Recommend a Freesat+HD box

CGI_3

Looking for recommendations on the above.

And, was wondering:

Is there a standard remote (like SKY) for all the different manufacturers?

Is it the case that if you press record that you'll only get a recording from that point forward, not to the begining of the programme (like sky)?

Are models with BBC and ITV players worth getting?

Recommend Irish suppliers?

Any with magic eye type setup? Or best use a Triax Trilink?

Are you stuck with a particular channel set-up based on postcode or can you edit out unwanted channels and sort as you wish?

Cesium Clock

CGI_3 wrote: »

Looking for recommendations on the above.

And, was wondering:

Is there a standard remote (like SKY) for all the different manufacturers?

Is it the case that if you press record that you'll only get a recording from that point forward, not to the begining of the programme (like sky)?

Are models with BBC and ITV players worth getting?

Recommend Irish suppliers?

Any with magic eye type setup? Or best use a Triax Trilink?

Are you stuck with a particular channel set-up based on postcode or can you edit out unwanted channels and sort as you wish?

heres a few videos that may help

http://www.tvtrade.ie/humax-foxsat-hdr.html

CGI_3

A neighbour has the Humax. His is probably 3 years old. Don't know the model, but he confirmed it is Freesat+ and has 2 LNB connections. His dislike of the box is that it does NOT record what's in the buffer if you hit record on live TV.

I.e., say you were watching the 6.01 news on a SKY+ box and hit record at say 10 past 6, you will get all the news recorded from 6.01 (assuming it was on that channel since then). This doesn't happen (according to him) on the Humax.

Is this really the case, or is it just an older model he has? (Mind you, he says the software is automatically updated fairly regularly, so that's unlikely to be the case...)

NewHillel

CGI_3 wrote: »

A neighbour has the Humax. His is probably 3 years old. Don't know the model, but he confirmed it is Freesat+ and has 2 LNB connections. His dislike of the box is that it does NOT record what's in the buffer if you hit record on live TV.

I.e., say you were watching the 6.01 news on a SKY+ box and hit record at say 10 past 6, you will get all the news recorded from 6.01 (assuming it was on that channel since then). This doesn't happen (according to him) on the Humax.

Is this really the case, or is it just an older model he has? (Mind you, he says the software is automatically updated fairly regularly, so that's unlikely to be the case...)

I'm afraid that it really is the case - Humax announced a fix, at least a year ago, but never followed through. Apart from that, it is a reasonably good box.

Bertie Bassett

I bought an Echostar HDS 600 RS, just received it yesterday so am still getting to know it, but so far it is excellent and I am very happy with it. I had done a fair amount of research before I decided which one to go for and it was between the Humax and the Echostar. I reckoned the Echostar is a bit more advanced and also it is a good bit cheaper than the Humax.
The Echostar does record from the buffer alright but one thing it does not do that the Humax does is allow you to back up recorded programmes onto an external memory device e.g. memory stick or external harddrive. This would be handy as otherwise there is a limit to the amount of memory available. I don't know whether Echostar plan to provide this facility in a future software update but the unit is supplied with two usb ports which are of little use at the moment.
I suggest you check out the reviews on both Amazon.co.uk and joinfreesat.co.uk and decide what box suits your requirements best, there are other makes of receiver there also.

CGI_3

Bertie Bassett wrote: »

I bought an Echostar HDS 600 RS, just received it yesterday so am still getting to know it, but so far it is excellent and I am very happy with it. I had done a fair amount of research before I decided which one to go for and it was between the Humax and the Echostar. I reckoned the Echostar is a bit more advanced and also it is a good bit cheaper than the Humax.
The Echostar does record from the buffer alright but one thing it does not do that the Humax does is allow you to back up recorded programmes onto an external memory device e.g. memory stick or external harddrive. This would be handy as otherwise there is a limit to the amount of memory available. I don't know whether Echostar plan to provide this facility in a future software update but the unit is supplied with two usb ports which are of little use at the moment.
I suggest you check out the reviews on both Amazon.co.uk and joinfreesat.co.uk and decide what box suits your requirements best, there are other makes of receiver there also.

Was looking at the reviews on Amazon.co.uk, and it seems that this box is the business. Seems to be every bit as good as the Humax, (even better, records the buffer, my gripe with the Humax) and the 'slingbox' technology sounds great (in theory). Actually, a substitute for Sky's remote record in one way!

How come no one's talking about this box on this forum?!

And, amazingly, seems to be even cheaper than the equivalent Humax 500Gb box....

