Good value freeview?

Bigphil1474

I have a smart tv (with freeview) and have an external hard drive plugged into it. The TV set up the hard drive as its 'Time Machine' which basically means I can pause live tv whenever I want. I can also go through the tv guide and pick a programme to record and it will record it on the hard drive. However, I'd say it is good, but not really good. Can't record HD channels, as the play back is problematic, and do get the occasional stuck playback from non-hd recordings, and it is single tuner so I can't watch another channel when it's recording - although I can use the smart apps then if needed. I really only use it to record programmes on ITV channels, as I can use the apps on the tv or PS4 to watch catchup, but the ITV player is pants. All that kit costs a bit though. If I were doing it again, I'd have got the tv and a decent PVR (as others have mentioned) which could record HD channels instead, and would leave the tv channels free to watch whenever it's recording. Mind you, I don't watch much live tv these days anyway.
I do subscribe to Now Tv entertainment and it's pretty good for the price, and they usually offer a discount when you go to cancel - don't forget to cancel it before your 6 months is up if you don't want to carry on paying for it.

JJ_Egan

Yep PVR and one that can record two channels .

VisionMan

A Now TV box with a YouView PVR would suit you down to the ground. Now TV for the odd premium channel you want to watch. YouView for its twin channel recording capabilities and free on demand catch up that it offers. Milkshake and UKTV being only two of them (both free).

There are two makes of YV boxes - Huawei and Humax. Avoid the Huawei's like the plague, they are rubbish. Humax is 5 star recommended and is the current Freeview PVR winner of the year. Its also the number 1 seller.

knightstyle

Just check that you have a working TV outlet to connect the freeview box to and decent internet speed for the catchup etc. Often this needs an ethernet cable not wi-fi.
What do your friends use? If they have Talk talk internet they can ask for a free Freeview box with a hard drive to record on. I think other suppliers do this as well.