Thomson DHD4000 - Excellent Freeview Twin Tuner PVR £99.99 at Argos

geejaygee

The box doesn't have a usb connection. There are several forums that show you how to install a larger hard drive (you have to swap it out internally), but the chip that the box uses can only handle a maximum of 137gb - but if you put in a 160gb drive, which you can get from ebuyer for about £50, it apparently ups the record time to about 70 hours. 65 or so if you put in a 120gb drive. It invalidates the warranty, but on AVforums it appears to be fairly trouble free.

I had the blanking screen thing too. I went back in to the set-up menu and rescanned the channels which tok about two minutes and seemed to do the job.

quoia

irnbru wrote:

That makes you the exception not the rule.

I'd say it makes hundreds if not thousands of people the exception as well.

I can't see that they always ask everyone else and "always" miss me out !

Anyway my brother bought a Freeview STB in a Xmas sale - he was never asked - that was at Comet.

And my niece bought 2 Freeview STBs in Feb 2006 from ASDA - never asked.

Personally in the last 15 months I've bought ...and never provided details ..

The Thomson on Friday from Argos
A Humax Freeview PVR from Dixons
A Humax Freeview PVR from Currys
A Philips DVD Recorder from Sainsburys
(actually bought 4 of these in 3 separate purchases in 3 different stores)
A Hauppauge TV card from PCWorld

I did buy 2 TVs from LIDL and filled out the form as requested at the till.

Bella_b

I definately reccommend Dvr's! I have one and it's great. Love the recording feature and 2 week programme guide. The best thing is that you can see the title of the programme on and info about it and any programmes in the next 2 weeks. Pausing tv is good, cos you can go and get a cup of tea come back and then start from where you left. Worth the extra.

taytay_2

ep they should have taken your details if you bought anything that you can receive a tv signal on, their fault not yours though!

dave2986

geejaygee wrote:

The box doesn't have a usb connection.

you can actually put a usb connection on

see

http://www.dabrowski.freeserve.co.uk/


so say £50 for a HD and £10 for the USB thing your looking at £160 for a PVR which does the work of one for £200

mpazza

I've had one of these for 18 months and it just updated its software again on Sunday night for only the second time. Extra features include up to 2 hours time slip instead of 30 minutes and volume control on remote now works on the PVR not just Thomson TVs and there is a new archiving menu for scheduling backup to VHS/DVD.
I thought Thomson had finished with this machine so this is a good sign, maybe cure some of the stability problems people have mentioned though mine has been pretty reliable.

wilcock1

quoia wrote:

Why should the freeview make a difference to the 16 day return policy?



They never asked me for anything - took it out of the shop and they don't even know my name let alone my address !
Can't see why they would want to know anyway- it's TVs that are licenced not tuners!

I confirm the Argos site 16 day money back guarantee exclusion as I asked instore on Saturday. If you buy a freeview box from Argos and it doesnt work they will refund you if you live in a freeview reception area. If you dont live in a freeview area they wont refund you. This is to stop people trying out the box and then returning it. If you return a box they will check the freeview coverage for where you live.

Luckyleb

mpazza wrote:

I've had one of these for 18 months and it just updated its software again on Sunday night for only the second time. Extra features include up to 2 hours time slip instead of 30 minutes and volume control on remote now works on the PVR not just Thomson TVs and there is a new archiving menu for scheduling backup to VHS/DVD.
I thought Thomson had finished with this machine so this is a good sign, maybe cure some of the stability problems people have mentioned though mine has been pretty reliable.

How would I know if it has been updated? I bought mine last week, no messages have appeared on screen - perhaps there is a self-diagnostic test you could recommend? Would be much appreciated!

mpazza

Luckyleb wrote:

How would I know if it has been updated? I bought mine last week, no messages have appeared on screen - perhaps there is a self-diagnostic test you could recommend? Would be much appreciated!

If you go to menu then messages it will have a message telling you what the update has done.

I'm at work so I cant tell you what the software version is now.

Luckyleb

mpazza wrote:

If you go to menu then messages it will have a message telling you what the update has done.

I'm at work so I cant tell you what the software version is now.

Thanks mpazza - got it. It's also in the tech spec. I bought the thing on the day it was updated so all hunky dory - am really chuffed with it!:D