Humax PVR9200T 160GB Storage PVR Reviews: HDR with HDMI

+ Twin Freeview receivers.
Decent size hard disk.
Over the air updates.
Some people have said the Humax is noisy. Maybe they were unlucky - mine hardly makes a sound.
Ability to skip through adverts on recorded programmes - this function works quite well.

- Menu system and usability not as good or intuitive as the Topfield which I also own
Unlike the "Toppy" there's no ability to customise with 3rd party software.
I don't like the remote compared to the Topfield's one. Fiddly slide cover over some function buttons

+ Does what it claims, no problems at all so far. Used serial cable to PC to update to the latest firmware; this adds more features than was supplied as "standard". See the HUMAX website for info...

- Silly plastic flap over some remote control buttons. Reported (in internet forums) bugs in teletext decoder software causes the box to hang and need a re-boot. I've NEVER had to re-boot mine though in six-months of continuous operation.

+ Two tuners, excellent picture quality

- Can't watch from beginning whilst recording

+ The Humax PVR9200T is an excellently engineered unit - very solid. The interface is clear and the dual tuners make multiple recordings easy. Picture quality is very good and reliability is also good for this kind of product. 2 hour programme buffer very useful.

- No auto padding on recordings so if you really want to make sure you get the whole programme you have to adjust the times manually. This is rumoured to be fixed in next software release. There is one bug that locks the box up if left on a radio station for a long time but this is easily fixed by a powered reset. Unit can be noisy if put on a wooden surface but adding some extra thick foam feet cures this.

+ Very good picture

- none

+ Being able to search for programmes on the programme guide.
Button to skip through adverts rapidly

- The programme guide takes a ridiculous amount of time to load (up to 30 minutes!!) and has to be loaded each time it is switched on. I knew from the Which? review it was slow, but if I had known it could be this slow I would not have purchased it despite all the good points described above.

+ Overall this is a must have item in the home. I have not used my video recorder since purchasing my Humax. To just press a button up to a week in advance and record is an techie idiots dream come true! No more setting timers and missing those short programmes that you might not of bothered recording. Installation was simple plug in and go.... Excellent 10/10

- None what so ever.

+ Twin tuners means very rarely missing anything you want. Quite performance.

- Occassionally crashes. There is also a fault with system that very very occasionally causes all recorded programmes to be lost - for no obvious reason. I and many people have contacted Humax about this but they seem to be ignoring it.

+ Easy to use and program

- Using the EPG to program recordings often cuts the begining and/or end of the program

+ Easy to use most of the functions. Record up to three channels at a time. Playback picture/sound quality is as good as the original “off air” signal.

- Can’t select program from EPG to record, seem to have put the start/end times in, simple but not as easy as selecting from EPG. When program delayed (ie world cup over runs) EPG and recording times not updated, so no better than old VCR in that you miss the finish if you don't add time to the end time.

+ Excellent recording facility and the pause & record at the touch of a button so a phone call can be taken and then continue to watch it, say 5 minutes behind the actual broadcast is really useful.

- About once a month it freezes and we simply turn it off to clear. Also we have to use the TV volume control to augment the sound.

+ it's completely revolutionaised the way i watch tv, the hard drive is massive, ive recorded many films and countless tv programs but it's still only half full

- none

+ Once you have used it a few times it is easy to operate.
You don't have to look through all your videos, your recorded programmes are all on screen.
You can normally watch a programme and record 2 others (see below also)

- Sometime, because of the signel 'grouping' you are not able to watch a channel whilst 2 others are been recorded, but this has only occured a couple of times so far

+ Easy to use. Huge Hard Drive. reliable recording.

- Can't pad recordings.
If you move the start time back then it uses the name of the previous programme. You can't watch a programme that is being recorded until it finishes.

+ Records on two channels at once and is very easy to operate

- Timer does not adjust for late running programmes.