After a specific satellite receiver.

Dman001

I'm looking for a HD receiver that can record on to an external HDD via USB (I'm pretty sure I read about a receiver that can do this) and that can record channels that are tuned in manually (like ITV HD and channel Five). Any recommendations, if there is such a receiver.

Sam Radford

I think one of the Humax PVRs can transfer recordings from its internal HDD via USB.

gtg60

Dman001 wrote: »

I'm looking for a HD receiver that can record on to an external HDD via USB (I'm pretty sure I read about a receiver that can do this) and that can record channels that are tuned in manually (like ITV HD and channel Five). Any recommendations, if there is such a receiver.

I have a Mvision HD200 combo that does all that and gets me the 4 Irish channel via DTT, great little receiver.

Manc-Red

Ive got a Technomate 6800 HD - Does all that m8

Super receiver

byte

Can supposedly do that with my Technomate TM6900 Super, though it seems hit and miss whether it'll communicate with my WD MyBook external drive. Works happily enough with USB pendrives though (I put down the problems with HDD to the HDD taking too long to spin up from sleep).

slegs

AZBox Elite HD can record to USB or over your local network.

Dman001

Thanks for all the suggestions. Now it's just a matter of finding the cheapest one. What format do they record in on the USB drives? Is it a format that your standard software on the computer can read?

Manc-Red

My computer did not play the file from my USB stick - That's not to say I really tried to find software for it after that though.

slegs

Dman001 wrote: »

Thanks for all the suggestions. Now it's just a matter of finding the cheapest one. What format do they record in on the USB drives? Is it a format that your standard software on the computer can read?

I wouldn't just buy the cheapest. For 20-50 eur more there could be a world of difference in quality and features.

STB

Dman

You should look at this list. Nearly all have a USB PVR.

DTT/SAT Combo Boxes List 2009 (1 2)

All these have a terrestrial tuner as well so you will pick up Irish DTT (Digital Terrestrial TV - RTE1, 2 Tv3 and Tg4 free to air) which broadcast in MPEG4 SD (higher quality than MPEG2 streams on Sat)

You also get the HD MPEG4 stations from Sat BBC ITV Ch4 Luxe and receive the MPEG2 sat channels etc.

In that list there is an Azbox Elite Premium which will also play divx files from the USB PVR. They are also available with Wireless card. Costly though - 265 for basic up to 400. At present they only come with a sat tuner. The dvb-t module would have to be bought seperately.

The rest of the boxes come ready to go. Typically you are looking at the Mvision 200HD Combo, Technomate 6900, Clarketech 500c HD COmbo.

They range in price from €185 to €300. You might pick one up one of the ebays for a steal. I got a clarketech for £100 some time back.

The files recorded are transport streams (.ts or .trp files). They play back on the Box itself through a file list, a shortcut button for same is on the remote control.

You can also play back and or convert with various programs on your PC by connecting the USB drive (whic you will have preformatted in FAT32).

The likes of Media Player Classic/VLC Player will play back all files. For HD or MPEG4 files you will need to have the MPEG4 H264 codec installed. CoreAVC is a good one. (That is your problem MancRed - just install the codec and it will work).

Plenty of info in terrestrial forum on these topics, as combo boxes are HD thats how they decode the MPEg4 broadcast content of DTT.

If you do not want the terrestrial tuner, Mvision HD200 is a HD sat receiver that has USB PVR function. Around €165. for another €20 you get the terrestrial tuner (ie the HD200 Combo). These are probably the cheapest at the moment brand new.

Dman001

Thanks I really appreciate that. I don't think I would be too bothered with the Irish DTT (unless there will be Irish HD channels coming in the future?). I think the MVision may be the one to go for. Thanks all.