Apologies if they are answered elsewhere, but I thought it would be best to get everything answered in one topic than having to search through thousands of posts!

I am considering getting a Foxsat HDR to replace my Humax HDCI-2000. I just wanted to check a few things before purchase.

What way do channels appear when not on the EPG? Do you have to go to non-freesat mode before you can watch them or can you just input a higher number (5000 upwards I believe) and watch them there?

Can you record to the HDD channels that aren't part of Freesat?

Does the CI slot work for the use of a Dragon Cam for receiving Channel 4 HD / Sky 3 / Fiver / Five USA?

Do they support Diseqc for joint reception and recording of 28.2E and 19.2E?

Can the channel numbers be turned off when viewing in the EPG so that the channel names can appear in full?

That's all I can think of for now, but I do have more questions I wanted to ask, but can't think of them off the top of my head! Thanks for any replies!

Paddy

Oh, also, if you put something on a USB stick from the HDD, can you just plug it into your PC or another device that allows playback from USB and just watch away or do you have to do something to it first?

Paddy

You can watch it straight away in something like VLC but the TS file will not be recognised by Windows Media Player or Media Center (unless you tweak the registry).

I can't answer all your questions, but here are the ones I can:-


You have to switch to non-Freesat mode - a couple of remote presses.


Yes, and it works quite well using the Now and Next DVB-S EPG information.

So when watching BBC 1, you can't just press 5000 and watch say NME TV? It might be a few remote presses, but does seem like a right inconvenience to do it, and then of course to change back when you want to watch something on the Freesat channels...

Paddy

Apart from ITV HD you can watch all the Freesat epg channels in non freesat mode should you wish.

But then this would mean that they don't receive the 7 day EPG and just now and next information (like I currently get on my HDCI-2000).

So, it seems to upgrade my STB, but to keep the channels the way I want, all I will be getting for the £300 price is a better looking GUI and PVR functionality. Seems a bit much for that.

Paddy

Correct in non freesat mode its essentially a HD capable twin tuner free to air box with no 7 day epg having manual recording (no timers) but being able to control a motorised (or multiple lnb's) using diseqc switching.

As to the price, roughly equivalent twin tuner generic fta HD pvr stb's (some with the 7 day epg) do exist. But they all cost a lot more money (starting around £400.00).

This will make your eyes water . Well the price will

http://www.dreamboxshop.co.uk/?gclid...FVaK3godBlG80g

Then again, the Technomate 6900 Super Combo does HD satellite and HD terrestrial and allows you to plug in any size HDD you want via USB for PVR functions. Doesn't have the 7-day EPG info though (unless someone has made some patch for it) and it's available for the same price as a Foxsat HDR.

Why can;t they make a bloody box that will do all of these things?!?!?!?!?!?

Paddy

It does not do HD-terrestrial (well not in the UK). HD terrestrial stb's for the UK freeview HD service (DVB-T2) do not yet exist outside prototypes. Total cost with 500Gb drive about £379.00

http://www.satellitesuperstore.com/technomatehd.htm

For about £80.00 less you get the capability to record 2 HD channels at the same time (albeit with a smaller HDD). For many who can't get a decent freeview signal (exactly those who freesat is designed to service) it would be a total waste. If you have a decent freeview signal and don't want HD a much cheaper twin tuner pvr would make more sense.
Last edited by grahamlthompson : 04-02-2009 at 11:37

I can get Freeview where I am, but the signal is not the strongest and channels do break up from time to time, and some channels don't come on at all, although they are tuned in OK.

I prefer Freesat though as I can get HD programmes and more channels, although most of the good ones are on Freeview. The only thing stopping me from getting the Foxsat HDR, apart from lack of stock anywhere of course) is the lack of ability to have everything in one list and the ability to order and name the channels as I wish, a feature I personally find quite important in a STB.

Paddy

A lot of us want this from the HDR and have given feedback to Bobcat, the Humax rep to this effect.

Many people are using non-freesat mode and some want to use the DISEQ functions but are finding the box limited by its lack of non freesat epg and the fact that switching modes wipes any timers programmed for Freesat.

Hopefully Humax will wake up and address these issues as they given us features we want to use, but then severely handicapped the box in a way that more or less makes them useless. Without an EPG to look up whats on or set timers non freesat mode is limited to random watching or recording as you watch (althought latter is difficult when you don't know what time the programmes start!)

Well, Humax have said that the Diseqc support is not part of the spec for Freesat but they included it in a hidden menu for those that wanted it, so surely any of the other features not supposed to be part of the Freesat spec can also be included in a hidden menu, so only those that want it will have access to it so it won't upset the masses.

It would certainly make it more attractive a product to many, myself included if it had all the functionality and customisations that a typical FTA receiver had, but with a 7 day EPG and PVR functionality included too.

Paddy

Just another point I forgot to mention when I was originally makig this topic...

Is the HDR compatible with the software available on Humax's website for managing channels in non-Freesat mode? In other words, can I just upload my current channel list to the STB and continue to have everything in the correct order and ready to go in non-freesat mode?

Paddy

No you can't, you have to do it manually. The only access by USB is to download recordings and upload mp3's, jpegs and native recordings

Buggeration.

I desperately am trying to justify purchasing a Foxsat HDR but at the moment too much is holding me back. Why can't Humax release something like the iCord for the UK (or at least an update for the HDCI-2000) instead of limited, freesat branded blah blah?

Paddy

Sounds like you need to save up and by a Dreambox

I like the Foxsat's OSD/GUI better though!

Paddy

Paddy I admire your resilience.. I fell at the first hurdle. I saw it and then bought it.