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Best Freesat box? |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Isle of Wight
Posts: 7,810
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Best Freesat box?
I've cancelled Sky and ordered a Humax Freesat+ 1000s 1Tb box which I should get in a fornight, so I was wondering if thats about the best choice atm while I have time to cancel?
Also, I've seen Freesat boxes and Freesat+ (like the 1000s) - whats the difference and are the + features worth having? |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kent
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The biggest difference between them is that the + boxes have 2 tuners and a hard drive so you can record 2 channels at the same time.
To which is the best box is a bit more of a difficult one as it all depends on what your after in terms of function and features. The Humax HDR 1000s is the first of the next generation of Freesat + boxes and on paper is the king of freesat boxes as you get a backwards tv guide which integrates all the catch up services from the 4 main broadcasters and with the possibility of other on demand features in the future. In reality however things are not quite as great as they should be as there's been the odd bug, faulty hard drive issues and still no sign of 4OD and Demand 5 which were expected end of 2012. Fortunately bugs will be sorted with firmware updates and I'm sure 4OD and Demand 5 will arrive soon. The only major potential problem is the hard drive lottery, but you get a 2 year warranty if there are any issues. Even with those nevatives the box is still pretty good for its main functions of watching tv and recording. BBCiPlayer and ITV player work pretty well and YouTube has just been added yesterday which is a pretty nice addition. As <FreeTime> is pretty new I suppose you need to ask yourself if your prepared to go along with the ride for the time being or not while the odd thing gets ironed out over the coming months. |
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#3 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
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List of questions
Is access to the 4 main catch up services required ? Do you have a fast unlimited broadband service. Do you want to be able to use the recordings on another device ? Do you want to be able to archive recordings to an external hard disc when space is tight so you can still watch them. Do you want to be able to stream recordings from the pvr to other locations across a home network to other locations so others can watch existing recordings without affecting the main box viewers ? Do you want the pvr to be able to play back external content either from usb or over your home network. ? Have you any interest in watching on line video sources like YouTube on your TV via the box ? Are you prepared to install software add ons to the basic box to increase it's capability (Custom Firmware) ? |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Snowdonia
Posts: 2,725
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Quote:
Also, I've seen Freesat boxes and Freesat+ (like the 1000s) - whats the difference and are the + features worth having?
The + notation is common across Sky, Freeview and Freesat products - it denotes a twin-tuner recorder rather than just a single-tuner receiver. |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Isle of Wight
Posts: 7,810
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Quote:
List of questions
Is access to the 4 main catch up services required ? Do you have a fast unlimited broadband service. not that bothered, although my BB is about 14Mb Do you want to be able to use the recordings on another device ? if that means being able to get them on the PC to burn to DVD then it would be handy, otherwise not really Do you want to be able to archive recordings to an external hard disc when space is tight so you can still watch them.Could be useful Do you want to be able to stream recordings from the pvr to other locations across a home network to other locations so others can watch existing recordings without affecting the main box viewers ? again could be useful, although I currently use a media streamer and 3 NAS drives Do you want the pvr to be able to play back external content either from usb or over your home network. ? if that means I could use it as a media streamer so my current media streamer could be moved to another TV it'd be useful Have you any interest in watching on line video sources like YouTube on your TV via the box ? Nope, got them on the TV and media streamer and never use them Are you prepared to install software add ons to the basic box to increase it's capability (Custom Firmware) ? Yes, if it adds features Id like I cancelled Sky as around 95% of what I watch/record are on the free channels anyway, but I'd miss the Sky+ recording functions so my main want is a box to replace my Sky+ HD box so I still have the recording functions and series link options and being able to record one channel while watching another or record 2 channels, and have a decent amount of storage, pause/rewind live TV - I'm not too bothered about ondemand stuff as had them on the sky box for quite a while and never used them and have YouTube on the TV and again never used (I did consider FreeviewHD but no VintageTV, Horror or CBS Action/Drama was a deal breaker), but some degree of future proofing in case of things I'd like being added would be nice. If the box can be used to stream from the NAS to the TV then that would be a bonus as it'd free up a media streamer for another room. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
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Quote:
Cheers for the replies.
