Well that's what Shirley did with the 8000T which was a winner. C'mon Shirley, don't let Mr Humax make all these bad EPG decisions, we are counting on you!

I've only had my Humax for four days. Before listing my wish list, I would like to say that generally I think it is wonderful. I installed the software upgrade as soon as I got the machine out of the box so I have no experience of the old software.

Before I started using it, I thought lack of chase play would be the real bug-bear but actually it's not yet proved to be a problem. Top of my list is going to have to be auto-padding on the end of recordings. I set it in a hurry before dashing out last night so I relied on the EPG timings. The new Stones video was broadcast late so I only got half of it. I've not yet discovered whether my other recordings are chopped.

Yes, I know you can edit explicitly but that rather undermines the convenience of selecting from EPG and clicking OK - and the resident Luddite in Chief ('er indoors) is bound to complain if every timed record has to be hand-edited.

So...

1. Auto padding end of recording (not too fussed about start).
2. Proper chase play.

That's pretty much the end of my list. More than 20 recordings might be useful but my old VCR could only do 8 so what you've never had you don't miss.

OK, if you want perfection, when coming out of standby it would be better if it didn't set the "signal available" marker on the scart until after it had finished loading up the firmware. There's only a limited amount of entertainment value in a progress bar. Basically, though, I think it's probably the best consumer electronics product I have ever bought.

Keith

1. Favourites – Have separate favourites for TV & Radio and remember the last one viewed automatically. At the moment I seem to be changing favourites a lot when in the EPG or when using List, because it doesn’t remember the last favourite that I used. I would like to be able to switch between Radio & TV mode and have the box remember which favourite I last used in that mode. The box keeps on going back to showing all channels and I find it annoying.
2. Delete – Make it easier to delete recordings.
3. Menus – Utilise the screen more efficiently; when you use the page down button, rather than jumping from items 1-3 to 3-5 to 5-7, jump from 1-3 to 4-6 to 7-9 etc. It’s quicker to scroll that way. Also, add more items per page, 4 or 5 would be an improvement.
4. Chase Play.
5. Padding – automatically (pre & post, with individual values).


6. PIP – I’d like to be able to have one of the PIP channels full screen, whilst simultaneously listening to the audio of the other non-visible channel; useful for watching sport and listening to the radio at the same time. I’d also like to be able to view recordings as at least one of the PIP channels.

My Top 5 wish list is: -

1. Auto padding of recordings, say 5 mins start & end

2. watch a recording before it has finished recording

3. picture in picture during playback of a recorded program

4. picture in picture available when it's recording

5. program name remembered always!!! renaming all the time is a real pain.

Not much to ask!

It couldn't be made much easier to delete recordings than it is at present If you press menu, and then hit OK five times, there is a good chance you will delete one of the recordings by mistake!

This could easily happen where the unit is being operated with the screen is unsighted for whatever reason; perhaps feeding a screen in another room, or the Humax has been moved near a PC for upload/download purposes. Even more, someone not used to the machine or someone who has picked up the 9200T's remote control in error presses Menu and OK a few times could start to zap all the recordings and be none the wiser. That's a serious matter and very poor software writing. If one was recording a series and deleted a crucial episode by mistake one wouldn't be too pleased either!!

I think I would prefer it to have OK to delete set to NO by default rather than YES, and not have it too easy to delete recordings.

I think when viewing the recorded programs list via the menu rather than the button under the flap there should be a play button which should be the default in addition to the delete edit and cancel buttons rather than have to press the play button which involves shifting the hold on the remote. The present process is counter-intuitive, especially as all other HDD recorders I have tried have the play option via the OK button when selecting from a list of recordings.

Well - I am so happy with the Humax. I've had experience of TiVo and was worried about how the Humax would fare... I needn't have worried!

However, I do have a wishlist...

1) Increase the number of timers to 100 or unlimited (there are 3 people in this household who have different tastes - I sit down with the RadioTimes to set my recordings and only manage up to 3 days worth with the 20 limit - I'd much prefer to be able to set a whole week's worth!
2) Make it easier to fast forward through a recording. TiVo allowed you to jump in 15 minute sections - I can't find anything on the Humax which allows similar functionality. FF-ing at x2/x4/x16 is slow but then it jumps to x64 and I usually whiz past the end of the recording!
3) Allow programmes to be viewed before they have finished recording and perhaps make it easier to see what is recording at any time.
4) Auto Padding and padding without losing names of programmes. I've also read that if padding 2 consecutive shows from the same channel, you lose the 2nd recording. Surely the 2nd programme should use Tuner2 so that you get two recordings with an overlap whether they are on the same channel or not? This would be ideal for Casualty and the Strictly Come Dancing results (my parents watch the latter and when I try to watch the former, the end has already been deleted along with SCD)!
5) Make it easier to jump forward to future days in the EPG.

