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TVs with FreeSAT tuners - recording? |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 93
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TVs with FreeSAT tuners - recording?
TVs are getting smarter and better. However the need to completely ignore the TV tuners/EPG etc and use a separate PVR is becoming a real pain.
What's the point of a Smart TV - if all you do is use it as a dumb display for your PVR? You have multiple controllers and so on. The obvious solution is for Smart TVs to have twin tuners for Freesat and allow recording - either to a USB disk or something internal. So far Samsung is close to this, but only has a single FreeSat tuner in models like UE40F6670 - a great TV which I would rush out and buy - OTHER than I would just have to use it as a dumb display from my PVR if I want to record anything that I am not watching at the same time! Anyone know of any FreeSat TVs with twin tuners and USB recording? Seems to me that it's time to declare independence from the PVRs with their fairly useless and incomplete (or non-existent) apps and have a Smart TV which can do it all. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
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Too many eggs in one basket. One part fails the whole lot's got to be repaired/replaced. No space inside a thin flat screen for a decent size hard disc and the power supply it needs. Solution put the HDD and the power supply in an external box and call it a pvr
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,288
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Quote:
Too many eggs in one basket. One part fails the whole lot's got to be repaired/replaced. No space inside a thin flat screen for a decent size hard disc and the power supply it needs. Solution put the HDD and the power supply in an external box and call it a pvr
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#4 |
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Guest
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,103
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What would be the view if it had USB recording?
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#5 |
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,783
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Quote:
What would be the view if it had USB recording?
![]() Adding twin tuners - in fact it would have to be THREE tuners to duplicate functionality of a TV + PVR, and the extra memory and PVR software would only add to the expense of the set. PVR TV's have been made (but only two tuner), but all have flopped - Humax were probably the most 'popular'. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,425
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The high end Panasonic TV's this year have twin DVB-T2 and DVB-S2 tuners (Freeview/Freesat) built in with the facility to record onto a usb disk.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 16
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Quote:
The high end Panasonic TV's this year have twin DVB-T2 and DVB-S2 tuners (Freeview/Freesat) built in with the facility to record onto a usb disk.
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#8 |
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Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 235
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Quote:
As do the high end Samsung but AFAIK only the ability to record 1 programme at a time and then there's the DRM so it can only play on the TV that recorded it.
But for the rest of us a good PVR is always going to be so much better. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 16
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Indeed. At times I have been thankful that I have 2 PVRs. I have very occasionally used the record to USB facility on my Samsung TV for Freeview and been able to watch my PVR at the same time.
The new Samsung TVs do seem a bit handicapped, having 4 tuners but only able to record from 1 at any given time. |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 93
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Recording one programme at a time to USB would be fine. Same with watching them on the same device.
I just hate the idea of a great Smart TV being crippled by having to use a PVR all the time. Yes, I know I could go out and get the latest "smarter" PVR but then I don't know any that run netflix, web browsers, skype and all the other stuff that smart TVs do. With one smart and one dumb device (like PVR and dumb TV) you can use one controller just about. But with two smart devices there is simply no way that you can get one controller to cover all the features of both devices. I think Samsung are bringing out twin Freesat tuners later this year, so I will put off buying a new TV yet again - why have all the gizmos like gesture control and so forth if it's crippled by being shackled to a slow PVR like Humax or Echostar? Just frustration at the lack of proper integration of all the basic features peopled need. Integrated devices are SO much better than bolting things together. It's currently like the old days of hi-fi with a million different cables. Time to join the dots guys and have one user interface that does the lot. |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,438
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It's better to have a TV with basic functionality but high quality display and use it mainly for its display capabilities then add on the additional functionality you want using external equipment, games consoles, blu-ray player, home theatre, PVR, media server. If you want to control them all with one remote get a decent learning remote control.
It makes no sense for manufactures to build sets with YouView, Freetime, Sky+ HD or Virgin Tivo PVRs built in. Sky subsidise and Virgin rent you there PVRs with the costs hidden in the subscription. Most YouView PVRs are subsidised by ISPs in the hope of generating extra money from subscriptions or on demand purchases. Freesat is competing against Virgin, Freeview/Youview, Sky and online services for a share of the pie and their slice is no where near big enough to justify manufacturers adding a Freetime PVR capability to their TV ranges. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Snowdonia
Posts: 2,725
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Pause Live TV is a genuinely useful thing that a TV could do without needing an external PVR box plugged in, whirring away, consuming 30W-ish even when it's doing nothing, TV external input selected, bypassing the TV's own tuner, however I think I mentioned this once on these DS forums and was shot down in flames for suggesting such a stupid idea as it can only be done with full PVR functionaility in the TV and that's a stupid idea because you've then got all your eggs in one basket blah blah blah. Which I think was missing the point.
