I have a 250gb humax freesat hd recorder, about 2 years old, but have moved to a house with no dish. Now i'm debating whether to go to the hassle of having a dish put up or to get a new freeview hd recorder.

I dont want to spend ages on this so just wondered if anybody could offer any advice either way.

My humax satellite box was very impressive. Ivd found this freeview version. Can anyone recommend it, or any other ?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/humax-h....html#longDesc

Thanks for any assistance.

....one other question....my old box could only transfer files to a usb stick if less than 4gb.......is this still the case on the newer boxes ? I want to record and transfer to an android phone.

It's not the case with your old box if you format a stick EXT2 it will take larger files. The limit is down to the FAT32 file system not the box. If you install the custom firmware you can copy files directly to your PC and vice versa.

The HDR FOX T2 is a very good pvr by the way.

I own this Humax and would recommend it. It's easy to set up and the same to use. The only niggle with it is that if and when a retune is needed, the recording schedule list is deleted BUT there is a custom firmware that stops that happening although I don't use it myself as I only record from the HD channels so it doesn't take long to set up the recordings again but it's the best PVR i have owned (had the Humax 9200 before this one) and comes highly recommended and rated


I'm sorry I can't answer your second question as i'm not sure about i'm sure others will.

LOL Just as I was posting this, I see graham has answered your question.

Thanks for responses so far.

I realise this could open a debate..but is there any discernible difference in quality between freesat HD and freeview HD ?

Not that I have noticed, although it would be difficult to see any differences unless you had both Freesat HD and Freeview HD running side by side but again, i'm sure others will have a better answer for you.

Very little difference. Some claim Freeview is actually better. By the way your Foxsat will be 320GB.

I would keep the Foxsat anyway, you can get a dish and lnb on e-bay for £20.00. Simple job to stick a 1TB drive in it.

DIY is easily possible if you have a location that you can access easily (my dish is only 6ft off the ground). The channel line up is different on Freesat to Freeview so they will complement each other.

You're right its 320. You reminded me....although the Foxsat was good I recall the SD channel listing to be lesser than on freeview SD. Is this still the case ?

Freeview channels list


http://www.freeview.co.uk/Channels


Here's a Humax you may consider getting.



http://www.johnlewis.com/231674494/Product.aspx

I would strongly advise not to get the HDR-T1000

For example

http://hummy.tv/forum/threads/dtr-t1...tcomings.1960/

Thanks for the advice and opinions. Can anybody confirm that you can export recordings to the usb out on this box

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/humax-h....html#longDesc

Oh Thanks for that Graham. I was myself, thinking about getting one but that's put me right off. Humax have really messed this one up haven't they

Who's your ISP? If you're with BT or TalkTalk then I would get their YouView box which gets the Freeview HD channels at £50, no-brainer despite what you might read. A software update next week should improve it further. If you find it's not for you I'm sure you can sell it for more than £50 as the shops are selling it for £250-£280 so you'll actually gain on it, providing you keep your ISP contract in place for the term.

I know there's a limit with FAT32 but will it work if NTFS is used instead. Sorry if i'm wrong though. I don't know much about these things.

Is that HD ? And does it connect to the internet using WiFi or would need to be near router for cable ?

Expect monthly broadband limit would be an issue.

Not Humax, they merely build the box, Youview is responsible for the software.

Aw I see. Then I apologise. So good box but bad software.
Just out of curiosity, Do Topfield still make PVR's, I haven't seen one in a long time

No only EXT2/3. The free version of Easeus Partition manager will format EXT2 (stick) or EXT3 (proper drive).

EXT2FS will let you access a EXT file system drive in Windows. The custom firmware is a much better solution though.

Ok thanks again. Can you post a link to this custom firmware please. i'd like to give it a try

If you have a contract with a box supplied download limit won't be an issue. Only the BBC afaik have HD vod so far. About 1.3GB/hr is used for the HD version.

Ok thanks. Im looking for hd with no ongoing costs

It's HD and does not have WiFi built in unfortunately so ethernet cable, homeplugs etc needed unfortunately. A bit backward when Roku and Apple TV have this bulit in.
It doesn't get the Connect TV channels yet (225 etc) but these should arrive in a future software update.
If you're with BT or TalkTalk then providing you stay with them for the required term (18 months for TalkTalk, 12 months' TV contract and 18 months' broadband contract with BT) you're getting an HD PVR for £50 worth a lot more (on sale for £250+) which you can sell if it's not for you providing you keep the contract in place. The box can be used with any ISP.