Humax Foxsat-HDR 320GB Storage PVR Reviews: 0 Freeview Tuners HDR with HDMI

+ This is a brilliant product. I normally ignore invitations to review products, but this is so good that I can't resist! The Freesat HD experience is amazing, and unlike all other providers, is free. Sporting occaions especially are transformed from fuzzy-looking figures to crystal clear definition. Sad, I know, but I find myself watching HD programs not because I find the program particularly interesting, but just so that I can drool over the image clarity and congratulate myself on my purchase. Other good points are the ability to record two channels simultaneously to the hard disk, the huge disk means that you don't need to think about throwing recordings away that you might want to watch again. You can pause live TV - in fact, it does everything the Sky+ HD box does but without the Sky premium. You can set the box up to record whole series (The Apprentice and The Apprentice You're Fired) are set up at the moment. It consumes only 1W on standby so you don't need to wrry about leaving it switched on to do these things. The interface is dead easy to use, so much so that I've found episodes of The Simpsons mysteriously appearing on the hard disk - only to find out that one of my kids has set it up to record them! On the subject of kids, I find myself constantly exclaiming to them about some new feature I've discovered, or telling them how excellent the product is such that they now routinely repeat back to me my own words with big grins on their faces!

- Nothing that has impacted on me yet. However, I do like to record films on to the hard disk, and tend to keep them if I think I might like to watch them again. In the fullness of time the hard disk will eventually fill up with this sort of content, and so some means of archiving to DVD would be good. There might be one, the manual alludes to a USB port and being able to connect external devices. But the documentation of this facility, if it exists, is poor to non-existent.

+ Easy to install and mostly easy to use. Excellent picture quality.

- Taking a while to get used to the menus - nothing else so far! Just wish there were a few more channels available on FreeSat, with more than just the BBC along with the odd ITV programme here and there, broadcasting in HD. To be fair though, I am still trying to adjust, having dropped the full Sky package for this!

+ GOOD: picture and sound quality. Record two channels while watching a previous recording or another live channel (restricted choice). Copies to USB stick or ext hard drive.

- BAD: remote control poorly designed. Can't copy HD recordings at present. Can't copy SD recordings > 4GB. Needs better system to prompt viewer to resolve scheduling conflicts. Problem with RHS cutoff to SCART TVs.

+ As with most Humax PVRs, the Foxsat is intuitive to use, as well as looking good (it's a fair bit smaller than the 9200T). Thankfully, unlike their older models the EPG populates almost instantly. It's also pretty clever about series recording, asking whether you want to record the SD or HD version of a programme, turning itself on and off for recording and so on. And, of course, those HD programmes look incredible.

- The List view is less useful than on older models (it just lists channels, not programmes - for that you need to go into the EPG). The play and pause buttons on the remote are a little small, and the file system for series recorded programmes on the Harddrive, though useful once you've got the hang of it, is initially a touch confusing. And, of course, there is still a dearth of HD programming, though this isn't Humax's fault of course. But it does make you question value for money at this point in time, especially as you're unable to get a couple of the better Freeview channels on Freesat, namely Dave and Five US.

+ This product has had rave reviews and it doesn't disappoint. The picture quality is outstanding in HD mode and very good in SD mode. The set up procedure is absolutely straight forward if you have two LNB aerial feeds. The sound quality through my Sony 40" X2000 is very good indeed, but I am yet to try through my audio system.

- The program "guide" feature whilst useable could be improved upon, being inferior to most freeview sets TV program guides.

+ Picture quality & ease of use. Connects well to Onkyo 605 AV receiver and Panasonic LCD LX500 tv. The Humax/Onkyo combination also switches well between other devices (DVD/Wii/HD camcorder). Live broadcast pausing system and EPG are very good.

- Recording indicator not that visible whilst recording .....small green or red LED would be better.
Layout of the remote can be confusing to none technical viewers.
When uploading music and photos the "folder management" is not as easy as it could be, however, that said, the "usb" function is a great feature. I await some software updates in the future to rectify this!!!
When new "added channels" are available there is no indication of "which" channel(s), either before or after changes are loaded? Again I await some software updates in the future to rectify this!!!

+ A very flexible pice of kit, easy to set up and use. My 14 year old son managed to record a programme without reading the instructions - 10 minutes after I had plugged it in! I found the picture quality, even on non-HD programmes, was a lot better than my SD Goodmans Freesat box.

- Product description didn't say I needed 2 satellite cables to connect to the box so I could record one programme and watch another. I now need to get a quad LNB on my dish and run another cable to get the full use of the box. Boot time is frustrating if you want to want to switch it on in a hurry and catch the start of a programme - I just don't switch it off!

+ The Foxsat HDR is beautifully packaged with good connectivity and silent running. Once tuned, the picture quality is outstanding both in standard and HD modes. The features of the recorder are easy to undertsand and the screen guides are excellent. Even my wife can handle it! Once the Foxsat and TV are matched you only really need to use the Foxsat remote.

- The start up procedure using the manual could be more helpful in terms of tuning to the right satellite. The Freesat service is difficult to find with a narrow band width - very frustrating! The Foxsat HDR factory set up could show signal strength and quality on screen at the start. The recorder does take a while to boot up - like a computer. Two of the key buttons on the remote are the Media and Guide ones - for some unknown reason these are both black - you can't see them easily if the room lights are low.

+ Picture quality in HD first rate, sound quality more than adequate through my sound system. Dolby digital 10/10. Ease of use,couldn't be easier. On a par with Sky plus, but the added bonus with this is, that it is subcription free. Well done Humax for a first rate product.

- No bad points so far, only minor gripe is that a bit more HD content would be useful, and that my wife would like me to spend a bit more time with her.

+ Easy to use and useful features.

- Volume cannot be set high enough, i.e., highest volume using both handsets is not as high as required.

+ Generally great product (even if the only available freesat PVR!). Can't comment on image or sound quality as these are limited by my TV. Control of TV by the same remote is a definite plus.

- Fairly narrow angle for remote to be recognised. Does not always 'predict' a record clash (try to record three programs at once) in advance but this may be the broadcasters not the unit! Not easy to get out of the resultant conflict when the programmes are live and the conflict is at last recognised by the PVR. No apparent way to cancel a particular (series) recording without cancelling the whole series.

+ The only freesat receiver with a hard disk recorder (I think).

- Poor manual, the 'Quick start' guide is better.

+ Very very user friendly. No need for the instruction booklet. It does everything it should in a logical manner also gives an easy to understand on screen display. It looks the part and does the job. Bargain.

- None so far

+ good quality, easy to use, all good so far

- I want to get the programs I've recorded from the Humax to something portable and been advised that a hard drive and laptop is the way to go. Takes about 4 minutes to copy 60 minute program and then have to convert file type on hard drive before transfering it to laptop. Can't copy direct to laptop. This is small criticism when compared with what the machine does overall.

+ Reviewer left no comment

- Volume very low at maximum