Humax Foxsat-HDR freesat hd recorder 320 g

The Bull · 09-09-2009 10:44pm #1

Just wondering if anyone has got one of these freesat boxes. I know u can record one channel while watchin another but my question is does it work similar to a sky+ box, as in can u view foward in the epg and press record button similar to a sky+ box and also does it series link record ?

steveon · 09-09-2009 10:49pm

Only provides a proper useful guide when in Freesat mode....not great when trying to record in non freesat mode as guide inst the best...A nice machine but you require 2 feeds from dish for full benefit. Not 2 sure about series link to be honest..

marathont · 10-09-2009 9:09am

Yes I have one of these for nearly a year now. Its very good in my opinion. Series link works great, easy to setup just select the item on the epg, and it gives you the option to record it, record the whole series or set a reminder. If its available in HD it will ask whether you want to record it in HD or SD.

I have never used SKY+ so cant compare, but I have heard its similar.

joolsveer · 10-09-2009 9:22am

I have both a Humax and a Sky HD and on the whole I prefer how the Humax works. One thing I don't like is you can't delete a programme while recording another.

Martin_F · 10-09-2009 6:48pm

I've one too. Also finding it pretty good. It can record 2 programs at a time - and you 'may' be able to watch a 3rd depending on which you are recording. Series link works most of the time. I think a firmware update is due in the autumn to fix some of the bugs. Also never used Sky+ so can't compare. Find it easy to use though.

DublinWriter · 10-09-2009 6:54pm

We have one and it's the veritable dog's.

You may need dual-LNBs to record and watch at the same time.

With a single LNB, you can record and watch stuff from only from the same bouquet.

The EPG is brilliant and east to use. The only thing you'll miss (or not!) from Freeview is lack of Irish channels.

blueser · 10-09-2009 8:07pm

Seriously considering getting one of the Humax boxes to go where the Sky+ box was (in the bedroom; Sky box moved to living room). Just one or two questions about it. I understand there are two USB ports which you can plug an external hard drive into for increased disk capacity. Is there an option when recording, to record on to the external HD as opposed to the box's own? Also, can you set up a similar system to the "magic eye" gizmo that you can plug into the Sky box, for viewing in another room? And is it fairly straightforward to plug in a DVD recorder to it via a scart lead, to copy programmes onto DVD? Sorry for what are probably simple questions to the more "tech-savvy" amongst you out there!

fat-tony · 10-09-2009 8:25pm

blueser wrote: »

Seriously considering getting one of the Humax boxes to go where the Sky+ box was (in the bedroom; Sky box moved to living room). Just one or two questions about it. I understand there are two USB ports which you can plug an external hard drive into for increased disk capacity. Is there an option when recording, to record on to the external HD as opposed to the box's own? Also, can you set up a similar system to the "magic eye" gizmo that you can plug into the Sky box, for viewing in another room? And is it fairly straightforward to plug in a DVD recorder to it via a scart lead, to copy programmes onto DVD? Sorry for what are probably simple questions to the more "tech-savvy" amongst you out there!

You can transfer recordings from the hard disk via USB onto an external hard disk (or fast USB stick) and view them on your PC or burn to DVD. You can't configure the box to record on an external hard disk in preference to the internal drive, but you can replace the internal drive with a bigger one, or some people have linked the internal SATA connection to an external drive instead of the internal one.
No magic eye solution or RF modulator built in, but you could presumably use an external modulator/IR blaster solution via the SCART socket.
DVD copying via the SCART socket would be possible, but I download to a USB drive and burn DVDs from the digital signal. Can't do that with a SKY box;)

blueser · 10-09-2009 8:34pm

Cheers for the heads up Tony. I presume the two cables that were connected to the Sky+ box screw straight into the back of the Humax as they are?

10-09-2009 10:48pm

DublinWriter wrote: »

We have one and it's the veritable dog's.

You may need dual-LNBs to record and watch at the same time.

With a single LNB, you can record and watch stuff from only from the same bouquet.

The EPG is brilliant and east to use. The only thing you'll miss (or not!) from Freeview is lack of Irish channels.

what's the same bouquet? What's a good cheap dual lnb dish option to go with this? is this the best not sky option or any other good boxes out also? (apols for the multiple questions!)

branners69 · 10-09-2009 10:53pm

Another happy Humax customer here, I replaced a Sky HD box and a Sky + box with 2 Hummies two months ago and am well happy!

