Correct. And if you've got a Viera etc you may not care whether Hummys ever have HDMI.

But most screens actually being bought (by non DigSpy TechHeads) are budget ones like mine. Some of which WILL show a big difference when using HDMI.

Even some expensive models have shown to be best of class via one input (or using internal tuner), but a dog via another .

So buying a Hummy without HDMI is a risk people don't need to take, given the 9300's likely eventual price range.

(24electric.com have adjusted launch price to £176.28, though have yet to correct the spec.)

Good points, thanks.

But will the USB be Hi-speed... ... it is not declared as such.

Keeping recordings ...

If it's based on the same chipset, which is likely, then don't expect much change in USB speed from the 9200.

Did Humax ever fix the problem with the 9200T whereby errors were introduced into the video stream during USB transfer?

Well - the 9300T is in the latest Argos book I bought today and according to the website it's in stock at my local branch !

If it is definately the 9300T then I will get one.

£199

They have one in Wimbledon also although I think the price is too high.

You will be lucky if you get one, its not available until August 1st! Well that is what I have read so please post if you do get one won't you?

GG

Argos are showing them as being in-store at a number of locations but no availability for mail order. August the 1st is less than a week away and it’s not unusual for items to be in-store before the official release date. Unless you think they’ve mixed it up with the 9200T?

Could have. Only way to find out is to go and get one (well ask to see it first) they aren't available from any stores around my area, I have tried them all, although you can order one for delivery later.

GG

Here is one of the many articles that I have read about the two new PVR's and the date when they will be available in the high street stores.

Humax expands range of Freeview personal video recorders

24 JUL 2008

http://www.whathifi.com/productimages/114850317gt.jpg
Only the other day one of our Forum posters asked if we'd heard anything about the new Humax personal video recorders (PVRs). Well now we have, and can bring you more details.
There are two models to replace the outgoing PVR-9200T. The flagship is the £199, 320GB PVR-9300T, said to be able to record up to 200 hours of TV, which has twin Freeview+ tuners, HDMI upscaling, an eight-day electronic programme guide (EPG) and and twin Scart connections.
The cheaper £150 PVR-9150T model has a smaller 160GB hard drive, and twin Freeview tuners like its bigger brother – so viewers can record one programme while watching another.
Both models are also equipped with the following: schedule tracking, so recordings will automatically be adjusted if a programme starts early or finishes late; split recording, for recording two-part programmes (such as a film which has a break in the middle for the news); and alternate instance recording, which alerts the viewer if a clash occurs in their recording schedule and suggests an alternative time if the programme is repeated at a later date.
Series linking allows you to set the unit to record all episodes of your favourite shows, and you can pause and rewind live TV should the need arise.
Humax has thought about its green credentials too, as both models are said to have a power consumption of less than 1w in standby.
Both models go on sale in major high street stores from August 1st.



GG

Here is one of the many articles that I have read about the two new PVR's and the date when they will be available in the high street stores.

Humax expands range of Freeview personal video recorders

24 JUL 2008

http://www.whathifi.com/productimages/114850317gt.jpg
Only the other day one of our Forum posters asked if we'd heard anything about the new Humax personal video recorders (PVRs). Well now we have, and can bring you more details.
There are two models to replace the outgoing PVR-9200T. The flagship is the £199, 320GB PVR-9300T, said to be able to record up to 200 hours of TV, which has twin Freeview+ tuners, HDMI upscaling, an eight-day electronic programme guide (EPG) and and twin Scart connections.
The cheaper £150 PVR-9150T model has a smaller 160GB hard drive, and twin Freeview tuners like its bigger brother – so viewers can record one programme while watching another.
Both models are also equipped with the following: schedule tracking, so recordings will automatically be adjusted if a programme starts early or finishes late; split recording, for recording two-part programmes (such as a film which has a break in the middle for the news); and alternate instance recording, which alerts the viewer if a clash occurs in their recording schedule and suggests an alternative time if the programme is repeated at a later date.
Series linking allows you to set the unit to record all episodes of your favourite shows, and you can pause and rewind live TV should the need arise.
Humax has thought about its green credentials too, as both models are said to have a power consumption of less than 1w in standby.
Both models go on sale in major high street stores from August 1st.



