New to Freeview
 

Hi,

I am switching from Sky to Freeview this week to save some money.

I am looking at a box that can record and has 2 tuners built in.
Another important requirement is subtitles. My wife is hard of hearing
and relies on this.

I am looking at either of the following, both in Argos:
Hitachi HDR161 DTR with 160GB HDD
Wharfedale 160DTRHDMI DTR with 160GB HDD

The Wharfdale unit is listed as having subtitle support, where the
Hitachi unit isn't. Is this an Argos problem? I assumed it would work
in the same manner as Sky. If there are subtitles then they'll work,
just turn them on in the software.

I've never heard of Wharfdale, so am unsure on this unit. Does anyone
have any experience with them?

Cheers,

Pete.

New to Freeview
 

"Badders" wrote in message
...
Hi,


Another important requirement is subtitles. My wife is hard of hearing
and relies on this.



I've never heard of Wharfdale, so am unsure on this unit. Does anyone
have any experience with them?


My wife is hard of hearing but uses headphones out of the TV set, thus not
missing the music and sound effects.

Wharfedale was the name of the leading Hi-Fi speaker makers many, many years
ago, but Ranks got them for several years and eventually the factory went
from Bradford, west Yorkshire to Leeds and there it died.

Name was sold to the far east, Loudspeakers continue but if of same quaulity
I'm not sure, also where made/designed. Do not know if speaker company and
TV makers same, but these appear to be low/mid market products.
--
Regards,
David

Please reply to News Group

New to Freeview
 

Badders wrote:
Hi,

I am switching from Sky to Freeview this week to save some money.

I am looking at a box that can record and has 2 tuners built in.
Another important requirement is subtitles. My wife is hard of hearing
and relies on this.

There's a list of PVRs he-

http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/pvr.html

To gauge how good or bad a particular model is, have a lurk in this part of
Digital Spy's forum:-

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/f...splay.php?f=90


--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

New to Freeview
 

On Sun, 05 Aug 2007 08:40:34 GMT, "David"
wrote:


"Badders" wrote in message
...
Hi,


Another important requirement is subtitles. My wife is hard of hearing
and relies on this.



I've never heard of Wharfdale, so am unsure on this unit. Does anyone
have any experience with them?


My wife is hard of hearing but uses headphones out of the TV set, thus not
missing the music and sound effects.

Wharfedale was the name of the leading Hi-Fi speaker makers many, many years
ago, but Ranks got them for several years and eventually the factory went
from Bradford, west Yorkshire to Leeds and there it died.

Name was sold to the far east, Loudspeakers continue but if of same quaulity
I'm not sure, also where made/designed. Do not know if speaker company and
TV makers same, but these appear to be low/mid market products.

The Wharfedale speaker range is still rated as pretty good, though
they are mainly at the budget end. The Wharfedale Diamond is a well
known 'bookshelf' speaker. I remember my Parent's 70's Hi-Fi very
well. That was a Garrard turntable (forget the model number, but it
was an expensive one with built-in tracking adjustment that adjusted
the cartridges position on the record whilst playing), a Goodmans
quadrophonic receiver ans Wharfedale Linton speakers. Classic days!

Marky P.

New to Freeview
 

In message , Badders
wrote

I assumed it would work
in the same manner as Sky. If there are subtitles then they'll work,
just turn them on in the software.

Don't assume anything. Unlike Sky where there is one imposed standard
way of doing things, each Freeview box manufacturer has their own ways
of implementing features - or not.

You nee to get the full specifications from the manufacturers site. You
also need to find out if the subtitles are available on playback and not
just when watching live TV.

If you cannot find details of a box on a manufactures web site it says a
lot about their after sales service and the likelihood of getting any
updates when new Freeview services are introduced such as series link -
which is currently being trailed.


I've never heard of Wharfdale,

They _ used_ to be a well respected manufacturer of Hi-Fi speakers but
recently they have just put their brand name on bottom to mid range
equipment.



