Freesat+ HD box: Samsung versus Humax

Samson

I will soon be cancelling my Sky subscription and going down the Saorview/Freesat+ route as follows:

About to buy a new Samsung smart TV with integrated Saorview tuner and will be buying a either a Samsung SMT-S7800 or a Humax Foxsat-HDR (both have 500GB hard disk).

So reading through a lot of the threads here it seems that the Humax kit is the best of the bunch, but I would like to hear opinions on the Samsung box.

I'm inclined towards the Samsung model due to the fact that I can get it through work at a very good price (one of our suppliers is a Samsung distributor).

Thanks.

Sam Russell

You could go for a Samsung Smart TV with Freesat which will give you record facility using USB.

ednwireland

i have the samsung box but have no experience of the humax

i find it fine apart from not being able to move recordings onto an external drive

menus are simple(not sure why some people complain about them) i did have an issue where it went into a start freeze and reboot cycle. but it stopped an dand i had to do a factory reset and its worked fine since.

it did an auto software upgrade last night and now the picture zooms in and out when going in and out of the guide wow /sarcasm

no idea what else was fixed improved (although early software versions were pretty bad by all accounts - it was the first thing i did when i got it left i t update over the air)

upscale picture quality is much better than my non hd sky box

and the hd quality seems pretty good (on my 46" samsung tv)

like i said cant compare it to a humax unfortunately

Samson

Sam Russell wrote: »

You could go for a Samsung Smart TV with Freesat which will give you record facility using USB.

I did think of that, but I would want the convenience of a dual satellite tuner for "plus" functionality.
Having looked through http://www.freesat.co.uk/products/hd-tv-range I don't think any of the quoted models have dual tuner.

excollier

I am biased, but the Humax HDR is much more flexible.

Samson

excollier wrote: »

I am biased, but the Humax HDR is much more flexible.

Can you be a bit more specific as to why the Humax is so much more flexible?

excollier

take a read here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=81643352 (post #18)
and then, when you have a little time, here
http://www.avforums.com/forums/freesat/1661195-media-file-server-bundle-foxsat-hdr-release-4-0-part-3-a.html

dharn

@ excollier as the resident humax expert, can you confirm for me humax ability to manage diseq, im thinking of getting humax hdr foxsat to recieve saorsat and freesat will this machine combine the 2 of them seamlessly and record from both, as i have been told by an irish sat supplier that to do this some software changes have to be made and that this invalidates the warranty

NIMAN

I own the Humax, its a great box which has never missed a recording, unlike the Sky+ box I had for many years before.

The only issue I find with it is the fact that the remote often isn't seen by the receiver. It doesn't like being at angles to the receiver, and often distance can annoy it! I find I have the receiver turned slightly in the TV unit, with the front flap down to help me turn it over.

I Also considered the Samsung box, but didn't buy it as it was bugged to the eyeballs when it was released. I think the vast majority of these have now been sorted with software updates. Also think the EPG and on-screen display looks slicker than the Humax, which admittedly is an older box.

So either box would probably do you, maybe best to go with the cheapest?

These are reducing in price recently as Freesat have a new generation of receivers coming out now.

dharn

thanks niman, ya the humax gets great press but i am still confused as to why the dealer told me he does not sell it as part of a saorsat freesat combination, because you have to add software that invalidates the warranty ( his words )

excollier

The software may invalidate the warranty, but I have been using the modded firmware for a while now, and I have to say that it is proving very useful, and no problems with it. There is a lot of support out there for modded HDRs, I wouldn't hesitate to mod a new one if I were to buy another.
I'm not 100% sure about adding other sat programs to the main Freesat list, but I am sure I read that it is possible. I am looking into adding the diseqc function to mine for my 6 way multifeed dish when I get time to try it out.
The new Humax is having teething troubles, but so did the HDR when it first appeared.
The Foxsat HDR is now a very useful piece of kit, although not perfect, I am very pleased with it. I have Saorview, Freeview (all channels) and Freesat. I use the Foxsat HDR 99% of the time, it's so good.

dharn

thanks ex, i have one on order from amazon so you may be hearing from me again, when i am pulling my hair out trying to set it up !!!

excollier

If you have any knowlege of computers at all it will be easy, and the software comes with loads of explanatory notes.
If I can set it up, then anyone can, prior to this, I had no knowlege of home networks whatsoever, so it taught me a thing or two into the bargain.
Give me a pm or post in the forum if you need help.
I take it you have a router, it is essential.

dharn

thanks for that , will probably just set up system with freesat first and when things are settled down will look at adding soarsat i have saorview on an aerial at present