Foxsat HDR - anything to beat it?

mrcheez

Our house has a Sky satellite dish left over from the previous tenants (2 cables coming out of it so I assume we can record while watching different channels etc), and I'd like to get a Freesat digital TV recorder.

Friend recommends the Foxsat HDR.

I see it doesn't output 1080p (or perhaps it will in future?), but is there anything else I should consider?

Also recommend best place to buy said device?

Danke!

excollier

It doesn't output 1080p because no-one on satellite (Freesat at least) broadcasts 1080p (yet).
But it is a very versatile machine, particularly if you have a router, had mine a couple of years now and it's a superb bit of kit, get one while they are still available.
With a simple third party software update it can stream any of it's recorded content over your network to view on networked computer. It can do this whilst recording something and someone else uses it to watch a live broadcast, simultaneously.
It's also capable, with a bit of effort, of diseqc switching or motorised multi satellite reception.
What more could you ask of a machine, blows a Sky receiver out of the water.

mrcheez

Sounds good, now where can I buy one of these babies?

Maplin has been suggested to me therefore I assume I can get it for a quarter of Maplin's price somewhere else


btw, apart from the HDMI cable, that's all I need just to connect the dish to the TV correct? Don't need any additional decoder etc?

excollier

Ebay, maybe? They are discontinued now, so the supply is growing smaller, I'm tempted to buy a second one for myself just to have in reserve. The hard drive is very simple to upgrade if you buy a 320GB model and think it's too small, I upgraded mine to 1TB, very easy.

evilivor

mrcheez wrote: »

Sounds good, now where can I buy one of these babies?

Maplin has been suggested to me therefore I assume I can get it for a quarter of Maplin's price somewhere else

btw, apart from the HDMI cable, that's all I need just to connect the dish to the TV correct? Don't need any additional decoder etc?

The Foxsat Freesat+ has been replaced with the HDR1000. Richer Sounds have the 500gb box for £220, the 1gb for £231 and the newer model with wifi built in for £266 (it is white though). They're on Boards too.

http://www.richersounds.com/products/home-cinema/home-cinema-separates/digital-set-top-boxes#3

As for the HDMI cable - it comes included - plug the two cables into the box, enter a UK postcode, quick scan and loads of free channels.

excollier

You can't do all I mentioned above with it though, it's firmware is locked down - pretty securely.
And the retailer you mention is "Richer Sounds"

mrcheez

excollier wrote: »

Ebay, maybe? They are discontinued now, so the supply is growing smaller.

This is the same model yeah?

excollier

That's the very one!

evilivor

mrcheez wrote: »

This is the same model yeah?

£210 is a lot of money for an older model with just 320GB capacity - it's the model I have - but I were buying a machine for just watching and recording and not networking it I'd spend the extra £21 and get the 1TB one.

mrcheez

Hmm I can't see that on the page, do you mean the HDR1000? Got a link to the one that's £21 extra please?

The networking might be a good thing to have should I decide to hook up the PC to the system (play music on the TV etc. I'm assuming this is possible.)

evilivor

mrcheez wrote: »

Hmm I can't see that on the page, do you mean the HDR1000? Got a link to the one that's £21 extra please?

The networking might be a good thing to have should I decide to hook up the PC to the system (play music on the TV etc. I'm assuming this is possible.)

Yes, it's the HDR1000S 1TB -
http://www.richersounds.com/product/digital-set-top-boxes/humax/hdr1000s-1tb/huma-freesat-g2-1tb

With the USB port you can connect a media player or external hard drive to it but I think to access a network it might need an extra dongle - the newer model has wifi built in for networking.

glic83

if you know someone in the uk you can buy a refurbed box for £129

http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10105

To get the streaming over your home network you need to use a 3rd party firmware

NIMAN

I picked up mine on the AVForums Classifieds for £120 delivered, been working perfectly for over 2 years.

I see the odd one on there often for around £100 - £120 delivered, check there.

mrcheez

glic83 wrote: »

if you know someone in the uk you can buy a refurbed box for £129

http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10105

I know Parcel Motel ... cheers

glic83

mrcheez wrote: »

I know Parcel Motel ... cheers

They look for a uk delivery address and a uk billing address so dont know if parcel motel will work for this 1 ?

jonnygee

I bought a 320gb used one in Derry a couple of weeks ago for 70 sterling.

excollier

A real bargain.

jonnygee

Yeah, I wasnt looking for one but saw it and couldnt not buy it at that price.
It was in a "Cash Generator" shop.

excollier

jonnygee wrote: »

Yeah, I wasnt looking for one but saw it and couldnt not buy it at that price.
It was in a "Cash Generator" shop.

