New models coming out 9150T and 9300T with HDMI

http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/pvr-9300t.asp


http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...333cc/9300.jpg

It seems the 9150T is a cut-down version of the 9300T, only has a 160GB drive and no HDMI or USB or SPDIF output.

From the leaflets anyway.

Whats Freeview+, is it just a new name for Freeview Playback?

If it doesn't have a USB socket, how are you going to upload to the MP3 player?

witchcraft

can't believe they have still stuck with a serial port on it though

That's needed to update software from a PC.

I expect the USB drivers are part of the software and could become corrupted by the update process.

Yes. They're rebranding Freeview Playback to be Freeview Plus.

Is it advisable to release a new mpeg2 SD only pvr when a DTT HD service on mux B is not far off?

Seems exactly the same as the current offering (9200T) but with slightly bigger HDD and HDMI output for upscaling. A little pointless, methinks.

As soulboy77 mentions - it probably would've been a better idea to include proper HD and MPEG4 support!

But most of all, I'd like Humax to fix the issues on the 9200, such as series link problems (which I never use as can't autopad), and the unbearable slowness the latest update has brought!

Jon.

That seems a bit pointless as there is no HD or MPEG4 support on Freeview and isnt likely to be on Freeview for at least a few more years if not more.

Indeed, it would be a total waste of time.

It looks like this is just a revamp of the 9200T, probably using newer/cheaper components and adding HDMI. I would imaging it has not cost a lot to develop and probably uses exactly the same software, most of the effort seems to have gone into a case redesign which many will welcome. From a business point of view it shows continued development of the platform though.

It will take some time to develop a DVB-T2 box now that the standard has been ratified. I would expect a 9400 model that has a similar spec but supports DVB-T2 and HD over that HDMI port in a year or so, and maybe a 500GB version too. Slow evolution is the safest business model when you have what is regarded by many as the best PVR on the market.

http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?...lass=0&id=3037

If you have an HD TV, then being able to upscale what is already a good picture seems a big deal to me. And with HDMI finally doing away with those analogue scarts for a proper digital picture too, it's a real improvement until true Freeview HD broadcasting comes along.


Yeh, this thing manufacturers have of slowly incorporating cheaper and cheaper components into there products is really annoying. You want to think you're getting something a little cheaper because it's been out for a while, not because it's made with things that will fail sooner! I'd like to think that Humax, whom I also think make the best PVR on the market, will only want to consolidate that position by bringing out the best upscaling PVR on the market. Depending on the price, I'd be very interested.

HDMI seems the most important aspect of this update. My only concern is that HUMAX are having terrible problems with HDMI on their Freesat box that I would rather wait for reports from early purchasers before getting this model. Also, I hope the pricing will be sensible.

Interesting.

I note from the HUMAX leaflet on this model that it has a power saving standby of 0.9w. This is excellent.

Looking at the PDF spec sheet for the PVR 9300T, it shows a USB Type "A" connector on the back. This is a change from the current model which has a Type "B" connector. Will this mean that with the new PVR, it will be possible to connect slave devices, such as external HDD's?

1 thing for sure, it would no longer be possible to connect the PVR to a PC

This article dated July 4 posted by Penfold27 on the AV forums gives a 9300T release date of July.



http://www.independentelectricalreta...ver_boxes.html

Sounds like an internal HD->USB mod is going to be essential on this box. Shame they didn't have the foresight to add ethernet.

Ian

Doubtful. I *really* don't think that Humax understand USB.

The leaflet lists, -
USB 1(No function)

With a simple USB host stack that can handle Mass Storage profile devices, and a fat/fat32 filing system, they could support playing content from flash/HD, archiving content to flash/HD, and even reflash of the firmware from a USB stick.

Even if they can't handle writing this themselves, the likes of Jungo and MCCI would gladly licence them the required software modules.

Ian

PVR-9150T and PVR-9300T showing as out of stock with prices at £149.99 and £199.99 respectively at Bennetts.

http://www.bennettsonline.co.uk/ente...op-boxes#clear

I would have expected them to be about £50 cheaper.

The PVR9150 purports to have MP3 player and digital photo viewer support. Without a USB or any other means of uploading them sounds a little pointless. And if the 9300 USB has no function it is unlikely to fare any better.

It’s excellent compared to the 9200T which I measured when it was first released as ~10W which is very poor. A modern PC can achieve 2 to 3W on standby and is a much more complex piece of kit. The 9200T consumes roughly 22-23W in operation which is pretty good though.


Why would they have a USB port with no functionality! That doesn’t make sense although judging by the balls up Humax made with USB on the 9200T I suppose they’d be happy to ditch it all together if they could.

Hi

A little off topic perhaps, but this Freeview + business, on the link it says:


and


This suggests you don't get Freeview+ out of the box but have to subscribe which if correct probably means by filling in lots of personal info so the Freeview marketing group can sell on details and make some cash, only then do you get a code to enter to enable Freeview+. Is this what it means? If so it also means they have a mechanism in place to start charging in the future.

I agree with comments relating to HDMI, it's never worth buying it just for that. An HD Ready TV already contains the same chips upscaling the picture and it will look little different.

Regards

Phil

I think the quote "Freeview+ provides a free subscription to viewers after they have purchased a box." means you do not have to pay a subscription. This is to emphasise the difference compared to Sky+ and V+ for which you do have to pay if you do not have the appropriate packages with these other services. Changing the name from Freeview Playback to Freeview+ is to take advantage of the well recognised use of the symbol "+" to mean that it provides a recording facility.

The quote "Households will continue to have the choice of a standard Freeview service or Freeview+" means that you can choose between standard Freeview using a passive Set-Top-Box or Freeview+" using a PVR(or DTR).

Colin