[newbee]

I understand these devices have a hard disc with no need for tapes or DVD's, I've heard that Topfield have a good model in this device and I like the idea of recording anything I want to keep onto a DVD recorder, any reccomendations?
I have a Panny LCD HD with freeview its about a year old.

[Nigel Goodwin]

The Humax 9200 is one of the most popular, to record to a DVD simply plug a DVD recorder in the second SCART socket.

I've got a Humax 8000 (single tuner) with a Sony DVD recorder plugged into it - I think I've recorded ONE DVD in two years!

PVR's are wonderful - go for it!.

[gomezz]

There is a whole forum with sub-forums about PVRs on here. I suggest you go and browse in there.

[Catbed]

Our PVR has been a true step change in viewing experience. Similar to getting our first VCR. Best £200 I've spent in a long time.

But as gomezz says, go checkout the PVR forums. The Topfield and Humax seem to be the most highly rated (we have a 9200T), but have a good look around.

Do bear in mind that PVRs are not yet solid consumer products - more like small computers in many ways - and you will find bugs and other 'features' that can throw you. They should get software updates over the air (OTA) periodically which will fix some of the bugs ...

... as well as introducing new or improved functionality ...

... and sometimes some new bugs

[newbee]

Hi Guys, looks like I've uncovered another subject that needs researching, I've got a Pannasonic HD 26" as I've mentioned its about a year old and has built in freeview.
If I were to buy a PVR how would I fit this up to record freeview and add a DVD recorder to down load what I want to keep, I think the tv has at least one HDMI socket.
Is this all possible?

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbee

Hi Guys, looks like I've uncovered another subject that needs researching, I've got a Pannasonic HD 26" as I've mentioned its about a year old and has built in freeview.
If I were to buy a PVR how would I fit this up to record freeview and add a DVD recorder to down load what I want to keep, I think the tv has at least one HDMI socket.
Is this all possible?

Yes, not only common, but commonplace - but an HDMI socket has no relevence to it.

[Scorpio]

Set it up like this (as earlier poster said, you have no HD source so no need to connect to TV using HDMI).

PVR TV scart ---> DVDR AV2
DVDR AV1 ---> TV AV1

Set up for RGB where possible

Ext aeriel ---> PVR RF in
PVR RF out ---> DVDR RF in
DVDR RF out ---> TV RF in

You need to consider whether you need a PVR (freeview twin tuner, hard drive) + DVDR with (say single freeview tuner) OR a DVDR with HDD and digital tuner + simple freeview box to give you twin channel recording/viewing.

Rgds,
Scorp

[Catbed]

Are you going to be 'saving' a lot of stuff? Most progs and films are repeated so often you may find it's not worth the cost and hassle to archive to DVD unless you are a dedicated collector of coasters

I thought I'd need to archive stuff, like I kept some VCR tapes, but the PVR and Freeview has changed our viewing habits considerably.

If it's only the odd item you can transfer progs to a PC and burn to DVD from there (you can also lose adverts, etc in the process), but it's a bit of a faff. I've only done that once; to send something of interest to a relative in Italy ...

[ohgorblimey]

The Humax 9200 is the one to go for as it has the best features at a good price.

Its real competitors are Thomson and Digifusion and both fall short of the Humax.

A better box is the Topfield as knowledgeable users can add additional features via programs written by other users,however it is way more expensive than the Humax.

Forget the Sony.
Its a Digifusion box with a Sony badge,additional faults and a traditional Sony ripoff price tag of an extra £100 more than the Fusion box it really is