Humax FOXSAT-HDR Freesat+ PVR 320GB Digital Box

dharn

i have been told by a supplier that i cannot connect non freesat lnb for say 13east to a humax foxsat hdr or i will lose all freesat features form box, i dont understand this i looked at a link to astra 2d where it explains how to tune in other satellites to humax reciever, so i cannot see any problems ,anyone know what the dealer is talking about

Kristopherus

I'm not sure what he was referring to............but its bull s**t.

dharn

so can you confirm that freesat receiver works with other non freesat satellites like any satellite receiver

NewHillel

dharn wrote: »

so can you confirm that freesat receiver works with other non freesat satellites like any satellite receiver

The Humax has two modes, Freesat and non-Freesat. In non-Freesat mode it works like any other generic Satellite receiver. In Freesat mode it is designed to receive Freesat channels, only. However, modified firmware is available that allows other non-Freesat channels be added to the Freesat EPG, including those from other satelites. DISEQ is supported with this configuration, but the recording functionality is restricted.

dharn

thanks for above reply can you give me any further info on what way recording ability is restricted

NewHillel

dharn wrote: »

thanks for above reply can you give me any further info on what way recording ability is restricted

If you're recording a non-Freesat channel, you can't also record a Freesat Channel.

dharn

ok i think i get the picture now (no pun intended ) ,thanks for your help ,do you have a humax box if so how do you find it

NewHillel

dharn wrote: »

ok i think i get the picture now (no pun intended ) ,thanks for your help ,do you have a humax box if so how do you find it

Yes, that's how I know about it.

Its grand, really. I would rate it about the same as Sky HD, without the Irish or pay channels. All the other functionality is there. With a little technical know how you can even view and set recordings remotely, with the modified firmware.

It's far more user friendly than a generic receiver, especially for recording. The ability to browse the EPG on a tablet makes it a breeze - easier than using a newspaper.

The only if, and it's big enough, is not having a single box for all channels. For that, I'd recommend the Arriva 120. It's bloody good, particularly for the elderly or technologically challenged.

Hope this helps.

dharn

i take it you mean a combo box where you get saorview channels ,all in one box i have saorview on aerial already so thats not a problem ,thanks again for all your help you may be hearing from me again when i start installing all the gear !

watty

NewHillel wrote: »

The only if, and it's big enough, is not having a single box for all channels. For that, I'd recommend the Arriva 120. It's bloody good, particularly for the elderly or technologically challenged.

I'd disagree. There are only a handful of terrestrial channels and maybe 50+ useful Freesat channels. There is no comparison in ease of use between Freesat and Generic if you want "red button video" or a new transponder is added or a frequency changes.

Using an extra remote is actually far simpler. A Combo box just sounds nicer and looks nicer as it's one box.

I'd prefer a "Freesat HD" approved Combo (no Satellite retuning) with generic MHEG5 DTT, to a Saorview Approved combo with Genernic MHEG5 on Satellite. (needs Scans, edits etc on Satellite and usually doesn't fully support Red button or EPG as Freesat uses extensions to MHEG5)

dmeehan

watty wrote: »

I'd prefer a "Freesat HD" approved Combo (no Satellite retuning) with generic MHEG5 DTT, to a Saorview Approved combo with Genernic MHEG5 on Satellite. (needs Scans, edits etc on Satellite and usually doesn't fully support Red button or EPG as Freesat uses extensions to MHEG5)

Do you have any personal recommendations?

AstralTV

NewHillel wrote: »

The only if, and it's big enough, is not having a single box for all channels. For that, I'd recommend the Arriva 120. It's bloody good, particularly for the elderly or technologically challenged.

Hope this helps.

bit of a strange statement, if you say the elderly and technologically challenged are going to to confused by a couple of remotes, how are they going to retune the Ariva 120 ?

Sam Russell

dmeehan wrote: »

Do you have any personal recommendations?