Will be very interesting to see how the Saorsat / FTA's look in the non freesat mode.

Bertie Bassett, could you have a look at how this (non freesat mode) works from a EPG / end user interface point of view.

BTW, where did you find was the best place to buy this box? Non of the usual suspects here seem to stock it...

Bertie Bassett

Had a look at using the Echostar in non-freesat mode - news is not good, you have to go into settings and select 'view in non-freesat mode' and when you want to go back to view a channel in Freesat mode you have to reverse the procedure. It takes approximately 12 button presses to get to non-freesat mode and another 12 to go back to Freesat. There may be an easier way to do it but I couldn't find it and I'd say there isn't.
Regards the EPG, once you are in non-freesat mode you cannot access the EPG.
It doesn't bother me as I had intended getting a seperate Saorview PVR whenever that are available and the only channel I might watch in non-freesat mode would be $ky News, but if you want to use it for Saorsat it could be a problem. DiSEqC is only a recent development for Echostar so maybe (or maybe not) they will develop better functionality but I don't know whether or not this is planned.
I got it from Amazon Marketplace - £189 (€241) and free delivery, ordered it on the Friday and recieved it the following Wednesday and I have to say I have been very pleased with it so far.

dharn

Pity it looks like a space ship, or one of those robot war yokes !!!

Digital Satellite TV

dharn wrote: »

Pity it looks like one of those robot war yokes !!!

It does a bit alright:-) Just missing the arm with the spike on the top! Used to love that show. Sound like a fairly deadly box, looks aside though.

CGI_3

@Bertie,

Are sling and PVR functions usable in non freesat mode? If PVR works, are recordings added to the same library? (assume you have to use timer control to schedule recordings of non freesat channels?)

Think I can get over the 12 button presses you mention. Never seem to watch live TV, so all my viewing would be from the library anyway!

Apogee

Apparently the Echostar now supports Diseqc 1.0/1.1 since firmware 1.21R - potentially useful for Saorsat or other non-Astra 2 sats.

Echostar Diseqc operation manual
http://www.myechostar.com/~/media/EuropeRetail/Support%20Documents/EchoStar%20HDS-600RS%20DiSEqC%20Operation.ashx

The latest firmware is 1.22R
http://www.myechostar.com/News/~/link.aspx?_id=A397F64E99944B0D9D5D48F0C721A852&_z=z

CGI_3

Seemingly the latest update was to fix a series link issue.

But, it seems they removed the manual timer record in the lastest version for whatever reason.

Does anyone know if it can record from non freesat EPG from either non-freesat mode or freesat mode for that matter?

t c

Have had a Humax HDR+ for nearly two years now and find it a great box. No real problems. But yes, it takes 3 button press to go from Freesat to FTA and 3 back again.

You can remove whatever stations you do not need and you can have numerous favourites list, in Freesat mode.

In Freesat mode You can set it to record from whatever time and day you want in 7day EPG, but yes, if you press record in middle of programme, it will only record from there. I have not found this to be a problem.

bodonnell

maplin have the echostar hd600rs w/500gb for e220 at the moment

NIMAN

I have had the Humax Foxsat for about 2 yrs now and never missed a beat, quality machine, if a little less user friendly than $ky+.

jujamax

Got the Humax Freesat Foxsat HDR (500GB) to replace $ky+HD. Works fine, needs a cold start now and again when unit freezes.
Yes, it won't record fully unless the record button is pressed at the beginning of the programme. HD channels are super with sound and vision (on 1080p)

dharn

where did you buy the humax (best price ?)

jujamax

Richer Sounds, Belfast. Although you may find cheaper online, I just happened to be up there at the time.

NIMAN

I bought my second hand 320gb Humax off the Classified at AVFORUMS for £130 delivered.
Was boxed, in AS NEW condition.

Great bargain.

iba

t c wrote: »

Have had a Humax HDR+ for nearly two years now and find it a great box. No real problems. But yes, it takes 3 button press to go from Freesat to FTA and 3 back again.

You can remove whatever stations you do not need and you can have numerous favourites list, in Freesat mode.

In Freesat mode You can set it to record from whatever time and day you want in 7day EPG, but yes, if you press record in middle of programme, it will only record from there. I have not found this to be a problem.

TC,

Did u know u can add your favourite non-freesat channels to ur favourite freesat list and then that saves the 3 button merry-go-round. Didnt know about it myself until Excollier told me about it. See this thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=79932470

Regards

Iba