--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

New to Freeview
 

Marky P wrote:

The Wharfedale speaker range is still rated as pretty good, though
they are mainly at the budget end. The Wharfedale Diamond is a well
known 'bookshelf' speaker. I remember my Parent's 70's Hi-Fi very
well. That was a Garrard turntable (forget the model number, but it
was an expensive one with built-in tracking adjustment that adjusted
the cartridges position on the record whilst playing), a Goodmans
quadrophonic receiver ans Wharfedale Linton speakers. Classic days!

Indeed, but don't let that heritage fool you into thinking that their range of
budget badged consumer electronics is necessarily any good.


--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

New to Freeview
 

In message , Alan
wrote



You nee to get the full specifications from the manufacturers site. You
also need to find out if the subtitles are available on playback and
not just when watching live TV.

http://www.hitachidigitalmedia.com/brochures/en_GB/hitachi2007_UK.pdf

The Hitachi 'records DVB subtitles when available'
--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

New to Freeview
 

"Alan" wrote in message
...
In message , Badders
wrote

I assumed it would work
in the same manner as Sky. If there are subtitles then they'll work,
just turn them on in the software.

Don't assume anything. Unlike Sky where there is one imposed standard way
of doing things, each Freeview box manufacturer has their own ways of
implementing features - or not.

You nee to get the full specifications from the manufacturers site. You
also need to find out if the subtitles are available on playback and not
just when watching live TV.

If you cannot find details of a box on a manufactures web site it says a
lot about their after sales service and the likelihood of getting any
updates when new Freeview services are introduced such as series link -
which is currently being trailed.

Once you've homed in to a particular model, it could be useful to find and
download a PDF copy of the user manual.

Being new to the field, you (the OP) might have difficulty knowing what you
would find useful until you get it - for example, some twin tuner models let
you record two programmes at the same time, while watching one you've
already recorded - some only let you use the second tuner for live viewing.
Also some let you record radio programmes from Freeview as well as TV -
which I find very useful.

I've got the Humax PVR-9200T which is a bit more expensive than the ones the
OP named - target price £180 - and it records the subtitle data
automatically so you can choose whether of not you have it when you play
back.

I've never heard of Wharfdale,

They _ used_ to be a well respected manufacturer of Hi-Fi speakers but
recently they have just put their brand name on bottom to mid range
equipment.

Same with Goodmans. I'm still using my Mezzo SLs I bought in 1976.

--
Max Demian

New to Freeview
 

Well, after looking at the Hitachi brochure, I've settled on that
model.

Thanks for the quick replies and useful links. I'll read through the
forums over the next couple days. Planning on getting the box on
Tuesday. Hopefully all will be well. At worst, I'll need the aerial
sorting.

I'll keep Sky going until the Freeview is up and running fully.
According to the Freeview site, my postcode should be able to get the
full package.

Thanks again,

Pete.

New to Freeview
 

"Badders" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I am switching from Sky to Freeview this week to save some money.

I am looking at a box that can record and has 2 tuners built in.
Another important requirement is subtitles. My wife is hard of
hearing
and relies on this.

I am looking at either of the following, both in Argos:
Hitachi HDR161 DTR with 160GB HDD
Wharfedale 160DTRHDMI DTR with 160GB HDD

The Wharfdale unit is listed as having subtitle support, where the
Hitachi unit isn't. Is this an Argos problem? I assumed it would
work
in the same manner as Sky. If there are subtitles then they'll work,
just turn them on in the software.

I've never heard of Wharfdale, so am unsure on this unit. Does
anyone
have any experience with them?

Cheers,

Pete.




Hold on there pal. If you have had your Sky box for more than a year
just cease your subscription and use it for FreeSat - your viewing
card should continue to allow you to do that indefinitely, and you no
longer need the phone connection.

If you want to buy a PVR then look at www.pvruk.co.uk where you will
find a wealth of info.

If the Freesat solution suits you, then just buy a cheap DVD recorder
to keep what you want - not need for the expense of a PVR.


--
Woody

harrogate3 at ntlworld dot com