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Dual-Tuner Freeview PVR Comparison |
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#751 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hants
Posts: 426
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Quote:
We currently have Sky+ but trying to save cash as we only watch channels available on Freeview. I'm trying to presuade my wife
For now, and for terrestrial digital, recommend Digifusion FVRT200/100 around £50, but no longer available new - Will probably need to be 'sorted' but you may be able to find one which has been fixed and up-to-date, and should then be reliable. The software has been around for ages and adjustments/repairs can be done as relatively easy D.I.Y at little cost with help from the forum so have a look at http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/f...play.php?f=118 If you do not want the bother of this then a Thomson DTI 6300 £75 for 160GB (HD), £120 for 250GB, is very easy to use and has a nice remote which is similar to the Sky+ one. Like the Digifusion it has a 14 day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) which is stored on HD. The advantage of this is that the guide is always available; the disadvantage is that, in standby, the fan and HD are still running and may be audible, but this varies and is not noticeable after a week anyway. The Thomson is fairly new and has some nice features like series-link and search, but there are still some (relatively easy to work around) bugs which are due to be fixed by an automatic software update, or further updates, soon. See the thomson forum here and http://www.ukkafka.co.uk/phpBB2/inde...e5a8983f66c3a4 We have both of the former and find them excellent, especially for the all-important EPG, and other features. However other options include mainly Humax(s) and Topfield(s) which I think have a 7 day EPG which is downloaded when you first switch on, and this can take some time, (not so sure about Topfield's EPG). Topfield versions are the most expensive and need TAPS (special software mods. which can be installed by using a PC) which takes some learning, to be worth the extra |
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#752 |
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London
Posts: 4,517
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The Topfield PVRs don't *need* TAPs, it's simply that you can customise them if you wish too.
Personally, I find the Thomson box irritatingly annoying, and it's been whining away in the corner of my living room for weeks now - I can still hear it, above the noise from the TV's fan, and the other two PVRs. |
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#753 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hants
Posts: 426
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Quote:
The Topfield PVRs don't *need* TAPs, it's simply that you can customise them if you wish too.
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Personally, I find the Thomson box irritatingly annoying, and it's been whining away in the corner of my living room for weeks now - I can still hear it, above the noise from the TV's fan, and the other two PVRs.
How many weeks? we don't notice it now - suppose being able to put up with it is one of the few advantages of being rather deaf!
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#754 |
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London
Posts: 4,517
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TAPs certainly make the Topfield, for many people, but you can use them without; it really depends what things are important to you, and what you're prepared to pay for them.
These aren't exclusive to the Toppy, but are all factors that may sway someone towards a Topfield if they do find one or more of them important considerations: USB transfers to Windows, Mac and Linux; no limit to number of MP3 files you can store; component output; folders for organising files; able to transfer video to the box as well as from it; larger (250Gb on 5800, 500Gb on 5810) hard drive; CI slots for Setanta; HDMI and upscaling (on 5810); optical output; UHF modulator (5800 only) Different people will pick different elements from that, and may find them worth the extra. When I first got mine the hard drive was 160Gb - bigger than anything else. Availability of Mac file transfer software was key for me, as was the CI slot for the then TUTV linear service. Since having it, I find the the optical audio and component video outputs aren't things I'd want to be without, nor folders - I have a load of films, and the more recent 20 or so episodes of The West Wing, for example. Not being able to organise that many recordings would be a bit of a pain. When I bought it, TAPs weren't a major consideration, but I do rely on some of them now. If you run all your kit through an AV system that switches component video, you might think it's worth it just for that. If you just plug into a small TV and only watch a few hours a week, it's probably overkill. There's no simple "this is the best PVR" answer, in my view, and very often if you've not had one, you don't realise quite how you may end up using it. |
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#755 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hants
Posts: 426
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Quote:
I have a load of films, and the more recent 20 or so episodes of The West Wing, for example. Not being able to organise that many recordings would be a bit of a pain
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There's no simple "this is the best PVR" answer, in my view, and very often if you've not had one, you don't realise quite how you may end up using it.
Yep, and once you've discovered something you depend on it. We have been spoiled by Pioneer HD/DVD recorders which have such good menus and functionality, but don't have subscriptions needing CI slots, HDMI, or use the boxes for MP3. Our stuff is outdated - CRT TVs and SCARTs for everything. Does optical connection carry more than one AV channel? or what does it do?
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#756 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: wisbech, cambs / norfolk
Posts: 3,834
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Does optical connection carry more than one AV channel? or what does it do?
