Re: Freeview PVR recommendations?

[Simon Pawson <SimonP1234@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sorry I tried sending this Thursday night but it doesn't seem to
have=20
arrived. Second try.

Hi,

I'd recommend the 9200 (or later model if there is one).

I bought one as the 'gadget' for my GF and her son (now 10) last=20
Christmas. One of my work colleagues ended up getting the same system.=20
His 8/5/2 year olds can use the controls. He has a major problem in that=20
they find it so easy that he comes home to find that they have recorded=20
all the children's TV - including the multiple repeats that show the=20
same show several times a day. My GF and her son use it all the time in=20
place of analogue TV.  With the latest SW (downloaded via the RF rather=20
than USB/serial) they only watch TV via the box - and think that=20
stopping the TV to go to the loo/answer the phone/get a toy and pressing=20
stop is normal. Available with limitations on very early s/w boxes until=20
they have received a free to air download then you can do catchup/stop=20
processing on programs you are recording. You can also set global start=20
early/finish late times.

In capacity terms my GF hasn't had any problems but she doesn't keep all=20
the Dr Whos in a series (say). I record things like that on my Hauppauge=20
at my house and burn a DVD there. Allegedly. The original firmware had=20
issues with copying out via the USB. They had forgotten error control on=20
their USB code. It didn't used to allow copying in - which seems not to=20
matter is that sort of non technical environment until you find that you=20
have a series (via BT, TV capture or other) and want to put it on=20
their(her) machine so they can watch. Only takes 8Gb on your machine but=20
how to get them there...
Why they didn't do a standard network share I don't know - an obvious=20
omission - not for your mother but for us. The recording format may be=20
slightly non standard but I've never tried copying stuff off it.

Someone else at work got a Toppy at roughly the same time. Nearly a=20
religious war on the 'net. Far more mods but didn't seem as easy and was=20
more expensive. Both have very active forums. The toppys may be a better=20
techy bet in terms of tweakability but that isn't likely to be what you=20
are after.

She has a simple feed to a single TV via SCART. Must research a RF=20
distribution setup - or even a KAT5 switch.

What prices have you found - when I was looking this time last year a=20
computer firm promised "not in stock delivery by 50/04/03/02/01 then
31=20
days" so I ended up going for =A35 more to Waitrose and they held one
for=20
me. Going from 01 to 31 days the week before Christmas wasn't very good=20
for me....

Hope this helps,
Any questions and I'll try to help.

Simon

PS very pleased that my team at work can at last contribute to this=20
group albeit second hand as they frequently get the more interesting=20
links/stories from here via me.

In message <ek1gif+hfru@xxxxxxx>, clax01011971=20
<UKHA@xxxxxxx> writes
>
>Hello.
>Does anyone have any recommendations for a good, easy to use freeview
>PVR? It's for my mum so it has to be really straighforward to use.
>
>I've seen the Humax (8000/9200) online, anyone know if they're
>any good?
>Thanks in advance,
>Dave C
>
--=20
Simon Pawson


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