Any suggestions for a FTA PVR?

mjsmyth

I am thinking of going down the PVR route. Anyone out there using a FTA PVR? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
MJ

byte

Is there any specific things you want it to do?

Like, do you want the ability to watch HD channels?

Twin tuner?

mjsmyth

My main motive is record one channel whilst I watch another, so a twin tuner is a must. As for HD, well I don't have a HD TV (yet) so that is not really an issue, though if there was minimal difference in pricing, I would obviously go for one with HD capability.

mj

PDD

Can you use a PVR with Sky or do you have to get Sky+? Do any PVR's do network streaming too?

Zaphod

http://www.technisat.com/index8bab.html?nav=Sat_DVB_S_,en,64-61
http://www.technisat.com/indexfd21.html?nav=Sat_DVB_S_,en,64-1

http://www.topfield.co.kr/eng/product/detail.asp?idx=187&page=1&lang=2&img_title=title_hdstb&leftmenu=left_product&cateL=HD&cateM=&cateS=&cate4=&cate5=&mainmenu=HD
http://www.topfield.co.kr/eng/product/detail.asp?idx=189&page=1&lang=1&tn=satelite&code=p_00001
http://www.topfield.co.kr/eng/product/detail.asp?idx=132&page=1&lang=1&tn=satelite&code=p_00001

http://www.kathrein.de/servicede/produktsuche.cfm?id=764&sprache=gb
http://www.kathrein.de/servicede/produktsuche.cfm?id=765&sprache=gb

mjsmyth

Thanks for the links.

watty

PDD wrote: »

Can you use a PVR with Sky or do you have to get Sky+? Do any PVR's do network streaming too?

For pay TV Sky+ is by far the best solution. All solutions for pay channels need a Sky subscription and card.

There are numerous dual tuner PVRs with Network Streaming (WiFi is not good. Even 108Mbps barely works for direct sat streaming).

Tomas_V

mjsmyth wrote: »

I am thinking of going down the PVR route. Anyone out there using a FTA PVR? Any suggestions?

I have the TopField PVR6000, twin tuners, 160gb Hard Disc. It's not perfect but it does many things quite well.

It has WiFi but not for streaming, it's for remote management. For example, for setting the recording timer.

It also has USB for firmware upgrades and for copying out the recordings. There are PC utilities for editing the satellite & transponder lists.

Picture quality is very good.

It was a bit pricey at the time and is SD-only, but it's a solid piece of kit.

bigbob

Another option is to wait for freesat PVR's to come on market.
No frequency/transponder maintenance required. No monthly subscription required. Will decode SD & HD.

givecredit

Tomas_V wrote: »

I have the TopField PVR6000, twin tuners, 160gb Hard Disc. It's not perfect but it does many things quite well.

It has WiFi but not for streaming, it's for remote management. For example, for setting the recording timer.

It also has USB for firmware upgrades and for copying out the recordings. There are PC utilities for editing the satellite & transponder lists.

Picture quality is very good.

It was a bit pricey at the time and is SD-only, but it's a solid piece of kit.

This Toppy is currently selling in Maplin with 160gb Harddrive for circa Eur320.00 Great value at this price. Price reduced because of New hd version now released.

PDD

@givecredit - cheers for the heads up :-)

@Tomas_V - Does it have a ethernet connection? Im looking to stream stuff from my PC to the PVR to play on my TV, can it do this?

Tomas_V

PDD wrote: »

@Tomas_V - Does it have a ethernet connection? Im looking to stream stuff from my PC to the PVR to play on my TV, can it do this?

It has Ethernet via WiFi, but does not support streaming. It's mainly for remote setting of the timer. You can also do some file management, like deleting and renaming. Copying over WiFi is theoretically possible but not practical. Recommended way to extract files is over USB. It's not blazingly fast though, but tolerable.

:eek:The Maplin deal is very good for what you get. Earlier this year, I paid twice that and then some.

I'd say I'm 90% satisified with it. It is a very stable unit. But my eye is wandering over new units with blind scan and HD.....