I have a Humax Foxsat HDR with 320Gb HDD. I've had it for a few years and had no problem with it. Various software updates have downloaded on their own, and channels have come and gone, again on their own.

Snags - well there are a few.

1. The recording buffer is zapped if you change channels. So if you are watching 'The Apprentice' on BBC1 and are watching in catch up - then 'The Apprentice - You're Fired' starts on BBC2 just as 'The Apprentice' ends, so you cannot change over to watch it without losing the unwatched bit. You have to record it. If the dog stands on the remote and changes channel, you lose it as well.

2. You cannot use it for Saorview in anyway whatsoever. It does not record from any source but the satellite.

No biggies, but not good.

Otherwise, faultless. Not cheap - £250 or so, depending on the size of the HDD.

Trevord

Both the Humax Foxsat and Ariva120 have their pros and cons.

I don't think you can definately say that one box is better than the other. It depends on what your needs are.

The Ariva 120 was a dream solution for my parents who probably watch as much Saorview as they do FTA Sat channels. Their tv was MPEG2 and so were in need of a saorview box anyway. Now they have all their channels on one menu and they find that easier than switiching inputs like you would have to do with a Humax or a non combo FTA box. Having said that their interest in recording content would be limited.

If there is an an occasional frequency change on one of the channels then I can help them out with that. If was a cost effective option also being only a fraction of the price of a Humax.

If money is no object then a Humax with an Mpeg 4 tv is what you want. Lack of series link capability would be a major downside of the Ariva if you like to record a lot.


For someone with two tvs then one of each box is probably not a bad solution.

NewHillel

Trevord wrote: »

Both the Humax Foxsat and Ariva120 have their pros and cons.

I don't think you can definately say that one box is better than the other. It depends on what your needs are.

That's exactly it! The Ariva 120 is a fantastic, low cost, solution for some users.

cupthehand1

Lads where would be the best place to buy the Humax PVR online with delivery to Limerick?

dharn

tv trade .ie,sattelite.ie satworld.ie any of those guys would be fine

norbert64

cupthehand1 wrote: »

Lads where would be the best place to buy the Humax PVR online with delivery to Limerick?

Amazon seems to be the best price at the mo

Works out at €270 with free delivery
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Humax-500GB-Satellite-Receiver-Recorder/dp/B0039J42LM/

dharn wrote: »

tv trade .ie,
€ 314.30 + €5 delivery

sattelite.ie
€354.77 ex vat + €8 delivery

satworld.ie
321.37 with boards.ie discount + €8.50 delivery

any of those guys would be fine

/\ Respective prices (not brilliant TBH)

Your best bet for bricks and mortar, if you fancy it, is probably richersounds.
Works out at €290
http://www.richersounds.ie/asp/product.asp?objectid=930&mode=0&productid=840&c=

dharn

ANY OF THE ABOVE SUPPLIERS WILLING TO MATCH AMAZON DOT COM ON PRICE
PM ME IF YOU ARE READING HERE

Chuck Stone

A few questions about the Humax Foxsat.

Can one channel be watched while another is being recorded with only one cable running to the back of it?

Is the 320gb model the exact same as the 500gb? (apart from the obvious)

Are they a reliable box?

NewHillel

Chuck Stone wrote: »

A few questions about the Humax Foxsat.

Can one channel be watched while another is being recorded with only one cable running to the back of it? Yes - provided both are on the same TP

Is the 320gb model the exact same as the 500gb? (apart from the obvious). Yes

Are they a reliable box?
Pretty ok. I've had one since they first came out, maybe two years or so. The initial software was brutal, but, after a couple of upgrades, it's pretty sound now. The most annoying thing is that 'Live Pause' can be problematic, especially with a single feed. When you're recording a follow on program it can drop out of pause abruptly and flush the buffer, so that you cannot rewind. The 'workaround' is to hit record rather than pause, and then view the recording a few seconds behind live TV.

See above, in bold.

Sam Russell

If you have only one cable, you are restricted in what you can watch while you record. If you want to watch BBC1 or BBC2, you can generally find one available (because there are so many regional versions), but you are much better off getting a second feed.

