What to look for in a PVR

I'm new to this digital TV stuff, but my VCR has stopped working so I
need to consider a PVR.

I want a disk based one, I have no need for DRD recording as all
I do is timeshift.

So what sort of features should I expect/consider?

I'd like to be able to record two programs at once and I need
to be able to set up to record 2-3 or even 4 weeks hence.
I understand that PVRs use an EPG to schedule recordings
but do that actually need that, can I set to record three weeks
on thursday even if the program is not in the EPG?

Are there any brands that I should avoid?

And finally, I really only have Currys/Comet/Argos to buy
from. All universally bad for electricals, is one better than
the other? (I can't do mail-order as I am regularly not at home).

Thanks

tim

On Sat, 14 Oct 2006 20:23:19 +0100, "tim\(yet another new home\)"
wrote:

I'm new to this digital TV stuff, but my VCR has stopped working so I
need to consider a PVR.


I want a disk based one, I have no need for DRD recording as all
I do is timeshift.

I assume you meant _hard_ disk based? And DVD recording?




So what sort of features should I expect/consider?

I'd like to be able to record two programs at once

No problem

and I need
to be able to set up to record 2-3 or even 4 weeks hence.


I understand that PVRs use an EPG to schedule recordings
but do that actually need that, can I set to record three weeks
on thursday even if the program is not in the EPG?

Only 8 days ahead via EPG, but longer periods manually.


Are there any brands that I should avoid?

Anything except Humax and Topfield

And finally, I really only have Currys/Comet/Argos to buy
from. All universally bad for electricals, is one better than
the other? (I can't do mail-order as I am regularly not at home).

It's the Humax 9200t then. Topfield aren't sold by Curmetgos.




Thanks

tim

tim(yet another new home) wrote:
I'm new to this digital TV stuff, but my VCR has stopped working so I
need to consider a PVR.

I want a disk based one, I have no need for DRD recording as all
I do is timeshift.

So what sort of features should I expect/consider?

I'd like to be able to record two programs at once and I need
to be able to set up to record 2-3 or even 4 weeks hence.
I understand that PVRs use an EPG to schedule recordings
but do that actually need that, can I set to record three weeks
on thursday even if the program is not in the EPG?

Are there any brands that I should avoid?

And finally, I really only have Currys/Comet/Argos to buy
from. All universally bad for electricals, is one better than
the other? (I can't do mail-order as I am regularly not at home).

Thanks

tim

You may want to hold fire for a couple of months. FreeviewPlayback
devices (Freeviews equivalent of Sky+ or Tivo) are supposed to be
hitting the market around Christmas.

As well as meeting a tight spec of requirements already supported by
some current models these devices will also support new features like
Series linking, split event recordings (ie a film with the news in the
middle), promo linking and dynamically updating accurate record times.

Some current Freeview DVRs will probably get updates but AFAIK it's not
known which.

JPG wrote:
and I need to be able to set up to record 2-3 or even 4 weeks hence.

I understand that PVRs use an EPG to schedule recordings
but do that actually need that, can I set to record three weeks
on thursday even if the program is not in the EPG?

Only 8 days ahead via EPG, but longer periods manually.

You seem to have overlooked the PVRs that use the 14 day 4TV EPG.

Are there any brands that I should avoid?

Anything except Humax and Topfield

That's a remarkably silly statement.

On Sun, 15 Oct 2006 01:15:05 +0100, "Pyriform"
wrote:

Are there any brands that I should avoid?

Anything except Humax and Topfield

That's a remarkably silly statement.

Yes, should be anything except Topfield - well worth the OP's time to
order online and get to a courier's delivery office to pick up if need
be.
--
Andrew, contact via http://interpleb.googlepages.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.

Andrew wrote:
Pyriform wrote:

Are there any brands that I should avoid?

Anything except Humax and Topfield

That's a remarkably silly statement.

Yes, should be anything except Topfield - well worth the OP's time to
order online and get to a courier's delivery office to pick up if need
be.

Funnily enough, that's just the kind of evangelical fervour that always put
me off buying an Apple Mac...

On Sun, 15 Oct 2006 11:12:03 +0100, "Pyriform"
wrote:

Funnily enough, that's just the kind of evangelical fervour that always put
me off buying an Apple Mac...

Not fervour, just an informed opinion having used a Toppy and a Humax
and knowing the competition is a lot worse.
--
Andrew, contact via http://interpleb.googlepages.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.

"tim(yet another new home)" wrote in message
...
I'm new to this digital TV stuff, but my VCR has stopped working so I
need to consider a PVR.

I want a disk based one, I have no need for DRD recording as all
I do is timeshift.

So what sort of features should I expect/consider?

I'd like to be able to record two programs at once and I need
to be able to set up to record 2-3 or even 4 weeks hence.
I understand that PVRs use an EPG to schedule recordings
but do that actually need that, can I set to record three weeks
on thursday even if the program is not in the EPG?

It's a lot easier to set up timed recording with an EPG than manually, but
manual setup will be possible.

And finally, I really only have Currys/Comet/Argos to buy
from. All universally bad for electricals, is one better than
the other? (I can't do mail-order as I am regularly not at home).

Any of them should be OK.

A general rule is you should be prepared to do quite a lot of research (on
the web); there's a comparison site here
http://www.pvrjunction.co.uk/compare/ , but it only covers a limited range
of models. Download PDF versions of the manuals if you can, to get an idea
as to ease of use and what facilities are actually offered.

Some twin tuner models don't let you record two programmes at once.

Some don't let you record radio: you may find you want to do this when you
find how many interesting programmes there are on BBC7 or BBC World Service.

I've got the Humax PVR 9200T (about £190 currently) which is very good. The
main downside of it is that you can only set it to record 20 timed
recordings at a time, which is quite inadequate. This may be fixed with an
over-air update which they seem to be quite keen on.

--
Max Demian

"Andrew" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 15 Oct 2006 11:12:03 +0100, "Pyriform"
wrote:

Funnily enough, that's just the kind of evangelical fervour that always
put
me off buying an Apple Mac...

Not fervour, just an informed opinion having used a Toppy and a Humax
and knowing the competition is a lot worse.

Worse in what way.

tim

On Sun, 15 Oct 2006 11:22:08 +0100, Andrew wrote:

Funnily enough, that's just the kind of evangelical fervour that always put
me off buying an Apple Mac...

Not fervour, just an informed opinion having used a Toppy and a Humax
and knowing the competition is a lot worse.

My informed opinion from using a Humax 8000T was that even if the more
recent ones have more user-friendly software, I had no desire to risk
my money on another of the same brand just to find out, so I bought a
Panasonic and am very pleased with it.

Rod.