Help! New TV wanted.

pmlindyloo

My OH are hopeless with anything technical so please bear with me.

At the moment we have a very old TV (not flat screen) with a separate Freeview box and a separate DVD player.

We are fed up having 3 different remote controls and having to flick from one to the other. (sad I know)

What we would like:

A 40 inch flat screen TV with the ability to record programmes and view programmes from previous week.

We are happy to continue with the DVD player as I have read that built in DVD players are not very good.

I am not sure what I should be looking for!

I have done some research and have read about Freeview Plus and Youview but am unsure whether you have to have these as separate 'boxes' or whether they can be built into the TV.

Hope you will forgive my ignorance. We do not want to have anything like Sky TV (far too expensive) but do not know how to achieve this or whether it is even possible.

As regards price - as a MSE would like to keep this as reasonable as possible without forgoing quality.

Please, please keep your answers as simple as possible as I am not joking when I say we are hopeless at all this

sniggings

you would need a PVR such as freesat or freeview which would allow recording, a Humax freesat and I guess Humax freeview has built in Iplayer.

Sorry but unless you get something like a Harmony One (I have one, they are very good) controller you are stuck with your 3 controllers.

You can also buy a PVR with a built in DVD so that reduces your controllers to 2.

mickaveli2001

It would be interesting to know your budget.

Most of the newer TV's have an Ethernet connection so that you can connect to the internet. There is also another way to record. If the TV has a USB record function (a lot do, although most never use it) you can plug in a USB hard drive, but it has to be empty or formatted due to the encryption format if you want to play back what you have recorded on it.

I noticed you said that you hate the x3 remote's.. Couldn't you just get a really good all-in-one remote? I had a really good logitech remote that you could program from your computer. You could control all the good things the usual remotes don't IE: sound selections on the dolby surround sound, Virgin on demand, netflix etc. doesn't even need battery's so it's the only remote you'd need

Heinz

Logitech Harmony universal remotes are top-of-the-range but I have found that universal remotes made by One For All are also extremely good (as is their Netherlands-based Helpline).

I have had about a dozen over the years and would highly recommend them. My latest purchase, the best yet, is the URC 7781 which will control up to 12 devices. Prices vary wildly (e.g. £15.58 to £38.99 on Amazon) so, if you are thinking of buying one, do your research online first. I paid £12.99 (delivered) for mine about a year ago.

mickaveli2001

The good thing is you can program more than one TV from the remote too by using a different mode, and have the entire house partially functioning with the one remote.

It just seems like a better solution than getting one TV with everything in it. At least with singular items, if something goes up with the TV you can pull the old dusty cement box one from upstairs and still continue to watch that beloved "simpsons" DVD box set

almillar

Without going down the Harmony route, I can get you down to 2 remotes. There are TVs that say they can record stuff for you, but they're no good, almost always 1 tuner, meaning you have to watch what you're recording. You defo need a Freeview or FreeviewHD PVR. Plus your DVD. Plus your new TV. That's 3 remotes. BUT many remotes that come with Freeview boxes can also control your TV, lots of Humaxes for example - you type a code into the remote for your TV brand, then the Freeview remote can control the volume, on/off of the TV, which is all you'll need 99% of the time, as channels etc will be on the PVR. When buying, ask 'does it have a learning remote' or 'can I control my TV with it'.