Review of Humax 9200TB Freeview Playback version.
Well I have to begin by informing you that it looks the bees knees in black, and although its not the 'piano black' of some new equpment today, it does look better than the grey version.
After making the usual connections, and plugging in, it quickly found all channels, and these were then saved. All of the user interface has thankfully been left alone (as in my humble opinion one of the best user interfaces of any PVR out there,) I was pleased to see that it had not been messed about with. However, I was disappointed to find that the EPG still is not saved to either memory or hard drive, although it has been vastly speeded up compared to my old 9200t, it took just 5 minutes to fully populate the whole eight days programmes, and that was with me staying on Sky three!!! My previous 9200t would take about 20 to 25 minutes to fully populate for the following eight days, so at least this is a vast improvement.
The other noticable change is the User Guide which has changed since I bought mine. Also with the user guide is a quick start guide and a Auto Tracking addition to explain the new accurate recording, more of which later.
I am also sure that the display colour has changed, although this could just be that it 'stands out' more in black than on the grey version, it just seems much clearer, and a nicer shade of blue, but looks really attractive, especially when scrolling!
Additions made to the PVR besides the Accurate Recording feature are
Instant Replay Time.... This can be set to 7,15 or 30 seconds and allows you to instantly replay something (such as a goal being scored) on live broadcasts, and Commercial Skip which can be set to 15,30,60 or 120 secs duration.
As most of us will already be aware who downloaded the 00.10 version, you can now set up to 50 timers, and search for a total of 250 different programs using the search/find feature. And yes, the conflict with PIP/PAP has been solved and this now works okay.
The Accurate Record Feature.
This can be set in both the set up menu, or when setting recordings. Humax have referred to it as the Auto Tracking Feature, there is an additional paper included which explains it in detail and how to use it. So in the Main Menu, in the Record section where the setting up of paddings usually is, you can now set ON TIME for the start of a recording, and ON TIME for the ending of a recording. If you select the ON TIME for both, then if there are any changes of a reserved program, this will still be recorded even at the new time and will finish at the new time. However, you still are given the option to pad if you should prefer to do this.
As I never pad recordings, I have mine set (default) to ON TIME, so I will report whether this works or not. Also, when two other reservations with auto tracking will be in conflict with each other, the recording with the earlier start time will begin first??? If the recordings have the same start time, the one with the lower channel number starts first.
If the recording is not performed successfully due to a conflict with other recordings, the conflict icon (new icon) will be displayed on the recorded programme menu and playlist.
When settting up your recordings, in the recordings edit menu, the repeat choices for a recording are now as follows, ONCE/DAILY/WEEKLY/WEEKDAY/WEEKEND.
The quick start guide is basically the same as the old one, but the new user's manual seems much better written than my old one.
Here are the version details for those who might be interested.
Software version........................... PGXTF 1.00.15
Loader version...............................a4.09
System .........................................3020.0000
Software Update.............................21 May
So there you are, hope that I haven't missed anything out, please feel free to ask me about anything that you may be unsure of or interested in.
GG So if and when Humax do get the EPG to be saved to memory or the hard drive, then the Humax will be in my humble opinion, the best PVR available to buy.

Is the picture quality as sharp as the old model-and do they share the same remote control?

1. If you use Auto Padding and schedule a recording - is the name of the programme truncated to 17 chars.

2. (Again with Auto Padding enabled) If you schedule two recordings for a time and then add one immediately prior to this, do all 3 recordings occur?

These are my biggest problems with v10.

Does the new Humax record in 1080- high def?

Yes, you will be pleased to know that the picture is as good as ever, and yes it uses the same remote as the old version.

GG

Hi


No. There are no Freeview HD broadcasts yet (apart from trials in London).

Regards

Phil

jxp, I never use or have used auto padding, but I will try this for you today. The new accurate recordings (which I will be putting through its paces!!) is supposed to accurately record your choices by starting when a 'flag' is encountered at the start and end of a recording and so should eliminate the need for padding, but will test this for you today and report back

GG

Sorry bogstandard but no, it is just an updated version of the 9200t, and as such is only SD. Humax's HD version is being launched later in the year, and will no doubt cost far more than £180!!!

GG

Hi

As pointed out elswhere these are IIRC available in V.10 already.

More importantly, have the bugs in auto padding and USB transfer been corrected at last?

Right jxp, it looks like you would not be allowed to set the preceeding recording if you already have two recordings set either by ON TIME (which is the accurate recordings or Auto Tracking setting) or with padding!! You would be warned when trying to set the preceeding one as follows:...
NOTICE

The new reservation conflicts with the following reservations. Onlyh two reservations can be set at the same time.
OK.

So you will be stopped and not allowed to do this.

GG

keithatrochdale please be more specific about the auto padding and usb bugs, as I will test this for you but need more info, i have never used the usb connection, but I will do so if you let me know what I am looking for!! (and the auto padding) And do remember keith not everyone has the 00.10 version a lot of Humax owners are still on the 00.06!!!

GG

Can you try recording something from BBC1 for about 30 minutes, and then transfer it to your computer via the USB - and tell us roughly how long it took to do the transfer?

Andy
Last edited by asjonesuk : 20-06-2007 at 11:31

I have never used the USB connections so although I am prepared to test this, what do you mean, were they slow, didn't work, I need to know what to look for!

GG

Okay Andy will do although just realised that there was not a USB connection included in the box, but think that I have some spare. Just give me time please.

Bang goes the ironing!!!GG

Thanks for checking this. I suppose a message is better than dropping a recording.

So you set two timers for 8:00pm - 8:30pm and then tried to add one for 7:30pm - 8:00pm?

Does it work if you set the 7:30pm timer first? Currently (using v10) if you set the earlier timer first you get all three recordings made. If you set the 7:30pm timer later, one of the 8:00pm recordings is dropped.

Have you found any long programme names to check the other issue with Auto Padding?

They were slow - painfully slow.
I was looking at roughly 50mins to transfer a 30min programme.

I doubt if Humax have fixed this (as the speed is a chipset problem - and the Hummy Black has not changed hardware wise...)

What is more interesting is whether error correction of the USB transfer is done on the firmware side and in eLinker program.

GG: There should be a software CDROM with the machine. Install eLinker on your PC and connect to the Hummy using a (max) 2m USB-A/B lead...

That's more an issue with the PC than the 9200T.

Max transfer rate for 9200T is 12 Mbps, i.e. USB Full speed, which many have just about achieved with e-linker.

not very good of HUMAX when they don't even have this version of the 9200 on their website

The fact that the "system ID" code (3020.0000) for the 9200TB is identical to that of the 9200T seems to confirm that the hardware is identical, and that all we need to convert a 9200T to a 9200TB is a copy of the latest firmware, and a tin of black spray paint.

https://humaxdirect.co.uk/product.as...10036&cat=stb#

Cheers

Isn't the Accurate Record Feature just basically a version of PDC which was never really implemented by most channels which resulted in most recordings never starting and stopping at the new times?
It was basically a great idea that never worked - padding seems to be the safer route, especially as channels like ITV can be very unreliable with their timings.

What about Series Link?

So does it have series links???