HDD Recorder

melbury

I am trying to find an hdd recorder, but it is a minefield out there.

Is a digital smart hdd recorder different to a plain old hdd recorder, in that would it work on an old TV that is not smart?

I just want to buy an hdd twin recorder, but it seems very difficult to locate one:(

Thought this looked quite good, but just don't know if it would work on a non-smart tv.

http://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-dmr-hwt130-smart-500gb-freeview-hd-twin-recorder/p569092

Many thanks for any pointers.

grumpycrab

Unless I''ve got the wrong end of the stick an hdd recorder doesn't need a TV to record; it needs an aerial to record from and a TV to display too. You want an hdd recorder to display to an old TV? I guess the TV doesn't have HDMI but has SCART?
e.g. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2579333.htm

grumpycrab

melbury wrote: »

http://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-dmr-hwt130-smart-500gb-freeview-hd-twin-recorder/p569092

This doesn't have a SCART connection. What does your TV have?

Peter999_2

Hi,

Don't worry, the smart HDD recorder does not need to be used in conjunction with a smart TV. Any TV with a HDMI input will be fine.

I've not heard of Smart HDD before, but from having a quick look on the internet it seems that it just means that it will only start recording when the programme starts (i.e. if there is a news break in the middle of it it will not record the news. Also, if a football match is on and makes your program start an hour later the recorder will automatically only record when the program actually starts - the smart bit is knowing that the programme is delayed).

In my personal experience, all the best HDD recorders for many years are Humax ones. From looking this is one of the latest ones :
http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/product.php?gid=550

and is available here for a few pounds more that the one you are looking at.

http://www.johnlewis.com/humax-dtr-t2000-youview-smart-500gb-freeview-hd-digital-tv-recorder/p1599133?sku=233722650&kpid=233722650&s_kenid=2e1d51f8-60d8-3cc8-2304-00003b7d7462&s_kwcid=402x173627&tmad=c&tmcampid=73&kpid=233722650

Hope this helps.

Pete

melbury

grumpycrab wrote: »

This doesn't have a SCART connection. What does your TV have?

Have asked OH and he says our TV has both SCART and HDMI (whatever that means:o)

grumpycrab

melbury wrote: »

Have asked OH and he says our TV has both SCART and HDMI (whatever that means:o)

HDMI is the "current" connector of choice (from hdd recorder to TV). So not that old then :-)
So Peter999's suggestion is good. How much do you want to spend? What is your existing aerial reception like?

melbury

The current DVD recorder we have is less than two years old (Panasonic), but keeps on restarting every time we use the DVD player part of it, which is maddening:mad: Reception is pretty good.

So thought we would buy a Panasonic hdd recorder and move the older one upstairs.

TV is 6-7 years old and still has a good picture.

Looking to spend up to £200.

Cornucopia

Most HDD recorders you will find on the market work on the basis of receiving signals directly from Freeview, Freesat or Sky and recording them. They cannot record from any other video source like a CCTV camera or for copying old VHS tapes.

It is possible to get an HDD recorder that can do that (I have one) but they are less common and more expensive.

So, it depends what you want it for...

- Recording JUST TV, or other video sources?
- Just recording or other things like DVDs or catch-up?
- Is it for Freeview or is it for Satellite?
- Any other "must have" features, like remote programming or playback from USB sticks, etc.

Also bear in mind that Youview is a recognised standard for Freeview recorders, so you might want to get one from that stable (like the Humax suggested above) rather than one that isn't (like the Panasonic).

macman

Agreed, if you want on-demand programmes as well, just get a Hummy with YouView.

melbury

Cornucopia wrote: »

Most HDD recorders you will find on the market work on the basis of receiving signals directly from Freeview, Freesat or Sky and recording them. They cannot record from any other video source like a CCTV camera or for copying old VHS tapes.

It is possible to get an HDD recorder that can do that (I have one) but they are less common and more expensive.

So, it depends what you want it for...

- Recording JUST TV, or other video sources?
- Just recording or other things like DVDs or catch-up?
- Is it for Freeview or is it for Satellite?
- Any other "must have" features, like remote programming or playback from USB sticks, etc.

Also bear in mind that Youview is a recognised standard for Freeview recorders, so you might want to get one from that stable (like the Humax suggested above) rather than one that isn't (like the Panasonic).

Really just want to record programmes that are being shown on TV. Wouldn't the Panasonic be suitable for that?

Cornucopia

Yes... assuming that you receive your TV through an aerial i.e. it is Freeview.