HD tele and HD pvr - advice please

Rotor

Hi folks, The mother in law needs a new television and wants to receive HD freeview ( aerial receiver not satellite dish). She also wants to be able to record programmes.
Does she need a HD pvr ( looking at Humax-which model?) AND a tv with freeview HD built in or does 1 replace the other and any HD tele would be ok?

Thanks in advance

m5rcc

I know of no TV that has built-in Freeview HD recording. I would recommend a cgood TV with a Humax HDR-FOX T2 box

fwor

Go for both. That way if she has a twin-tuner Humax which has two programmes being recorded at the same time then she can watch live TV on the TV's built-in tuner while the Humax is recording.

Until recently it was possible to save a bit of money by getting a TV with non-HD Freeview, but HD is starting to become more of a standard now anyway.

almillar

Both is best. She can get away with just the HD recorder, which should allow her to record/view 2 HD programmes at once. Add an HD tuner in the TV and you can watch 1 whilst recording 2. And also save the hassle of turning 2 devices on at once. Worst option IMO is a HD tuner TV with an SD recorder.

Rotor

Thanks for the advice folks.
What is the problem with HD tuner and SD recorder? ( twin HD humax pvr seems to be about £300- might put her off)
Is she best off saving money on tele with non HD freeview rather than going for SD recorder instead of HD

fwor

One other factor to consider is what size screen they will be buying. For a screen less than 40", viewed at a sensible distance, it's likely that HD won't visibly be much better than SD.

It's true you might save a bit with an SD recorder, though it's worth checking the Humax website every now and then, as they sometimes have very good deals on factory refurbed units.

scragend

fwor wrote: »

One other factor to consider is what size screen they will be buying. For a screen less than 40", viewed at a sensible distance, it's likely that HD won't visibly be much better than SD.

I've got a 32" screen, which I view at what I think is a "sensible distance", and there's a world of difference between HD and SD.

Maybe I've just got good eyes!

almillar

The problem with the SD recorder is - it can't record HD!
If you can't afford both, I'd rather get a cheaper TV that only has Freeview SD, but is still Full HD ready, 1080.
With this solution, you basically watch TV on the recorder all the time, and can still record in HD.

macman

The supplement for an HD Freeview tuner in a TV is only about £40 now, and falling daily, so little saving there. If she doesn't want to record Freeview in HD, the big saving is to buy a much cheaper Humax Freeview PVR with SD only-probably around £200 saving over the Fox T2 with Freeview HD.