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#757 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Wirral - 450m from Storeton!
Posts: 51
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Has anyone heard of a Nichiem? 160Gb Twin tuner PVR for £49.99 plus delivery. Seems amazing value for money.
Look at http://www.ukdvdr.co.uk/shop/search....=search&page=1 |
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#758 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hants
Posts: 426
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Quote:
Has anyone heard of a Nichiem? 160Gb Twin tuner PVR for £49.99 plus delivery. Seems amazing value for money.
Look at http://www.ukdvdr.co.uk/shop/search....=search&page=1 Better known Digihome PVR80 is also on offer there at £49.99, see fairly recent account at http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...digihome+PVR80 : 'only' 80GB but needs a mod to record two channels and is said to be a 'vesta clone'. A search on digital spy forums would probably provide plenty more info. |
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#759 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,804
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Quote:
Has anyone heard of a Nichiem? 160Gb Twin tuner PVR for £49.99 plus delivery. Seems amazing value for money.
Look at http://www.ukdvdr.co.uk/shop/search....=search&page=1 |
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#760 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Thatcham, Hannington Transmitt
Posts: 5,274
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Quote:
No, but agree it's amazing value
Better known Digihome PVR80 is also on offer there at £49.99, see fairly recent account at http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...digihome+PVR80 : 'only' 80GB but needs a mod to record two channels and is said to be a 'vesta clone'. A search on digital spy forums would probably provide plenty more info. If the OP is still interested have a read through the thread here. Your suggestion of the Digihome PVR80 is a much better bet. Although you can probably get a much later Vestel unit with dual record as standard for about £20 more if you shop around. Colin |
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#761 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hants
Posts: 426
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Quote:
Bigpockets were selling the Nichemen units in kit form for £9.99 recently so that should give you an indication of what they are worth.
If the OP is still interested have a read through the thread here. Your suggestion of the Digihome PVR80 is a much better bet. Although you can probably get a much later Vestel unit with dual record as standard for about £20 more if you shop around. Colin Could you say which Vestel unit has dual record as standard, please? |
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#762 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Thatcham, Hannington Transmitt
Posts: 5,274
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Quote:
Thank you for the corrections - it does look as if it's pretty dire, and not such amazing value after all!
Could you say which Vestel unit has dual record as standard, please? There are several other brand names under which the Vestel PVRs are sold. Most other brands use more specific model numbers which identify what hardware and what range of software versions are used. The link here is a very useful reference to identify the Vestel units. The use of DTR (Digital Television Recorder) is becoming more common than PVR (Personal Video Recorder) as an identifier for these devices in general. Colin |
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#763 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hants
Posts: 426
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Thanks for the useful info and link
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#764 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Folkestone, Kent (Dover TX)
Posts: 29,262
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Quote:
I notice the info for the Thomson DTI6300-16 is now out of date due to updates.
[LIST][*]Price for both HS & OL is at most £99.99 now [*]Subtitles can be recorded [*]Subtitles are available [*]Repeat recordings can be take place by use of Series Link[/LIST] That's enough to be going on with, but am sure the next update will require some amendments to be made too Quote:
Still out of date....new OAD today added the facility to search the EPG by Channel, keyword in Prog Title, Date and/or Time
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Thanks for all the info. I'll make some updates.
Since my corrections above a 250GB model has been added...and prices have dropped below the £80 mark for the 160GB model |
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#765 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 4,520
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Quote:
Since my corrections above a 250GB model has been added...and prices have dropped below the £80 mark for the 160GB model
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#766 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 18
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We are also thinking of replacing our existing Sky+ with a PVR to save some cash. Our situation is this - this is in the living room downstairs. The aerial cable (which we have not used for ages) is now fed from an aerial in the attic after we had our house re-roofed. This aerial also feeds our upstairs bedroom via a splitter. The upstairs bedroom feed goes to a tv with built in freeview and the picture is perfect. Downstairs I put a new connector on the end of the aerial lead and plugged it into the tv (analog) and got a pretty good picture. What confuses me a little bit though is that I then thought I would test freeview by getting my daughters freeview box and plugging that into the downstairs aerial/tv - I then got picture break up and "weak signal" displayed. I don't understand why the upstairs tv is a good picture and downstairs is not as they are sourced from the same aerial. and there really is not much in it in terms of cable length. I don't want to shell out for a PVR if I am getting these sort of problems. Any ideas gratefully received. Thanks in advance.
