Personal Video Recorders now under £50

Former_MSE_Lawrence

What's the deal?

As ever-more technology goes digital (and gets slightly flatter and more shiny in the process), the humble VCR's looking pretty long in the tooth.

Personal Video Recorders (PVR) provide a top all-around solution, and you can currently get a basic one for £45. They let you record programmes, and act as a freeview box all in one. They record straight from the freeview programme guide to their in-built hard-disks (rather than on a DVD like simple DVD recorders). In most cases one press of a button will ensure your show's faithfully recorded.

Where can I get one?

80gb (around 35hrs recording):

• Refurbished DigiFusion FVRT145 - twin tuner - £45 delivered.
  Web retailer MicroDirect is offering this 80gb box for a knockdown price. It's refurbished (i.e. has been sent back to the manufacturer at some point), but comes with a year's guarantee should you have any difficulties, and certainly packs in a lot of functionality for the cash. It has a built-in 14-day programme guide, and it's easy to set up and use. On the downside, the remote could be designed better, and the box's fan isn't as quiet as it could be (though it's not particularly loud).

• Grade A Refurbished DigiHome PVR80 - twin tuner - £49. delivered, or £45 on orders over £50.
  Ebuyer has a similar box to the one above. The imaginatively titled PVR80 has an 80gb capacity and twin tuners (so you can watch one show whilst recording another), but it won't record two programmes at once from the off (though there's a way to make it do so via a 'firmware reflash'). It's user-friendly, and should be up and running in minutes. Orders over £50 at ebuyer are delivered free, so it's worth spending an extra fiver to qualify.

160gb (around 75hrs recording):

• Grade A Refurbished Digihome PVR160 - twin tuner -£77.50 delivered.
  Exactly the same as the digihome above, except it has twice the capacity. Again, you can update the firmware to give it better features if you are so inclined. Available from ebuyer with free delivery. Thanks to fagun for spotting this one.

• Dabs Value 160 gb PVR - twin tuner - £81 delivered.
  This 160gb box from web retailer Dabs' "Value" range is useful if you intend to keep certain programmes for a long time, or you're sharing recording space with the rest of your family. Aside from the extra space, its functionality is very similar to many others; it'll record a programme while you watch another & pause live tv etc. Though again, you can't record two shows at the same time straight out of the box.

Seen a better deal? Post it below and I'll add it in to this post.

What's 'twin-tuner'?

Getting a box with twin tuners allows you to set one recording whilst you watch a different show on the other. Some boxes will also allow you to record on both tuners at the same time, though obviously this means you must be watching one of them. Sometimes (as above) this feature is unlockable by updating the firmware on the unit, but unless you're quite tech-savvy it's probably not worth the hassle.

Why get a PVR?

One of the biggest selling points of these digital recorders is their user-friendliness; all of them have an in-built freeview programme guide, and you can just browse it and select things to record. Then go away and forget about it, and before you know it you'll have a backlog of shows to catch up on.

The ability to pause live programmes is useful too; no longer will you have to wait with a raging thirst for the ad break before you get a drink, nor deny calls of nature. Used properly, a PVR'll make your tv viewing fit around you, rather than vice-versa; you may find that you never watch shows when they're actually aired anymore.

However, don't get one if:

You primarily watch tv over satellite or cable. These boxes won't be able to record from anything other than Freeview.

If you're looking to record satellite/cable channels in the same way, check out Sky+ and V+ boxes, which can also be reasonable depending on your current package.

-MSE Lawrence

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Dustangle

Dabs Value 160 gb PVR - twin tuner - £81 delivered.
... it'll record two programmes at once ...

Are you quite sure about this?

char_student

Dustangle wrote: »

Are you quite sure about this?

twin tuner means that you can record one channel and watch another

Phil_Jones

sky+ is now subscription free actually. you just have to pay for the box.

marcus01293

I had a digifusion 80gb. The power supply went funny after a year of use.
It's ok for a cheap PVR, will most likely need to be replaced after the year like mine.

If you can afford a better one go for one of the main PVR brands like Humax and you will get a few extra features too.

martint123

Phil_Jones wrote: »

sky+ is now subscription free actually. you just have to pay for the box.

You have to be a Sky subscriber - the box won't work with a freesat card AFAIK.
You also need a valid subscription to watch your recorded programs.

sleepali

Dustangle wrote: »

Are you quite sure about this?

I have a twin tuner PVR and I can record TWO different channels PLUS watch a previously recorded program - all at the same time!

oxter

martint123 wrote: »

You have to be a Sky subscriber - the box won't work with a freesat card AFAIK.
You also need a valid subscription to watch your recorded programs.

That's what I believe too unless Phil can tell us different? Maybe the rules have changed of course.

makinprogress

sleepali wrote: »

I have a twin tuner PVR and I can record TWO different channels PLUS watch a previously recorded program - all at the same time!

Do you mind me asking what make etc....
We have just got rid of Sky and the lack of Sky+ facilities is what I miss the most!
TIA

sleepali

makinprogress wrote: »

Do you mind me asking what make etc....
We have just got rid of Sky and the lack of Sky+ facilities is what I miss the most!
TIA

No probs, it's a Daewoo DSD9502T. I bought it from tecno when it was on offer @ £89.99, it's got an 80gig hard drive which is sufficient for my needs.

My mum got the 160gig version (DSD9503T) for around £100 when it was on offer @ Amazon.

Have a look round for any deals at the mo...I can highly recommend it - and my mum agrees

Dustangle

sleepali wrote: »

I have a twin tuner PVR and I can record TWO different channels PLUS watch a previously recorded program - all at the same time!

So have I but I'm not sure this model does so. The Dabs website doesn't say it does. It looks like a Vestel clone which usually records only one programme at a time.