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 4,391
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Quote:
What's the point of a Smart TV
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#14 |
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 93
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You're forgetting all the other things a Smart TV does that a PVR like Humax does not do, or sucks at.
Netflix (an outstandingly brilliant must-have service) All the other on-demand apps that don't work on your PVR! Web browsing Skype Various heuristic features like working out what you like watching etc. Integration with smart phones and loads more to come - this is the future, not some naff PVR that is little more than a digital version of a VHS machine. |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 897
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Quote:
You're forgetting all the other things a Smart TV does ....
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_G...624/index.html http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/t.../STB-E7500M/XU |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,289
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Quote:
You're forgetting all the other things a Smart TV does that a PVR like Humax does not do, or sucks at.
Netflix (an outstandingly brilliant must-have service) All the other on-demand apps that don't work on your PVR! Web browsing Skype Various heuristic features like working out what you like watching etc. Integration with smart phones and loads more to come - this is the future, not some naff PVR that is little more than a digital version of a VHS machine.
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 4,391
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Quote:
this is the future
Yes, if you rely on Smart TV, that is your future. Good luck with that. Meanwhile, for making the most of broadcast TV there is the PVR, and for making the most of everything else, there is whatever £50-£100 dongle is the box for this year. If you can find both in one box, great. If you can find it all in a TV, great. But don't kid yourself: whatever you buy, the "smart" bit will be out of date next year. Which is why it's handy to have it in a separate box. Assuming you buy a decent TV. If you buy a cheap TV, replacing the whole lot every year might not be a problem. Cheers, David. |
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,425
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Quote:
Netflix (an outstandingly brilliant must-have service)
All the other on-demand apps that don't work on your PVR! Web browsing Skype Various heuristic features like working out what you like watching etc. Integration with smart phones
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: In Gods Own County
Posts: 20,678
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Quote:
Anybody who tries to use a smart tv to browse the net has to be a masochist
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#20 |
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 93
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Fine, but I don't want to downgrade my smart TV to a dumb PVR.
Actually Samsung now has an option to upgrade the TV's processor without the whole TV being ditched. PVRs have painfully slow processors - unless you keep upgrading the entire box. Smart TVs have, up to now, been pretty naff (like the PVRs) but they are just starting to really deliver useful function. Did I forget to mention DNLA? Yes, they both have a place but competing "smartness" just means a mess of two controllers and constant switching around. Smart TVs are outpacing PVRs in all aspects but recording - it can't be long before someone closes the loop. Sorry, would rather give my money to Samsung that to a small UK company that doesn't enhance their existing software much. |
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 93
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Quote:
Both those are Freeview, not FreeSat I believe and I also understand that Samsung has stopped making FreeSat PVRs now.
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 897
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Quote:
Smart TVs are outpacing PVRs in all aspects but recording
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,289
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Quote:
Fine, but I don't want to downgrade my smart TV to a dumb PVR.
Actually Samsung now has an option to upgrade the TV's processor without the whole TV being ditched. PVRs have painfully slow processors - unless you keep upgrading the entire box. Smart TVs have, up to now, been pretty naff (like the PVRs) but they are just starting to really deliver useful function. Did I forget to mention DNLA? Yes, they both have a place but competing "smartness" just means a mess of two controllers and constant switching around. Smart TVs are outpacing PVRs in all aspects but recording - it can't be long before someone closes the loop. Sorry, would rather give my money to Samsung that to a small UK company that doesn't enhance their existing software much. Incidentally it's DLNA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital...twork_Alliance And the latest Humax G2 Freesat box has DLNA capability. |
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,783
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Quote:
Actually Samsung now has an option to upgrade the TV's processor without the whole TV being ditched.
Plus the cost isn't very different to buying a new PVR ![]() Quote:
PVRs have painfully slow processors - unless you keep upgrading the entire box. Smart TVs have, up to now, been pretty naff (like the PVRs) but they are just starting to really deliver useful function. |
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 93
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You still fail to grasp the essence, I don't want TWO devices with completely different user interfaces simply to watch and record television.
Clearly a PVR is useless without a TV. But a TV with integrated recording function would work well. It's going to happen sooner or later. Has any FreeSat HD PVR actually managed to get its act together and run Netflix, Lovefilm, and all the players (BBC, ITV, C4)? Because that is my minimum requirement. Also why don't they combine their PVR with a DVD/Blueray player? - I just don't want all these different boxes with different controllers, different interfaces etc |
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