Freeview Recorder Recommendations

dunkerz

Apologies if this is covered elsewhere but I didn't come across anything as specific.

I wondered if people could recommend a cheap freeview recorder. We currently have an £18 package with Sky. I'm trying to economise so want to cancel but need the Sky+ function, which we will, of course, lose unless we pay £10/month to keep it.

So, I'm looking for something cheap but which will give us a series link option.

Thanks.

spcdust

In my opinion you cannot go wrong with the Humax PVR9300T, dual tuner, 2 year warranty, Amazon generally has the keenest price, .

Alternatively, if you have Sky+ maybe you could consider a FreeSat PVR - at least then you'll receive a couple of HD channels and it's just a simple swap-out of the Sky+ box with the new PVR. Can't advise on this one although worth checking if Humax are due, or have, releases a FreeSat PVR.

dunkerz

Thanks, spcdust.

Humax do have a FreeSat PVR - Link

However, it would be two years before this paid for itself, versus the £10/month for Sky+ and, as I don't have much money to spend, I think this rules that out.

So I think it has to be freeview. Thanks for the recommendation.

scotsbob

This comparison site has all the available models side by side so you can see the features of each.

http://www.pvrjunction.co.uk/resources/compare-freeview-pvrs/

Humax and Topfield are the most popular and the Topfield has literally hundreds of free apps which you can download to customise your receiver.

However the Humax and Topfield models are running on technology that is at least six years old. You may be better to wait an extra month or so and see what up to date models are coming on the market.

spcdust

scotsbob wrote: »

However the Humax and Topfield models are running on technology that is at least six years old. You may be better to wait an extra month or so and see what up to date models are coming on the market.

I would be inclined to agree on this point, now with Freeview HD you would imagine that the manufacturers may update the tuners in their models.

jennyjelly

Do you think it's likely that the new Humax ones due out will have improved the dreadfully slow population of the epg? I know several people in my area with them and it can take 30 mins or more for the guide to come up, and even then there is usually something missing. I would just want to throw the thing at the wall by then!

My old digihome is on the blink but I don't want to spend money on something that will make me tear my hair out, so I'm really hoping this situation will change before it conks out altogether. In all other respects the Humax seems quite a decent machine.

Inactive

jennyjelly wrote: »

Do you think it's likely that the new Humax ones due out will have improved the dreadfully slow population of the epg? I know several people in my area with them and it can take 30 mins or more for the guide to come up, and even then there is usually something missing. I would just want to throw the thing at the wall by then!

.

A recent software update has fixed this.;)

jennyjelly

Nope, all running on latest version but still hopelessly slow.

Torry_Quine

Much better now at loading the EPG since the latest update here.

jennyjelly

I have a feeling it's the reception round here - we always needed an aerial booster on analogue and I think this is just the new version of the same problem.