That’s it Sky has to go!

GSXRMovistar

GSXRMovistar

GSXRMovistar

Soldato
Joined
6 Nov 2002
Posts
9,860
Location
London UK
The missus and I have decided that after another evening of nothing but repeats and junk Sky has to go.

At the moment we only subscribe to the standard package (~£25 a month) as we normally buy/rent DVDs for movies and don’t need the sport channels. I was tempted by Sky+ as at least we could then queue up some of the stuff that’s new so it wouldn’t always be repeats but this then adds an extra tenner a month plus whatever they are currently charging for the STB and install.

So realising that most of the programmes we actually watch are those that are available on Freeview moving to this would save a bit of cash. After a bit of looking around on the web this evening I came across the Humax pvr9200t which looks like a nice bit of kit.

Personal Video Recorder (PVR)
• 100 Hours Recording (160GB hard disc)
• Single button live pause and play during A/V watching (Time shifted Recording)
• Fast Forward/Rewind in various speeds and Slow Motion
• Instant Replay and Skip during A/V watching
• One touch sound scheduling in EPG information
• Digital Radio Recording/Variable instant recording
Digital Terrestrial Set-Top Box
• MPEG2 Digital and Fully DVB- T Compliant
• Common interface for play TV
• Digital Teletext (MHEG5 support) *(UK only)
• RF modulator/Twin scarts (Scart cable included)
• Dolby digital 5.1 optical output
• Two year manufacturer guarantee
• 200 channel storage
• 5 favorite groups
• Subtitle supports EBU & DVB subtitle
• Teletext supports by VBI insertion
• Dolby Digital Audio Output
• Automatic Software Update
• Various Games
General Features
• MPEG-2 Digital and fully DVB-T compliant Digital teletext (MHEG-5)
• Up to 200 receivable channels
• Dolby Digital audio output
• Video format in 4:3, 16:9 and letterbox
• PAL/NTSC compliant
• User friendly 8 day EPG
• 5 favourite channel groups
• Personal video recording of up to 40 hours through 80GB HDD
• Record radio facility
• Will record 20 single events, or 15 single events and 5 weekly Jump to live program
• Slow motion forward and backwards in various speeds
Plug and Play
• Easy install
• HUMAX special tuner has just 1 signal input
Twin Tuner
• Record two channels whilst watching live TV or play-back
• Picture in picture to see 2 programmes on 1 screen
USB 2.0
• USB 2.0 connectivity for PC
• MPEG A/V file transfer between Duovisio and PC
• Digital photo album and slide show


It’s approx £200 so that’s a fair bit cheaper than Sky+ which comes to £570 for the first year (£25*12 standard subscription, 10*12 Sky+ features, £90 STB and £60 install).

Anyway now to the point of this post, does anyone own or have any experience of the 9200T and give me any reason why I should/shouldn’t go for it, or if they can recommend anything else that does the same job?

Thanks for any advice/help.
 
Was just about to order one and just ran into my first problem, at the moment I use the RF out on the Sky box to feed a second screen in the kitchen (ever so handy whilst cooking), this also has a magic eye attached so I can change channels from each room (although I can live without this bonus).

Now from what I can make out the RF out on the 9200T is only a loop through feeding out the standard signal (not freeview feed). It does however have a second scart out but my problem is the cable running between the two rooms is coax chased into the walls.

Hmm may need to have a re-think about whether I can get this to fit in with the rest of my kit. :(
 
carpmaster said:
From what I can find it looks like this does have an RF modulator and not just a loopthrough. Obviously you could use the coaxial cable if it has a modulator. If it doesn't though you can buy a seperate RF modulator which will turn one of the scart outputs into a RF signal for sending down the coax.

As per the changing channel in the kitchen, you can do this with a remote sender such as the Powermid XL which costs about £25
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I've just been reading avfourms.co.uk and from what I can make out it does look like theres an RF mod and I've also discovered that I can still use the TvLink (magic) in the kitchen if I get another TvLink device that goes on the coax at the other in (next to the rest of the kit) this will then let me control everthing, not just a Sky box.

So at the moment it's all looking good, but just want to do a little more research first to make sure none of the other Freeview PVR units would be a better choice.
 
It's a bit more cash but I'm not too fussed on the cost as long as it does what I want without problems. But yeah it does seem that to get the best out of the Topfield it needs more time spent on it and considering all the other things that keep me busy I don't think the missus would be too pleased if I start messing around with this, "Sorry love you can watch telly tonight as I've knackered something whilst installing version 1.2.3.4.5 patch to the tv!". :D
 
-=BAF=-AXE said:
Maybe some one could help me on this subject!

I also looked at the cheap digital fusion one (single tuner)
but i cant see if i can put an input through it Eg Sky and record that?

Andy
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Nope I don't believe you can on any of the Freeview PVRs out at the moment.
 
I guess I may have ordered from the same place as I also paid £205.99 which appears to be the cheapest as everywhere else seems to be putting their prices up.

Order confirmed as being dispatched this evening and should be with me on Friday morning.
 
Well it turned up this morning before I went to work and I’ve had an hour to play with it this evening. First impression are VERY good, didn’t have a main ariel feed to test it with so just plugged in a small powered portable ariel and I was surprised to see that nearly every channel could still be picked up.

Picture is very good and the menu system is simple and clear to use, also like how you still get a small preview window of the current programme whilst browsing the guides etc, something I missed when moving to Sky from Telewest.

The time-shifting functions work well and it’s rather odd to be able to just pause/rewind live TV, I see this is going to be very useful. Will try and find time to set it up properly tomorrow and test it some more, and all going well Sky will get a call from me next week telling them to stick it. :p
 
Now hooked up to the main aerial so all channels work, tried out most of the features today and will repeat my previous comments about being very impressed with this kit.

Thought that recording two channels at once whilst watching a third was rather cool (if not a little geeky). What it lacks in channels compared to Sky is made up by the fact that you can build up a huge amount of recordings to ensure you always have something to watch, not to mention the amount of money to be saved.
 
Tob3z said:
Don't mean to Hi Jack but is this basically the best PVR. This topic has got me thinking I should get one because I don't think I will be able to afford Sky HD.
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Firstly these Freeview PVRs don't offer HD so probably not worth comparing to Sky HD whenever it's released, closest thing right now would be Sky+.

As for which is best, well at the moment the Humax and the Topfield seem to be the highest rated when it comes to high capacity twin tuner units, with the Topfield offering that little extra with TAPS (a system allowing you to customise many features). I suppose it comes down to personal choice, do you want something that can be taken out of the packaging and used within minutes or something that you can spend hours tweaking to give you exactly what you want?
 
Tesla said:
GSXR did you take my advice and move the sky box to your kitchen to act as a freeview box? I didn't explain myself very clearly on that so if you need more info on it then please ask :)
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No need to do that, I'm taking the RF out of the Humax and passing the signal through the existing coax. It's only powering a 7" screen I have mounted in the wall so don't need a high quality feed. Also means I don't have to find somewhere in the kitchen to house/power the Sky box.

There's already a TV link module on the kitchen side of the coax so I just need to buy a TV Link+ to go on the other end in the A/V cabinet (living room) this will allow me to control everything from the kitchen if needed.
 
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