got around to trying it out yet.

IMO the Humax is becoming the TopField of Freesat, it is very good if you apply lots of mods but I think the Echostar is better straight out-of-the-box.

I agree Badvok, prefer the Echostar myself, a lot of brilliant work,tips and ideas have been contributed by Raydon, Repassac, GL Thompson and many others for the Humax HDR though. This forum has been a revelation for a newcomer to satellite tv like myself. Hats off to you all

what has been the best price for the EchoStar over the last year, so I know roughtly what to aim for in any upcoming sales?

I believe its between £170-£180 just now. A good price considering it was double that price nearly a year ago

Are you EchoStar owners having problems with the series link function?
Appears not to work!

the series link is shocking now on the echostar, its missing loads of programs, not fit for purpose at the moment, echostar know about it, whether they do something is another matter

I'm also looking to buy either one of these boxes, but just cannot seem to make up my mind which to get.
The Echostar box is at a very good price at the moment which is very tempting, but Humax do get talked about alot more.
Whichever I get I just don't want to be left dissapointed and left thinking that I would of been better off with the other box.
Could someone in the know give a pros and cons list of both boxes with the latest firmwares please

A starting point is simply to ask yourself whether you would like to access your recordings whilst away. If so it is the Echostar. That is the main point of differentiation between it and all other boxes.

Using the modded firmware you can control and access recordings on the Humax from your computer which could be anywhere in the world.

To be honest I'm not that interested in the sling feature.
Setting recordings away from home would come in handy now and then, but there's no way I'm gonna pay £20 for the app as I just wouldnt use it enough.