HUMAX FOXSAT-HDR freesat+ HD-PVR available from mid November

The Cush

Freesat and Humax announced yesterday that their first freesat+ HD PVR will be available from mid November at a price of around £299.
An official release date to follow.

Press Release
Thursday, 23rd October 2008

FREESAT+ LAUNCHES WITH HUMAX FOXSAT-HDR IN NOVEMBER 2008
Watch and record Freesat HD

London, 23 October 2008

Available in UK shops from mid-November 2008, the FOXSAT-HDR is bursting with Freesat+ recording features to capture the incredible colour, sound and crystal clear images of the BBC HD channel and ITV HD red button service.

When launched, the high specification, twin tuner Humax FOXSAT-HDR will be the only way to pause, rewind and record Freesat HD digital TV, as well as access an expanding choice of SD TV, radio and interactive channels.

The massive 320GB hard drive can store up to 80 hours of HD programming, or up to 200 hours of standard definition shows, while the eight day on-screen electronic programme guide makes it easy to scan the Freesat TV schedule and plan your viewing. Because the Humax FOXSAT-HD comes with two digital tuners, two Freesat channels can be recorded at the same time, so you never need miss a thing. And with HD highlights including Strictly Come Dancing, Uefa Champions League, Tonight with Jonathan Ross, England home games, and the FA Cup, there's plenty you won't want to miss.

The Humax FOXSAT-HDR guarantees a whole host of advanced recording features for the Freesat+ digital satellite service:

Series recording - to automatically record all the episodes of your favourite shows
Radio recording - never miss your favourite radio shows by recording by individual shows, or even series record
Live pause and instant rewind - in case you need to answer the phone orreplay that crucial scene
Schedule tracking - so recordings start and finish on time, even when broadcasters change their schedule
Split recordings - to record two-part programmes that may have a break in the middle for a news bulletin, such as films

Emma Scott, managing director, freesat, commented: "The launch of Freesat+ with the FOXSAT-HDR is an exciting milestone for us. We're giving viewers the freedom to enjoy all their favourite standard definition shows, as well as the likes of Strictly Come Dancing, Uefa Champions League, England home games and blockbuster movies in HD whenever and however they want - for no subscription and no extra monthly bills."

Graham North, commercial director, Humax, added: "Humax has developed a reputation for delivering highly functional but easy-to-use digital TV products and we have leveraged this expertise to develop a technologically-advanced digital TV recorder that offers the very best in recording and viewing features for Freesat."

Other features of the Humax FOXSAT-HDR include:

Advanced digital text and interactive services
HDMI slot for transmission of amazing high definition pictures and surround sound audio to an HD-ready TV
Low power consumption - less than 1watt in standby mode and an automatic standby function, so the box shifts to standby mode if inactive
Parental controls - access codes prevent children watching inappropriate content
Audio description services for the blind or visually impaired and one-touch subtitles
Two scart sockets for connecting other equipment such as a DVD recorder
Dolby digital audio output
Connecting leads and controls including HDMI cable, scart cable, remote control and batteries included
Freesat+ FOXSAT-HDR will be available to buy from UK retailers from mid-November 2008, priced at around £299 (satellite installation not included).

For more information, please visit www.humaxdigital.com/freesat or www.freesat.co.uk

Humax have added the receiver to their products page with the basic specs information and product information leaflet

• freesat HD and SD channel recording
• Simultaneous viewing of one channel and recording another channel
• Record 2 channels at the same time
• Receive HDTV signals (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 and MPEG-2)
• Under 1W power consumption in standby
• HDMI-digital interface for perfect transmission of picture and sound
• Simultaneous playing of transmissions over HDMI, Composite or Scart
• Easy installation and operation
• Resolution format: 1080i, 720p, 576p, 576i
• DVB-S2 and DVB-S compatible
• Ethernet Support (for future use)
• Full colour high resolution electronic programme guide
• Dolby digital audio output (S/PDIF)
• Automatic software upgrade via satellite
• Upscaling Standard Definition channels
• Audio description / One touch subtitle
• Massive 320GB HDD
• Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth): 380 x 55 x 252 mm
• Weight: 3.1 kg

The receiver is an evolution of Humax iCord HD Twin Tuner PVR for the UK market as this jpeg of the new freesat pvr displays "HELLO iCORD HD II"


The receiver is be launched at the What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Show in London next week.

bk

Does anyone know will there be a SD Freesat+ box?

This box looks far too expensive and given that there is only 1 and a half HD channels, kind of pointless.

Given who Freesat is targeted at, people who don't want to pay for Sky, it seems far too expensive.

