PVR Recommendations Please

[roadsweeper]

I'm looking for a value for money PVR but have never used one before so don't know what the best brands are or the features I should be looking for. I'm not looking to spend a lot but ideally would like:
- DVD Recorder
- Hard Disk Drive recording
- Tivo-esque features such as pausing live TV, recording all instances of a particular series, etc.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

[Roy the Boy]

I recently researched this and ended up buying one of these ;-

http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/pvr-9200t....

It gets rave reviews on most sites, has twin tuners and a 160GB hard drive. You can record 2 channels whilst watching something you've previously recorded, watch one channel and record another, pause live tv, etc., etc.. I bought mine off ebay and am very happy with it - came with original receipt and still had over 12 months warranty left

Hope this helps.

Roy

[Noger]

roadsweeper said:

- recording all instances of a particular series, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Ah, there is the crux of the question ! Until very recently they only PVR to do this was the Topfield, via one of their "TAPS" (little user written programs). These scanned for keywords and basically did Series link by the back door.

However Freeview have recently announced the "Freeview Playback" labelling. Any machine with this label must have a series link included. However I don't think Freeview have turned on the relevant bits their end yet ? Think it was September. Once up and running this should mean that you always record the actual program, no matter what time it moves to, as well.

A newcomer to the PVR market is TVonics. Who look to have a decent product as well.


http://www.pvrjunction.co.uk/compare/

[telecat]

Noger said:

roadsweeper said:

- recording all instances of a particular series, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Ah, there is the crux of the question ! Until very recently they only PVR to do this was the Topfield, via one of their "TAPS" (little user written programs). These scanned for keywords and basically did Series link by the back door.

However Freeview have recently announced the "Freeview Playback" labelling. Any machine with this label must have a series link included. However I don't think Freeview have turned on the relevant bits their end yet ? Think it was September. Once up and running this should mean that you always record the actual program, no matter what time it moves to, as well.

A newcomer to the PVR market is TVonics. Who look to have a decent product as well.


http://www.pvrjunction.co.uk/compare/

Another vote for the Humax. I got mine a while ago and just updated to the latest firmware. I looked at the TVonics as a second box but it wouldn't allow two recordings at once at the time, only watch one channel and record another.

[dern]

roadsweeper said:

I'm looking for a value for money PVR but have never used one before so don't know what the best brands are or the features I should be looking for. I'm not looking to spend a lot but ideally would like:
- DVD Recorder
- Hard Disk Drive recording
- Tivo-esque features such as pausing live TV, recording all instances of a particular series, etc.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

Why don't you buy a tivo off ebay? I'm about to put mine up for sale and can't believe I'll get £100 for it which seems pretty good value for money. We've just replaced with sky+ though which is better in some respects (picture quality) but weaker in others (series links).

[telecat]

dern said:

roadsweeper said:

I'm looking for a value for money PVR but have never used one before so don't know what the best brands are or the features I should be looking for. I'm not looking to spend a lot but ideally would like:
- DVD Recorder
- Hard Disk Drive recording
- Tivo-esque features such as pausing live TV, recording all instances of a particular series, etc.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

Why don't you buy a tivo off ebay? I'm about to put mine up for sale and can't believe I'll get £100 for it which seems pretty good value for money. We've just replaced with sky+ though which is better in some respects (picture quality) but weaker in others (series links).

Because a Tivo would need a Freeview box as well it isn't really a competitor.

[bint]

Alas no, Freeview haven't 'turned on' their side to enable series link recording, that's still only available for Sky+/V+ boxes as far as I'm aware.

Another vote for the HUMAX here, loving ours. I can record 2 things at a time and watch another recorded programme or live TV. Pausing live tv is very useful for when the phone rings/knock at the door.

You can set to record a programme a week in advance, but my only gripe is you have to wait for the programme list to upload every time you turn the box on and it can take a while. MOH reckons there may be a way around this/an update, or something we've missed due to not readign the manual.....

It's the best out there though, and definitely one of the quietest - we tried Sony and had to take it back it was so loud.

[page3]

telecat said:

Because a Tivo would need a Freeview box as well it isn't really a competitor.

Why is that a problem?

Use TiVo here and don't know of anything comparable for the money. Big from me.

[dern]

telecat said:

dern said:

roadsweeper said:

I'm looking for a value for money PVR but have never used one before so don't know what the best brands are or the features I should be looking for. I'm not looking to spend a lot but ideally would like:
- DVD Recorder
- Hard Disk Drive recording
- Tivo-esque features such as pausing live TV, recording all instances of a particular series, etc.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

Why don't you buy a tivo off ebay? I'm about to put mine up for sale and can't believe I'll get £100 for it which seems pretty good value for money. We've just replaced with sky+ though which is better in some respects (picture quality) but weaker in others (series links).

Because a Tivo would need a Freeview box as well it isn't really a competitor.

