Recommended PVR for elderly?

I hope this isn't too much of an FAQ but I did have a good hunt first...

I'm trying to assist my elderly parents (70s) buying a PVR - ie a hard
disk recorder and would appreciate some advice.

Currently they have an old VCR which they can just about manage... they
thought they wanted a DVD recorder (and were nearly persuaded to part
with £200 on one by a Comet drone last week!) but since they all they
want it for is time-shifting I'm sure that a hard disk device would be a
better bet, right?

By far the prime consideration is ease of use; no bells and whistles
required; cost not a huge issue if means it's something they can use
easily. They have terrestrial Freeview; no Sky/cable etc.

Any pointers would be thoroughly appreciated.

Thanks
David

I'm trying to assist my elderly parents (70s) buying a PVR - ie a hard
disk recorder and would appreciate some advice.

I am in a similar position - including not having reached a decision.
FWLIW I would say:

a. while the Topfield has much to commend it, and I do not want to be
the subject of a Fatwah from its many supporters, forget it: too
complex;

b. we have a Humax PVR9200T which we find very simple to set (with
the EPG) and which we think the (even more) elderly person would too,
but the remote control is a bit daunting (and like most of them, not
designed for the macular degeneration generation) so we have regrouped
and are waiting for the next time the VCR "takes it upon itself to
record the wrong thing" ;

c. "Which?" also commented on ease of use in their rewview; but

d. possibly best test is to go with them to a showroom where they can
go hands-on with the remote(s) and be talked through setting a programme
and then playing it back. Comet on a (not public holiday) Monday
morning perhaps?


--
Robin

On 07/05/2007 15:18, Lobster wrote:

I'm trying to assist my elderly parents (70s) buying a PVR - ie a hard
disk recorder and would appreciate some advice.

Currently they have an old VCR which they can just about manage... they
thought they wanted a DVD recorder (and were nearly persuaded to part
with £200 on one by a Comet drone last week!) but since they all they
want it for is time-shifting I'm sure that a hard disk device would be a
better bet, right?

By far the prime consideration is ease of use; no bells and whistles
required; cost not a huge issue if means it's something they can use
easily. They have terrestrial Freeview; no Sky/cable etc.

I bought my parents a Sharp TUR160H, they are similar age to yours, they
get on well with it (well actually at present it has suffered hard drive
failure) but I can tell they want to use it as the keep badgering me to
pick it up and return it to the shop for them (I have the receipt) so I
know they use it :-)

It isn't the fullest featured box (it has 2 tuners, but uses one purely
for recording, the other purely for watching live tv) but it's a doddle
to use.

HTH

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
I hope this isn't too much of an FAQ but I did have a good hunt first...

I'm trying to assist my elderly parents (70s) buying a PVR - ie a hard
disk recorder and would appreciate some advice.

Currently they have an old VCR which they can just about manage... they
thought they wanted a DVD recorder (and were nearly persuaded to part with
£200 on one by a Comet drone last week!) but since they all they want it
for is time-shifting I'm sure that a hard disk device would be a better
bet, right?

That would be my opinion.

By far the prime consideration is ease of use; no bells and whistles
required; cost not a huge issue if means it's something they can use
easily. They have terrestrial Freeview; no Sky/cable etc.

Any pointers would be thoroughly appreciated.


Get one that you know about, so that if they get confused you can tell them
what to do.

Whilst a TF5800 is quite complex to install and configure, the daily
operation is quite simple. I run mine with the Jags Tap.


--
Michael Chare

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
I hope this isn't too much of an FAQ but I did have a good hunt first...

I'm trying to assist my elderly parents (70s) buying a PVR - ie a hard
disk recorder and would appreciate some advice.

Currently they have an old VCR which they can just about manage... they
thought they wanted a DVD recorder (and were nearly persuaded to part with
£200 on one by a Comet drone last week!) but since they all they want it
for is time-shifting I'm sure that a hard disk device would be a better
bet, right?

I would try a sagem if they are the same design as there plain
set top boxes would stay well clear of the humax if it is anyting
like the one my parents have.
(too me a year to get the sound control working again :O)
)

Chennel llist and favoutires was fooked too.
Sagem has much less ways to screw up.


By far the prime consideration is ease of use; no bells and whistles
required; cost not a huge issue if means it's something they can use
easily. They have terrestrial Freeview; no Sky/cable etc.

Any pointers would be thoroughly appreciated.

Thanks
David

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
I hope this isn't too much of an FAQ but I did have a good hunt first...

I'm trying to assist my elderly parents (70s) buying a PVR - ie a hard
disk recorder and would appreciate some advice.