Oh, and am I allowed a 6?

6) Give us the option to turn off the 'recording starting' message when viewing another recording.

Anyway, enough with lists - I've got recordings to watch! Keep up the great work!

Daz

EDIT: Eek - just remembered two more important ones...

Can we have the ability to apply deletion protection to a recording BEFORE the recording takes place? I would like to be able to set a recording and not come back two days later (not having the chance to set protect in the meantime) to find that my Dad has deleted it!

Rather than just a date being available for EPG and recordings... can the day of the week be displayed as well? It gets very confusing otherwise!
Last edited by dazbarber : 28-11-2005 at 00:22

As a Sky Plus user my list would be:-

1. Series Link....set a timed recording once and then ask it to record everytime the programme came on. That's fantastic! This is probably down to Freeview rather than Humax but it's a superb feature on Sky Plus.

2. Ability to group recordings for archiving to DVD or VHS recorder. Been trying to clean up a Humax 8000T disk and what a pain that is! Can do this with Sky Plus...it even tells you how much video tape or disk space you need!

3. Chase play....very surprised it's not there already!

4. More timers

5. Better programme guide, maybe 10 channels at a time or something more than 5 at any rate.

Give me that and Sky Plus would go in the bin...well paying 40 quid a month for the benefits would!

If it is a problem to have both tuners set to record the same channel for overlapping programmes, let it identfy that they are on the same channel and combine both programmes into one file. hough why it is an issue I can't think.

Another feature no one seems to have mentioned that could prove very useful would be to set up a video playlist like an MP3 player does. I guess a playlist would be pretty useful for MP3's on it too for those that use the Humax for that. Perhaps this could be combined with a grouping facility as suggested in RickK's post above.

It really ought to have a method of extending recordings set by the scheduled timer which are already in progress; all to often programmes seriously over run their alloted time. If manufacturers could agree a reliable system with the broadcasters to make that automatic, then so much the better.

A facility to copy programmes to an external USB2 hard disc, like a digital camera will do with photos, an equivalent of PictBridge. (Without the need for a PC to control this.) Then a facility to copy them back into the Humax from said USB2 hard disc. In association with this, provide software to allow a PC write to an MPEG file that could be saved onto that external hard disc and iimported and played on the Humax.

Have a facility to play files directly from an external hard drive. This would overcome the finite limit of the machine's fixed hard disc. Humax format files could even be burned to a CD or DVD and played back from an external USB2 DVD drive.

I am not in front of my machine, but I have a feeling there is something you can do in the mean time that is similar to this. I think that during playback if you press the number pad by the number of minutes you want to advance by it jumps to that position.

I would also request ability to hit the i button in the recording list and have it show the stored details.

Grouping of Recording (My Recording List doesn't have that many items on, but its soooo long to scroll!) - Even prehaps use folders. So once a recording has occured, I can drop it in a 'Top Gear' folders, or a 'Comedy' folders etc etc....

When you press 'i' to get the channel and program name up - have the ability to show the info on other channels by using the 'up' / 'down' buttoms. (with out changing channel!)

Padding of Recordings with correct NAMES!

Change the way Upper Case/Lower Case is selected

Have an option on the box, of Computer Connect. This would pause all recording - and concentrate the boxes efforts on data transfer via the USB.
I end up playing a recording - and pausing it. So there is no other disk activity other than the show i'm stripping to my notebook.

My first wish would be auto padding, with preservation of programme names.

My old machine, a Pace Twin, had autopadding available in the preferences, so one could choose how much to pad by at beginning and end.

It also took the programme name at the midpoint of the program. This approach would normally preserve the name. Occasionally it didn't, when a film was in two parts with the news in between the parts. I suspect that the Humax is too clever for this method to work, I think I noticed that when I recorded three programmes in one consecutive three-hour block then the tiles changed as I moved from one to the other, hereas the Pace would have stuck with one title.

More timers, of course.

Something I haven't seen mentioned. Maybe it is already possible, and I haven't worked out how. I would like multiple playlists to be available for the recorded programs. With so much recording time available, one could easily keep ten films, ten soaps, and ten documentaries on the hard drive. It would be nice to be able to set up a Film playlist, a Soaps playlist and a Documentaries playlist. It would make it much easier to choose an item to watch.

sorry to ask a stupid q, but i am new to these forums......what does STICKY mean on the name of the forum, please?

