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Old 06-11-2015, 12:35
Big-les
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Yes that is correct, thats where I got mine from, the other manual didn't show the Freeview Play section.
I didn't get that far, the pictures of the box didn't correspond to what I saw in JL yesterday or the pictures on their web site.
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Old 07-11-2015, 10:41
gital
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I agree. I'm not making my final decision until I see what the firmware update brings. I think JL gives 90 days for return anyway.
I ordered my DMR-HWT150EB this morning from a very friendly Panasonic Retailer in Southampton who was able to answer any questions I had before I made my choice. I should have it by Wednesday. I was interested in the Humax 4000t and the three tuners but didn't like the look of it or the GUI and the negative feedback. To be honest after reading the Panny manual which I pre downloaded, I believe the Panasonic has the edge.
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Old 07-11-2015, 18:39
stoli412
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I ordered my DMR-HWT150EB this morning from a very friendly Panasonic Retailer in Southampton who was able to answer any questions I had before I made my choice. I should have it by Wednesday. I was interested in the Humax 4000t and the three tuners but didn't like the look of it or the GUI and the negative feedback. To be honest after reading the Panny manual which I pre downloaded, I believe the Panasonic has the edge.
To be honest I'm leaning the other way. I picked up the Humax a few days ago to compare with the Panasonic. While the Humax definitely needs a software update to smooth some rough edges, it seems basically sound and functions as I would expect it to. The Panasonic on the other hand feels more like a glorified VCR to me. My biggest issues are the poor integration of standard DVR functions like pause, rewind, skip forward/back into live TV; the dated, complex, and confusing interface; and not being able to search for anything. I'm still waiting for the software update before I make my final decision, but I'm leaning toward the Humax right now.
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Old 07-11-2015, 18:46
gital
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To be honest I'm leaning the other way. I picked up the Humax a few days ago to compare with the Panasonic. While the Humax definitely needs a software update to smooth some rough edges, it seems basically sound and functions as I would expect it to. The Panasonic on the other hand feels more like a glorified VCR to me. My biggest issues are the poor integration of standard DVR functions like pause, rewind, skip forward/back into live TV; the dated, complex, and confusing interface; and not being able to search for anything. I'm still waiting for the software update before I make my final decision, but I'm leaning toward the Humax right now.
Good luck.

Last edited by gital : 07-11-2015 at 18:58. Reason: Delete
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Old 07-11-2015, 18:56
gital
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To be honest I'm leaning the other way. I picked up the Humax a few days ago to compare with the Panasonic. While the Humax definitely needs a software update to smooth some rough edges, it seems basically sound and functions as I would expect it to. The Panasonic on the other hand feels more like a glorified VCR to me. My biggest issues are the poor integration of standard DVR functions like pause, rewind, skip forward/back into live TV; the dated, complex, and confusing interface; and not being able to search for anything. I'm still waiting for the software update before I make my final decision, but I'm leaning toward the Humax right now.
Good luck.

PS: Didn't you get the DMR-PWT550EB
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Old 07-11-2015, 22:10
Big-les
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.....
4. Can't record from the buffer. At least I can't find any way to do it. It always starts the recording from the moment I press record.
.....
On the Humax 9xx0 models you have to wind back to the point you want to record from and then press record ie the start of the programme, did you try this?
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Old 07-11-2015, 23:52
stoli412
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On the Humax 9xx0 models you have to wind back to the point you want to record from and then press record ie the start of the programme, did you try this?
I did try that but it doesn't seem to work. It always records from the moment you press record, regardless of how much buffer there is or if you rewind. I do have the 550, but it should be the same as the 150/250 except with the addition of the blu-ray player.
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Old 08-11-2015, 08:36
gital
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I did try that but it doesn't seem to work. It always records from the moment you press record, regardless of how much buffer there is or if you rewind. I do have the 550, but it should be the same as the 150/250 except with the addition of the blu-ray player.
My advice because these units have only just come on the market, would be to phone Panasonic customer support Tech. and ask them. Or start another thread for the 550 on DS or AVForums.
By the way, have you been following the forum for the 4000T on DS not very encouraging.
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Old 08-11-2015, 10:56
Big-les
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.....
2. No EPG search functionality. You have to look through the EPG manually; you cannot search for a title, actor, etc at all. I'm hoping this will be resolved with the firmware update.
.....

5. Pause/rewind aren't very well integrated into live TV. You 'activate' them by pressing pause or rewind, but now you're in a 'pause live TV' mode, which you have to specifically exit out of to use any other features. Also, skip back/forward don't work as expected with live TV or whilst in this 'pause live TV' mode.
.....
I'm surprised there's no EPG search function, there is on my Panasonic TV bought earlier this year.

You say the skip back/forward don't work as expected with live TV, can you explain?
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Old 08-11-2015, 11:20
stoli412
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I'm surprised there's no EPG search function, there is on my Panasonic TV bought earlier this year.

You say the skip back/forward don't work as expected with live TV, can you explain?
I'm assuming/hoping Panasonic will add a search function when they send out the update to enable Freeview Play. Search is a standard and essential feature. I'm surprised it's missing since it's always been part of the Panasonic EPG.

For skip/forward back, it's a bit strange. If you're watching live TV, they don't work. You have to rewind first. You're then in 'rewind live TV' mode. You can then use the skip forward/back buttons. But to get back to live TV, you have to explicitily exit this mode. You also have to exit this mode if you want to change channels, view the EPG, view the recordings list, anything really.

