HDD recorders

Ken68

Confused with all the jargon about recording television programmes.
Will someone tell me what to buy. Up to £200.
Already have good terrestial signal via aerials in the loft and satellite from a Sky dish and set top box left over from when I subscribed several years ago.
The box still has the original card in the front slot, daren't take it out.
Can't get Freeview or Channel 5 in this area and wouldn't mind recording one programme whilst viewing another.
Also wouldn't mind being able to make a disc for TV'less neighbours, although not essential.'Oh and a EPG something to choose what to record.
Have read about Humax or Panasonic, and before anyway says it. "if he doesn't know what he wants, would he know how to operate it"....perhaps not, but my neighbour does.:D Thanks for reading.

coolagarry

The first thing you need to do is to differentiate between a PVR and a DVD recorder. PVR's are really good at recording one programme(even two) while watching another and very good EPG but they only record onto a hard drive. i.e. you have to watch the programme on that same television later on and you can't make a copy for your neighbour.
If you want to have the advantage of recording the programmes onto dvd (which you can play anywhere) then you need a recorder that records onto dvd's, with or without a hard drive. Then you have to decide if you want a divx capability to watch programmes in the avi or divX format. If you want to watch one programme whilst watching another you will need a twin tuner. Hope that clarifies the position a little.

mandm65

if you are after a twin tuner satellite/terrestial PVRs then Topfiled is good, https://www.topfiled co.uk for further reading.

mandm65

I am sure you have read this thread but still useful to share the link here.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=878183&page=1

Ken68

Thank you for the info.
Even more confused.
Humux PVR9200TB say it's Freeview, presumably with a freeview box in it.
I already have a set top box...ex Sky but still working.
Took a hdd recorder back to Tesco last month when the instruction book said FREEVIEW ONLY.
What's with this freeview, half the country can't get it.

mymatebob

Make sure you don't confuse Sky with Freeview - nothing to do with each other.

espresso

Are you sure that you can't get Freeview where you live? Check here.

JennyW_2

Ken68 wrote: »

Thank you for the info.
Even more confused.
Humux PVR9200TB say it's Freeview, presumably with a freeview box in it.
I already have a set top box...ex Sky but still working.
Took a hdd recorder back to Tesco last month when the instruction book said FREEVIEW ONLY.
What's with this freeview, half the country can't get it.

the idea when purchasing a DVD with freeview incorporated into the box is that you can tape the freeview channels within the box, thus enabling you to watch regular TV or SKY TV if you want to.

We have the Sony DVD recorder and I can tape to HDD or DVD and features the EPG (electronic Program Guide) - makes recording very simple.

Ken68

Sky satellite reception..perfect.
Terrestrial reception.....perfect
Freeview.....................in this town, like watching wet washing.Lots of areas has been 'enabled' Espresso, but only so they can sell things.
Then there's HD compatible, what's that all about.Sorry getting irritable..:-)) before I cry.
Every time I do a bit of research, learn a little more, which should have been mentioned before. Now I gotta learn about avi and divX...and the usb port.

fergual2

Hi Ken - well freeview isn't available in my area when you check the postcode,but I got it when using a big aerial from Maplin.

If you go freeview then Humax is good option and within your price range.
I take it your not willing to go sky + route (which is a good rated pvr)?

Topfield mentioned earlier didn't come out as good as Humax in reviews I saw a couple of years back. Picture quality etc.
Al

fergual2

Also - http://www.freesat.co.uk with a PVR might be an option for you - too complicate matters more

NEWS: Freesat launch set for May 6

Apr 18, 2008



John Lewis, one of the UK's largest online and high street retail chains, has apparently confirmed that the launch date for Freesat in its stores and online will be May 6th 2008.
The news was reported today on www.joinfreesat.co.uk.
However, a spokeswoman for Freesat's London PR agency, Firefly, says the official launch date for Freesat has still to be confirmed.
John Lewis says it will be selling the HD receiver for a price of £149, plus optional £100 installation. But there's no news on whether this will be a Grundig or Humax box yet.

And surprisingly it would seem that John Lewis and its partners will be working with Sky to roll out the new service, as Freesat does not have its own installation service agreed yet.
Humax is expected to release its new Freesat HD receiver, the Foxsat-HD, to coincide with the launch the launch of the Freesat service on May 6th.

Al