I think most people are just looking for a cheap Freesat SD PVR box.

The Cush

bk wrote: »

Does anyone know will there be a SD Freesat+ box?

There won't be an SD Freesat+ box, HD only.

bk

The Cush wrote: »

There won't be an SD Freesat+ box, HD only.

That sucks and it is an awful business decision.

I had talked Freesat up with many family and friends, but I had told them to hold off for Freesat PVR's, expecting a SD PVR to be no more then €200, maybe even €150.

But £300 is ridiculous money, non of them will pay that, hell even as an AV enthusiast I couldn't justify it for 1 and a half channels. It is now likely that my family and friends will end up with Sky :mad:

Stupid, stupid decision by Freesat. Surely one of the manufacturers could just come out with a cheap Freesat SD PVR, they already make cheap FTA SD PVR's, or are Freesat not allowing it?

The Cush

bk wrote: »

Stupid, stupid decision by Freesat. Surely one of the manufacturers could just come out with a cheap Freesat SD PVR, they already make cheap FTA SD PVR's, or are Freesat not allowing it?

I think it may be a commercial decision by the manufacturers, think it was discussed over on the DigitalSpy freesat forum. Humax don't even manufacture an SD freesat box.
Maybe the Alba group may provide one for the Irish market - sat4free SD-PVR:rolleyes:

etcetc

heres something else to set your pulses soaring

http://www.spatz-tech.de/spatz/pdfs/hd_pvr.pdf

http://eiltd.co.nz/en/nz/?PID=Products/Cypress/CHD-PVR1

http://www.normwandler.de/product_info.php?info=p130_High-Definition-Video-Recorder-CHD-PVR1.html&language=en

and more
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=4306

watty

An HD PVR will cost no more than an SD PVR as all will soon have same chips and even SD boxes are adding HDMI.

A major cost is the 2nd tuner (same for SD) and the Disk.

An HD PVR will work fine with regular TV. This also will let you view HD channels that are different to SD ones. IMO it's the right decision to do an HD only PVR. If I was getting Sky PVR, I'd get SkyHD rather than Sky+.

The really cheap PVRs have only one tuner (=rubbish) or use your own external USB drive (again rubbish).

Expect these to be £200 next year. Considerably cheaper than early VHS or DVD player.

bk

I know what you are saying Watty, but it just goes to show how overpriced this DVR is.

To turn a €100 SD sat receiver ito a DVR you just need to add a second tuner, a HDD drive and some extra software, there is no reason why this should cost more then €200.

eirman

I would pay €500 for a Freesat PVR like the above WITH a DVD burner and some decent editing software.

mr kilo

will it work in munster

kilasser

It will work in munster and all over Ireland.

evilivor

Preview on PVR Junction.

http://www.pvrjunction.co.uk/a-closer-look-at-humax-foxsat-hdr-and-freesat-features/

HPMan

Hi all,
Silly question here but have to ask before I seriously look at this - is freesat from BBC/ITV and freesat from Sky much different and do both use dishes pointed to Sky Digital satellites - ie is it just a question of replacing the box and the dish remains pointing to same angle?

All the buff i seen has only mentioned you need a working sat dish.

Tony

HPMan wrote: »

ie is it just a question of replacing the box and the dish remains pointing to same angle?

Thats correct but you also need a quad lnb and two cables to take full advantage of the recording facilities

The Cush

HPMan wrote: »

Hi all,
Silly question here but have to ask before I seriously look at this - is freesat from BBC/ITV and freesat from Sky much different and do both use dishes pointed to Sky Digital satellites - ie is it just a question of replacing the box and the dish remains pointing to same angle?

All the buff i seen has only mentioned you need a working sat dish.

Basically freesat (BBC/ITV) is a plug and play service if you already have a dish pointing at 28 degrees east (Astra 2/Eurobird satellites), which also transmits the Sky Digital service. Different UK TV regions are available by entering postcodes at install or reinstall. An HD PVR will be available shortly without monthly subscription.
Freesat from Sky is only available with an UK address, UK region based on Sky card address (without card London region available by default), some channels are only available FTV (ie Freesat from Sky card required). Sky+ recording requires a monthly subscription (even with Freesat from Sky).

Easiest option for Ireland is freesat, especially if you already have a Sky dish installed.

smiters

The Cush wrote: »

Basically freesat (BBC/ITV) is a plug and play service if you already have a dish pointing at 28 degrees east (Astra 2/Eurobird satellites), which also transmits the Sky Digital service. Different UK TV regions are available by entering postcodes at install or reinstall. An HD PVR will be available shortly without monthly subscription.
Freesat from Sky is only available with an UK address, UK region based on Sky card address (without card London region available by default), some channels are only available FTV (ie Freesat from Sky card required). Sky+ recording requires a monthly subscription (even with Freesat from Sky).

