Humax 9200 EPG vs. Digifusion 200 EPG ?

[pablo147]

I am thinking of getting a digifusion 200 or a Humax 9200, but would like to know a bit about the EPGs.

I recently bought a Sagem 6240 from Argos, but it went back due to many glitches. (no info appearing in the box as you flick up/down channels etc)
Also what we did not like is the EPG - it was awful. It was slow and cumbersome. Their was no easy way of navigating the EPG. There was no way of paging up/down or going across a page in the EPG program list or the specific station listing. Instead you have to go up or down line by line or across column by column, very cumbersome.
Moving up or down a station in the EPG actually changed the viewed channel in the quarter of the screen. I would have prefered it to remain on the channel you are watching.

So how does the EPG on the Humax or digifusion box compare?
any good?

[Dave_C]

The EPG is on Humax is very responsive and easy to use. You can you use Time bar (green button) to move up/down a program, up/down 2 hours or up down a day. You can find Programs by name in Search or even by genre eg sport, movies, childrens etc. The channel in the corner of the epg always stays the same unless you press ok on a program that has already started, it will set a timer to record if it hasn't.

[Thrutch]

I would go to a shop and try both units out.

The Humax guide once loaded is excellent, there are button to jump forward and backward 1 day at time you can even search within the guide by typing in the part of the program name.

The only problem with Humax Guide is that if the box is turned off or put into standby the guide is lost and has to reload once the box is switched on (not in standby) and this reload is never instant. Some people recommend switching onto BBC1 to get the EPG to load faster.

I know the Fusion Guide loads overnight which means the box has to be left either switched on or in standby, which is no good for me as I usually turn electrical stuff off overnight. I had a Fusion 150 and I think the Humax guide is miles better, but it is personal preference and the next person will probably hate the Humax guide.

[ROYOLD]

Originally Posted by Thrutch

I know the Fusion Guide loads overnight which means the box has to be left either switched on or in standby, which is no good for me as I usually turn electrical stuff off overnight. I had a Fusion 150 and I think the Humax guide is miles better, but it is personal preference and the next person will probably hate the Humax guide.

Having the Fusion 150 then you already know that the 14 day epg remains intact whether the machine is switched off at the mains or not. Mine is left on standby overnight just once per week to update the guide. The machine is switched OFF at the mains when I am not using it. The epg remains in memory - unlike the Humax 9200T which I also have.

[Steve Zodiac]

I too have the Humax 9200 and think that it is excellent apart from losing the EPG when put into stand-by. Has anyone any idea why it does this when the 8000 doesn't? Perhaps the next software update will sort it out.

Regardless of this, I'd still recommend it.

[awhb]

Having used the FVRT 200 for several months now (before the Humax was released), I have found the Chase Play feature to be something I couldn't live without now.

The Humax doesn't have chase play, and for me, despite the additional disc capacity and PC features of the Humax, that feature alone would still suade me to the Digifusion if I were to have chose now.



And for the record, despite almost constant use since purchase, it hasn't missed or corrupted a single recording (yet)!

--awhb

[pablo147]

Thanks everyone for their comments. Looks like I'm edging towards the Humax, but could still be persuaded otherwise.

Originally Posted by awhb

The Humax doesn't have chase play, and for me, despite the additional disc capacity and PC features of the Humax, that feature alone would still suade me to the Digifusion if I were to have chose now.

--awhb

I was more interested in the EPG, as my wife realy likes the epg on our existing BT iplayer. But in comparison the epg on the sagem was awful.

Originally Posted by Thrutch

I would go to a shop and try both units out.

I wish I could, but I tried asking in Comet and Curry's but they wouldn't demo them. they have them on display, but not connected up.

[LV426]

If the layout of the EPG is your most important factor, and you prefer that on the Humax, then that's obviously where you should go.

If a larger HDD is your primary factor, then the Humax is only exceeded by the Topfield.

If USB connectivity is a priority, then only Humax and Topfield have this.

However if your priority is as few as possible (or no) missed or unplayable recordings, then the box to go for is the Fusion 200.