You wanted a PVR, not all PVRs are tuners as well. Besides a freeview box can be had for about 20 quid.

[telecat]

bint said:

Alas no, Freeview haven't 'turned on' their side to enable series link recording, that's still only available for Sky+/V+ boxes as far as I'm aware.

Another vote for the HUMAX here, loving ours. I can record 2 things at a time and watch another recorded programme or live TV. Pausing live tv is very useful for when the phone rings/knock at the door.

You can set to record a programme a week in advance, but my only gripe is you have to wait for the programme list to upload every time you turn the box on and it can take a while. MOH reckons there may be a way around this/an update, or something we've missed due to not readign the manual.....

It's the best out there though, and definitely one of the quietest - we tried Sony and had to take it back it was so loud.

Latest update is a lot faster. I downloaded it and used a laptop to connect to the box via a Null modem cable. Takes a couple of minutes to get all stations instead of just one.

[A - W]

Roy the Boy said:

I recently researched this and ended up buying one of these ;-

http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/pvr-9200t....

It gets rave reviews on most sites, has twin tuners and a 160GB hard drive. You can record 2 channels whilst watching something you've previously recorded, watch one channel and record another, pause live tv, etc., etc.. I bought mine off ebay and am very happy with it - came with original receipt and still had over 12 months warranty left

Hope this helps.

Roy

Seconded.

I have had mine since they came about, great bit of kit although some dont like it, I'd have another.

[davidd]

Another vote for the humax 9200. We've had it since they were released and it is an excellent bit of kit.

[S6PNJ]

Another vote for the Hummy (Humax 9200T). Twin tuners that allow you to record two progrmas and still watch a THIRD!! (only on some channels though - all depends on which ones you are recording).
Easy to download recordings onto a PC and then burn to DVD to save for later.

[thepeoplespal]

Another vote for the Humax 9200T, have seen advertising on series linking for the upgraded model.

Although it doesn't do the DVD recording thing, for terrestrial TV the Twin recorders and being allowed to watch a third channel (if on the same multiplex) does happen surprisingly often in this household. Having recently had experience of a new Samsung DVD recorder/PVR on Saturday, I'd avoid this option like the plague - dreadful EPG and very slow to change channels and no way to skip through the channels reading the info before deciding on a new channel to choose.

There is a USB option on the HUMAX but I've never used it, so I'm assuming you could hook it up to your Computer and burn a DVD, but haven't a Scooby how to.

The Comets and Currys of this world don't seem to push the Humax, but I think they are mad not to.

[Hut49]

Another vote for the Humax 9200T - can you see a trend here? - We've had it 2 months and it hasn't missed a beat.

[Mr E]

telecat said:

bint said:

Alas no, Freeview haven't 'turned on' their side to enable series link recording, that's still only available for Sky+/V+ boxes as far as I'm aware.

Another vote for the HUMAX here, loving ours. I can record 2 things at a time and watch another recorded programme or live TV. Pausing live tv is very useful for when the phone rings/knock at the door.

You can set to record a programme a week in advance, but my only gripe is you have to wait for the programme list to upload every time you turn the box on and it can take a while. MOH reckons there may be a way around this/an update, or something we've missed due to not readign the manual.....

It's the best out there though, and definitely one of the quietest - we tried Sony and had to take it back it was so loud.

Latest update is a lot faster. I downloaded it and used a laptop to connect to the box via a Null modem cable. Takes a couple of minutes to get all stations instead of just one.

We're running latest SW. It's still sodding slow to download the guide, and really should cache the damn thing IMHO.

[Fort Jefferson]

S6PNJ said:

Twin tuners that allow you to record two progrmas and still watch a THIRD!!

Don't you need three tuners to do that?

[Noger]

Fort Jefferson said:

S6PNJ said:

Twin tuners that allow you to record two progrmas and still watch a THIRD!!

Don't you need three tuners to do that?

No, as long as on of the two channels being recorded are on the same MUX as the one you want to watch, it works.

Edited by Noger on Sunday 30th September 11:40

[Fort Jefferson]

Noger said:

Fort Jefferson said:

S6PNJ said:

Twin tuners that allow you to record two progrmas and still watch a THIRD!!

Don't you need three tuners to do that?

No, as long as on of the two channels being recorded are on the same MUX as the one you want to watch, it works.

Dare I ask what a MUX is?

[Noger]

Yes, but I probably don't know the real answer

MUX = Multiplexes and sort of equate to a channel provider's groups. So BBC1 and 2 are both on MUX 1 (along with BBC3 Cbeebies etc but not for some reason BBC4 or CBBC !). ITV and C4 are on 2 etc.

So if you are recording BBC1 you can also watch BBC2 as it is on the same MUX. The tuner tunes to the MUX and I guess the software bits can split it out without needing another tuner (or something, understanding runs out here !).

Another thumbs up for Humax. Good kit.

Edited by Noger on Sunday 30th September 11:53