Yes you just plug the cables into the back and put in a post code. People recommended DT4 7BP because this will give you ITV West County which has a better signal than other ITVs!

One thing I would recommend before you record anything, format the harddrive removing the 20gb which is set aside for photos and music. Unless you plan on using these features.

You will find more information here, but dont let the negative posts put you off!

blueser · 10-09-2009 11:05pm

branners69 wrote: »

Another happy Humax customer here, I replaced a Sky HD box and a Sky + box with 2 Hummies two months ago and am well happy!

Yes you just plug the cables into the back and put in a post code. People recommended DT4 7BP because this will give you ITV West County which has a better signal than other ITVs!

One thing I would recommend before you record anything, format the harddrive removing the 20gb which is set aside for photos and music. Unless you plan on using these features.

You will find more information here, but dont let the negative posts put you off!

Cheers for the info "branners". Wasn't sure if I had read somewhere about putting in a post code to set up the regional variations. I was thinking about putting in a Manchester postcode (my home city) but if the signal is better off the ITV West area, I might have to reconsider! Is that formatting of the hard drive a difficult procedure?

branners69 · 10-09-2009 11:22pm

Try the Manchester post code and see if you notice the difference. I lived in Manchester for a couple of years so I have selected BBC North West as my BBC. There is an option in one of the menus where you can change the BBC from being West County to BBC North West!

The manual explains the formatting process, if you have any problems let me know but I reckon you will be fine.

As I say I am happy with the box but there is a new firmware update due ( it has been due since the start of the summer!) Hopefully when it arrives it will sort out some of the problems. Problems such as not being able to record what is in the buffer, so if you rewind the programme you can re-view it but you cant record it. As mentioned not being able to delete when something is recording is a pain in the @rse. The series links sometime dont kick in, but that is rare. If you have it in a bedroom the lights on the front are very bright if it is recording something.

But I really like being able to record BBC HD and watching the football on ITV HD is great too. And of course not giving Sky a cent is a great bonus!

I got both of my boxes from richersounds.ie, including a 5 year guarantee and delivery I think I paid around €340 or so.

Any more questions let me know!

fat-tony · 11-09-2009 1:05pm

blueser wrote: »

Cheers for the heads up Tony. I presume the two cables that were connected to the Sky+ box screw straight into the back of the Humax as they are?

Yes they do.
As regards postcodes - I use the Queen's

Setting the Buck Palace code, gives you BBC1 London and BBC2 England as your home channels. I've found the London postcode gives solid series link info. Some regional channels may not manage their series link and programme start info so well as there are some reports of series link problems with regional variations. If you have an affiliation with a particular region or want to see UTV/BBC NI etc. then the London postcode may not suit.

blueser · 11-09-2009 3:58pm

fat-tony wrote: »

Yes they do.
As regards postcodes - I use the Queen's Setting the Buck Palace code, gives you BBC1 London and BBC2 England as your home channels. I've found the London postcode gives solid series link info. Some regional channels may not manage their series link and programme start info so well as there are some reports of series link problems with regional variations. If you have an affiliation with a particular region or want to see UTV/BBC NI etc. then the London postcode may not suit.

Good point actually. I'd imagine any of the regions that have large cities in them (London, Brum, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow etc) would probably be fairly well catered for re. series link info. Seeing as I'm from Manchester, if I choose London as my "home" channels, I'm going to need subtitles to understand the cockneys!!!

Martin_F · 11-09-2009 5:53pm

Choice of region can affect what is left on the EPG if you are recording from 2 of the main channels - for instance - BBC London, BBC2 England, BBC3, BBC4 & Five are all on the same transponder (or they were when I last checked). If you pick an obscure BBC region - it is quite likely the transponder is carrying just other BBC regions.

blueser · 11-09-2009 5:58pm

Martin_F wrote: »

Choice of region can affect what is left on the EPG if you are recording from 2 of the main channels - for instance - BBC London, BBC2 England, BBC3, BBC4 & Five are all on the same transponder (or they were when I last checked). If you pick an obscure BBC region - it is quite likely the transponder is carrying just other BBC regions.

Didn't realise that. Anywhere on the web that shows what transponder carries what channel(s)?

