PVR / HD recorder recomendations

As I said in an earlier post, we've just got the Humax PVR-9300T -
there's a link to their review of that at the end of the review of the
TVonics you posted. It has its drawbacks but I've not seen one I'd
prefer.

TBH I'm reluctant to say "buy this" about any of them because they all
seem to have faults or disadvantages of one sort or another. We don't
watch much TV, but what we do like we hate to miss - and it always
seems to be on at the same time and/or when we're out. So a dual
digital tuner with HDD of some sort or other is a must for us. That's
about as much as I'm prepared to commit!

 

Frankly, being used to a Virgin TV-Drive box, three tuners is the bare
minimum.

 

I just wish they'd focus their efforts on combining it all with
satellite reception - this 'ere freeview's no good to me, twin tuners
or not. What I need are twin sky tuners combined with the PVR
functionality.

So far, I've not seen anyone offering this in a dedicated box.
Bastards.

--
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..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
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The bloke at Currys reckoned at least one Freesat + HDD was on the
way. Presumably the "sat" bit will be adjustable - or maybe not!

 

I can barely find anything to watch on broadcast TV as it is; the
thought that there might be three worthwhile programs on at the same
time is just incomprehensible.

 

From wikipedia
"MythTV is a free Unix [1] application which turns a computer with the
necessary hardware into a network streaming[2] digital video recorder"

In what way, exactly, does that match the description 'dedicated box'?

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Record two things whilst watching another is the usual. We always
seem to hit problems with multiple programmes being on at 9pm.

 

Who? H. Simpson?

 

I assume HDMi auto switch is, when you flick the HDMi peripheral on, the TV
auto goes to the channel? Or is that wrong?

Anyway, if that's the case, mine definately does, when I'm watching my PVR
on AV1, or even the built in Freeview (rare), if I turn my Xbox on that's
plugged into HDMi 1 the channel automatically flicks over to the Xbox. Then
when I turn it off, it flicks back. Of course, if I've mis-understood
auto-switching, then I better STFU before the flames get biblical

 

I just can't help but recommend my Humax as it was just such an incredibly
massive leap up over the cheapo Thomson I had, and it's never given me any
bother at all, and it's so easy to use. I assume the 9300T is just an
improvement, with more space. Does it have the Series Link record feature?
So you can set to record a whole series just from selecting an episode of it
to record? It's a brilliant feature as you never go "Oh shit, I forgot to
set that to record!" because it just does it for you

 

Artistic licence.
--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Yep - as long as you don't have any padding set at the start or end of
programmes. As I said earlier, I still miss a few seconds at the
beginning of some recordings. I need to play with it a bit more to
discover how much I'm losing, and how often. However, this is a common
failing with this model, well documented on digitalspy. The solution
is to set padding, but then you lose the functionality of series
recording and Freeview+ (the digital version of PDC).

Indeed.

 

It's because the series functionality is combined (I doubt
necessarily) with Freeview+, and adding padding to the start with that
would mean some tricky buffering.

Makes sense. Apparently there are some crap receivers around, however,
so I'd use reviews as for the PVR.

 

Cheers for that, and for everyone else who has responded. I've been
querying how much they might want to archive off stuff and I think in
reality it will be unusual. So given that I can probably ditch the
need for a DVD writer and if necessary I'll have to get it off the
disk via USB or some other method.

So a Humax is looking like a good solution - just need to figure which
model. I can see Colin has had some issues with missing bits of
recordings but I suppose none of the off the shelf units will be 100%
perfect.

 

I am trying to work out what it has that the PVR9200TBX you posted a
link to doesn't.

 

And more space, as the man said - 160Gb more in fact.

 

Well I've got used to the EPG loading up every time, and the last
three recordings have not missed any time off the front so - fingers
crossed, I am content with the 9300. Personally I wouldn't go for a
becoming-obsolete model like the 9200, but YMMV.

 

I show both as 320GB,
http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10055 the difference
I can find is that the literature for the 9300 says the USB is not
active whereas it seems to be sold as working in the 9200.

 

It's worse because I am buying for the parents IYSWIM. If I buy
something and it's not really up to the mark it's my problem. In fact
looking at the specs of these recorders I realise I should have done
more research before getting mine, but then I think the last time I
turned on to watch TV was the last Dr. Who.

FWIW there's a refurbished 9200 for £129 direct from Humax with 1yr
guarantee which seems a pretty good price.