What's the best value Freeview PVR?

macman

gm_xone wrote: »

Is what you are reading, on page 24 of the manual? (I've only looked at an online copy - I don't have this tv, but did have a Panny before!)

If so, I understand that to see this setting, you must first select either HDMI1 or HDMI3 (as appropriate) using the AV button. Then if press 'menu' followed by 'sound', the HDMI Input option should be available: Auto, Digital, Analogue.

Not sure if that helps you or not, though :undecided

Yes, it's p24. Thanks for the advice, I tried this after selecting HDMI1 and the HDMI1 input menu is now available, however, it doesn't solve the original problem unfortunately, whichever setting is used (I tried both Auto and Digital).

earthmother

Our Sky+ box is dying a slow and painful death, and it's out of warranty. We don't have the money to get it fixed, and to be honest, we quite like the idea of taking this opportunity to trim both our TV bill and the kids pester-power (channels and adverts), so we were thinking of going onto a free system.

I've had a look at the three options, and based on the channels we'd watch, Freeview (aerial) is actually the best one for us, so are there any recommendations for a reliable budget digibox, and what price do the recordable boxes kick in at (the ones worth having that is - I think that would be the only bit we'd miss about Sky - although I have a feeling they won't be in budget).

Edinburghlass_2

For a box similar to your Sky+ you can't go wrong with Humax, have a look here as some are what they call gradeA from just under £100.

http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/

scotsbob

If you are going down the Freeview route then you may want to consider a receiver which also has the ability to record one channel while you watch another.

This web site compares the receivers available.

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

My own suggestion would be the Inverto, but no doubt others will come here and talk about "Toppys" and "Hummys" The Inverto is silent and versatile

Edinburghlass_2

My two "hummys" are silent and versatile

Inactive

Another vote for the Humax, you can get a refurbished one from HumaxDirect for around a £100 ( As new ).

http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=20034&cat=Factory

samba

I have an Inverto 7000 (not 7000m) and unfortunately it is not silent due to the noisy fan on the back. Also it is getting a bit long in the tooth as Freeview boxes go. If I was going to buy one now, I would go for either the Humax 9300 or 9200 - the graded ones are an excellent price.

i8change

I have got the Humax PVR-9150T, it's great and almost silent with the new software update. Only £119.95 new, with a two year manufacturers guarantee included (I think the refurbs. are only one year so check). Richer sounds (see link) do a 5 year guarantee for an extra 10% and you get your money back at the end if you don't make a claim.

http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=HUMA-PVR9150

earthmother

Thank you all

I will admit originally I was hoping for sub £50, but DH and I have talked and to be honest, without the recording facility we'd never get to see anything - we can't remember when we last watched something 'live' - so I think we'll stretch the budget for one that will record.

I'll have a proper look through the links once the kids have settled down, but the Humax site does look promising.

scotsbob

Edinburghlass wrote: »

My two "hummys" are silent and versatile

That's interesting that you use two. I tried this in a relatives home. The idea being that 4 channels could be recorded instead of two.

However when linking in series there was so much signal loss for the second that it wasn't a success.

A splitter on the aerial lead also brought about a deterioration in the signal.

Would be interested to know how you achieved this.