Box that does it all?

BoB3rt · 28 Feb 2013 at 17:58

Hi,

I am looking for a Freeview/smart box and i am a little surprised that i have not found a box that can:

Receive HD freeview channels
Stream Media from your PC or Storage.
Has the standard apps such as Netflix, facebook youtube etc

Am i looking in the wrong places?

Thanks

El_Watcher · 28 Feb 2013 at 20:41

Not sure where you are looking and how much you want to spend, but they do exist. A quick Google for "Smart Freeview box" brings up units from Panasonic and Samsung, that do what you want to do, plus they either record to HDD, or record to BR.

Panasonic DMR-HW120E is HDD recorder, Freeview+HD, apps like Lovefilm and Skype, DLNA server for streaming. Ethernet only.

Samsung STB-E7500 is HDD recorder, Freeview+HD, possibly more apps than above, DLNA for streaming. Ethernet + Wifi. More expensive than above.

BoB3rt · 28 Feb 2013 at 20:59

El_Watcher said:
Not sure where you are looking and how much you want to spend, but they do exist. A quick Google for "Smart Freeview box" brings up units from Panasonic and Samsung, that do what you want to do, plus they either record to HDD, or record to BR.

Panasonic DMR-HW120E is HDD recorder, Freeview+HD, apps like Lovefilm and Skype, DLNA server for streaming. Ethernet only.

Samsung STB-E7500 is HDD recorder, Freeview+HD, possibly more apps than above, DLNA for streaming. Ethernet + Wifi. More expensive than above.

Thank you was using the wrong word combo in google!

tribz · 1 Mar 2013 at 07:49

El_Watcher said:
Not sure where you are looking and how much you want to spend, but they do exist. A quick Google for "Smart Freeview box" brings up units from Panasonic and Samsung, that do what you want to do, plus they either record to HDD, or record to BR.

Panasonic DMR-HW120E is HDD recorder, Freeview+HD, apps like Lovefilm and Skype, DLNA server for streaming. Ethernet only.

Samsung STB-E7500 is HDD recorder, Freeview+HD, possibly more apps than above, DLNA for streaming. Ethernet + Wifi. More expensive than above.

I had the STB-E7500 and it was an excellent all in one box. It does have some quirks though such as not being able to see the guide if your recording 2 programs at once. The DNLA client was great as was Netflix and Lovefilm. There does seem to be a problem with some of them in that their tuners stop working. This happened to me and also a few people on the AV forums. It was replaced for me when this happened. If I ever leave Sky again, then I would consider this box again.

If your interested in the STB-7500, have a look on the AV forums thread here.

Slade2 · 2 Mar 2013 at 09:50

You could have a look at something from Humax, there are a small community that have developed a custom firmware that allows all sorts of stuff. Currently I can my PC to see whats on the humax and also deleted/rename move and watch anything from the humax in any room that is connect to the network.

DesG · 5 Mar 2013 at 23:11

Do any of the Youview devices have any of these features?

siege2 · 9 Mar 2013 at 09:51

Slade2 said:
You could have a look at something from Humax, there are a small community that have developed a custom firmware that allows all sorts of stuff. Currently I can my PC to see whats on the humax and also deleted/rename move and watch anything from the humax in any room that is connect to the network.

Hi slade do you have the model off your Humax, and a web link off custom firmware, If you have it please.

Thanks
Kenneth