Best New PVR Instead of Humax

cairndog

Have been looking at the "failed Humax pvr " thread above and I have same problem. We have a new smart tv (Panasonic TX40DX600b " no twin recorders so rely on pvr.
Now need a new pvr but am told they're outdated and we should use other ways of recording? Our tv doesn't record so what are the easiest alternatives which are free?
Pretty good BT fibre broadband here but not superfast.

JJ_Egan

cairndog wrote: »

Have been looking at the "failed Humax pvr " thread above and I have same problem. We have a new smart tv (Panasonic TX40DX600b " no twin recorders so rely on pvr.
Now need a new pvr but am told they're outdated and we should use other ways of recording? Our tv doesn't record so what are the easiest alternatives which are free?
Pretty good BT fibre broadband here but not superfast.

BT service then look at BT TV Youview Box .

Cancel that as boxes are of course made by Humax .

psychic_teabag

A quick look at the manual suggests you can plug a device into USB port and record to that (not sure if it's memory stick or HDD). I assume that doesn't let you record one channel while watching another, which is possibly what you're missing. (We watch virtually nothing live these days.)

The "modern alternatives" are presumably based on using catchup services. I think the best solution probably depends on how much recording you do, and how flexible you are prepared to be. (Using repeats and +1 channels to avoid clashes, that sort of thing.)

I too have a humax, but it has been quite sluggish recently -UI often freezes for seconds at a time. It is now our backup PVR, and the main one is a home-brew thing using a computer (rpi) with a USB tuner (about £10) and free software (tvheadend). Unfortunately, only one tuner, so concurrent recordings are limited to things on the same multiplex. (EDIT: the software can cope with multiple tuners, but rpi usb bandwidth is limited so I've been told a second tuner would overwhelm it.) Can usually juggle repeats and things to record what we need. Otherwise I use get_iplayer to download bbc things that we couldn't schedule, or use the HUMAX.

John_Gray

When my now six-year-old Humax PVR9300T eventually fails, I expect to buy a new Humax!

indesisiv

John_Gray wrote: »

When my now six-year-old Humax PVR9300T eventually fails, I expect to buy a new Humax!

This is exactly what I will do.

Problem for me is that my internet has limited download. As I already pay over £30 a month for it. I don't want to make it in the region of £45 a month for unlimited just to record / watch the odd program.

missile

I changed from Humax to Youview PVR. As another poster said Youview is manufactured by Humax, however it is superior to the Humax I had. I find it is more responsive and the interface much better.

Rubidium

John_Gray wrote: »

When my now six-year-old Humax PVR9300T eventually fails, I expect to buy a new Humax!

Agreed my Humax 9200T is still working fine after more than 8 years with the original hard drive.

You will always see complaints about all manufacturers but Humax are still the PVR leaders.

Any manufacturer could get a bad batch of components.

almillar

Now need a new pvr but am told they're outdated and we should use other ways of recording?

They're not. If you're trying to avoid broken hard drives, avoiding Humax won't help, they don't make hard drives.
Whatever PVR (and most other electronic equipment) you have, make sure it's well ventilated, and for hard drives, keep them away from vibrations when it use. Treat them like a playing CD or record.

Gers

missile wrote: »

I changed from Humax to Youview PVR. As another poster said Youview is manufactured by Humax, however it is superior to the Humax I had. I find it is more responsive and the interface much better.

I'm the one with the failed PVR - we also have a YouView box (Humax) on the downstairs TV but as we have very limited digital signal on Freeview it's work load is not great.

My old Humax PVR is still up and working fine at my mum's house, it's got programmes going back to December 2006 (Dr Who Christmas Special!).

We used to have a PACE PVR and it was great, an early twin tuner recorder. Think Humax took them over eventually.

missile

Gers wrote: »

I'm the one with the failed PVR - we also have a YouView box (Humax) on the downstairs TV but as we have very limited digital signal on Freeview it's work load is not great.

My old Humax PVR is still up and working fine at my mum's house, it's got programmes going back to December 2006 (Dr Who Christmas Special!).

We used to have a PACE PVR and it was great, an early twin tuner recorder. Think Humax took them over eventually.

We use Youview a lot to record several programs a day. Rarely watch live TV and skip adverts, intro and end credits.
Our Humax gave years of good service, still working perfectly when we sold it via Gumtree.:T

Sooler

Is the Panasonic range any good?
http://www.richersounds.com/product/digital-set-top-boxes/panasonic/dmrhwt150eb/pana-dmrhwt150eb-blk