GG

I have a PVR-9150T on order for store collection from Argos for my parents so we’ll see if they have any; the 9300T is not in stock in my area. I need to check the differences between them before picking it up though in case it's too comprimised.

Note: I forgot to say that it's £130 and I can get a PVR-9200TB for just under £140 from Dixons whilst their 10% code is active (10PVR) so I’m not sure which is the better deal! My parents don’t care about USB and don’t have a HD TV so those features are not relevant. In the photos of the 9150T it does look to have a more basic display on the front panel so I’m wondering if they’ve cut many corners on this model!

I've reserved one and as advised above I will ask to see it before paying.

I can just see them bringing out a 9200 as the alternative model and asking £199 for it - yeah right !

Hopefully I will give it a go later today.

Pity that you have missed the MartinDawes offer on the 9300t. It was only for a limited time and the 9300 was £158.90 if you ordered it then, which I did. So I have saved £30. I have a HD ready TV so I was wanting the HDMI version, and anyway, the 9300 is more attractive to look at! (typical female I know)

GG

Will look forward to your subsiquent post about whether or not it was a 9300t. Do post won't you and let us know the outcome.

GG

I did see the offer but as it’s for my parents I was wary of ordering a brand new model with potential bugs and an unspecified release date; it was tempting though.

I’ve done a bit of research and see that the older Vestel models consume ~13W at idle versus ~2W for the newer Humax and Vestel models. It might not sound a lot but at current electricity prices it means they’d consume about £10 more per annum on standby. So buying a cheap older PVR design to save money is a false economy especially with energy prices heading skywards.

would HDMI Upscale be a waste of time? a SD signal from scart and letting the TV do the job would no doubt produce a picture better than the Humax. Depends how good the upscale is. My Yamaha DVD Player on scart produces a better picture than the xbox360 upscale DVD.

Is this unit ready for Freeview HD ?

It will of course depend on what TV you use it with. With a cheap TV the HDMI output my well be better as has been reported elsewhere but not with regard the Humax.


No.

All depends how good the upscaler in the PVR is doesn't it? Plus if the PVR is connected to the TV via a HDMI lead, the its digital all the way, so no conversion having to take place. Scarts are analogue and so there will have to be a conversion, from digital to analogue and then back again.
I did own a Wharfedale with HDMI with upscaling and the picture was far superior to a scart connection. Also take a ganders over at the BT Vision forums where users also report the Vision box having fantastic picture quality via HDMI.
If a good upscaler is employed then it should be far superior than any RGB scart or component connection.

GG

From what I’ve read if the PVR has a good quality RGB SCART output, you use a good quality SCART cable and the TV has good quality up-scaling the difference with HDMI is negligible.
It’s worthwhile having HDMI as it gives another connection option and the cables are cheaper and a more convenient format.

I've been following the release of the new HDMI Hummy and also the Topfield 5810 (which doesn't seem to get good reviews from users). I've also been following the launch of freesat and i think I've come to the conclusion that that's the way i'm gonna go.

Humax will be launching a freesat PVR in the autumn and the appeal of HD and better quality SD channels (which satellite apparently has - less compression or something) has swayed me. I'm hoping the freesat pvr will have all the same functions as the freeview+ ones. I should even be able to install the dish myself - you can buy all the bits from Maplin. Should save a bit on a multiple install and I can run the cables where I want them.

Ps. Martin Dawes has the 9300T to pre-order at £177.97.

I had read that it was going to be delayed; does anyone have info on that? Either way it’s not safe to assume that it will be released so soon.

I do find Freesat interesting but I wouldn’t touch it until it has a decent amount of HD channels; have they released a schedule on when they are hoping to add more HD channels?

It also depends if the external box can be told to upscale to the actual native format of the TV display and the TV can be set to not try and rescale the signal a second time.

It's a bloomin' minefield.