Searching for Combo box with built in H drive

DanWall

I am looking for Combo box to replace my Sky box, I would preferably like an internal HD.
I am looking at aFerguson ARIVA 153 which has a USB for recording, will any USB drive be compatible?
Has anyone experience of this box? There appears to be plenty on eBay minus ext hard drive

Tony

Most good quality USB drives will work with the Ariva

DopeTech

http://www.freetv.ie/amiko-alien-2/

DanWall

FrostyJim wrote: »

http://www.freetv.ie/amiko-alien-2/

The discription say it does not have a 7day EPG, I like the triple tuner.
Can anyone explain the difference between the Ariva 153, 252 and 253?

Tony

Only difference is the display on the front of the box which is pretty much irrelevant as all the info appears on the Tv screen.

DanWall wrote: »

Can anyone explain the difference between the Ariva 153, 252 and 253?

DanWall

Tony wrote: »

Only difference is the display on the front of the box which is pretty much irrelevant as all the info appears on the Tv screen.

Is the 253 not a later version of the 252? Which is the best of the 3 of them?

Tony

It is a later model but again very minor differences that you will not notice, they are all good there is no "best" in my view. Save yourself some money and get a 153 if you decide to go the ariva route.

DanWall wrote: »

Is the 253 not a later version of the 252? Which is the best of the 3 of them?

DopeTech

DanWall wrote: »

The discription say it does not have a 7day EPG, I like the triple tuner.
Can anyone explain the difference between the Ariva 153, 252 and 253?

The alien2 does have a full 7 day EPG once you download and install crossepg plugin. I think it is even preinstalled in the image that comes on the box if you ask freetv.ie to programme enigma2 for you.

DanWall

FrostyJim wrote: »

The alien2 does have a full 7 day EPG once you download and install crossepg plugin. I think it is even preinstalled in the image that comes on the box if you ask freetv.ie to programme enigma2 for you.

It would appear that the manufacturers are holding back, a 3 channel tuner with hard drive would be ideal but is not obtainable, should I hold on until they catch up? Is this their sales tactics

DopeTech

DanWall wrote: »

It would appear that the manufacturers are holding back, a 3 channel tuner with hard drive would be ideal but is not obtainable, should I hold on until they catch up? Is this their sales tactics

The amiko alien2 has 3 tuners and a 7day EPG.

Gerry Wicklow

DanWall wrote: »

It would appear that the manufacturers are holding back, a 3 channel tuner with hard drive would be ideal but is not obtainable, should I hold on until they catch up? Is this their sales tactics

There are several combo boxes with internal HDD (or it can easily be fitted) but they tend to be the higher end of the market

DanWall

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

There are several combo boxes with internal HDD (or it can easily be fitted) but they tend to be the higher end of the market

I am not expecting it to be cheap. I have looked up a Humax HDR 1100S which has good reviews, but I saw on Utube that Sky NEWS for example had to be set up as other channels, is this normal?

I may forget the combo bit at this stage because when I eventually get a new TV it will have Soarview, my existing TV was pre Saorview TV, I have a Soarview box

Tony

DanWall wrote: »

but I saw on Utube that Sky NEWS for example had to be set up as other channels, is this normal?

Yes as sky is not part of the freesat package

DanWall wrote: »

I may forget the combo bit at this stage because when I eventually get a new TV it will have Soarview, my existing TV was pre Saorview TV, I have a Soarview box

It should be easy enough to switch between the two sources and your new Tv will most likely have USB recording for saorview

DanWall

DanWall wrote: »

I am not expecting it to be cheap. I have looked up a Humax HDR 1100S which has good reviews, but I saw on Utube that Sky NEWS for example had to be set up as other channels, is this normal?

I may forget the combo bit at this stage because when I eventually get a new TV it will have Soarview, my existing TV was pre Saorview TV, I have a Soarview box

After a lot of research I purchased A HUMAX 1100s. I have only had a few hours with it so far. First thing I noticed was no SCART, I was using this to go to my DVD which was giving me 5.1 sound, I only have the red white RCA socket which I not sure what I get when I connect these

Booms

There should be an audio optical cable output, too.

mackersdublin

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

There are several combo boxes with internal HDD (or it can easily be fitted) but they tend to be the higher end of the market

Any models please

Really miss being able to rewind live TV (like on Sky etc), which isn't possible via external hardrive - just live pause and record

Johnboy1951

I know this is slightly OT, but what is the difference between

rewind live TV and live pause and record?

anonanymore

DanWall wrote: »

I am not expecting it to be cheap. I have looked up a Humax HDR 1100S which has good reviews, but I saw on Utube that Sky NEWS for example had to be set up as other channels, is this normal

I have Sky News on my Humax HDR 1000s - channel 202. Box set up with London post code.

Gerry Wicklow

mackersdublin wrote: »

Any models please

Really miss being able to rewind live TV (like on Sky etc), which isn't possible via external hardrive - just live pause and record

Search for Gigablue, Technomate, VU+ etc etc. It should be possible to rewind live Tv using an external drive once it is configured correctly in the software.

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I know this is slightly OT, but what is the difference between

rewind live TV and live pause and record?

The difference between live pause and rewind is with pause you start recording the program immediately you hit pause. With live rewind the box is recording whatever you are watching as soon as you switch to a channel. Obviously live rewind puts far more wear on the hard drive as it is always recording.

Johnboy1951

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

The difference between live pause and rewind is with pause you start recording the program immediately you hit pause. With live rewind the box is recording whatever you are watching as soon as you switch to a channel. Obviously live rewind puts far more wear on the hard drive as it is always recording.

Thanks.
So this is permanently recording channel hopping and viewing and so on.
interesting

FRIENDO

Johnboy1951 wrote:

Thanks. So this is permanently recording channel hopping and viewing and so on. interesting

The triax 114 combo can only rewind live tv or pause live tv, but not both, unless watching a recording.

The box is usually set up with pause function, but can be changed in settings.