It flushes the buffer if you change channel which is annoying if it was the dog that changed the channel while you were on catch-up.

Otherwise, pretty good. You cannot record RTE atall on it. Only Freesat (or FTA if you set it up that way but I never have).

Freesat is the way to go, and Humax is the way to go Freesat.

Chuck Stone

Sam Russell wrote: »

It flushes the buffer if you change channel which is annoying if it was the dog that changed the channel while you were on catch-up.

Thanks for the replies.

I'm seriously considering getting one of these for my Mother as she currently has ewe-pea-sea which is kinda crappy and an unnecessary cost.

She has a Saorview ready HD TV so I'd just feed an aerial line into the TV for Irish TV and teach her to switch between the two (she's already doing this with a Sky box out of contract) so should get it quick enough.

Come to think of it I set her up with a double cable so she'd get the full function out of a Humax.

What's 'TP' and flushing the buffer mean?

Sam Russell

Chuck Stone wrote: »

What's flushing the buffer mean?

When you select a channel, a buffer starts recording so you can go back and look again at earlier bits. It also continues recording if you press pause. If you change channels, this recording is restarted and the old one is deleted.

norbert64

Quick question regarding the recording/playback capability of this PVR.

Is the HUMAX like our sky+/sky hd boxes, where, provided you have 2 dish feeds, you can record 2 channels and then still watch a recording saved in your planner? :cool:

Sam Russell

norbert64 wrote: »

Quick question regarding the recording/playback capability of this PVR.

Is the HUMAX like our sky+/sky hd boxes, where, provided you have 2 dish feeds, you can record 2 channels and then still watch a recording saved in your planner? :cool:

Yes, that is he case. I presume the 'planner' is the hard disk.

eddiem10

What are opinions on this one?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/echostar-500gb-freesat-hd-digital-tv-recorder-with-tv-anywhere-531725

NewHillel

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

What's 'TP' and flushing the buffer mean?

TP is short for Transponder. My quick answer was only partially correct. Satellite Tv, at a single orbital position, is segmented into four groups. With only one cable on a Humax, you can watch a second channel from the same group, while also recording. See here for further info, though some channels have moved group, since then.

NewHillel

norbert64 wrote: »

Quick question regarding the recording/playback capability of this PVR.

Is the HUMAX like our sky+/sky hd boxes, where, provided you have 2 dish feeds, you can record 2 channels and then still watch a recording saved in your planner? :cool:

It's better than Sky, you can record two and still watch (some) other channels.

stanley1

eddiem10 wrote: »

What are opinions on this one?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/echostar-500gb-freesat-hd-digital-tv-recorder-with-tv-anywhere-531725

£199 on amazon + freee delivery, getting some good reviews, latest firmware has resolved a lot of glitches, I may be wrong but I don't thinlk it does wireless.

Badgermonkey

Have Humax come up with any fix for the slow loading EPG issue yet?

Saw the update below on their website and wondering if this would have been implemented already via OTA.

http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/support/downloadcenter_model.aspx?category_seq=65

beer enigma

Sam Russell wrote: »

When you select a channel, a buffer starts recording so you can go back and look again at earlier bits. It also continues recording if you press pause. If you change channels, this recording is restarted and the old one is deleted.

They still don't appear to have fixed the issue whereby manual recording starts from the moment you press the record button even if you're watched the programme from the start - that drives me bonkers

evilivor

Badgermonkey wrote: »

Have Humax come up with any fix for the slow loading EPG issue yet?

Saw the update below on their website and wondering if this would have been implemented already via OTA.

http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/support/downloadcenter_model.aspx?category_seq=65

It's still very slow - up to two minutes - and if it hasn't been fixed by now, I expect it won't be this side of the next-generation Freesat boxes being launched this year.