I've never seen trick-play functions work like this before. It really does make it feel more like a 'digital VCR' than what one would expect from a PVR.
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Old 08-11-2015, 11:30
stoli412
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My advice because these units have only just come on the market, would be to phone Panasonic customer support Tech. and ask them. Or start another thread for the 550 on DS or AVForums.
By the way, have you been following the forum for the 4000T on DS not very encouraging.
I think it would be more helpful to keep the Panasonic DVR discussion together since the software and functionality are the same on the 150/250/550/655/850, with the exception of having blu-ray playing on the 550/655 and blu-ray recording on the 850.

I have been following the thread on the 4000T for quite a while. It definitely has its issues as well, but it works much more how one usually thinks a PVR should function. Of course, it's down to everyone's personal needs and tastes. I'm not giving up on the Panasonic just yet...I want to see what the software update brings, which should be out any day now.
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Old 08-11-2015, 15:14
Luis Essex
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For skip/forward back, it's a bit strange. If you're watching live TV, they don't work. You have to rewind first. You're then in 'rewind live TV' mode. You can then use the skip forward/back buttons. But to get back to live TV, you have to explicitily exit this mode. You also have to exit this mode if you want to change channels, view the EPG, view the recordings list, anything really.
This sounds very similar to the current Vestel Freeview+ recorders, where if you are watching live you have to first press pause, or rewind, before you can skip back despite it being already in the process of being buffered in the background. With the Vestel you also have to explicitly exit the 'timeshift' mode to get back to live TV, change channel or view the recorded list, but unlike the Panasonic you can view the epg.
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Old 08-11-2015, 17:18
Big-les
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This sounds very similar to the current Vestel Freeview+ recorders, where if you are watching live you have to first press pause, or rewind, before you can skip back despite it being already in the process of being buffered in the background. With the Vestel you also have to explicitly exit the 'timeshift' mode to get back to live TV, change channel or view the recorded list, but unlike the Panasonic you can view the epg.
So on the Panasonic you're saying that the buffer is always there, presumably going back to the last channel change or reaching maximum buffer time? If I've got this correct the way you access the buffer from live TV is by using the PAUSE or REWIND buttons, once you're in the buffer the SKIP buttons work. I don't think that will be too much of a problem for me, of course the forward skip button doesn't work anyway until you're at least its skip time into the buffer. One thing that would put me off completely is if the buffer wasn't being made until PAUSE was pressed, I seem to remember this is how the old Vestels (9200 vintage) used to work.
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Old 08-11-2015, 18:08
stoli412
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So on the Panasonic you're saying that the buffer is always there, presumably going back to the last channel change or reaching maximum buffer time? If I've got this correct the way you access the buffer from live TV is by using the PAUSE or REWIND buttons, once you're in the buffer the SKIP buttons work. I don't think that will be too much of a problem for me, of course the forward skip button doesn't work anyway until you're at least its skip time into the buffer. One thing that would put me off completely is if the buffer wasn't being made until PAUSE was pressed, I seem to remember this is how the old Vestels (9200 vintage) used to work.
Yes, the buffer does start recording as soon as you change the channel. It's just very confusing you have to go into this special mode to access it, and that should you want to record the current programme that it won't record what's already in the buffer, and that you basically can't do anything else with the unit until you exit back to live TV.
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Old 09-11-2015, 13:46
Luis Essex
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Could Vestel be making Pansonic's freeview play recorders?
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Old 09-11-2015, 15:36
stoli412
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Could Vestel be making Pansonic's freeview play recorders?
It's possible, but the interface and box style are very much in line with other Panasonic equipment.
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Old 09-11-2015, 20:55
Big-les
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Could Vestel be making Pansonic's freeview play recorders?
I hope not, I don't want to be paying Panasonic prices for a Vestel.
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Old 14-11-2015, 13:00
gital
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I ended up cancelling my order for the DMR-HWT150EB. It hasn't got the Freeview Play software yet and I am amazed at the amount of negatives towards both the Humax 4000T and the Panasonic.
I think that I will stay with my DigitalStream PVR which I have had for 5 years and my RoKu streaming stick until things improve.
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Old 14-11-2015, 13:30
Big-les
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I ended up cancelling my order for the DMR-HWT150EB. It hasn't got the Freeview Play software yet and I am amazed at the amount of negatives towards both the Humax 4000T and the Panasonic.
I think that I will stay with my DigitalStream PVR which I have had for 5 years and my RoKu streaming stick until things improve.
There is software available dated 29th October, I'm surprised this didn't have Freeview Play. I won't be getting mine until February so hopefully it will be sorted by then.
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Old 15-11-2015, 14:51
Luis Essex
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I hope not, I don't want to be paying Panasonic prices for a Vestel.
Some people already are!
http://www.satcure.co.uk/reviews/sat...log_208.htm#03
https://www.facebook.com/VisionTvRep...22818841099711
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Old 15-11-2015, 14:59
Nigel Goodwin
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It's been discussed many times on these forums, apparently the bottom end Panasonic sets are just badged Vestels.
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Old 26-11-2015, 15:17
gital
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I think it would be more helpful to keep the Panasonic DVR discussion together since the software and functionality are the same on the 150/250/550/655/850, with the exception of having blu-ray playing on the 550/655 and blu-ray recording on the 850.

I have been following the thread on the 4000T for quite a while. It definitely has its issues as well, but it works much more how one usually thinks a PVR should function. Of course, it's down to everyone's personal needs and tastes. I'm not giving up on the Panasonic just yet...I want to see what the software update brings, which should be out any day now.
Have they updated the software yet?
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Old 26-11-2015, 15:53
stoli412
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Have they updated the software yet?
Don't know. I ended up returning mine in favour of the Humax box.
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Old 26-11-2015, 16:43
gital
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Don't know. I ended up returning mine in favour of the Humax box.
No worries I was just curious.
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Old 27-11-2015, 11:46
stoli412
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No worries I was just curious.
Doesn't look like anything has been released yet. I wonder what the delay is.

http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/...dvd/index.html
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