I think you're right. It may have been mentioned before as folders or something. The box already contains predetermined catgories of programming or 'genres' so they could use those if it makes things easier. Folders or secotions we could create and name ourselves would be better. If it couldnt be created on the fly by the customer, then perhaps have some default ones in there that you can choose from and activate when required; like movies, soaps, sport, documenteries, news, childrens etc.

Another idea, may be to use the EPGs genre clasification and have it in the playlist screen - then be able to order things by name, date or 'genre'.

I'd add 'New' or 'Unwatched' to those options. My Sony DVDR/HDD has this along with sort by name or number (date/time)

'Sticky' means it sticks to the top of the list whereas the others are sorted such as date last added to.

Is it me or does x64 fast forward actually move through about 3 minutes of the recording every second? That surely means it's a x180 fast forward and is FAR too fast. Therefore another wishlist item for me would be TRUE x64 fast forwarding.

Daz

The on screen display when playing a recording or pausing needs to be totally redesigned!

I'm used to the Sagem PVR, which although is the worst PVR I've ever used, it DOES have a great OSD when playing or pausing live TV.

It says 'Deferred x Mins x Secs', so you know exactly how far from the live broadcast you are. The Humax just has the time bar which I find of no use whatsoever and very hard to see how far behind Live you are.

Also the commercial skip button needs to do just that - skip commercials! So, not 30 seconds, or 1 minute! But 4 mins, or 3 mins! It's not rocket science.

Haven't tried the USB yet so can't comment.

Oh one other thing, recordings need to be selectable as Mon - Fri, not just weekly. Ideal for taping daily shows or soaps that don't run on a weekend.

A few people seem to be have had trouble retaining their favourites channel list (including me). The secret seems to be to click OK in the EPG before leaving, having set the favourites group as follows:

To change to a favourite list and retain this favourite list as the default you need to go to the EPG, use the Red button to set the group to your favourite list, then when you return to the EPG, press OK again before leaving the EPG. If you do not press the OK button, the new favourite list is not retained as the default.

I agree on that. A one hour programme whizzes by in just 20 seconds at the 64x setting. As you say, in reality, 180x.

At the 16x setting though an hour programme takes 320 seconds to run through, which works out at only just over 11x.

I wonder how Humax arrived at their figures?

Just got my 9200T literally a few hours ago...and I'm impressed!

However, I've been quick to find things that annoy me. Here are my top 5:

1. No MP3 playback through S/PDIF
Why oh why did they miss this one! I was messing around with the box for ages thinking that the MP3's had no sound! Grrrr!

2. MP3 enhancements: screensaver, playlists, sync with PC music folder
I'd love you use this as my main music system, it means I don't have to turn on the PC.

3. Season passes ala Tivo
I know the 8 day epg ain't really equipt for this, but there must be an intelligent algorithms they can write in place of it? i.e. search for this programme at this time slot every week until it doesnt exist and let me know when it expires.

4. USB socket at the back
Why at the front - doh! ...Infact, why not use ethernet instead?


5. Better user feedback on greyed out options.
Ok, I know I can't do certain things at the same time as each other - but surely they could at least tell me?

All in all a great system though and I look forward to future software updates - does anyone know when then might arrive and what is the latest version?

Graham

Latest version is PGXTF 1.00.01
available for download at http://www.humaxdigital.com/hcsa/default.asp
but read http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/...d.php?t=305516
for tips and comments on how to update via your PC and what the update does and doesn't fix.
I've no idea when the next update is due and would be interested to see if anyone else does.

Pretty happy with mine so far, just a few things i would like though,

1) CHASE PLAY - dunno why they didn't sort that out at testing stage

2) the buffer to still record while you are watching a previous recording

3) padding with the option of different amounts for start and end times

4) a way to slow down fast forward/rewind (i.e if fast forwarding at say 16x then pressing rewind button should slow it down again to 4x not put it straight into rewind).

5) a way to join 2 programs together in edit mode as well as split them up

nothing major as you can see but they would just make life a lot easier...

Have to say that I am really pleased with my 9200T so far. It has completely changed the way I watch TV and has reduced the family arguments over which channel to watch. But there is always room for improvements so my wish list is:

1. Chase play (has to be number 1)
2. Ability to store 2 buffers (request a buffer to be retained when changing channels). Maybe instant record + chase play would achieve this.
3. Allow the deletion of recordings from playlist (avoid need to go via menu)
4. Store EPG on hard drive
5. Ability to organise recordings into 'folders'