PVR with BASIC/EASY to use

ANDARIAL · 11 Oct 2019 at 09:58

As title please
Looking for a Freeview easy to use for guide and playback
Its for my 80 yr+ mum
No need for large storage as she deletes programs after she watches them

lucid · 11 Oct 2019 at 13:11

Humax HDR1800T - £120 new. Refurbs and used @ £40 - £60-ish

ANDARIAL · 11 Oct 2019 at 13:17

lucid said:
Humax HDR1800T - £120 new. Refurbs and used @ £40 - £60-ish

Thanks

I actually have that one myself

Puzzled · 15 Oct 2019 at 10:49

Can't get much simpler than a Youview box, I paid about £45 a couple of years ago for a second hand one and it still works well. Just avoid the TalkTalk version as its supposed to be slow.

https://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43928/~/different-types-of-tv-boxes-from-bt

jpaul · 15 Oct 2019 at 11:22

Freeview Play , is the latest epg system, and maybe more intuitive for less tech savvy people ....
have not tried the interface myself, but I know my folks would struggle with my humax fox interface, versus skyQ say.

https://www.freeview.co.uk/get-freeview/play-products

https://www.freeview.co.uk/get-freeview/products/humax-fvp-5000t-500gb
that's got 3 tuners + watch one £150 refurb

even though humax reliability not what it was , there are few other multi-tuner solutions.

lucid · 15 Oct 2019 at 13:48

Humax FVP4000T and FVP5000T are bug-ridden. The 4000T was a commercial disaster due to its issues. The 5000 was the replacement, but they still haven't got it right. Unless someone absolutely needs the additional tuners and extra potential recording capacity then I'd be very careful about selecting or even recommending an FVP5000T.

ANDARIAL · 15 Oct 2019 at 14:56

Thanks for all the info guys

Catchup etc not worth it for 2 reasons here
Landline internet is 3Mbs

Although i am currently trying out a 4G router which is much better
Mum sure aint tech savvy so has to be easy all the way

Puzzled · 15 Oct 2019 at 16:35

ANDARIAL said:
Thanks for all the info guys
Catchup etc not worth it for 2 reasons here
Landline internet is 3Mbs
Although i am currently trying out a 4G router which is much better
Mum sure aint tech savvy so has to be easy all the way

Youview is like TV for technophobes, very intuitive guide. My parents find it easier to use than the Sky box they had previously and the remote buttons are a decent size as well.

jpaul · 16 Oct 2019 at 09:23

lucid said:
I'd be very careful about selecting or even recommending an FVP5000T

so it's the software(fixable), or hardware(&long term reliability), or both, I've not read up on it.

lucid · 16 Oct 2019 at 14:00

jpaul said:
so it's the software(fixable), or hardware(&long term reliability), or both, I've not read up on it.

I'm guessing a mix of both.

There are lots of people complaining about the user interface, and the hardware freezing up. AFAIK, 4000 and 5000 are essentially the same machine but with some tweaks for the later model to help differentiate it enough to class a new model.

jpaul · 16 Oct 2019 at 14:14

Indeed I subsequently browsed a few threads about slow UI
Humax FVP-5000T - do not buy recommendation - Page 3 — Digital Spy

couldn't find a (non-humax) youtube review illustrating that ... videos may not lie.