Cheap PVR recommendations?

Nikolai

Hello,
our freeview box has given up the ghost after a couple of years and so it needs to be replaced. As we have been still using a VCR for recording I thought now would be a good time to get a freeview PVR with twin tuners.
We only have a budget of around £110 - £120.
We would probably not need a massive HDD, 80GB would be enough.
I know the Humax one is highly recommended but would be a bit too expensive.
Any recommendations?
Thanks

tweeter

Try here if you like.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/index.php?

robt_2

Do you have BT broadband?

If so you can get BT Vision for £30, does everything you want and more.

Edinburghlass_2

Tesco have one instore for just under £80, can't remember the name and nor can I recommend as I don't have one but there is a long thread about it somewhere.

maninthestreet

I have the Durabrand 80GB PVR from Asda - cost about £80.
I understand that the Thomson DTI 6300-16 PVR (cost about £100) is a good buy - has 160GB hard disk, plus it supports TopUp TV.

espresso

Maplin have one reduced to £50 until 25/12/07 but you need to insert your own hard drive. Could be handy if you have a spare one lying around or an 80GB can be had for £27 at ebuyer.

isofa

That's a really interesting link espresso.

I've often wondered if you could buy a decent Sony (hard drive and DVD recorder) with the smallest HD, such as 80Gb or 120Gb, and then swap it out for a 500Gb drive, which are very cheap, and much cheaper than buying the equivalent recorder with that sized HD. I assumed that they may have been pre-formatted and wouldn't allow a change, but obviously with a bare-bones that isn't a problem.

onejontwo

Same as maninthestreet, 80gb Durabrand from ASDA, love it !!!
After using VCR, this is the future, the only problem I've encountered is you can't allow for a minute or two adjustments on the recordings, without adjusting every programme manually. (Even though in the booklet it says you can!!!)
Other than that picture clear as a bell, record 2 watch previous recording, plus all the other extras!!
Good luck in your choice:beer:

espresso

isofa wrote: »

That's a really interesting link espresso.

I've often wondered if you could buy a decent Sony (hard drive and DVD recorder) with the smallest HD, such as 80Gb or 120Gb, and then swap it out for a 500Gb drive, which are very cheap, and much cheaper than buying the equivalent recorder with that sized HD. I assumed that they may have been pre-formatted and wouldn't allow a change, but obviously with a bare-bones that isn't a problem.

Yes I've been trying to get some more info on it, ideally a user manual. I suppose that you get what you pay for to some extent but is it worth buying a Humax or a Topfield if the standards are going to change soon? The only thing that I've read on the net so far, is that you need to manually re-name the recorded programs if you want to keep them e.g. the data for the recording is not automatically extracted from the EPG. Still looking for more info.

warmstrong

Try here for a cheap dual tuner freeview box. http://microdirect.co.uk/(15315)DigiFusion-FVRT200-FreeView-Set-Top-Box-Dual.aspx

I've bought two so far and at this price you cannot go wrong. 12 months warranty - but it is second user (refurbished). Mine had minor scuffs on but tonce its under the tele you can't notice.
They also do other models.

I gave one to my 80 yr old mother and if she can drive it anybody can.

isofa

espresso wrote: »

Yes I've been trying to get some more info on it, ideally a user manual. I suppose that you get what you pay for to some extent but is it worth buying a Humax or a Topfield if the standards are going to change soon? The only thing that I've read on the net so far, is that you need to manually re-name the recorded programs if you want to keep them e.g. the data for the recording is not automatically extracted from the EPG. Still looking for more info.

There is a discussion thread regarding it here at Digital Spy, might be worth a read.