Easy TV Recording for a Pensioner but not Sky +

tiggs239

My mum is currently using a video recorder to video of her programmes when she is out, however the VCR has seen better days, so we are hoping to upgrade her at Christmas. We have tried to get her to have SKY+ as it is so easy to use but she wont have the dish etc installed!:mad:

Does anyone have anything as easy to use as SKY+ which does not involve subscriptions.
I have tried to show her a DVD recorder but she can barely use the VCR:mad:

I haven't use this site mcuh before, so feel free to move this, if its in the wrong place.

John_3:16

The only thing that may help is a dvd recorder with a big hard drive in it. If she does not keep her recorded programs you can store well over 100hrs on them. If she wants to keep something just put it onto dvd. Depending how much you want to future proof it you can go for one with HD on it. I am sure there is more you vcan get. Make sure its got a digital tuner.

TomsMom

I've seen Freeview+ advertised recently, same sort of think as Sky+ but through the aerial. You could look to see if that would be suitable.

We have a Panasonic EX87 DVD recorder with Freeview with 250GB hard drive. Once you've had a look through the guide book (or you could explain to your mum or draw easy to follow pictures like I do for my mum), that is very easy to record programmes, i.e. go to programme guide, select programme with the arrows, press OK, press return - that's it. It can't be too hard as I can do it :rotfl: whereas it took me about two years to learn how to programme the old VCR!

the_tired_one

I'm technologically challenged - never knew how to programme our VHS Video!

But my husband bought a DVD Recorder with built in Hard Drive - still dont know how to record a DVD but the HD player is so easy! Record, watch and delete

helping_hubby

Yes, a Humax PVR. You can get twin tuners, (maybe more now - not looked into them and mine is 2 years old). It's soooooooooooo easy to use. You simply go to the TV Guide and select the things you want to record.

By having 2 tuners in the box it means you can record one channel and watch another channel at the same time, or record 2 channels at the same time. Or record 2 channels and watch an already recorded channel. You also have the advantage of being able to pause and rewind a program you are a currently watching.

Highly recommend Humax for a brand too. I think many others would too.

I'm not recommending this particular model - but this will give you an idea:
http://www.dixons.co.uk/product.php?sku=440229&camp_id=froogle

dander

I've also got a panasonic - mine's a dvd/vhs combo with integrated freeview (sorry don't know the exact model number) and the recording function is ridiculously easy. As Tomsmum above said, you just navigate to the programme with the epg and hit record - pretty much exactly as skyplus works. I would guess this is the standard way it works across the panasonic range, because my model is different to Tomsmum's, but you'd need a model with the integrated freeview to get the epg.

Canucklehead

Good morning: Humax has a new product out now. If we didn't already have the terrestrial version, the Foxsat would be on my Xmas list.;)

HTH

Canucklehead

tiggs239

Thanks for all your suggestions. Went to Argos sale and got a Wharfdale Digital TV Recorder, paid £65 and got a £5 voucher.:rotfl: I've tested it and it seems fool proof, but having said that, you never know with my mother

The remote looks very similar to Sky+ and it operates in a very similar way.

savemoney

The Humax are dead easy to use, honestly the Humax box are one of te best piece of kit you never go back to any other make

You just wired them up it does a channel search then save the channels. Wait for the EPG guide the tv guide to populate and then just use the navigation button to move along the EPG and click record it will even record the who series so you dont need to click on again say for example Corrie

The otherw ay forward is get a Freesat box you need a sky dish thsi works very similar but freesat have much protential due to extra channels and high definition thsi will record two chnanels at once if you have adual lnb on the dish. You can get a fitter to sort this out for you for around £100

savemoney

I just got my Humax HD box fitted today, great picture BBC HD in 1080i