Maplin HDD 160 GB Twin Tuner with Freeview £99.98 (merged)

Mumstheword

As mentioned, this looks like the same box as the goodmans.

1- The Goodmans can apparently be upgraded so you can record 2 and watch 1, anyone know if this one can be upgraded the same way?

2- Can you transfer recordings made on this to a PC so you can then write them to DVD?


Thanks!!
Mumxx

blinky

Mumstheword wrote:

As mentioned, this looks like the same box as the goodmans.

1- The Goodmans can apparently be upgraded so you can record 2 and watch 1, anyone know if this one can be upgraded the same way?

2- Can you transfer recordings made on this to a PC so you can then write them to DVD?


Thanks!!
Mumxx

1 - Yes it's the same box so it is upgradable to dual record + watch library. If you want to record 2 and watch another channel you need a Humax 9200T or Topfield but the 3rd channel must be on the same MUX as one of the channels being recorded.

2 - Not yet. No doubt in time someone will work out the hard drive format and write some software to extract the programs. This would involve opening the box and removing the drive - invalidating any warranty.

smevs

Excuse me for hijacking your thread here but I need a bit of techie info before I decide to purchase either a PVR or a DVD recorder please.

I have Sky at the moment (I know .... I should get Sky+ but try telling 'her' that !) and I would like to be able to record Sky programs but some-sort of recorder with 'Freeview' built in just gives me a little bit more flexibility.

So, excuse my ignorance, will this (or any other PVR) allow recording from an external device (such as a Sky decoder) or are you restricted to the built in tuner(s) ??? Should I buy one of these or a DVD recorder with Freeview ??

Cheers in advance.

blinky

No you cannot record from an external device with these.

In essence what they do is record the MPEG2 program stream for the desired channel it receives from the tuner. There is no built in MPEG2 encoder.

donny-gal

BTW - to read the DVD's recorded on my HDD/DVD Recorder on my PC, I have to finalize the disks. I don't know if such an option in inside these anywhere? Just a thought!!

codger

I'm never sure how 'good' these bargains are longterm when the user base is so small. Humax and Topfield have strong support, but then they are pretty expensive compared to the Maplin offering.

We opted for at Inverto PVR in January this year and have never regretted it. There's also a fantastic online user forum (which swayed our buying decision -- it's great to always have another and more expert owner on hand with free advice!)

Our Verty's an 80GB twin tuner, currently on special offer at Boots for about £50 more than the Maplin unit. (We've no need of 160Gb as we back up the Verty to our Panasonic DVD recorder).

Mumstheword

blinky wrote:

1 - Yes it's the same box so it is upgradable to dual record + watch library. If you want to record 2 and watch another channel you need a Humax 9200T or Topfield but the 3rd channel must be on the same MUX as one of the channels being recorded.

2 - Not yet. No doubt in time someone will work out the hard drive format and write some software to extract the programs. This would involve opening the box and removing the drive - invalidating any warranty.

Thanks Blinky!

The maplins one arrived just now - it's a 'techwood' make.

Could you answer question number 2 for the Humax please?- can i pass on the recordings to the pc to write them to disc from the Humax?

Before I bought this, i phoned Maplins and asked them question 2 about their box, and the lad said i would be able to pass the recordings to pc for writing a disc. I'm sure you are right, and he is wrong!! But I need to decide whether to return this now, and order a humax, before it's opened and used.


Thanks!!!

speedyjoe

Mumstheword wrote:

Could you answer question number 2 for the Humax please?- can i pass on the recordings to the pc to write them to disc from the Humax?

Yes you can via a USB port on the front of the machine. I have never bothered with mine yet. As I understand it the transfer is slow and then you need to convert them to a DVD writeable format. So the process is not without hassle but is possible.