Hi all,

I'd like some help in updating the good points, major problems & minor problems sections for the Humax on my PVR comparison page.

I've copied what I've currently got below - if any of it is no longer valid or there are things missing, please let me know.

Good points
* Large hard drive (160Gb)
* Links to PC (enables digital archiving to DVD)
* Can watch 3rd channel (& 4th in PIP) while recording 2 others (if on same MUX as recording channels)
*Top-up TV compatible
* MP3 Playback
*Image slideshow


Major problems
* Can't start watching programme while it's still being recorded


Minor problems/issues
* EPG slow to populate (as with all models based on Freeview EPG)
* EPG data lost when powered off
* 20 timer limit
* Programme name is lost after editing timers
* Sometimes doesn't record radio programmes from timer if unit left in standby
*Can't stop a timer in progress?
* Can't delete timer entries while a timer recording is in progress

Well, as far as good points go it has a huge 120 minute buffer and that FF and RW speed of 64X makes my Toppy look pedestrian (yes, I know you can use the timeline).

USB transfer to PC? Only this and the Toppy have this.....

You can stop a timer in progress.....just press stop...and of course then you can delete it. Never had a problem with this myself.

"Sometimes doesn't record radio programmes from timer if unit left in standby."

A lot of people would argue this should be "upgraded" to a Major Issue on your table...

"Programme name is lost after editing timers"

I changed the end time on Fatehr Ted last night and the program na,e was retained. Currently checking to see if it's changing the start time removes the program name.

Just check this mornigs recordings and eitehr if I change the start tiem the program name is still shown in the 'list view'

The process I use is to use the EPG to select the prog I want to record then edit it in Menu Recording Schedule add 5 mins to start and add 5 mins to the end (manual auto pad )

Cheers

Quexex

Here's another minor issue that's been discussed:
[list][*] The i-plate can only display information for the current channel. Unlike most other boxes (apart from, notably, the Toppy), you cannot navigate to other channels' now and next information using the i-plate.[/list]

I'd agree with this - failing to record radio reliably is a pretty major flaw.

ignore me ...

Whilst recording yesterday I tried PIP but message came up to the effect that PIP cannot be used whilst recording. I was recording two programmes at the same time.
Couldn't load Interactive by pressing OK (instead of SELECT (no such button)) after pressing RED Button. (Couldn't watch Motor GP yesterday).
File Editing is a disaster! Cannot get to the frame by frame buttons at all.(Group 1 buttons). Tried splitting a file lost most of recording. No UNDO or UNdelete. Despite these niggles it is a fantastic tool and is well worth having even if it will not be HD compliant whenever that comes in!

This is wrong (as I have only just discovered myself). The 9200 does do now and next. If you press "i" for info and then press the right arrow key on the remote it will display what is on next

Lack of PIP while recording 2 channels isn't a flaw or issue - its just a reflection of the hardware capabilities of the Humax. I assume 3 tuners would be needed for this. You're asking the 9200 to do something superhuman!

The interactive issue is probably due to the broadcast signal. What channel were you watching?

File editing - try pressing pause first to get to frame by frame buttons.

The only one I'd concede is the lack of UNDO or UNDELETE. Yes that would be handy (but its still not a flaw).

Yes but only for the channel you're on. The original complaint was re the inability to look through other channels now and next via the iplate (i.e. without actually changing to those channels)

Re: Can't start watching programme while it's still being recorded.

For me I would not describe this a major problem rather than something that would be nice to have. Cominng from a VCR background I am happy with recording something and watching it later, otherwise I wouldn't have put it onto to record in the first place. You can still pause live TV and then start watching it later (as long as you don't change channels) and it has a generous 2 hr buffer for this.

Hi

For me, I am happy that if I want "now and next" on several channels at once I just use the guide option, admittedly this gives me more info than I need but is fine for my needs.

I think I'll add this ability into the main feature list rather than in the pro/con section as many people don't see the lack of this feature as a con as they'd use the EPG to see what's on other channels.

Does anyone know what PVR's have this ability?

Sagem does (but it's slow to the point of barely being useable), the Pace Twin doesn't have this either.

I'd argue against the bracketed contents in

* EPG slow to populate (as with all models based on Freeview EPG)

as the 8000T's loading speed is fast, and the Sagem's is near -instantaneous.

Agree with suggestion.

The Panny can

I don't know about PVRs, but every other Freeview box I've used can do this (can't remember all the makes/models, but one is my lowly Ferguson FDT2000), as well as Sky's and NTL's STBs.

Absolutely agree with you. The biggest flaw in my book.

Yes theres a keen difference between flaws / problems (that are effectively unintended by the developers), and lack of features.

Lockups are a fairly serious issue for some of us. I am currently in discussion with Humax about returning mine for investigation.

Quick couple of question on the Humax :

- Does it have bookmarks or does it have automatically or manually generated thumbnail scenes?

- What is shown on the display? Time & time remaining?

[list][*]It has manually set-able bookmarks (but never used them yet!)[*]Also, don't know if this is common to all PVRs, but if you have been watching a recorded prog, stop it, then watch sthg live or a different recording, your first recording will automatically re-start at the position you had last viewed ie an automatic 'you stopped here' bookmark[*]By 'the display' I presume you mean the OSD when playing a recording?[list][*]the i-bar shows start and end time of the recording, together with a sliding time-elapsed bar, plus date, channel and recording label.[/list][*]Just in case you meant the LCD display on the STB itself[list][*]in stand-by, shows current time (plus a 'REC' icon if a scheduled recording is in process whilst in standby[*]whilst viewing, shows Channel label[/list][/list]Barry

You can manually create bookmarks. Never used it, because it always starts playing from where you last stopped a recording. Returning to the beginning can be done by pressing play twice, and there is a 64 times rewind/fast forward. (Actually seems faster to me). All these seem to render bookmarks un-necessary, but they are there if you want them.

Pressing pause during a recording gives an info bar showing a "bar graph" of the time through a recording. The front panel display shows elapsed time through a recording.

Generally speaking the user interface is excellent - with one or two well documented problems.

Hi

Something else which I think you can report as a major problem is that occasionally you get recordings with no sound (see this link for a detailed explanation: http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/...d.php?t=300787). I can confirm this as I have one instance (a channel 4 recording from last Week) and other users have reported it. It seems to mainly affect ITV/C4/Mux 2 channels, and seems to occur when making 2 recordings at the same time.