Storm 10

Does this box give any problems I was thinking about getting one.

http://www.tvtrade.ie/humax-foxsat-hdr-freesat-receiver-1tb.html

Badgermonkey

As evilivor says, with second generation Freesat PVR's due later this year, it may be wise to hold off 'til then.

dharn

What added functionality is expected with the new generation pvr' s

Badgermonkey

dharn wrote: »

What added functionality is expected with the new generation pvr' s

http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/freesat-g2-spec-diseqc-single-cable-pvr-on-demand

dharn

i notice that the humax has a dvd in scart does this mean that dvd player can be connected to it and the output routed via hdmi to the tv , thereby reducing the number of leads going to the telly

Willby

evilivor wrote: »

It's still very slow - up to two minutes - and if it hasn't been fixed by now, I expect it won't be this side of the next-generation Freesat boxes being launched this year.

Hi,
I have the Foxsat for over two years now and while the EPG was slow initially it's been pretty much on a par with my sky+ box for some considerable time now, so I guess there was an ota fix at some stage.

t c

schedule then red will give current epg, no delay

JDxtra

Are Humax in trouble, or otherwise distracted? The next generation of this box was meant to be released in Q4 2010 as far as I remember.

kuro_man

dharn wrote: »

i notice that the humax has a dvd in scart does this mean that dvd player can be connected to it and the output routed via hdmi to the tv , thereby reducing the number of leads going to the telly

SCART output won't carry HD, only HDMI, so it will be scaled down

you could use a HDMI hub (try ebay) or AV amp (try richer sounds/adverts.ie/superfi etc) instead

evilivor

JDxtra wrote: »

Are Humax in trouble, or otherwise distracted? The next generation of this box was meant to be released in Q4 2010 as far as I remember.

From Join Freesat last September:

"Freesat has today confirmed it will be partnering with Sagemcom as lead manufacturer for the development of its next generation set-top boxes, due to launch in early 2012 (G2 Spec).

Freesat have also confirmed that Humax would be producing new boxes later in 2012, which puts to bed any suggestion that they would be launching a new FOXSAT-HDR early next year. We don’t have a clear indication yet which other manufacturers would be involved."

dharn

kuro_man wrote: »

SCART output won't carry HD, only HDMI, so it will be scaled down

you could use a HDMI hub (try ebay) or AV amp (try richer sounds/adverts.ie/superfi etc) instead

thanks kuro, i am not looking for hd resolution from the dvd player or any upscaling just wondering will the humax act as a passthrough i have an older av amp which does not have hdmi but works well enough for the present on analogue audio outs from the tv, i can connect the dvd via scart to the tv and that gives good enough pic quality but just looking at pics of humax and noticed on rear scart socket marked dvd,.. what is that for, just thinking if i connected dvd player to that scart and connected humax to tv via hdmi would it carry the dvd signal to the telly, i suspect it wont, but just wondering

evilivor

dharn wrote: »

thanks kuro, i am not looking for hd resolution from the dvd player or any upscaling just wondering will the humax act as a passthrough i have an older av amp which does not have hdmi but works well enough for the present on analogue audio outs from the tv, i can connect the dvd via scart to the tv and that gives good enough pic quality but just looking at pics of humax and noticed on rear scart socket marked dvd,.. what is that for, just thinking if i connected dvd player to that scart and connected humax to tv via hdmi would it carry the dvd signal to the telly, i suspect it wont, but just wondering

On mine, an older model, it says VCR Scart rather than DVD - and that is for outputting to a VCR or such. I don;t think what you are hoping for would work.

watty

I suspect it's only loop through to TV SCART, not to HDMI. And for combo DVD recorder/player.

SCART to HDMI passthrough isn't possible without an an ADC and an MPEG encoder. The Humax will have neither of these expensive items. It will only have MPEG Decoder and DAC for SCART.

FRIENDO

I use the scart on my Humax HDR connected to my DVD home surround system, If I'm watching sport on Astra 19, I can listen to commentary through the surround system from the Humax via the scart (Watching sport on German TV and listen to commentary on BBC 5 Live/Talk sport).