Which Freeview DVD/HDD recorder should I buy?
davids...@yahoo.com
Tesco refunded my money without any hassle.
I would like to replace it with a Freeview DVD/HDD recorder. What are
the alternatives and which one should I buy?
I already have a Topfield 5800 but would like the DVD facility for
archiving programmes.
David
Adrian A
I intend to purchase the Panasonic DMR-EX75EB-S in the next few months. I'm
unable to recieve Freeview until after switchover but I expect it to still
be working then. Before that it can still record analogue or an external
source, eg. Sky.
--
Adrian
Chris
wrote:
>I intend to purchase the Panasonic DMR-EX75EB-S
Which is what I bought a couple of months ago. It is brilliant and I
can't fault it in any way at all.
Shop around and it can be found for around £300. You can get it ready
converted to region free but lose the manufacturer's warranty.
Alec
> I intend to purchase the Panasonic DMR-EX75EB-S. It is brilliant and I
> can't fault it in any way at all.
It's only got one digital tuner, though, right?
I'd class that as a pretty big drawback, as a multiple tuner integrated
box can be way easier to use than multiple boxes.
That said, I think there's *still* no consumer product (other than
Media Centre PCs) which offers multiple digital tuners and DVD
recording.
Chris
an integrated digital tuner that is no problem to me. Surely nobody
would buy a TV today without an integrated digital tuner? It has only
been a conspiracy between the manufacturers of set top boxes and TVs
that has meant that analogue only sets have been offered for so long.
The Panasonic's features allow watching and recording different
channels and the time slip facility works fine.
Linda B
> Yes, it only has one digital tuner but as I am using it with a TV with
> an integrated digital tuner that is no problem to me. Surely nobody
> would buy a TV today without an integrated digital tuner? It has only
> been a conspiracy between the manufacturers of set top boxes and TVs
> that has meant that analogue only sets have been offered for so long.
> The Panasonic's features allow watching and recording different
> channels and the time slip facility works fine.
Excuse me for butting in to this thread but I have a question along the
same lines. (or if better started as a new thread, if someone shouts I'll
happily start a new one!)
We have a Sony KD-28DL10U IDTV (about three years old) We have tried a
Liteon LVW 5045 HDD DVD recorder but discovered that we can't record
digital Freeview channels with it (and there were other things we didn't
like about it so it has been returned)
My question therefore, is can anyone suggest a suitable replacement that
will *definitely* work with the IDTV? We know very little about them, so
any advice gratefully received.
The TV has SmartLink (Sony) so does whatever we buy need to have something
compatible, if so what? Or should we buy an HDD with Freeview tuner or
would that conflict with the integrated tuner part of the tv and does this
get complicated in connecting things together?
We've looked at lots online but so far, have just got totally confused!
Pyriform
> We have a Sony KD-28DL10U IDTV (about three years old) We have tried a
> Liteon LVW 5045 HDD DVD recorder but discovered that we can't record
> digital Freeview channels with it (and there were other things we
> didn't like about it so it has been returned)
> My question therefore, is can anyone suggest a suitable replacement
> that will *definitely* work with the IDTV?
You want something with its own Freeview tuner built in. You don't want to
be reliant on the TV's tuner.
> The TV has SmartLink (Sony) so does whatever we buy need to have
> something compatible, if so what?
No. See above!
> Or should we buy an HDD with
> Freeview tuner or would that conflict with the integrated tuner part
> of the tv and does this get complicated in connecting things together?
Not at all. It will have the same relationship to your TV as a VCR would
have, back in the olden days. The aerial lead plugs into the box, and
another lead plugs into the TV's aerial socket. A Scart lead connects the
box to the TV. You will have to choose between two basic approaches:
1) Single or twin tuner Freeview HDD recorders.
These are ideal for timeshifting, and offer picture quality which is
identical to the broadcast. With a twin tuner version, you can record two
programmes at once, whilst watching a previous recording. You can also
typically pause and rewind live TV. However, none of these incorporate a DVD
writer, so you will not be able to archive programmes you wish to keep
without an external DVD recorder (or performing various complicated
shenanigans involving a PC).
2) Single tuner DVD or HDD/DVD recorders.
You've already used one of these, so I won't go into details. They can only
record one programme at a time, but you will be able to easily transfer
recorded material onto DVD (in the case of a machine with no HDD, that's the
only place it can go!).
Personally, I think (1) is the way to go, and can't understand why anyone
would choose (2). But your mileage, as they say, may vary...
Chris Leuty
"Pyriform" <nob...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> 1) Single or twin tuner Freeview HDD recorders.
> 2) Single tuner DVD or HDD/DVD recorders.
> Personally, I think (1) is the way to go, and can't understand why anyone
> would choose (2). But your mileage, as they say, may vary...
For the sake of argument if you choose 1, what if you wanted to record
from an external source (e.g. satellite, vcr) onto the HDD: can it be
done by any box currently available?
Pyriform
> "Pyriform" wrote:
>
>> 1) Single or twin tuner Freeview HDD recorders.
>
>> 2) Single tuner DVD or HDD/DVD recorders.