Currently they have an old VCR which they can just about manage... they
thought they wanted a DVD recorder (and were nearly persuaded to part with
£200 on one by a Comet drone last week!) but since they all they want it
for is time-shifting I'm sure that a hard disk device would be a better
bet, right?

By far the prime consideration is ease of use; no bells and whistles
required; cost not a huge issue if means it's something they can use
easily. They have terrestrial Freeview; no Sky/cable etc.

Any pointers would be thoroughly appreciated.

Thanks
David


Digihome from Argos. 16 day money back guarantee. 2 Digital tuners, 7 day
EPG, simple remote. 80GB HD £ 95. Also do larger HD version, but if all you
want is time skip the smaller one will do. That will record 40hrs of
programmes. Check it out.

--
Paul Woodsford
Remove NOSPAM to reply.

In message , Lobster
wrote
I hope this isn't too much of an FAQ but I did have a good hunt first...

I'm trying to assist my elderly parents (70s) buying a PVR - ie a hard
disk recorder and would appreciate some advice.


The Ricability site gives advice on PVRs for the 'elderly and disabled'
which gives recommendations on 'ease of use' - although not necessarily
the best technical specification.

It's probably not worth buying anything from Humax, Sony and TVonics if
it hasn't got the Freeview Playback logo as its a good guide that
anything from these manufactures without this logo is old stock as soon
to be replaced with new models (if not already replaced)


Currently they have an old VCR which they can just about manage... they
thought they wanted a DVD recorder (and were nearly persuaded to part
with £200 on one by a Comet drone last week!) but since they all they
want it for is time-shifting I'm sure that a hard disk device would be
a better bet, right?

Consider also how many tuners in the box. Many boxes with two tuners
allow you to watch one program while recording another (some boxes also
allow limited viewing of a third channel while recording two). Boxes
with one tuner don't offer this option.

40G and 80G hard disk sizes are probably too small - go for 160G or
250G.


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

On 07/05/2007 20:35, Paul Woodsford wrote:

Digihome from Argos. 16 day money back guarantee. 2 Digital tuners, 7 day
EPG, simple remote. 80GB HD £ 95.

£87 in Tesco at the moment, no idea what they're like of course.

In message , Robin
wrote
I'm trying to assist my elderly parents (70s) buying a PVR - ie a hard
disk recorder and would appreciate some advice.

I am in a similar position - including not having reached a decision.
FWLIW I would say:

a. while the Topfield has much to commend it, and I do not want to be
the subject of a Fatwah from its many supporters, forget it: too
complex;

Out of the box the Toppy (Topfield) 5800 PVR is probably just as simple
to use as most of its competitors.

What makes the Toppy different is that it can be used with third party
programs to alter its behaviour. There is no need to change the default
program on a Toppy to use it although many fans will download software
to change the appearance of the EPG and to add addition program searches
and timers. This unique function has attracted a price premium but
recently it has been on sale from various Internet suppliers at a price
comparable to other models in its class.

If the OP wants to see the UK manual it can be found at
http://www.toppy.org.uk/newusers/manual.php


b. we have a Humax PVR9200T which we find very simple to set (with
the EPG)

Don't all PVRs have this facility?

Humax have signed up to the Freeview Playback branding which means that
their latest models should now conform to the 'ease of use' EPG. At
least with Humax the OP can check for the Freeview Playback label.

Note: many manufacturers haven't signed up to this branding but it
doesn't mean that they work in a different way.

and which we think the (even more) elderly person would too,
but the remote control is a bit daunting (and like most of them, not
designed for the macular degeneration generation) so we have regrouped
and are waiting for the next time the VCR "takes it upon itself to
record the wrong thing" ;

I guess that with most remote controls the majority of people only use
half a dozen buttons on a regular basis.

Comet on a (not public holiday) Monday
morning perhaps?

Go into comet and the uninitiated would come away with a £200 box and a
gold plated SCART cable also costing £200

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

"Michael Chare" wrote in message
...
"Lobster" wrote in message
...
I hope this isn't too much of an FAQ but I did have a good hunt first...

I'm trying to assist my elderly parents (70s) buying a PVR - ie a hard
disk recorder and would appreciate some advice.

Currently they have an old VCR which they can just about manage... they
thought they wanted a DVD recorder (and were nearly persuaded to part
with £200 on one by a Comet drone last week!) but since they all they
want it for is time-shifting I'm sure that a hard disk device would be a
better bet, right?

That would be my opinion.

By far the prime consideration is ease of use; no bells and whistles
required; cost not a huge issue if means it's something they can use
easily. They have terrestrial Freeview; no Sky/cable etc.

Any pointers would be thoroughly appreciated.


Get one that you know about, so that if they get confused you can tell
them what to do.

That's why all my friends bought Panasonic DVD recorders. If any of us gets
stuck the others can help out. No ****.

(kim)