Freeview recorders ?

[cat171]

As Virgin Media have lost some channels which are still available on Freeview, I'm going to have to record them from another TV, so I want a Freeview recorder. Nothing fancy (probs would like HD, but not a must) just something to record on to.

What's good ? and quite cheap ?

 

[Goodj]

Man can't live without 24/7 rolling repeats of Top Gear and Red Dwarf.

This is the kind of thing you'd be looking for.....
https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-an...-500-gb-10139381-pdt.html?intcmpid=display~RR
alternatively, just set up an account with UKTV Play and stream on demand
https://uktvplay.uktv.co.uk/

 

[R3k1355]

You can get the UKTV app on smart TV's can't you??

 

[R3k1355]

What's good ? and quite cheap ?

A BT TV box will work just fine, don't need a BT TV account or anything like that.
Cheap as f**k on eBay.

 

[cat171]

It is a smart TV, but it's just a spare one so we only use it as a normal TV (plus going online with it is a PITA!)

What's the BT box called ? I want one that records, some of the ones I just saw on ebay are just players.

 

[Goodj]

https://www.johnlewis.com/bt-youvie...VbrftCh13Iw9-EAQYAiABEgI4avD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Goodj]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bush-500...AAOSwcOVbKPxa&_nkw=freeview+HD+recorder&rt=nc

 

[cat171]

Cheers bro. The second one's more like it (nice & cheap!)

 

[Jack!]

People on this forum don't watch free peasant TV.

 

[cat171]

People on this forum don't watch free peasant TV.

Cheers, helpful.

If VM hadn't lost the channels I'd not be either.

 

[R3k1355]

What's the BT box called ? I want one that records, some of the ones I just saw on ebay are just players.

It's the YouView box i believe, can get one with a 1TB disc which will record a ton of stuff.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BT-ULTRA...m=223063087754&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BT-4K-UH...380057.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.XBT+TV.TRS0
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BT-YouVi...380057.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.XBT+TV.TRS0

 

[cat171]

Nice one, cheers!

 

[cat171]

I bought a 1tb Bush one, it's nice and compact, basic AF but that's what I wanted. £90 delivered happy days. I just have to get the old surround sound to work.

 

[Landyman]

As already said above, but was seemingly skipped over, a BT Youview box will work and they cost next to nothing on Ebay
They are a good quality unit as well, unlike some of the cheap tat on sale in supermarkets.

 

[davo172]

Cheers, helpful.

If VM hadn't lost the channels I'd not be either.

Bit late now I know but virgin channels are back now.

 

[cat171]

Bit late now I know but virgin channels are back now.

Yep they are, bloody typical!

 

[cat171]

As already said above, but was seemingly skipped over, a BT Youview box will work and they cost next to nothing on Ebay
They are a good quality unit as well, unlike some of the cheap tat on sale in supermarkets.

Yeah I didn't want one.

 

[Sash]

Can someone explain this BT box to me a bit more please?

Is it just a freeview recorder/player no subscription etc??

 

[Landyman]

Yeah I didn't want one.

Why not? I’ve installed dozens of Youview boxes.
They are the same as all the others, same method of recording, similar HDD, nice remote and all for about £30

Entirely up to you in the end of course, but l can’t see any disadvantages in fact the operation is more intuitive than many including Humax.

 

[cat171]

I wanted something small as we don't have much room. I worked out that the one I got would fit nicely under the TV.

 

[Landyman]

Ah OK

The earlier Youview boxes were fairly large but the later ones such as the T4000 are fairly small

 

[Marc.]

The BT Youview box we used to have was pathetic. And that’s being polite.

 

[R3k1355]

My parents have the new version box, works just fine??

Can someone explain this BT box to me a bit more please?

Is it just a freeview recorder/player no subscription etc??

Yep pretty much.

 

[Landyman]

If a Youview box was “pathetic” it means either the signal was poor, the broadband (if connected) was not working properly, or it was a dud.
They are pretty much as good as it gets. Well, the later ones are anyway.

 

[Marc.]

If a Youview box was “pathetic” it means either the signal was poor, the broadband (if connected) was not working properly, or it was a dud.
They are pretty much as good as it gets. Well, the later ones are anyway.

Presumably a dud then. But it was woeful, 100%.

 

[Landyman]

It does happen, although it’s rare. Most of the big name (BT Sky Virgin) boxes are made by major PVR players such as Humax.
I must have installed 2,000 PVR’s of various makes since they came out. The only really bad ones were the TVonics ones that were sold during the digital switchover in 2009.
Even the manufacturer couldn’t fix those.

And the first LG DVD/HDD recorders became increasingly glitchy as they got older.

On the whole l have found Sky, Virgin and BT boxes to be very reliable and most issues are caused by installation, signal feed (poor signal or in the case of terrestrial, water in the down lead) or telephone line connections.
Heavy rain caused an increase in phone calls “my Sky has gone off” but the new dishes/LNB’s are better and don’t drop out so easily.
Oh and customer misuse, although it’s always “the box” that’s defective.

 

[Marc.]

It does happen, although it’s rare. Most of the big name (BT Sky Virgin) boxes are made by major PVR players such as Humax.
I must have installed 2,000 PVR’s of various makes since they came out. The only really bad ones were the TVonics ones that were sold during the digital switchover in 2009.
Even the manufacturer couldn’t fix those.

And the first LG DVD/HDD recorders became increasingly glitchy as they got older.

On the whole l have found Sky, Virgin and BT boxes to be very reliable and most issues are caused by installation, signal feed (poor signal or in the case of terrestrial, water in the down lead) or telephone line connections.
Heavy rain caused an increase in phone calls “my Sky has gone off” but the new dishes/LNB’s are better and don’t drop out so easily.
Oh and customer misuse, although it’s always “the box” that’s defective.

I’d say that the BT box we had would’ve been from about 5 years ago. Can’t remember the brand, but it was awful - took nearly 10 minutes to load, and the TV Guide was pathetically slow and clunky. We got rid of it for Sky, and the HD box we had was a lot, lot better. We’ve got a 2TB Sky Q box now, and it’s flawless.

 

[Landyman]

The new ones are very good. I remember the LG had 80 Gb and now we are on 2 Tb

 

[Tim.]

Can you use a FreeviewHD/YouView box without internet connection?

I guess you just miss out on extra functionality but can still make use of the extra channels, pause live tv, record etc etc?

 

[Landyman]

You can record and playback and also pause live TV as long as the unit it set to instant record.
The guide will work but not for catch up of course.

 

[Sash]

There seems to be a couple of versions of the Youview box... which is the one to get?

 

[Landyman]

You won’t go far wrong with a DTR-T2100 or DTR-T4000

 

[Tim.]

You won’t go far wrong with a DTR-T2100 or DTR-T4000

Just installed a DTR-T2100 for my folks following your recommendation. Paid £40 on eBay and it’s pretty decent compared to the 2010 Sony HDD recorder they had previously.

Not hooked up to the internet yet - I’ll give them some time to adjust to the new UI before bamboozling them with catch-up and on demand options.

Thank you

 

[ilovewilly]

How smart is your smart tv?

On my Samsung you can plug an external hard drive in and record/schedule recordings to that.

Never done it, mind.