back to article Grundig 500GB Freesat+ HD DVR

It’s almost a year since we reviewed the Foxsat-HDR from Humax, which was one of the first Freesat+ recorders to appear in the UK. Since then, there’s been more of a steady trickle, rather than a flood of Freesat gear coming on stream. To drum up a bit more interest in the satellite service, Freesat itself had a bit of a …

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  1. Sithlord
    FAIL

    Internet recording.

    Why don't they include web servers on these expensive PVR so we can connect via the internet and record programs.

    I would ditch my SKY+ box if there were other boxes that allowed remote recording.

  2. Grail
    Thumb Down

    Looks a fine box but where is all the HD?

    Based upon the article this does look an excellent box.

    Unfortunately with only the BBC HD and ITV HD channels available FTA it does limit the box significantly compared to SKY+HD and Virgin V+.

    Where are the other "free" HD channels that are offered on these other platforms - especially C4 HD and E4 HD?

    Even terrestrial Freeview HD will offer 4-5 FTA channels including a proper ITV HD.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Thumb Down

      a proper ITV HD

      Is there anything on ITV which would look any better in HD? On the rare occastions I've watched it, I doubt if it would suffer significantly were it in 405-line monochrome...

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Happy

    Iplayer on Sony TVs too

    Not just on Humax.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Go

    hacked Humax

    there's a nice community developing over 'extending' the Humax internal SATA drive into an external SATA HDD, which then allows even exports of the HD recordings. Of course your extenal SATA would need to be linux EXT2 formatted to handle the ginourmous files. I haven't bothered to do this yet, just exporting Humax Freesat SD programs to a 16GB USB stick, where they play nicely with VLC. The Grundig lack of a USB means the addition of SATA cables might be the only export option ? I now have 1TB internal to the Humax, so you should only consider the 500GB Grundig as 320gigs is around a month of family TV archives

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Alien

      Where>?

      Where is this "community" as I am interested ;)

  5. Matthew Collier

    Prompted HD/SD recording...

    ...a la Foxsat HDR? I did read the article, and may have missed it, but I can't see mention of an IMO, important feature, does it offer the HD/SD record option of the programme at another time, like the Humax does?

    Also, does it allow you to turn what is in the whole buffer, into a recorded programme? (like TiVo does and unfortunately, like the Humax doesn't).

  6. sleepy

    you can't save the buffer

    @Matthew Collier - I believe Freesat requires any licensed PVR box to encrypt HD when saving to disk, but the live pause buffer isn't encrypted, so you can't save it. EPG tied to encryption again. Easy operation or no DRM, but not both.

  7. Tom 7

    @Internet Recording

    £80 to stick a TV card and 500gig hardrive in my (oh god not another linux) pc - does everything the grundig does - and all you asked for.

    Cut my finger on a bit of swarf tho...

  8. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Slim?

    is that an external 12v input I spy, hum, perhaps I can use it in my caravan!!

  9. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Alternative HD Version

    "Prompted HD/SD recording......a la Foxsat HDR? I did read the article, and may have missed it, but I can't see mention of an IMO, important feature, does it offer the HD/SD record option of the programme at another time, like the Humax does?"

    Apparently not according to other reviews on the web.

  10. Matthew 3
    Pirate

    @sithlord

    I use a Windows 7 PC with a TV tuner. I can simply use remote desktop to program recordings remotely...

  11. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    Why no larger hard disk option?

    It seems to me that all these HDD recording devices are being used as a dumping ground for hard disks that nobody wants anymore. It should be possible to fit a 1.5 Terabyte drive instead of the 500 Gig for only 30 pounds or so extra, so why not? It was noticeable that back when 320 and 500 Gig were desirable sizes that HDD recorders came with 80 or 120.

    The storage needn't be cutting edge. Solid state is unnecessary here as even the standard SATA speeds are more than enough. The 2 Terabyte drives still command a slight premium, but 1 or 1.5 theoretically give the best storage to cost ratio, so there must be a hidden reason for manufacturers not to be using them. The answer has to be that they are getting an even better deal from the drive manufacturers for relieving them of an overstock of drives where only one platter of three passed testing, hence a 1.5Tb drive can only be used as a 0.5.

    Latest technology? More like yesterday's technology rescued from landfill.

  12. Patrick 17

    Humax

    I've got a Humax box and recently replaced the internal HD with a 2TB disk. I've got mine connected to ethernet for iPlayer which makes a the box very useful.

    One feature I'd like to see for internet connected Freesat boxes is the ability to remote record (as offered on Sky+).

    If this box offered iPlayer and remote record then I'd definitely switch to it.

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