Tipsy Mac · 11-09-2009 6:16pm

Anyone got any idea what file format it saves files to when transferring to an external hd?

fat-tony · 11-09-2009 6:51pm

Martin_F wrote: »

Choice of region can affect what is left on the EPG if you are recording from 2 of the main channels - for instance - BBC London, BBC2 England, BBC3, BBC4 & Five are all on the same transponder (or they were when I last checked). If you pick an obscure BBC region - it is quite likely the transponder is carrying just other BBC regions.

Excellent point

and worth noting.
The Humax is well capable of recording multiple channels off one transponder using one tuner, leaving the other free for viewing another programme. I've had three programmes recording while watching something I recorded beforehand.

branners69 · 11-09-2009 7:03pm

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Anyone got any idea what file format it saves files to when transferring to an external hd?

The format is TS. You can convert it easily using xvid4psp to avi format then you can edit it using VirtualDub!

blueser · 11-09-2009 7:21pm

branners69 wrote: »

The format is TS. You can convert it easily using xvid4psp to avi format then you can edit it using VirtualDub!

You DID say any more questions Brannner! So; how easy is it to transfer a recorded programme off the box's internal HD to an external drive? In simple layman's term please, for a simple layman!

branners69 · 11-09-2009 9:36pm

blueser wrote: »

You DID say any more questions....

I was only being polite

It is very easy to do, most HD stuff wont copy over due to copyright and/or file size. Files over 4gb in size wont copy to external harddrive.

Plug in your harddrive's usb cable into the usb port on the front of the Humax, it is behind the front cover. You should get a message on the screen along the lines of usb device detected. Then hit the media button and then the opt+ button. Select file manager.

The left hand side of the screen is your humax the right hand side is you usb device. Arrow to the right and hit the function button then select create folder. Name the folder whatever and then select into it. Go back to the left hand side of the screen and highlight a programme then hit the green button and this should then copy over to the usb device!

Let me know if the above doesnt work!

blueser · 11-09-2009 9:49pm

branners69 wrote: »

I was only being polite

Polite is good! Cheers for the info. Will try it when I get hold of the box!!

Aepos · 12-09-2009 9:33am

Hi all you can copy large HD content to USB keys or external hard drives but the drive must be formatted as ext3, The only problem is you have to move HD content back to the main unit to play them and some content will only let you copy across once.

I have just fitted a Samsung 1TB drive into my Foxsat HDR and it is working just fine, (Komplett.ie - Samsung EcoGreen F2 HD103SI 1TB):)

Cheers Aepos

Apogee · 12-09-2009 11:36am

branners69 wrote: »

It is very easy to do, most HD stuff wont copy over due to copyright and/or file size. Files over 4gb in size wont copy to external harddrive.

You can get around the copyright feature on HD material by recording the programmes in non-Freesat mode.

blueser · 12-09-2009 12:59pm

Apogee wrote: »

You can get around the copyright feature on HD material by recording the programmes in non-Freesat mode.

Is that a simple procedure?

Kashkai · 12-09-2009 8:21pm

I bought my Humax HDR from Richersounds last May and its the best purchase I've made in a long time. Well worth every cent (and all the other cents that I'm not handing over to SKY

)

L1011 · 12-09-2009 8:23pm

I've two of them now, cancelled Sky+ as a result. Interface seems overall better, just find the file manager a little strange when you've become used to Sky+ - its done much more like a filesystem

Curries Enniskillen and Bangor (Wales) are where I got mine, one when they were pricey and rare and one a few weeks ago for quite a lot less!

Apogee · 12-09-2009 9:05pm

blueser wrote: »

Is that a simple procedure?

Depends what you consider simple - you first put the receiver into non-freesat mode, and assuming the channel is already tuned in, set the manual timer to record much as you would with a VCR.
http://foxsat.wikispaces.com/Non-Freesat+channels

Barr · 13-09-2009 11:01am

I would like to get one of these boxes as well , wheres the cheapest place to buy one ?

Tipsy Mac · 13-09-2009 11:09am

Barr wrote: »

I would like to get one of these boxes as well , wheres the cheapest place to buy one ?

Argos have them for £284.99 in the North, this I think is cheapest around but you need to factor in the cost of driving up and back.

The Humax box is out for I think a couple of years does anyone know if it is due to be replaced soon or if the alternatives now available would be better? I know Argos are selling these three models but there's very little reviews around on either...