>
>> Personally, I think (1) is the way to go, and can't understand why
>> anyone would choose (2). But your mileage, as they say, may vary...
>
> For the sake of argument if you choose 1, what if you wanted to record
> from an external source (e.g. satellite, vcr) onto the HDD: can it be
> done by any box currently available?
No. I could have mentioned the lack of external inputs as a further drawback
of (1), I suppose. But the OP's requirement appeared to be for a digital
Freeview recorder.
We've done all this at length here before, but briefly the difference
between the two approaches is that devices in group (1) do not have a
built-in MPEG2 encoder, whereas devices in group (2) do. I guess unless you
know what is going on inside the boxes, the distinction must be rather
confusing...
Alec
> Yes, it only has one digital tuner but as I am using it with a TV with
> an integrated digital tuner that is no problem to me.
Agreed, with a single tuner recorder you'll still be able to use the
TV's tuner. And it's no worse than in the old analogue & VCR world.
But my experience with the Pace Twin recorder is that having a single
device providing both recording and live watching makes for a more
integrated and seamless environment.
> Surely nobody would buy a TV today without an integrated digital tuner?
I have two. I bought a display-only plasma, as I knew that I'd be
using it with a separate PVR & DVD player - and very happy with that.
Also bought a supermarket cheapy LCD as, even factoring in the £25 for
a cheapy Freeview box, it was way cheaper than any IDTV - not as user
friendly, but worked for me.
> It has only been a conspiracy between the manufacturers of set top boxes and TVs
> that has meant that analogue only sets have been offered for so long.
Agreed - criminal!
Linda B
Thankyou! I'll pass on the information to my hubby and we'll get hunting
online... hopefully to find something we can buy/install without too many
questions :-)
Of course, if anyone actually has any recommendations, that would be
helpful (I'm not being too lazy to trawl the web and read up, it's just
nice to know that someone that has a similar set up has it working!)
Thanks again.
Linda B
> Chris Leuty wrote:
>> "Pyriform" wrote:
>>
>>> 1) Single or twin tuner Freeview HDD recorders.
>>
>>> 2) Single tuner DVD or HDD/DVD recorders.
>>
>>> Personally, I think (1) is the way to go, and can't understand why
>>> anyone would choose (2). But your mileage, as they say, may vary...
>>
>> For the sake of argument if you choose 1, what if you wanted to record
>> from an external source (e.g. satellite, vcr) onto the HDD: can it be
>> done by any box currently available?
>
> No. I could have mentioned the lack of external inputs as a further drawback
> of (1), I suppose. But the OP's requirement appeared to be for a digital
> Freeview recorder.
Yes, as the OP, I can confirm that is what we're looking at.
> We've done all this at length here before,
I'd just like to add here that I did download the last 1000 posts and hunt
through for info but this thread was the only one I could find. I know its
not really polite to butt in on someone else's thread but it did seem kind
of relevant. I hope the original poster also finds what he needs.
>but briefly the difference
> between the two approaches is that devices in group (1) do not have a
> built-in MPEG2 encoder, whereas devices in group (2) do. I guess unless you
> know what is going on inside the boxes, the distinction must be rather
> confusing...
Er, to me... it's all highly confusing but we'll get there in the end, I
hope.
Pyriform
> Of course, if anyone actually has any recommendations, that would be
> helpful (I'm not being too lazy to trawl the web and read up, it's
> just nice to know that someone that has a similar set up has it
> working!) Thanks again.
A few months ago, I'd have happily recommended the Thomson DHD4000,
especially as Argos were briefly selling them for £99.99 (I couldn't resist
buying a second!). But I think you'd have trouble finding one now.
The ones that tend to get recommended here are Humax and Topfield twin tuner
machines, so I suggest you research those. My *perception* (as a non-user of
either), is that the Topfield is more versatile, in that it can be augmented
with third-party software add-ons (TAPS), but that the Humax is more useable
out-of-the-box.
Owners of both tend to get a bit evangelical, so one might be along to
preach to you shortly...
If not, you might find this resource useful:
http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/forumdisplay.php?f=90
Simon Slavin
<ablqh21ihpuo3u839...@4ax.com>:
> Surely nobody
> would buy a TV today without an integrated digital tuner?
I think that's the wrong way for living-room TVs. I don't think they
should have any tuners in at all. Since, to get decent sound, you already
need to plug your video system into your audio system, it should become
completely disintegrated: you have
* your media inputs (broadcast TV system, DVD)
* your media recording/playing apparatus (VCR/PVR)
* your audio output (stereo system) and
* your video output (nice big display screen with no interpretation logic
at all).
You can use the stereo system to play audio without needing the other
things. You can use the big screen to display pictures without needing
the other things (e.g. by using it as a screen for your computer). You
can use the input/recording components without needing the output stuff.
Why tie up the biggest, most expensive component by including lots of TV
logic in it ?
One exception is portable TVs. If you want an integrated system you can
pick up with one hand, then you need the tuner in with it. What I'm
waiting for is a TV which lacks the analogue circuitry. That should
reduce the cost by ten pounds or so.
Simon.
--
http://www.hearsay.demon.co.uk