I am thinking of buying a 440 or 540 and would like to know the following:

1. Can you record from the digital tuner and watch a digital channel at the same time ?
2. Can you record from the digital and analogue tuner and watch a digital channel at the same time ?
3. What is the quality like for the XP, SP and LP modes, ie. what is the longest format you can get away with while still being watchable ?
4. Is the only difference between the 440 and 540 the size of the hard drive ?

Cheers

I like the username! much better than unimaginative me who used his real name. unless of course you did too?

anyway..........

1. there is only one freeview tuner, so no you can't record one freeview channel and watch another (even if it is broadcast on the same multiplex)
2. you can't record from the freeview tuner and watch the analogue tuner at the same time (or vice versa). Its a bit annoying but I just watch the analogue tuner on my TV while recording freeview on the Pioneer
3. I've not tried using any lower quality settings, I just use the default SP and I can't tell the difference between that and a live freeview broadcast
4. Yes, the only difference between the 440 and the 540 is the size of the HDD

The 440/540 were the recorders that ticked the most boxes for me (I wanted twin-freeview tuners, HDMI and DivX-HD).
I would have bought a Panasonic EX75 if it hadn't been knobbled for the UK market (it plays DivX everywhere else)

Thanx for the reply C J. Like yourself, I too want the Freeview, HDD & Divx features all in one machine. Pity it don't come with twin digital tuners......(In the future maybe?) because I want to try and future-proof as much as possible, as to when they turn analogue off.

Apart from the ReelBox (too many $$$) are there any decent alternatives?

I might just plump for a toppy and separate dvd/divx player.

I've just started a new job, and got a wodge of cash burning a hole in me pocket, so I'm looking to buy something straight away !!!

The Sony HXD860 will have freeview/DivX/HDMI/160Gb when it comes out next month (still only one freeview tuner though)

I think the best way to future-proof yourself is an HTPC (home theatre PC) which you can upgrade a bit at a time (like you could add a blu-ray drive or upgrade the graphics card or whatever)

The HXD860 doesn't have the Guideplus system though, I cant find any mention of it on the sony website.

The point being of course that it uses nearly twice the data rate as Freeview. I can see the difference - it tends to smooth out some of the Freeview compression artifacts!

Think of it as usually taking a DVD per film, whereas my Humax via PC can usually get two on a DVD.

This new recorder dont included GuidePlus - Pioneer DVR545HX will included Guideplus/HDMI and some more feature -- it will due in end of October/November and after Xmas it will keep plenty of stock.. there is new Pioneer DVR9xx-HX with very large hard drive by middle of 2007

I bit the bullet and have bought a 540. Overall I'm quite impressed, apart from a few niggles (poxy remote!!).

Can you choose from where the guideplus is downloaded from? I can recieve broadcasts from 2 transmitters (east & west midlands) and when I record from guideplus, say bbc1 for example, it records from channel 801, and not 001 the default bbc1 channel. I know you can edit the channel manually, but it defeats the object really.

801 is from the west midlands transmitter, where I presume the guideplus is coming from, but I'd prefer it from the east midlands transmitter (better quality picture)

any ideas ?

also, can you disable the preview screen when browsing through the disc navigator ?

Cheers