Sagem DTR94250S HD Freesat Recorder 250GB £249.99
Sagem DTR94500S HD Freesat Recorder 500GB £300
Goodmans GFSDTR320HD 320Gb Freesat Digital TV Recorder 320GB £280

blueser · 13-09-2009 11:43am

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Argos have them for £284.99 in the North, this I think is cheapest around but you need to factor in the cost of driving up and back.

The Humax box is out for I think a couple of years does anyone know if it is due to be replaced soon or if the alternatives now available would be better? I know Argos are selling these three models but there's very little reviews around on either...

Sagem DTR94250S HD Freesat Recorder 250GB £249.99
Sagem DTR94500S HD Freesat Recorder 500GB £300
Goodmans GFSDTR320HD 320Gb Freesat Digital TV Recorder 320GB £280

The only one I could see in Argos in Enniskillen was the non hard drive model for £150. Any further than Enniskillen probably wouldn't be worth it for me (petrol and the hassle of driving up there; an hour and a half to Enniskillen from here). I'm paying €330 for mine, due for delivery on tuesday.

ScrubsfanChris · 13-09-2009 8:20pm

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

The Humax box is out for I think a couple of years does anyone know if it is due to be replaced soon or if the alternatives now available would be better?

I think it only came out last November(2008) so I wouldn't be holding out for a new one any time soon if I where you.

Martin_F · 13-09-2009 8:49pm

http://www.richersounds.ie/asp/product.asp?ObjectID=938&Mode=0&CategoryID=6&sub=101&productid=840

£250 + delivery (about 12 I think) - best value available to IRL as far as I know... That's where I got mine.

branners69 · 13-09-2009 9:25pm

Martin_F wrote: »

http://www.richersounds.ie/asp/product.asp?ObjectID=938&Mode=0&CategoryID=6&sub=101&productid=840

£250 + delivery (about 12 I think) - best value available to IRL as far as I know... That's where I got mine.

I got two off them!!!

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

I think it only came out last November(2008) so I wouldn't be holding out for a new one any time soon if I where you.

There was talk of a 500gb version being launched very soon. Will see if I can find a link!

fat-tony · 13-09-2009 10:06pm

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Argos have them for £284.99 in the North, this I think is cheapest around but you need to factor in the cost of driving up and back.

The Humax box is out for I think a couple of years does anyone know if it is due to be replaced soon or if the alternatives now available would be better? I know Argos are selling these three models but there's very little reviews around on either...

Sagem DTR94250S HD Freesat Recorder 250GB £249.99
Sagem DTR94500S HD Freesat Recorder 500GB £300
Goodmans GFSDTR320HD 320Gb Freesat Digital TV Recorder 320GB £280

Hi Tipsy,

I don't think any of these are on sale yet:(
Due out next month perhaps

Interesting challenge to the Humax box on the first anniversary of it going on sale:)

blueser · 13-09-2009 10:15pm

Aepos wrote: »

Hi all you can copy large HD content to USB keys or external hard drives but the drive must be formatted as ext3, The only problem is you have to move HD content back to the main unit to play them and some content will only let you copy across once.

I have just fitted a Samsung 1TB drive into my Foxsat HDR and it is working just fine, (Komplett.ie - Samsung EcoGreen F2 HD103SI 1TB):)

Cheers Aepos

Is fitting the new HD difficult? Does the new hard drive need formatting or modifying in any way, or is it just a simple connecting-up job? Just checked the Komplett site;
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=482721

Barr · 13-09-2009 10:48pm

Would the Humax 320 g be able to record the Irish channels as I have these through a seperate arial?

Apogee · 13-09-2009 11:09pm

Barr wrote: »

Would the Humax 320 g be able to record the Irish channels as I have these through a seperate arial?

No.

Aepos · 14-09-2009 7:27am

Have a look here for fitting info:-

http://www.digitalworldz.co.uk/196130-hard-disk-drive-upgrade.html

This refers to a WD 1TB drive which seems to be as rare as rocking horse droppings, The Samsung seems to work fine. As soon as you switch on after doing the swap the machine will format the drive ready for use.:D

I have found that starting from scratch as above rather than copying stuff across from the original drive is a simpler option.

Mine has been performing faultlessly for the past 3 weeks now.

Enjoy.

