Freesat recorders

[Count Steer]

It looks like the hard drive on my Humax Freesat recorder has lunched itself. Any recs for what to replace it with?

Don't need bells and whistles but needs to record HD, 2 channel (watch/record at the same time), 500Gb min.

It is quite old but has been good so I'm OK with Humax again but wondered if there's better out there.

Thanks.

[Zimbo]

Humax is still the best I think, if you simply replace the hard drive in your existing one will it revive itself I wonder? Apparently quite a simple replacement, there are YouTube videos available. Possible upgrade to an SSD perhaps?

[Count Steer]

Humax is still the best I think, if you simply replace the hard drive in your existing one will it revive itself I wonder? Apparently quite a simple replacement, there are YouTube videos available. Possible upgrade to an SSD perhaps?

Thanks Zimbo. I like the Humax too and, reading around, it looks like it has the best user interface. An SSD? I like your thinking. (I bought my wife a tower PC with an SSD C: drive and it's tip-top). It's certainly something I can tackle and if it doesn't work I can use the SSD for something else.

I can't work out if Humax are still making them. Their web site suggests so but they seem to have lost the contract to make Freesat branded boxes and Amazon have lots of reconditioned ones.

[the_priest]

I have an ancient Humax that is still working! You've reminded me to swap it over to an SSD before the HDD goes pop. I cannot remember if it is SATA, I think it might be, so cloning the HDD to an SSD will work and I can get a bigger one in there as well.

[Count Steer]

I got it working again! All recordings intact and recording again.

However, I have prepared for the HDD failing again and can replace it pretty smartish if it does. (Not worried about losing what's on there and have tidied up the old recordings so there's only about 5% of the disk space used). Having had a delve it looks like you could keep one going for years as long as they don't become totally obsolete tech.

[Felix]

My old Youview box (Huawei) is still running strong and can be set to record to HDD or SD card. Redundant now or relegated to bedroom as bought an Android TV and can record to USB but only a 7 day timer if i am reading the manual correct.

[Mussels]

If the machine works fine on a standard drive is there much point in paying extra for SSD?

[Count Steer]

If the machine works fine on a standard drive is there much point in paying extra for SSD?

Not really other than quieter, faster and likely to last longer. None of which are much of an issue tbh but I'd probably put a smaller SSD in than the 1Tb drive. Looking at current useage 10% of that would be enough if I kept it tidy.

[Count Steer]

Well, it conked again and replacing the HDD drive really is a piece of cake...but...looking at the how to's on Youtube, replacing it wasn't a sure fire fix, so rather than cough up for a new 1Tb Video format drive I've ordered a new Freeview branded box. (One chap showed exactly the screen I was getting, replaced the drive and still no joy). I may tinker with it at some point or try a usb plug-in HDD drive but it is rather old. I'll report back on the new box if anyone is interested.

[Mr Moofo]

Well, it conked again and replacing the HDD drive really is a piece of cake...but...looking at the how to's on Youtube, replacing it wasn't a sure fire fix, so rather than cough up for a new 1Tb Video format drive I've ordered a new Freeview branded box. (One chap showed exactly the screen I was getting, replaced the drive and still no joy). I may tinker with it at some point or try a usb plug-in HDD drive but it is rather old. I'll report back on the new box if anyone is interested.

After reading this I have just plugged my Freesat box is - just trying to see if it has any purpose

[DefTrap]

I didn't think anyone bothered recording anything these days ...

[Skub]

I didn't think anyone bothered recording anything these days ...

I don't ever watch anything live. I dunno how usual/unusual that is.

[DefTrap]

I don't ever watch anything live. I dunno how usual/unusual that is.

Me, not so much either. Most is from an on demand player though - Netflix, iPlayer, 4OD etc

[Count Steer]

I use some of the apps like iPlayer, Prime etc but I find it any easy way to binge-watch series, sometimes weeks after they've been on. Not always possible with the apps. Also to grab the occasional film that I may watch more than once (although if I'm that interested I'll usually buy the DVD/Blu-ray if it's available).

Also, if I have to have the box, it might as well have record capability.

[Mr Moofo]

I use some of the apps like iPlayer, Prime etc but I find it any easy way to binge-watch series, sometimes weeks after they've been on. Not always possible with the apps. Also to grab the occasional film that I may watch more than once (although if I'm that interested I'll usually buy the DVD/Blu-ray if it's available).

Also, if I have to have the box, it might as well have record capability.

I can see the attraction of never having to use ITV Hub ever again, as the huge time given over to ad breaks is a PITA

[Horse]

I can see the attraction of never having to use ITV Hub ever again, as the huge time given over to ad breaks is a PITA

"Your programme will start in 200 seconds" (as we had this evening)
Vs
Fast forward through the ads.

[Count Steer]

Ok. It's here. 'Freesat Recordable 4K TV Box - 1Tb'

First impressions - it's half the size of the Humax, there's no info screen on it nor any tell-tale light to show it's on. The 12v power supply is built into the plug which is a very minor pain as they never seem to make them the right way round to go in a multi-socket surge protected block without blocking another socket so I plugged it into a spare wall socket without trying to reach the block.

5 mins max plugging it all in. A few mins set-up with the wi-fi etc. You can add an app to your phone to record stuff remotely bit I didn't bother.

What's to say? It works. The guide and UI is v similar to the Humax. You don't appear to be able to do 'record+5mins', you can fast forward through adverts in a recording but I think you have to 'take a run at it' ie if the ads have started during replay you can't but you can go back a bit and start FF. I'll check but have FF'd through 20 mins of something - through the ads. It has quite a few On Demand apps built in - iPlayer, Prime, 4oD etc etc. (But so does the TV, I suppose you can record while watching if you wanted to). That's it really, same 170 channels of crap.

[Mr Moofo]

but still no channel 4 HD

[Count Steer]

but still no channel 4 HD

No. C4 won't pay the price for HD (or All4) to be on the platform. However, a quick search of the Internet suggests that there's a frig that you can do with manual tuning of your box. Haven't tried it so don't know if it works (or have the foggiest of why/how it should work unless you can somehow tap other channels from the satellite - it does transmit a lot of other stuff).