I cancelled Sky as around 95% of what I watch/record are on the free channels anyway, but I'd miss the Sky+ recording functions so my main want is a box to replace my Sky+ HD box so I still have the recording functions and series link options and being able to record one channel while watching another or record 2 channels, and have a decent amount of storage, pause/rewind live TV - I'm not too bothered about ondemand stuff as had them on the sky box for quite a while and never used them and have YouTube on the TV and again never used (I did consider FreeviewHD but no VintageTV, Horror or CBS Action/Drama was a deal breaker), but some degree of future proofing in case of things I'd like being added would be nice. If the box can be used to stream from the NAS to the TV then that would be a bonus as it'd free up a media streamer for another room. The long in the tooth Foxsat-hdr is a very good pvr with endless customising capability, the new HDR-1000S is also a very good pvr, as Gonzo says it does appear to have some issues with some boxes. Mine bought at launch has a 2TB HDD and touch wood has so far not had any major issues. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hounslow
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Quote:
Mine bought at launch has a 2TB HDD and touch wood has so far not had any major issues.
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#8 |
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kent
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Did you upgrade the HDD Graham and which drive did you use?
![]() I must say I've been very tempted myself, but not too keen on voiding warranty just yet. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
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Quote:
Did you upgrade the HDD Graham and which drive did you use?
![]() http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0042AG9V...hvptwo=&hvqmt= The screws to take off the lid are hidden under the stick on feet. A hair dryer will let you peel back the security sticker, after it cools down it will stick back seamlessly
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#10 |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hounslow
Posts: 1,317
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Quote:
Yep - Repassac was the first to do so as far as I know. As Gonzo says
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0042AG9V...hvptwo=&hvqmt= The screws to take off the lid are hidden under the stick on feet. A hair dryer will let you peel back the security sticker, after it cools down it will stick back seamlessly ![]() Is it as easy as just swapping over the power and data cables on the drives?
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#11 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Perchede, France
Posts: 1,936
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Quote:
Thanks Graham!
Is it as easy as just swapping over the power and data cables on the drives?![]() |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hounslow
Posts: 1,317
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Quote:
Just about - The drive sits in a caddy - which you will need to remove first, It is all very easy after you know about the hidden screws under the feet.
What happens when the box boots up after the new drive is fitted? Does it require formatting?I'll give it a go, mainly because I don't have much faith in the original hard drive. I know that there is a good warranty but I can't be bothered with the hassle.
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Perchede, France
Posts: 1,936
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Quote:
Thanks!
What happens when the box boots up after the new drive is fitted? Does it require formatting?I'll give it a go, mainly because I don't have much faith in the original hard drive. I know that there is a good warranty but I can't be bothered with the hassle. ![]() I don't think you need to worry about the old drive - the actual hard drive failure rate is so low it cannot really be measured (according to Humax). The problems that some had were down to software making the wrong assumptions (in response to unexpected return codes, I guess). |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hounslow
Posts: 1,317
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Quote:
It knows it needs to be formatted - all automatic.
I don't think you need to worry about the old drive - the actual hard drive failure rate is so low it cannot really be measured (according to Humax). The problems that some had were down to software making the wrong assumptions (in response to unexpected return codes, I guess).
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hounslow
Posts: 1,317
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Quote:
Yep - Repassac was the first to do so as far as I know. As Gonzo says
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0042AG9V...hvptwo=&hvqmt= The screws to take off the lid are hidden under the stick on feet. A hair dryer will let you peel back the security sticker, after it cools down it will stick back seamlessly ![]() ![]() Thanks for the hairdryer tip! ![]() Thanks also to REPASSAC!
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 114
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Quote:
FYI all the different "types" and products within each type are shown nicely at http://www.freesat.co.uk/products/all-products and also in a more straightforward list down the right hand side of http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/.
The + notation is common across Sky, Freeview and Freesat products - it denotes a twin-tuner recorder rather than just a single-tuner receiver. |
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,288
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Quote:
wow - looks like freetime boxes are only made by humax at the moment.
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