Which Freeview Set Top Box should I buy?

Blue_Babe

I spend a lot of time away from home while my favourite shows are on TV and lots of time at home when there's nothing on that I want to watch. I have always used my video recorder to record my favourite programs to watch at a time that suits me.

I'm not financially ready to buy a new TV with built-in Freeview, or a DVD recorder as yet. Since the digital switchover I have been setting the timer function of my set-top box to coincide with my VCR without a problem... until now. My Freeview Box has died and I need to shop for another one.

The problem is, although most set top boxes claim to have a 7 or 14 day Electronic Program Guide, I can't find one that states whether or not they have an on/off timer function. Many of the EPGs can set reminders for programs but that means leaving the box on for the whole weekend while I'm away from home, which would surely be a waste of electric. Can anyone advise me of a make and model that provides a timer function please?

VoucherMan

I'm guessing that a PVR is out of the budget range at the moment?

You could get a refurbished Humax PVR for less than £100 which would make life much easier (you could probably get one off eBay for less than £50 if you're willing to take the risk.

I'm not aware of any stand-alone receivers with built in timers (what's the point?), but I'd expect that if there is such a product then the extra cost would far outweigh the cost of electric for leaving a receiver on all weekend.

Norman_Castle

Many of the EPGs can set reminders for programs but that means leaving the box on for the whole weekend while I'm away from home

A freeview box needs to be left on standby to work with timed recordings. A box with low consumption in standby is the only option allthough buying a pvr would be much easier and would not require a video to be left in standby.

This Humax http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/new_leaflet/PVR-9300T_leaflet.pdf states a 0.9w consumption in standby.

If your current freeview box worked as needed, a replacement from ebay may be a cost effective option.

macman

The standby usage on a modern Freeview box is tiny. Even the Humax PVR (with a hard drive and fan) only uses 1W.
Your ancient VCR probably uses a lot more.
As above, go for a refurb'd Hummy PVR 9300T.

Blue_Babe

Thanks for all your comments. Until now, I'd never heard of PVR but I've looked them up and they are quite tempting, although I'd have to look into replaying on a second TV in the bedroom. At the moment I record both upstairs and downstairs and alternate where I watch as to how I feel. I often start watching a movie downstairs but take the tape up and finish watching it in bed. I've looked at the signal senders to control Sky etc from another room so I guess they would work for PVR.