HDD Freeview PVR Opinions

ABBEYGIRL_2

hiya sorry to interupt but just lookin some help. i ve just bought a 320GB PVR - Digital Freeview Receiver With Twin Tuner F8O-139-320 from www.unbeatablegadgets.com heres the link and i have it, a lcd tv and a dvd/video recorder and sky. is it possible for me to connect it all up in such a way so i can record from sky to hard drive? thank you
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Woby_Tide

ABBEYGIRL wrote: »

hiya sorry to interupt but just lookin some help. i ve just bought a 320GB PVR - Digital Freeview Receiver With Twin Tuner F8O-139-320 from www.unbeatablegadgets.com heres the link and i have it, a lcd tv and a dvd/video recorder and sky. is it possible for me to connect it all up in such a way so i can record from sky to hard drive? thank you
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No, PVR's only record from their own digital tuners not other sources(well teh majority of mainstream ones do).

irnbru_2

ABBEYGIRL wrote: »

is it possible for me to connect it all up in such a way so i can record from sky to hard drive?

You need something like a Panasonic DMR-EX75EB.

You'll only be able to record the channel your watching on SKY.

oldagetraveller

Well after purchasing and setting up a Humax 9200 I have to say I'm totally disappointed. Personally I think the picture is worse that the Digihome unit which it replaced and at almost 3X the price that's not on!!
I've tried adjusting the tv to suit but the colours are totally awful and un-natural, the image is "blurred" and when a person or object moves they go "fuzzy" It's set up and connected in exactly the same way as the Digihome unit.
I've tried to live with it for 24 hours but have had to revert back to the £75 Digihome - it's that bad!:mad:
This probably needs to be in the vent or rip off sections??:D

Woby_Tide

I think you might have a faulty box potentially. The Humax wouldn't get recommended so often if it was flawed that fundamentally. Were all teh connections pushed in correctly and it tuned in? What sort of signal strength/quality readings are you getting according to the system?

judderman62

I agree with woby_tide on this one

oldagetraveller

Woby_Tide wrote: »

Were all teh connections pushed in correctly and it tuned in? What sort of signal strength/quality readings are you getting according to the system?

Signal strength 69%, quality 100%. Same aerial, good quality SCART leads etc. as used with the Digihome unit and connected in exactly the same way. The sound is annoyingly "tinny" as well with lots of sibilance with voices. Unfortunately the volume has to be fairly high to mask the intrusive hum of the cooling fan! Also poorer quality picture/sound to the Freeview tuner built into my TV and I would presume that is fairly basic.
I suspect Humax have sacrificed quality for extra useless gimmicks?
It's being returned today for refund, I'll get a 160GB Digihome for it's superior tuner(s) and save £50+ in the process.

judderman62

i SUSPECT YOU HAD A DUFF box (oops 'scuse caps lock) I have read a lot of reviews before buying mine and people are split between the humax and the Topfield with a large majority being satisfied with both boxes - inc Fifer and myself - I have some issues with pixelation etc - but I think it's because I am in a poor reception area and am on a comunal aeriel.

Poppycat

The Humax 9200 is regarded very highly and has been on market for very nearly 2 years now, I got mine in Oct 2005.

Like any appliance things can go wrong, although rare like some folks said it might be a faulty box. Has your tv got a scart socket that has RGB on? for better picture? You also have to set RGB in the preferences on the Humax. Try a different scart lead just in case, I hate scart leads because they can be dodgy at times.

Woby_Tide

oldagetraveller wrote: »

Signal strength 69%, quality 100%. Same aerial, good quality SCART leads etc. as used with the Digihome unit and connected in exactly the same way. The sound is annoyingly "tinny" as well with lots of sibilance with voices. Unfortunately the volume has to be fairly high to mask the intrusive hum of the cooling fan! Also poorer quality picture/sound to the Freeview tuner built into my TV and I would presume that is fairly basic.
I suspect Humax have sacrificed quality for extra useless gimmicks?
It's being returned today for refund, I'll get a 160GB Digihome for it's superior tuner(s) and save £50+ in the process.

I think you're being rash but thats your choice. i don't personally think Humax have wasted anything on "extra gimmicks", in fact one of the criticisms is the lack of extra gimmicks i.e. easy USB interface etc. because the majority of effort has gone into the actual works of the box. I've seena lot less positive words about the Digihomes on most forums over time, but it's down to individual preferences.