[bullfinch]

Parents are looking at buying a 32 or 37 inch Sony LCD TV with Freesat. I'm wondering if it's worth getting a separate Humax Freesat box and a Sony LCD with Freeview integrated instead?

[Starburst]

There is little point in getting a standalone Freeview box as the TV has the Freeview built in unless of course you want to record Freeview channels and watch them at the same time. Note that Freesat channel lineup is different to the Freeview channel lineup.
Just to clarify, do you mean a Humax Freesat box with the SONY Freeview telly?

Personally I would always add a twin tuner PVR regardless of what tuner/s are in the television to maximise choice and convenience.

[bullfinch]

I mean Freeview TV with a Humax Freesat box or an integrated Freesat TV.

And what is a "twin tuner PVR"?

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by bullfinch

And what is a "twin tuner PVR"?

It's a set top box with two digital tuners and built in hard drive, you can buy these PVR/DVR (Personal Video Recorder/Digital Video Recorders) for Freeview, Freesat, SKY, VM and BTV/TUTV.

The Freesat PVR from Humax will give you the option to record HD broadcasts which may be of more benefit than not being able to record Freeview only channels unless you add a VCR or DVDr.

[bullfinch]

OK but the Humax PVR is too pricey, it would have to be just the normal Humax Freeview box, probably a Grade A recon unit at £95. How would that compare to the Sony Freeview TV?

[Starburst]

While tuner sensitivity can vary and using scart as opposed to an integrated unit may have an effect overall the real benefit is record one channel and watch another or in this case record two and watch a third (2 via the PVR and watch the TV tuner).
In that respect a Freeview PVR with a Freeview/Freesat TV provides HD channels (not recordable in HD) and the widest range of "free" channels.


All the above dependent upon the sat dish status and DTT reception/aerial performance.

[bullfinch]

That really didnt answer my question at all.

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by bullfinch

That really didnt answer my question at all.

I'm sure someone else will come along and try to do better.

[Geofbob]

Originally Posted by bullfinch

OK but the Humax PVR is too pricey, it would have to be just the normal Humax Freeview box, probably a Grade A recon unit at £95. How would that compare to the Sony Freeview TV?

Originally Posted by bullfinch

That really didnt answer my question at all.

Possibly your question hasn't been answered because your posts seem a little confused. I think the "too pricey" Humax you refer to is probably the Humax Freesat PVR; but the recon Humax box at £95 is either a Freeview PVR or possibly a Freesat receiver, but not a Freeview receiver (I'm not sure Humax even make one these days).

In fact, I'm not sure there is any clear-cut answer to the question whether a separate Freeview receiver is or is not superior to the inbuilt Freeview tuner in a TV. For example, after the recent Freeview retuning exercise, some members reported cases where integrated tuners had fared better than stand-alone boxes - but others reported the opposite.

I suspect a point you may be missing is that most TVs now have a Freeview tuner built in; but some also have a Freesat tuner. So for simple viewing, whether of Freeview or Freesat, no additional box would be required; which is why Starburst has focused on the options for recording.

PS My post crossed with Starburst's last - but I'm not sure I have done better!

[Mike02]

Originally Posted by Starburst

I'm sure someone else will come along and try to do better.

You got any views on STV mate?

I take it your a Scot living in Derby...


Mike

[bullfinch]

Originally Posted by Geofbob

Possibly your question hasn't been answered because your posts seem a little confused. I think the "too pricey" Humax you refer to is probably the Humax Freesat PVR; but the recon Humax box at £95 is either a Freeview PVR or possibly a Freesat receiver, but not a Freeview receiver (I'm not sure Humax even make one these days).

In fact, I'm not sure there is any clear-cut answer to the question whether a separate Freeview receiver is or is not superior to the inbuilt Freeview tuner in a TV. For example, after the recent Freeview retuning exercise, some members reported cases where integrated tuners had fared better than stand-alone boxes - but others reported the opposite.

I suspect a point you may be missing is that most TVs now have a Freeview tuner built in; but some also have a Freesat tuner. So for simple viewing, whether of Freeview or Freesat, no additional box would be required; which is why Starburst has focused on the options for recording.

PS My post crossed with Starburst's last - but I'm not sure I have done better!

I am not confused at all. I know the difference between Freesat and Freeview and it is solely about Freesat that I am talking about here.

It;s really quite simple - is it better to go for the Sony Freesat TV or the non-Freesat with a Humax receiver.

***edit* just noticed in the first post I put Humax Freeview by accident when I meant Humax Freesat. Sorry Starburst.

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by Mike02

You got any views on STV mate?

I take it your a Scot living in Derby...


Mike

Not Scottish but my babysister was Scottish not sure if that gave me a predilection towards kilt wearing, haggis eating and hogmanay celebrating but it's true two of them are fun


STV in what respect, their issues with ITV or something else?

[derek500]

The vital thing to take in mind, is without a Freesat PVR you cannot record HD in HD. So if there are two HD programmes on at once, you will need to decide which one you want to watch in HD and which you want to record in SD.

HD without a PVR is a complete no no for many.

[twosheds]

The difference between the Sony 37 with Freesat and a similar spec'd one without Freesat is £110( Cheapelectricals.co.uk) and the Humax Freesat box is around £100 so for more or less the same price you've got one less box but the same functionality.

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by twosheds

The difference between the Sony 37 with Freesat and a similar spec'd one without Freesat is £110( Cheapelectricals.co.uk) and the Humax Freesat box is around £100 so for more or less the same price you've got one less box but the same functionality.

Not quite true you can record from the seperate box in high quality SD RGB (including HD transmissions). Recording from the TV requires it to be on and tuned to the channel you want to record and then you only get very poor composite (cvbs) video.

[bullfinch]

Right so a separate box is probably the most flexible option?

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by bullfinch

Right so a separate box is probably the most flexible option?

Certainly is, especially if it's a twin tuner freesat pvr .

[swedish cook]

I'm missing something in this discussion, its easy isn't it ? If you insist that you do not want to record TV then go with an integrated unit, they are easier and less mess.

But really you should go for a PVR, if you're buying a Sony LCD funds are obviously not so short, in which case its an external PVR.

Many people will have both, integrated in kitchen/ maybe bedroom and a separate PVR in the living room.