DTT MPEG 4 PVR (Not Combo) - Any ideas?

SkySter

OK. I've looked at the HUMAX FOXSAT PVR and am planning to go for it and dump Sky+ as soon as my contract runs out. So far so good. However, I also want PVR functionality for the 4 Irish DTT channels...

I like the Freeview concept and believe it can only get better, so ideally I want that on my Sat PVR. I'm therefore not keen on the combo boxes listed on the sticky as I understand they're not Freeview EPG capable (yet?). I'm also skeptical if we'll ever see a combo box that does both DTT and SAT channels all on one EPG.

Therefore I'm thinking of getting 2 PVR boxes. Humax Foxsat PVR for UK Freeview satellite channels and an MPEG4 capable DTT PVR for the Irish channels. Does anyone know of such a DTT PVR box? Maybe one that does HD as well (whenever that happens).

slegs

Combo boxes with full sat and DTT EPG will happen. Its only a matter of time.

Mark#1

SkySter wrote: »

OK. I've looked at the HUMAX FOXSAT PVR and am planning to go for it and dump Sky+ as soon as my contract runs out. So far so good. However, I also want PVR functionality for the 4 Irish DTT channels...

I like the Freeview concept and believe it can only get better, so ideally I want that on my Sat PVR. I'm therefore not keen on the combo boxes listed on the sticky as I understand they're not Freeview EPG capable (yet?). I'm also skeptical if we'll ever see a combo box that does both DTT and SAT channels all on one EPG.

Therefore I'm thinking of getting 2 PVR boxes. Humax Foxsat PVR for UK Freeview satellite channels and an MPEG4 capable DTT PVR for the Irish channels. Does anyone know of such a DTT PVR box? Maybe one that does HD as well (whenever that happens).

Slegs is probably right - based on my usual criteria for judging the worth of a member's post (the number of posts they've made), he must know what he's talking about.

But I seem to remember reading somewhere that a full 7-day EPG (not just "now & next"), combining Irish DTT and Freesat (not free satellite), would have a few hurdles technically? I could be wrong.

I've already got the Foxsat HDR and have barely started scratching the surface of its abilities, but am already immensely impressed.

For DTT, I'll probably end up with PS3 & the PlayTV add-on (once the full PVR functionality has been sorted out), or whatever decent DTT PVR makes it to the market at a reasonable price. AFAIK, PS3/PlayTV will be capable of HD reception & recording.

Hopefully in my case, PS3/PlayTV will win out - the games, BD & internet-surfing abilities can't be ignored.


Mark

GerardKeating

slegs wrote: »

Combo boxes with full sat and DTT EPG will happen. Its only a matter of time.

DID were/are selling a samsung DVD recorder for €99 with a DTT tuner, with plays DivX. As far as i can figure it is only mpeg-2 compatable, but i assume/hope sometime soon they will go a mpeg-4 version.

slegs

Mark#1 wrote: »

Slegs is probably right - based on my usual criteria for judging the worth of a member's post (the number of posts they've made), he must know what he's talking about.

But I seem to remember reading somewhere that a full 7-day EPG (not just "now & next"), combining Irish DTT and Freesat (not free satellite), would have a few hurdles technically? I could be wrong.

I've already got the Foxsat HDR and have barely started scratching the surface of its abilities, but am already immensely impressed.

For DTT, I'll probably end up with PS3 & the PlayTV add-on (once the full PVR functionality has been sorted out), or whatever decent DTT PVR makes it to the market at a reasonable price. AFAIK, PS3/PlayTV will be capable of HD reception & recording.

Hopefully in my case, PS3/PlayTV will win out - the games, BD & internet-surfing abilities can't be ignored.


Mark

Hi Mark

Full 7 Day EPG for Irish DTT and UK FTA is not that difficult and will happen on some combos sooner rather than later. The Freesat EPG stream has already been decoded and included in satellite software on Dreambox Enigma2, Fortec Passion+ and the PC based software Mediaportal and DVBViewer.

So it is very possible. I am currently working with the AZBox developers to get it included in the the AZBox firmware which would be the first MPEG4 HD combo outside of Dreambox 8000 to have full Irish/UK 7 day EPG (once the DVB-T cards are released this month).

The Humax Freesat+ box is a brilliant unit but for Ireland the optimal solution has to be a combo box with full EPG for Sat and DTT. Some people dont mind flicking back and forth between STB's but for many one box/one remote is a must. Ideally you want 2*DVBS2 and 1*DVBT for fully flexible PVR and these will come too. There are other combo units I am looking at sourcing for import also that will provide full 7 day EPG.

regards
slegs

Rick_

Will the AZBox be also looking into having a PVR that will do both MPEG4 DTT and DVB-T2 DTT (when the DVB-T2 spec is announced) as well as DVB S2 all with 7 day EPG? Now THAT would be a box worth looking out for, providing the OSD was good too and it was a nice looking STB!

Mark#1

For sure, one box to rule them all would be the ultimate. Throw multi-region DVD recorder/player capability and it'd be even better. I do believe a single box for DTT & free satellite may appear, but when funds were available to me, my best option was Foxsat HDR & a separate DTT PVR, so I await the latter.

With my Harmony One remote, it'll all be seamless anyway.

When you refer to importing, I take it you're in the business of selling/distributing these types of products? I guess that would explain your familiarity with it all. I'm not a techno-snob, nor a goody-two-shoes, but are the products you mention "official"? Or are they similar to those boxes that get chipped or modified?


Thanks,

Mark

watty

Get the Humax HD PVR now as that is for a real service.

Don't get anything for Irish DTT till a few months after it launches. I use a €99 Dunnes Analogue DVD recorder/Tuner for RTE for now.