Humax Foxsat HDR Freesat PVR review now online

[Clare Newsome]

Here you go with our test of the first Freesat HD PVR - hope they've got some back in stock! (Argos sounds the best bet).

 

[Anonymous]

Excellent, shall be getting one in the new year, just one question though, in your Ultimate guide to Technology 2009 it mentions in the specs that it has a hdmi input, but not in the January edition of Whathifi or your online review. Could you clear this up for me as my tv has only 1 hdmi connection and i'd need a hdmi switcher for the PS3.

If not, could you recommend at good but not to expensive switcher.

Many thanks

Alan

 

[Alsone]

The Humax has 1 HDMI port only so you're going to need a switcher by the looks of things.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Alsone, i'll start looking for one.

 

[Bazzy]

Hi,

Thanks for the great review! As the unit has twin tuners which allows recording on one channel when watching another, will it need two separate cable feeds (one to watch, one to record) to the back of the unit or somehow just one?ÿ

Thank You!

Bazzy!ÿ

 

[daveh75]

yeah it requires twin feeds

 

[Alsone]

daveh75:yeah it requires twin feeds

Technically it can be done with one feed by using the LNB out port and joining it to the 2nd LNB in port with a short patch of cable - this is approved. Many have done this.

HOWEVER:

1. The software won't currently update on a single feed - I couldn't enter my post code without the updated software - came back as invalid, so couldn't set the box up until it was updated.

2. You are restricting what you can watch / record with a single feed. Its easy to get a recording clash even with 2 tuners - I've already had a 3 way clash and I've only had my box a week - so much to watch now!!!

Like Daveh, I'd strongly recommend you go for a twin feed. It will be far cheaper adding it now than adding it as an after thought later. A single feed at the moment is a recipe for problems it seems.

 

[daveh75]

yeah,was aware of this but didn't mention it as it restrict's the box's use too much as you mentioned. so for me at least the only real solution is two feeds

 

[Anonymous]

I think I'm right in saying that the Humax will only record freesat programmes, this is a shame because it means that you still need to have another means of recording for digital and analogue programmes.

We have a 37" Panasonic LCD Freesat TV linked to a Panasonic HDD recorder,this means we have to keep changing to Freeview to record programmes.Since our freeview reception is not too good our viewing enjoyment is somewhat compromised. At the moment with the poor quality of programmes on a lot of the Freesat channels it doesn't seem worth it.