Contact Lens me a Freeview Recorder

Youstolemyname · 9 Nov 2008 at 23:04

I need to get a freeview recorder for my grandad for xmas.

Nothing fancy required but one that will let him watch tv on one channel while recording the other. The biggest deciding factor will be ease of use. If there is anything with a 'sky+' style recording menu out there that would be fantastic!

Cheers for any advice.

Bes · 10 Nov 2008 at 10:21

Something from the Humax range... Everything else I have tried just crashes/ hangs/ is unreliable.

There is a 9150T model out that is pretty good, or try HumaxDirect.

El_Watcher · 10 Nov 2008 at 11:45

I second the Humax box. It has the easiest guide to use, plus unlike some (eg Sky, Panasonic), you can still watch the channel you are on whilst browsing the guide.

a1ex2001 · 11 Nov 2008 at 14:57

Humax again I can't fault mine, it's so good even the misses likes it.

valve90210 · 11 Nov 2008 at 19:11

Another vote for humax, got a 9200 and it's fabulous!!!

z0mbi3 · 12 Nov 2008 at 13:51

I hear the EPG takes ages to populate on the 9150t?

ScarySquirrel · 12 Nov 2008 at 14:19

Has anyone got any screenshots of what the EPG on the humax looks like? Can you mod it at all? I only ask because I hate ugly EPG's

a1ex2001 · 12 Nov 2008 at 16:11

z0mbi3 said:
I hear the EPG takes ages to populate on the 9150t?

The EPG on my Humax takes a while to populate allthough it does seem much better since we got a new aerial (not sure that should make a difference!) it is one of my few gripes about the humax box why it doesn't store the EPG on the disk when you turn it off and just update it in the background after power up I have no idea!

ScarySquirrel said:
Has anyone got any screenshots of what the EPG on the humax looks like? Can you mod it at all? I only ask because I hate ugly EPG's

I've not got any screen shots and I've never tried to mod it but I will say it's on a par with any other freeview EPG I've seen. To be honest these days they all seem to be following pretty much the same format and are a lot better than even 2 years ago when some were terrible.

Youstolemyname · 13 Nov 2008 at 21:19

Thanks guys, looks like im off to get a humax then!

jellybeard999 · 13 Nov 2008 at 21:30

If you want to spend, look at Topfields, supposedly the best and definitely the most customisable (custom GUIs etc)

M0T · 13 Nov 2008 at 22:02

Whatever you do don't get him a top up tv branded one.

Youstolemyname · 13 Nov 2008 at 22:04

Cheap and cheerful to be honest, my grandad wont care about custom guis- just if he can record heartbeat while watching antiques roadshow!

Jonnycoupe · 13 Nov 2008 at 22:11

I got a Wharfedale DTR160 HDMI. Pretty impressed for a budget/non premium TBH with simple enough controls if basic EPG and a bargain at £60 if you look around. Dunno if i can say where from?

SexyGreyFox · 15 Nov 2008 at 02:25

I've got a Digihome DTR160 that cost £90 from Argos and it has never let me down.
Its that easy to program that my 75 year old mother can do it.

grez · 15 Nov 2008 at 03:22

http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/digital_tvs/search.asp

Might be useful.

deadite66 · 15 Nov 2008 at 08:51

yeah another vote for humax, got my parents one each.

i read that when you want the epg to arrive you should set the channel to bbc 1 or 2 before pressing guide as they are the only ones to broadcast all of the guide information.

anyone found if thats true?

iraiguana · 15 Nov 2008 at 12:51

Humax and Topfield are the best brands from my research. Topfield are a fair whack more, but do have a few extra features which would be up to you if worthwhile.