The one in Shipquay St? Damn, if I had only spotted it first.....

jonnygee

That,s the one,
The early bird gets the worm.

NIMAN

I mentioned AVForums, and how some are going there for £100 delivered.

This is an aging model and I'd say there is room for plenty of haggling, so would could end up getting a seller down to £70 or £80. Always worth a try.

mrcheez

Do any of these models support multi-room viewing? What extra hardware would I require for the TV upstairs?

excollier

You would need a Triax Tri-Link to enable rf output and magic eye similar to Sky, but why bother when you can stream all it's recorded content (including an in-progress recording to enable near live streaming)?

mrcheez

Just re-bumping my old thread here...

I've been procrastinating getting this satellite Dvr system setup and spotted this one (http://www.lidl.ie/cps/rde/SID-AEE4B166-FD50B747/www_lidl_ie/hs.xsl/Offers.htm?action=showDetail&id=952) on sale in Lidl next week.

What exactly would i be missing if i went for the lidl one over the foxsat? I don't really have any interest in recording tv etc.

Would i have access to all the same freesat channels?

Edit: hmm seems I can't link directly but it's the satellite receiver on sale for 69 on the 5th

NIMAN

That link of yours doesn't work for me but even without seeing it I would say that nothing you are going to buy in Lidl is going to compare to the Foxsat. End of.

The Foxsats are going cheap enough now to make buying any unbranded thing from Homebase or Lidl a silly move (imho).

dodzy

mrcheez wrote: »

Just re-bumping my old thread here...

I've been procrastinating getting this satellite Dvr system setup and spotted this one (http://www.lidl.ie/cps/rde/SID-AEE4B166-FD50B747/www_lidl_ie/hs.xsl/Offers.htm?action=showDetail&id=952) on sale in Lidl next week.

What exactly would i be missing if i went for the lidl one over the foxsat? I don't really have any interest in recording tv etc.

Would i have access to all the same freesat channels?

Edit: hmm seems I can't link directly but it's the satellite receiver on sale for 69 on the 5th

You miss 7 day EPG (channel guide), auto tuning of channels when frequency changes occur, a slick UI vs that of the bog standard low end FTA box. Just remember, the lidl offering is a free to air unit, while the foxsat is freesat. There will be more channels available on the lidl unit, but a lot of these are crap and there will be a lot of duplication following initial setup, requiring a bit of effort to get your list streamlined. Also, the internal HDD in the units referred to above will allow you to record plenty of stuff.

You refer to DVR, but your link does not indicate DVR functionality, so no recording.

Link fixed: http://www.lidl.ie/cps/rde/SID-AEE4B166-FD50B747/www_lidl_ie/hs.xsl/Offers.htm?action=showDetail&id=952



Personally, I use a combi which is FTA ( English ) and also saorview , only because there is no freesat combi out there.



Bottom line, Freesat.

mrcheez

OK cheers, yeah odd that the link wouldn't work when I copied on my iPad

ah I see, the closing bracket got stuck in at the end, doh!

kooga

guys have an opportunity to pick up a foxsat hdr 320gb in great condition for €100 or should I just go a new hdr1000s? any thoughts tks

glic83

100 quid is a good price tbh

excollier

Get the Foxsat - I would buy a second one if I had the funds, no hesitation.

mrcheez

I have the HDR1000S and it's a fantastic bit of kit and well worth the money.

I heard that the Foxsat is a bit slower to start up (and there are possibly other issues that the HDR resolves), but you do have the advantage of being able to install custom firmware if you feel the need (the standard software on the HDR1000S suits me fine as I have no need to transfer recordings from the PVR to my PC, etc)

oconnorw

Hi excollier. I also have the 320gb model. Would you have the name and model of 1000gb hard drive you used and where you bought it.

Many thanks

excollier

Here you go:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-AV-GP-Desktop-Drive/dp/B006IMFT32/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1T7X6DE757YMT&coliid=I176CW0GD0T47S
and here is how I learned to change it, but you will need a jumper for pins 5&6 of this drive to make it work, jumpers are ultra cheap from any computer shop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STBZ3iR9jQQ
it's a series of videos.

oconnorw

Excollier many thanks

NIMAN

I have had one for over 3 yrs now and it's never let me down. Bought it secondhand off A/V forums classifieds for 120. I see the odd one still going for 100 or less

ei9go

mrcheez wrote: »

I know Parcel Motel ... cheers

They know about Parcel Motel and will cancel the order even if you get it through

mrcheez

ei9go wrote: »

They know about Parcel Motel and will cancel the order even if you get it through

hmm fairly out of date response considering I already bought the HDR1000S over a month ago... went with Richer Sounds in the end