I am going to buy a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) shortly.
My understanding is, that it is basically a twin digital TV receiver which enables you to watch one digital TV channel and record another on hard disc, pause and reply live TV etc, with DVD picture quality. (Like sky + but for freeview)

I’ve got sky at the moment; I don’t think its value for money as I rarely watch anything other than the free to air channels. I have thought about getting sky + but that will push up my monthly outlay on top of paying for sky + box. Where as PVR will enable me to better manage the many programmes on the free to air channels.

What I Would like to ask you guys is; :blink:

Does anybody own a PVR ?
What make model etc it is ?
What advice can you give me?

Thanks for your help
:)
:tv_happy:

I've never heard of one Taffy!

Taffy - I did some research because I wanted to buy a DVD recorder. I already have a freeview box so I didn't need a PVR (which as you say has a built in freeview receiver).

The 'What Hi Fi' Awards 2004 magazine reviews what they think are the best recorders.

Best Freeview PVR - Humax PVR-8000T. Freeview channels only. 40Gb hard drive (20 hrs recording time) £150. Verdict: Fine performance at a very reasonable price, this fine digital recorder fits the 'simple but brilliant' category - as a straightforward solution to the recording question it's a true superstar' BUT I AM NOT SURE IF IT HAS TWO DIGITAL TUNERS SO YOU CAN WATCH ONE CHANNEL WHILE YOU RECORD ANOTHER


If you need more info, there is a website called DIGITALSPY which has a forum on digital recorders.

Fusion do a twin tuner one - here's the digital spy forum link for it here (http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=131551)
I found it best to shop around on the internet, pricerunner will give the cheapest available price.

Fusion do a twin tuner one - here's the digital spy forum link for it here (http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=131551)
I found it best to shop around on the internet, pricerunner will give the cheapest available price.


Cheers survivorfan that's what I have come with after hours of research
:)

Taffy - I've got Sky + and I must say it is amazing :cool2:

It has made recording programmes so much easier, even if you decide on the spur of the moment to record something, you know you won't miss it. And you don't have to be restricted to a set time for anything. I've often watched a programme an hour later because it suited me more.

I'm not sure what Freeview ones are like, but if they are anything like Sky + I would definately say go for it!

Just wondering Taffy - if you got a PVR, what would you do if you recorded something you wanted to keep forever like a favourite movie. I mean - how would you save it off the PVR?

Taffy - I've got Sky + and I must say it is amazing :cool2:

It has made recording programmes so much easier, even if you decide on the spur of the moment to record something, you know you won't miss it. And you don't have to be restricted to a set time for anything. I've often watched a programme an hour later because it suited me more.

I'm not sure what Freeview ones are like, but if they are anything like Sky + I would definately say go for it!


Thanks for that MARS, :)


I was thinking of upgrading to sky+ but it would have meant paying £40+ month
We have never felt the need to view sport or the movies channels.

The latest FUSION twin tuner acts like sky+ with 2 digital receivers and 40 hours of disk space (which can be upgraded). It’s like having sky+ but with the free 2 air channels.

I am also sure that you can archive to a DVD recorder, I am getting it all set up over the next 2 weeks and will post an update

:tv_happy::mellow::cool2:

Yes, you can copy the programmes to VCR/DVD. You just play them and record the sky channel on the recorder, just like you would a normal sky programme.

You can just do it at a time to suit you.

Thanks for that MARS, :)


I was thinking of upgrading to sky+ but it would have meant paying £40+ month
We have never felt the need to view sport or the movies channels.

The latest FUSION twin tuner acts like sky+ with 2 digital receivers and 40 hours of disk space (which can be upgraded). It’s like having sky+ but with the free 2 air channels.

I am also sure that you can archive to a DVD recorder, I am getting it all set up over the next 2 weeks and will post an update

:tv_happy::mellow::cool2:


Well I've had it for a week or so now,
Brill it does everything it says on the can.
Got it from Currys (Told them in the shop that it was cheaper online and they matched the price :) )

This is what the can says

Converts your existing TV to Digital
Combines a Freeview Receiver & DVR
Stores over 40 hours of footage
Watch one digital channel while recording another
Record two programmes while watching a previous recording at the same time
Pause and rewind live TV up to 30 minutes
Schedule recordings days in advance with the easy to use 7-Day EPG

Glad you're sorted. Do you find pause/rewind useful? I have something similar on my DVD recorder, it hasn't got a hard drive but it uses something called DVDRom to achieve the same thing. Didn't realise how useful it'd be but now couldn't live without it. Eg start recording Im a Celebrity at 9pm, at 9:15 one of the kids calls you up to the bedroom, five minutes later come back down and use playback to resume the show from the point you stopped watching.

Mmm, the rewind/pause function is very useful. My dad once paused the football as he took me to work, so that he wouldn't miss any of the action! :)

I know this is probably a really dumb question but if you are already a Sky subscriber do you have to have Sky + or can you buy one of these boxes?

That's not a dumb question at all, and i honestly have no idea!

I know this is probably a really dumb question but if you are already a Sky subscriber do you have to have Sky + or can you buy one of these boxes?

Ceridwen

To get sky+ you have to be a sky subscriber.
If you are a sky subscriber you can upgrade to sky plus, however this will cost you to get the equipment (there are many offers around) and then an extra £10 per month if you do take up one of their bigger packages.

Freeview provides a good service (30plus channels) combining this with a PVR I maximise the use of free to air channels.

I now save over £40 a month on what I would have paid out for a sky+ subscription,
I don’t miss the additional sky channels

Check out this http://www.unbeatable.co.uk/CatalogueItem_16032.html Currys do them as well

I hope this helps

Thanks Taffy!!

Unfortunately Freeview is not available in my area so that solves that problem!! :(

Thanks Taffy!!

Unfortunately Freeview is not available in my area so that solves that problem!! :(

The freeview site said that the service was not available in my postcode area.
I talked with local TV aerial-services installer he told me that theses sites are not always correct
It’s worth contacting them even if means a new aerial.

Thanks Taffy.

I really am a bit of a div with all this stuff!! :)