Seeking a reliable and non-rubbishy HD recorder

Steve Thackery wrote:

Why are you using my sig as your newsgroup name?

I'm Spartacus!

I'm Spartacus!

******. Please desist.

SteveT

On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:59:21 +0000, SteveT
wrote:

Steve Thackery wrote:

Why are you using my sig as your newsgroup name?

I'm Spartacus!

I've been using it since 1992, why are you complaing now?

ColinM

I've been using it since 1992, why are you complaing now?

Really? I didn't know that. Still, please yourself.

SteveT

On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:52:14 +0000, Phil Cook
wrote:

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

"Phil Cook" wrote in message
. ..
Malcolm H wrote:

I notice the subject of this post refers to HD recorders. How many of the
products recommended here are HD ??

The post says HD and means HARD DISK There is no such thing as a High
Definition Freeview recorder. Not yet anyway, since there are no High
Def (terrestrial) Freeview transmissions planned this side of Analogue
Switch Off.

There is athe HD HD (High Def Hard Disk) Freesat box which is rumoured
to be launching soon...


http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/st...gId=1500001151

Not much of a rumour

A slightly more informative page, which actually tells you it is twin
tuner, here
http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/produ..._foxsathdr.asp

I've been looking at that, seems a great piece of kit.
I note it has two inputs. Does it actually require a dual output LNB
and two cables? If so, why couldn't the two tuners both run off a
single input? Sorry for such a basic question.

wrote:

I note it has two inputs. Does it actually require a dual output LNB
and two cables?

Yes

If so, why couldn't the two tuners both run off a
single input? Sorry for such a basic question.

Because the LNB can be switched between Horizontal/Verical polarization,
and High/Low frequency, each tuner might want to switch to a different
combination for whichever transponder it requires.

On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:34:46 +0000, Andy Burns
wrote:

wrote:

I note it has two inputs. Does it actually require a dual output LNB
and two cables?

Yes

If so, why couldn't the two tuners both run off a
single input? Sorry for such a basic question.

Because the LNB can be switched between Horizontal/Verical polarization,
and High/Low frequency, each tuner might want to switch to a different
combination for whichever transponder it requires.

That sounds a convincing answer. Thanks!

wrote in message
news
On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:52:14 +0000, Phil Cook
wrote:
http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/produ..._foxsathdr.asp

I've been looking at that, seems a great piece of kit.
I note it has two inputs. Does it actually require a dual output LNB
and two cables?

If you want to use both tuners at the same time , yes.

You *could* run it off a single one if you didn't mind only being able to
use one channel at a time

If so, why couldn't the two tuners both run off a
single input? Sorry for such a basic question.

The technical bit has already been answered.

--
Alex

"I laugh in the face of danger , then I hide until it goes away"

D.M. Procida wrote:

Is MythTV a viable alternative? Does anyone sell suitable ready-built
hardware?

Last year I was looking at MythTV and there was one guy selling
preconfigured boxes, though I can't find any on eBay at the moment.

In the end, since the hardware requirements of Ubuntu/MythTV are not
demanding, I built myself a system using mostly old redundant equipment
- a Pentium4 motherboard; did have to buy a dual tuner freeview card,
and because I wanted it to be quiet I had to source a quiet power supply
and a large case with a huge processor heatsink so it was mostly
passively cooled.

I was really impressed with it; but in the end gave it to a friend of
mine as I have a CRT tv, and output through the S-Video port wasn't
optimal, though if you have a tv with vga or dvi, you won't have any
problems with image quality.

For me, the drawbacks of the MythTV were greater power consumption,
potential for noise; and to access a lot of the features you really need
a wireless keyboard which can be a bit impractical.

Now I have a Topfield which I really like.

On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:56:28 +0000,
(Mark Ingle) wrote:

Last year I was looking at MythTV and there was one guy selling
preconfigured boxes, though I can't find any on eBay at the moment.

In the end, since the hardware requirements of Ubuntu/MythTV are not
demanding, I built myself a system using mostly old redundant equipment
- a Pentium4 motherboard; did have to buy a dual tuner freeview card,
and because I wanted it to be quiet I had to source a quiet power supply
and a large case with a huge processor heatsink so it was mostly
passively cooled.

I was really impressed with it; but in the end gave it to a friend of
mine as I have a CRT tv, and output through the S-Video port wasn't
optimal, though if you have a tv with vga or dvi, you won't have any
problems with image quality.

For me, the drawbacks of the MythTV were greater power consumption,
potential for noise; and to access a lot of the features you really need
a wireless keyboard which can be a bit impractical.

Now I have a Topfield which I really like.

I don't have a problem with S-Video and a CRT, I can operate the thing
well enough with a remote control, and noise isn't a big problem
because I started out with a quiet PC anyway. What I don't like about
MythTV is the flickering onscreen display when changing channels. Then
again I'm a bit tired of chucking out expensive boxes every few years
because they've failed or become obsolete.

ColinM