PVRs

Lakshmi7

I'm thinking of buying a PVR and I was just wondering if people could tell me what models they are using; how reliable they are; how easy they are to set up and use; what the sound and picture qualities are like; how noisy they are; how much they cost; where you got them from, etc.

Oh, and if you have a twin tuner, can you record two channels and watch one channel simultaneously or can you only record two channels and watch a pre-recorded programme, because I've seen different information on different websites regarding the same machine!

Thanks!

savemoney

Humax 9200 or its other variants, best hardware I bough used it for almost 3 years never gone wrong.

Not all twin tuner allow you to watch and record 2 programs. Humax does and it will depending on the channels let you record 2 and watch a 3rd freeview channel

helping_hubby

I've had a Humax 9200T since Jan 07. Love it. Recorded all 86 episodes of Sopranos on More 4 and just finished watching them all! I'd say that's pretty reliable.

I do have the odd program that goes wrong though. Not sure why this is, maybe when the signal screws up completely?


I paid £180 for mine, and got some Quidco cashback. But it seems you get double the memory for your money now.

robt_2

If you already have BT Broadband, get BT Vision (free), but do NOT sign upto BT broadband just for it as it is far from being the cheapest broadband.

tweeter

http://www.avforums.com/forums/index.php

Conor_3

Humax 9200T or Topfield 5800.

waynedance

Humax 9200 for me, best kit i have brought in ages, never let me down.

You can buyer cheaper PVR or you could when i brought mine but you get what you pay for.

Hungerdunger

I can't comment on the Humax, but the Toppy has the advantage that you can install small programmes (called TAPs) to enhance your viewing pleasure.

Have a look here to get an idea of the type of things you can do with them.

Puttytat

Yet another vote for the Humax.
I got mine direct from Humax for £106.50 (inc P&P)

https://humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10041&cat=Factory

The link is for the silver 160GB model, but there are also black ones available and also 320GB on the website.

HTH
Putty

malc_b

Best is the Topfield with Humax in second, or the other way round depending on your priorities. Humax is cheaper and adequate (although the USB port apparently is not reliable). Topfield is more expensive but is the bees knees.

So what can the topfield do? You can change all the UI and features by adding extra programs called taps. These are mostly free and written by (clever) users. You can network the toppy with some extra kit (~50). You can connect to it via USB which works and reliably download records to PC for burning the DVD. On my toppy the taps I have allow me to set up keyword searches so "Dr Who" or *Dr Who* is automatically recorded with padding. If the time in the EPG changes at least 10min before the start then the end is changed too. The front display now shows channel name or minutes remaining of a recording. The toppy can record 2 channels while you watch a 3rd (limited channel choice) or watch a recording. An experimental tap allows a whole mux to be recorded. Some user have set their toppies to stream over their home network. The list goes on. Have a look at the toppy user site https://www.toppy.org.uk to see what possible.

realshannon

we have a Humax and its ok - but it does do funny things - not sure if this is to do with signal as we are very rural and get interference etc but still well worth the money and you do get used to not relying on TV when the programme you think you cant live without doesnt record!! half the time progs are repeated on another channel anyway :rolleyes: think we paid about £120 and Quidco cashback too