Easiest option for Ireland is freesat, especially if you already have a Sky dish installed.

Can you tell me what is the easiest option for someone going from the stoneage - analogue tv and VCR, no dish installed - to satallite tv and PVR without having to deal with sky

beolight

http://www.pvrjunction.co.uk/panasonic-freesat-pvr-planned/

some competitors

The Cush

smiters wrote: »

Can you tell me what is the easiest option for someone going from the stoneage - analogue tv and VCR, no dish installed - to satallite tv and PVR without having to deal with sky

Possibly the Humax FOXSAT-HDR Freesat+ HD PVR Receiver from mid November, works out approx €387 at the moment.
Dish installation with at least a twin output lnb and two cables to the receiver for the pvr will naturally be extra. (quad or octo lnb for extra receivers in the future might be a good idea)
You will still require your analogue tv and VCR for the Irish channels, no Irish channels available on freesat.

watty

Dunne's €99 Analogue Tuner and Composite in DVD recorder is best DVD player I've had and beats S-VHS on recording quality by a good distance. I've used it on my Sky box. Panasonic stopped making VHS machines this week.

ferret

eirman wrote: »

I would pay €500 for a Freesat PVR like the above WITH a DVD burner and some decent editing software.

Not sure I would pay €500 but I am looking to replace my aging three sets of SKY boxes and DVD HD recorders with two single units. One Sky box is with contract the other two have free view UK cards. I like the idea of a Ethernet connection but alas it says for future use. The capacity of the disc would suggest that media is recorded in DVD format. To be able to access the HD over a home network or WiFi connection to play back or record would be a godsend.

Ferret

redout

The ethernet on the sky HD boxes is already under trial in the UK for a couple of months for sky employee's. It allows access to VOD much like the Directv service in the USA. I saw it in action and obviously requires a good broadband connection. The annoying thing is that it is not instantaneous as you have to wait for about 60% of the download to complete before watching without it needing to buffer. Also it might require some people to change ISP as there will certainly be download limit's for some people and this service will take up a huge capacity over a month for an enthusiast. The foxsat freesat+ is a good option if you dont want sky as they will start ethernet use in the future.

Lawdie

The Cush wrote: »

Easiest option for Ireland is freesat, especially if you already have a Sky dish installed.

Cush just to clarify, I have Sky+ installed, is it as simple as purchasing the Humax and switching out the boxes. In relation to channels whats the loss and gains?
Cheers

The Cush

Lawdie wrote: »

Cush just to clarify, I have Sky+ installed, is it as simple as purchasing the Humax and switching out the boxes. In relation to channels whats the loss and gains?
Cheers

Yes plug and play, you will be required to enter a postcode at install. (I use BT2 8HQ, BBC NI Belfast)
You lose your subscription channels and get the freesat channels (see here) with the option to add the other FTA channels manually.

sesswhat

From www.joinfreesat.co.uk

Humax PVR Delayed
Don’t worry, not a massive delay, but the Humax FOXSAT-HDR so many are waiting for has unfortunately been put back a couple of weeks.

The actual reason for the delay is not being disclosed by Humax, although some beleive it’s relating to the production/assembly of the product. The Humax PVR is expected to have an official release date from Freesat, we are waiting for an updated response.

Availability in shops and online now looks likely for week commencing 24th November 2008, but possibly late that week. We suspect it might actually end up being wc 1st December 2008, given the time of year and the process still to go.

byte

They're pushing it very close to Christmas now, even too close to get many installs done.

The Cush

The following was posted by Bob Hannent (Bob_Cat), Chief Technologist Humax over in the DigitalSpy freesat forum, Wed morning (12-11-2008, 08:57).

The product should be in the final stages of European assembly but because it is a new production our engineers check every detail of the production and also pause production after the first batch to check for problems before entering continuous production. Thus product should be in shops in the next two weeks and December should have a flood of full speed production.

Originally (some months ago), our aim was to be bringing them in first week of November, but logistics and development has not permitted that. As I have said before, it will come when it will come. No use in panicking or complaining.
Bob

Tony

They discovered a chip fault late on in prodction according to a wholesaler I deal with. Sounds like they are trying to spin doctor out excuses.

lafors

Tony wrote: »

They discovered a chip fault late on in prodction according to a wholesaler I deal with. Sounds like they are trying to spin doctor out excuses.

