My Sky sub stops in a month and I'd like a Freesat PVR, am leaning towards the Humax. I understand a recent software update corrected some glitches, is this correct?

I have heard about a G2 spec and think an announcement about boxes is expected soon.

I was thinking about waiting, then also thought many early releases of boxes (not just Freesat!) end up being effectively released to general market for testing and it often takes a good year for bugs to be ironed out.

Any thoughts?

Hi Craig,

I was in the same boat as you last summer when I realised that 95% of our viewing was FTA so I dumped Sky and went to FreeSat. G2 was on the cards even then but I decided that waiting for a new unit that would be very expensive and would probably be launched with clunky software was not going to be the best solution. If I were in your situation now I would go for the Humax. But to save a bit get yourself a "Manager's Special" from Humax direct. These units are usually shop returns that have been tested and come with a one year guarantee (as opposed to two). This is what I did last summer and apart from a tiny dent in the top case my HDR looked like new (inside and out). I installed the 1TB disk from my old Sky+HD box (having copied any remaining unwatched subscription or FTV programmes to an old spare 1TB drive I had lying around). When I had the lid off the Humax I had a good look around and was very impressed with the build quality (certainly better than the inside of the Sky Amstrad units). There were no dodgy CapXon capacitors in the power supply (which have caused problems for the non-PVR Foxsat HD box as well as being the source of nearly all the Thomson Sky+HD box failures). The Humax formatted the drive very quickly and I haven't looked back since.

One of the best things about the Humax HDR over its rivals are the custom freeware that is available for it. I started by using Raydon's AV2HDR software to convert any unwatched FTA programming ripped from my Sky+HD box which it did with no quality loss (the software creates the two side-car files the unit needs to play the video). More recently I have installed the custom firmware which allows the addition of non-Freesat channels to the EPG (STV HD & Sky News being the best of these in my case) as well turning the HDR into an FTP server and adding a web interface. My only regret is not getting around to installing the custom firmware earlier.

My HDR has been very stable and reliable only locking up once since August (I was power cycling the old Sky+HD box weekly, frequently twice weekly). Personally, I am happy to stick with my HDR until the G2 boxes have been around for about a year and all the bugs have been ironed out, then I may pension it off to my parents house and replace it.

Thanks.

I decided to change to Freesat after looking at my planner and seeing how much was FTA!

For the few dramas I do watch (e.g. Boardwalk Empire, Walking Dead) I am happy to wait for the boxset. Even paying for them I save overall.

Hummy it is then!

I believe Walking Dead is on US Netflix service, along with a whole stream of other content that hasn't made it to Sky yet.

You can get access to US Netflix by subscribing to a VPN service - lots of threads on it elsewhere on the forums here

I find I have enough with UK content and Youtube but otherwise I'd say Freesat + US Netflix looks like a killer combo. Tried UK Netflix & Lovefilm instant, they suck.

I've had the Humax HDR since September and I'm very happy with it, the Modified firmware and AV2HDR make it even better. Also if you don't want to open it up to upgrade the HDD you can add an external one to the rear USB port to extend the storage space as well.

Roland

Hi, im in the same situation, since subscribing to netflix (US via vpn) and lovefilm for blu-ray rentals I find myself only watching the “free channels” , as such im paying the normal sky subs with hd and multiform for what I could get free with freesat.

I think the only channel I would miss is the new sony movie channel as they have had a few films I enjoyed.

Anyhow I must now decide whether to get freesat now or wait for the G2 boxes to be released, but ive only been researching freesat over the last couple of days and im not exactly clear what the G2 boxes offer compared to the current boxes? What are the advantages of the G2 box? The catch up tv services appear to by on the current box with humax having itv player, bbc iplayer and boxoffice 365. Will the new G2 boxes offer any new services?

If anyone can enlighten me on these new boxes and if its known when they are due out i would be great.

Seems like G2 announcements are now overdue if you read around, and you'll also see that technical test transmissions have begun already.

You'll notice mention of HBBTV which is yet to launch in Europe but appears to be a European equivalent (maybe not as functional) of BBC's Youview (also due to launch soon).

Still I think Sagemcom was to be the lead supplier and TBH their software hasn't been the best in the first release. When announcements are made it will be interesting to see what Humax have to say about it.

Tricky choice right now, but sounds like all you really need is Freesat for HD so toss up between (a) go and get the Humax or Echostar, then review the choice in a year, (b) call Sky, tell them you're leaving and see how low they'll go for the next 6 months to give you some breathing space. If it was me I would be trying option (b) first.

What does G2 specfication give us that's new?

Just noticed on the youview website they have the following in the support section: -

Can I get YouView with my satellite dish?

YouView will constantly evolve and this is something we're thinking about.

Would you youview via satellite be differant form the G2 spec or could they be intergrated?

I'm sure manufacturers will want a fair overlap between Youview and the web tv (HBBTV) standard implemented by G2, you've gotta hope that G2 boxes will get most/all the youview functions over time ... plus they should have extra access to HBBTV feeds from other countries. Heres hoping....

This is mainly down to the set top manufactures - I would expect an integrated G2 / YourView STB. would be priced above a G2 STB due to the YourView specs, I think.

Not yet fully announced.

I thought you had access to the G2 spec (based on your previous authoritive responses on here?), if you did, surely you'd question whether incorporating YouView into a G2 spec Freesat receiver would actually happen, given the similarities?!?!

I can't really see the two services living in the same box, which is why Freesat are very much focused on G2 only; I guess with a YouView replacement if the service impresses as much as the promotion currently is (the media).

There has not been any publication of any freesat spec - and I do do not have access to the G2 spec. However much G2 information has been 'leaked' and reported on by the media multiple times.- this was my source of information.

The YouView hardware specs demand much more power than is provided by a freesat G1 STB and I would not expect G2 to change this significantly.Therefore you cannot add YouView to G2 but it would be possible the other way around.
Given that YouView foresees a Satellite box - I don't see much point in not making it G2 compatable.
I would not picture two services in one box but integration in the same way as terrestrial.

Here is a quote from Barry over at MyHumax.org
"YouView are responsible for the UI and other functions, Humax only responsible for software to interface with their hardware"
.
It is stated that YouView will dynamically change and evolve and implied that this can happen without firmware updates from the STB manufactures.

Don't under-estimate the power of the new G2 boxes, the processors and chipsets are significantly more powerful than G1 and I'm told capable of YouView, but it really comes down to there being no point for both. Freesat are obviously going their own way with this, and Freeview with YouView.

Personally think interactive services of this quality/usability should be treated as a bolt-on feature to enhance a platform specific receiver, not the other way around. YouView is being promoted as their service with Freeview added on.

The power requirements for the YouView processor I think are down to application processing (games?) (a major feature - but I expect this will be added later as it not currently mentioned as a feature but was in the published specs) On a standard TV/Sat PVR most of the work in done by the PVR chip.

YouView is targeted to be platform independent and can be also be Incorporated as well in ISP supplied boxes. I think it is significant that YouView control the UI - it makes it easy to update and add things on.

We should not have long to wait to know what G2 offers - Hopefully it will live up to expectations.

Looking forward to the new G2 STB