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#767 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Thatcham, Hannington Transmitt
Posts: 5,274
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Quote:
We are also thinking of replacing our existing Sky+ with a PVR to save some cash. Our situation is this - this is in the living room downstairs. The aerial cable (which we have not used for ages) is now fed from an aerial in the attic after we had our house re-roofed. This aerial also feeds our upstairs bedroom via a splitter. The upstairs bedroom feed goes to a tv with built in freeview and the picture is perfect. Downstairs I put a new connector on the end of the aerial lead and plugged it into the tv (analog) and got a pretty good picture. What confuses me a little bit though is that I then thought I would test freeview by getting my daughters freeview box and plugging that into the downstairs aerial/tv - I then got picture break up and "weak signal" displayed. I don't understand why the upstairs tv is a good picture and downstairs is not as they are sourced from the same aerial. and there really is not much in it in terms of cable length. I don't want to shell out for a PVR if I am getting these sort of problems. Any ideas gratefully received. Thanks in advance.
The results from the above may suggest you need a better aerial or an external aerial or a amplifier. Have you checked that you are in an area with satisfactory Freeview coverage. Colin |
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#768 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 18
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Thanks very much for your advice, I will check these things out. The splitter is approx halfway between the 2 locations.
One other thing regarding Sky+ - is it still an option to cancel the service but keep the box and pay £10 per month? And if so will you get Sky Sports News - I can just about live without Sky Sports but SSN will be a must! Thanks. |
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#769 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hants
Posts: 426
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What about the Humax Freesat box?
http://whathifi.com/blogs/home-cinem...t-top-box.aspx http://www.foxsathd.com/ |
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#770 |
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 4,520
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Quote:
What about the Humax Freesat box?
http://whathifi.com/blogs/home-cinem...t-top-box.aspx http://www.foxsathd.com/ Simple little details dont seem to be in the public domain about the first freesat PVR, but what I've picked up online has gone in. I'll have to contact the manufacturer and see if there are more details available. I'm sure it will grab interest of a lot of people including existing freeview PVR owners. |
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#771 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hants
Posts: 426
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Quote:
In the future there could be a few of these machines around. I'm fitting in a section for freesat PVRs into the PVR comparison site while I am still working on it. At the minute its still in the previous format though.
Simple little details dont seem to be in the public domain about the first freesat PVR, but what I've picked up online has gone in. I'll have to contact the manufacturer and see if there are more details available. I'm sure it will grab interest of a lot of people including existing freeview PVR owners.
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#772 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Running around like Tom Cruise
Posts: 3,778
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Quote:
Has anyone heard of a Nichiem? 160Gb Twin tuner PVR for £49.99 plus delivery. Seems amazing value for money.
Look at http://www.ukdvdr.co.uk/shop/search....=search&page=1 Quote:
It's a rebadged Technosonic/Tevion. Search for these names in the main PVR forum for a trail of woes associated with them. Not good value for money.
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#773 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 4,520
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Screen shots of the new Humax Freesat PVR (Foxsat-HDR)
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That HDR-9300FS Freesat PVR is going to be interesting, and Pvrjunction looks very neat, must try to keep an eye on it for developments
![]() If anyone is still interested in the new Freesat PVR I've uploaded couple of screen shots from a Humax Foxsat-HDR. I've added more features as I've been able to confirm them too. www.pvrjunction.co.uk/freesat Hopefully I can obtain useful details from Metronics about the PVR plans for freesat as well and then add it to the PVR comparison table. |
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#774 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hants
Posts: 426
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Thanks - The website will be a very useful source of info for PVRs when it's getting so confusing. I think the layout is nice and clean, and fits in the max info, excellent
![]() £299 for the Humax Freesat PVR and November, or before Christmas, launch sounds better than expected. Haven't found the screen shots yet though Seems as if Freesat may eventually be an alternative to Sky but maybe a full complement of stations will take a while to arrive. Would it be feasible to list what is available as well as everything else? Cheers |
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#775 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 4,520
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Quote:
Thanks - The website will be a very useful source of info for PVRs when it's getting so confusing. I think the layout is nice and clean, and fits in the max info, excellent
![]() £299 for the Humax Freesat PVR and November, or before Christmas, launch sounds better than expected. Haven't found the screen shots yet though Seems as if Freesat may eventually be an alternative to Sky but maybe a full complement of stations will take a while to arrive. Would it be feasible to list what is available as well as everything else? Cheers |
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