I'd rather they "spin doctor" it and hold it back than do a Microsoft and sell it with a fault

byte

lafors wrote: »

I'd rather they "spin doctor" it and hold it back than do a Microsoft and sell it with a fault

It will probably still have glitches upon release, like many technology products. Just hope they're good and prompt with OTA updates.

lafors

byte wrote: »

It will probably still have glitches upon release, like many technology products. Just hope they're good and prompt with OTA updates.

Software glitchs wouldn't worry me, just hardware issues.
I've heard of OTA updates before but how exactly do they work?
I was reading about updates for my tv (Sony Bravia) that people in the uk seemed to be getting OTA. Do we not do OTA in Ireland, or is it only a digital based system?

hargo

I am looking at getting new TV, PANASONIC TH-37PX81FV Plasma Screen which is the French version and has mpeg4. Would I be able to record signals received from new DTT service through the TV with this Humax freesat pvr or do I need a seperate recorder for the Irish channels and would that recorder need mpeg4?

bk

hargo wrote: »

I am looking at getting new TV, PANASONIC TH-37PX81FV Plasma Screen which is the French version and has mpeg4. Would I be able to record signals received from new DTT service through the TV with this Humax freesat pvr or do I need a seperate recorder for the Irish channels and would that recorder need mpeg4?

No, you are getting different things mixed up:

Freesat: You can get roughly 100 UK channels for free on this and it comes in over a satellite dish, there are no Irish channels on this service.

DTT: Will carry the Irish channels and for a subscription about another 20 channels (mostly UK channels available for free on Freesat). The signal comes over an aerial (either on the roof or via rabbit ears).

This TV cannot record TV shows, you will need a separate set top box to do this.

TheDriver

thats an interesting Q, if your tv can decode dtt signals, can it output them to a vcr/dvd recorder etc?

coffee to go

You won't be able to use the Humax PVR as a recorder from external devices, as it just stores the raw satellite stream in a digital format to the hard drive - It has no analog to digital converter on board.

I suspect though that if your TV has 2-way Scart on it, you could feed that to some other type of recorder (DVD etc)

hargo

TheDriver wrote: »

thats an interesting Q, if your tv can decode dtt signals, can it output them to a vcr/dvd recorder etc?

Yes I am going from crt tv with aerial for Irish channels and satelite for UK channels. I want to upgrade to hd tv with hd freesat box and receive Irish channels with new DTT service. Question is how do I record both systems?

evilivor

It has been officially announced that Freesat+ will arrive in UK stores from 22nd November 2008.

The first Freesat+ Digital Box will be launched by Humax (FOXSAT-HDR) and will initially be available across selected John Lewis, Comet, Argos and Dixons stores plus some selected independent retailers, priced at around £299.

http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/

Antrim_Man

Anybody using this box? If yes is it any good? Also where did you buy from?

Antrim_Man

http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/digital-boxes/humax-foxsat-hdr

None available anywhere. Is this due to them being faulty??

stanley1

lots of demand but not enough boxes for wholesalers, argos, comet etc, digital spy has a few threads running on freesat forum.

lafors

Firstly is there a card available to enable me to view the Setanta channels(legally)?
If there is, anyone know how much they'd cost? and
Will I be able to use the card slot on the HDR to receive Setanta?

Pal

search for top up tv

stanley1

top up is freeview not freesat.

watty

Topup TV is an almost dead PayTV system in parallel to Freeview (DTT/Terrestrial TV).

watty

lafors wrote: »

Firstly is there a card available to enable me to view the Setanta channels(legally)?
If there is, anyone know how much they'd cost? and
Will I be able to use the card slot on the HDR to receive Setanta?

Only for a Sky Digibox.

For Setanta or Sky PayTV you need a Sky branded satellite receiver.

Martin_F

Antrim_Man wrote: »

http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/digital-boxes/humax-foxsat-hdr

None available anywhere. Is this due to them being faulty??

I was in Currys in Sprucefield, Lisburn this morning. Fairly certain they had at least 1 on the shelf. I was surprised to see the box on the shelf - don't think it was empty. It was next to the standard FOXSAT HD - along side the Humax freview recorder.

You could ring them to check.

DublinWriter

I got one of these in Argos in Newry last Saturday.

Seems pretty impressive, but it's starting to lock up now intermittently.

Does the firmware update itself automatically via satellite, or will I need to plug in the Ethernet port for that to happen?

I know I should RTFM, but can I also get non-FreeSat channels on it?

Down South

I currently have an arial into my TV for Irish Channels and also a an old sky box (using it for free sat/view). Is there any way of recording the Irish channels on this box or do I need a separate recorder ? I'm trying to get away from having numerous boxes linked to the TV

Tony

You need a separate recorder