Simple Frreview PVR

Chaps,

is this the right place to ask? Looking for a _simple_ PVR that has
Freeview tuner(s), hard drive and a DVD drive. Must be _simple_ to use -
its for my parents, to replace their VCR.

Thanks

Pete

--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk

"Peter Chant" wrote in message
...
Chaps,

is this the right place to ask? Looking for a _simple_ PVR that has
Freeview tuner(s), hard drive and a DVD drive. Must be _simple_ to use -
its for my parents, to replace their VCR.

Do you mean with a DVD recorder? That's not going to be very "simple" to
use, and none of them have twin tuners. The *simplest* way to replace a VCR
is with a DVD recorder with Freeview but without HDD.

But I think a 'pure' PVR (such as the Humax PVR-9150T) with twin tuners
would be a lot more useful and easy to use, as it can cope with the multiple
schedule clashes you get with the many Freeview channels.

And a cheap, separate DVD player if required.

Or will they want to make permanent recordings/recordings on removable media
too (for archiving/lending to friends and relations) too?

--
Max Demian

Max Demian wrote:
"Peter Chant" wrote in message
...
Chaps,

is this the right place to ask? Looking for a _simple_ PVR that has
Freeview tuner(s), hard drive and a DVD drive. Must be _simple_ to
use - its for my parents, to replace their VCR.

Do you mean with a DVD recorder? That's not going to be very "simple"
to use, and none of them have twin tuners. The *simplest* way to
replace a VCR is with a DVD recorder with Freeview but without HDD.

I'm inclined to say if they can use a VCR they'll be able to handle any
digital recorder. If they can't, though, the best solution is to have
another child. In 6 years time, he'll be able to do all that for them, and
will probably give them 10 good years of continuous use.

On 16/04/2010 10:33, Brian Gaff wrote:
No such animal.

Too many menus and a new concept to learn.

Yes. Left a bit, up a bit, down a bit, fire ....

Hasn't anyone worked on a voice operated PVR yet (for all folks, not
just you Brian!)

--
Adrian C

Norman Wells wrote:

I'm inclined to say if they can use a VCR they'll be able to handle any
digital recorder. If they can't, though, the best solution is to have
another child. In 6 years time, he'll be able to do all that for them,
and will probably give them 10 good years of continuous use.

Two points:

1. They can use a VCR as far as changing channels, hitting record and
play. Don't think they've ever programmed the timer.

2. Since I popped out nearly 39 years ago I think they'd make the medical
press if they had another one!

--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk

Brian Gaff wrote:

No such animal.

Too many menus and a new concept to learn.

I'm afraid that was the point. Really need a PVR with controls to set a
channel, record and play. And that is it.

--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk

Max Demian wrote:


Do you mean with a DVD recorder? That's not going to be very "simple" to
use, and none of them have twin tuners. The *simplest* way to replace a
VCR is with a DVD recorder with Freeview but without HDD.

The attraction of having the hard drive is it avoids replacing the "where's
the tape" arguments with the "wheres the disk" argument.


But I think a 'pure' PVR (such as the Humax PVR-9150T) with twin tuners
would be a lot more useful and easy to use, as it can cope with the
multiple schedule clashes you get with the many Freeview channels.

And a cheap, separate DVD player if required.

Thank you. Good information. I was trying to avoid too many boxes.
They've got a new tv to avoid having to have an additional box. As they
have no DVD player and watch the odd DVD they do have on the PC (not
conveinient) I was trying to solve that one.

I'm wondering, although dearer (must shop around) whether the PVR-9300T
might be a better bet as it seems silly to use scart except for legacy kit
on an HDMI tv - even for standard definition. Thoughts?


Or will they want to make permanent recordings/recordings on removable
media too (for archiving/lending to friends and relations) too?


Although that would be nice its not a major issue.

Pete

--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk

On Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:02:40 +0100, Peter Chant wrote:

I'm afraid that was the point. Really need a PVR with controls to set a
channel, record and play. And that is it.

Is it not even easier to go to an EPG and to "tick" the programs you want
to record?

J G Miller wrote:

Is it not even easier to go to an EPG and to "tick" the programs you want
to record?

Perhaps - perhaps not.

It would be easier to stick with analog but I don't think the government
takes this view.

--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk

"Peter Chant" wrote in message
...
Max Demian wrote:


Do you mean with a DVD recorder? That's not going to be very "simple" to
use, and none of them have twin tuners. The *simplest* way to replace a
VCR is with a DVD recorder with Freeview but without HDD.

The attraction of having the hard drive is it avoids replacing the
"where's
the tape" arguments with the "wheres the disk" argument.


But I think a 'pure' PVR (such as the Humax PVR-9150T) with twin tuners
would be a lot more useful and easy to use, as it can cope with the
multiple schedule clashes you get with the many Freeview channels.

And a cheap, separate DVD player if required.

Thank you. Good information. I was trying to avoid too many boxes.
They've got a new tv to avoid having to have an additional box. As they
have no DVD player and watch the odd DVD they do have on the PC (not
conveinient) I was trying to solve that one.

I'm wondering, although dearer (must shop around) whether the PVR-9300T
might be a better bet as it seems silly to use scart except for legacy kit
on an HDMI tv - even for standard definition. Thoughts?

If they only ever use "record" to record a program "live" I would suggest
not buying a Humax. It doesn't have the best user interface for this, in
particular it will not record a program that has already started, off the
EPG.

tim