Aepos

blueser · 14-09-2009 4:57pm

Aepos wrote: »

Have a look here for fitting info:-

http://www.digitalworldz.co.uk/196130-hard-disk-drive-upgrade.html

This refers to a WD 1TB drive which seems to be as rare as rocking horse droppings, The Samsung seems to work fine. As soon as you switch on after doing the swap the machine will format the drive ready for use.:D

I have found that starting from scratch as above rather than copying stuff across from the original drive is a simpler option.

Mine has been performing faultlessly for the past 3 weeks now.

Enjoy.

Aepos

Cheers for the info. I may go for the Samsung 1.5TB.

Martin_F · 14-09-2009 8:40pm

blueser wrote: »

Cheers for the info. I may go for the Samsung 1.5TB.

I think I had read on some of the UK forums about folks having trouble using HDD above 1TB (something like it not being detected or formatted successfully). I think it may have been avforums.

Aepos · 15-09-2009 6:51am

The Samsung drive I suggested and am using is 1TB, which to be honest should be plenty big enough. If it isn't then one can always transfer stuff via the USB connection to an external drive or memory stick.

It would be prudent to keep the original drive just in case the box fails so that it can be reinstalled for warranty or other purposes.

Cheers Ae

lleddiell · 15-09-2009 6:02pm

Hi,
I'm new here but I'm having a go at this machine.
I've had this machine for about a month now and:-
It has failed to record on about six occasions
It failed to record football on ITV HD - The England match on Wednesday and luckily I was in to watch it.
It failed to record the second and final part of the Joanna Lumley Cat woman on ITV HD - Not to bothered about that I suppose.
It's pants viewing .jpgs in the picture folder because it's very slow at moving from one jpg to the next and I have decreased to the least time to show each picture quicker
The file extension shown in the display may as well not be there it's so far behind
When recording in standby does not like to be switched on - No video or audio is delivered to the TV it just sticks and therefore can't perform one of a main PVR's function watch a program while it's started recording
I am not overly impressed with my machine at all.
Has anybody else had any of these issues or am I the only one?
If I'm the only one this baby is going back for a replacement
Cheers,
Eddie.

branners69 · 15-09-2009 6:04pm

Aepos wrote: »

....so that it can be reinstalled for warranty or other purposes.

I read elsewhere, I think on avforums, that once you open the box you break the warranty? Did you notice a tag or anything that needed breaking to open the box?

winit · 15-09-2009 6:35pm

can you get the irish channels on satellite without sky as thinking of cancelling sky. when i took out the card i had all the english free to view channels but none of the irish channels. thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

blueser · 15-09-2009 6:43pm

winit wrote: »

can you get the irish channels on satellite without sky as thinking of cancelling sky. when i took out the card i had all the english free to view channels but none of the irish channels. thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

Nope. You have to subscribe to a Sky package to receive RTE, TV3 &TG4 via satellite. Er, to the best of my (limited!) knowledge.

Aepos · 16-09-2009 7:02am

There was no tag on my humax box anywhere to be seen. I checked very carefully before undoing any thing!!!

Ae

blueser · 16-09-2009 9:16am

Aepos wrote: »

There was no tag on my humax box anywhere to be seen. I checked very carefully before undoing any thing!!!

Ae

Same as. There was no tag or seal visible anywhere around the access panel or around the three screws that holds it in place.

branners69 · 16-09-2009 11:29am

Looks like this site disagrees and states that opening the box voids the warranty!

Is says the first step is to "Peel off the warranty sticker underneath the box."

I havent checked underneath the box, is there a warranty sticker?

Edit: I found this on another the DigitalSpy forum - "there is a warranty sticker joining the top of the box to the bottom on the side!"

Can anyone going to upgrade confirm this?

blueser · 16-09-2009 12:17pm

branners69 wrote: »

Looks like this site disagrees and states that opening the box voids the warranty!

Is says the first step is to "Peel off the warranty sticker underneath the box."

I havent checked underneath the box, is there a warranty sticker?

Edit: I found this on another the DigitalSpy forum - "there is a warranty sticker joining the top of the box to the bottom on the side!"

Can anyone going to upgrade confirm this?

Can't see any warranty sticker on mine. The only sticker is on the underside of the box and is a white sticker with a couple of barcodes on it (no mention of the word warranty). Oh, and a small red sticker on the top of the box saying; "Warning; Unplug power cable to install the antenna cable."

Humax Foxsat-HDR freesat hd recorder 320 g

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