[merylly]

I've had an analogue TV with a Humax digibox twin tuner so it will record digital programs (2 at once ) onto the hard disc.
The TV has just died. My question is that all the new TV's seem to be already digital with Freeview. Will a digital TV be in conflict with the Humax or will I still be able to record 2 programs to the hard disc?
And even more hopefully, while the Humax is recording 2 programs will I be able to watch a third program on the TV? The salesman in Currys said this would be so but I need some expert on this forum to say so.
I hope you can help as I'm not very technical and rather at the mercy of the retailers.
Thanks
Merylly

[Geofbob]

Yes to both your questions. The Humax twin tuner PVR records from its own internal tuners (that's why it has them) so will record, whatever TV it's connected to - in fact, even if it's not connected to a TV at all.

And yes, you can certainly watch Freeview on the TV, while the Humax records merrily away. As it happens, the Humax itself will sometimes allow you to record two programmes, and watch a third - it depends which channels you're recording and which you want to watch. But viewing via the TV's own Freeview tuner would probably be simplest.

PS Just noticed I made a pun on your "name" in the above - absolutely not intended!

[merylly]

Thank you. That's really good news.
And now I'm getting greedy - if I choose a new TV that has its own recording ability (some say they can record up to 2 hours) Will I be able to record 2 in the Humax, 1 in the TV iself AND watch a 4th?

Amongst the usual wasteland of repeats and rubbish, just occasionally there are 4 diamonds across the channels all scheduled for 9 pm.

Don't mind the pun. I am "merrily" most of the time!

[Sonic67]

Originally Posted by merylly

Thank you. That's really good news.
And now I'm getting greedy - if I choose a new TV that has its own recording ability (some say they can record up to 2 hours) Will I be able to record 2 in the Humax, 1 in the TV iself AND watch a 4th?

If the TV includes two tuners then yes I would imagine so. Note that a lot of stuff is on more than once each week. I have a Freesat PVR, Play TV, a Cable+ box, a Sony Freeview/DVD-R a computer with Freeview recording and a VHS recorder. I've never needed that much as I often record the stuff repeated at two in the morning or something.

[Geofbob]

Originally Posted by merylly

Thank you. That's really good news.
And now I'm getting greedy - if I choose a new TV that has its own recording ability (some say they can record up to 2 hours) Will I be able to record 2 in the Humax, 1 in the TV iself AND watch a 4th?

Amongst the usual wasteland of repeats and rubbish, just occasionally there are 4 diamonds across the channels all scheduled for 9 pm.

Don't mind the pun. I am "merrily" most of the time!

As Sonic says, yes but only if the TV has recording ability & two tuners - don't know of one, but there's all sorts of variations out there. (However, if one of the two tuners is Freeview & the other Freesat, you usually cannot use them at the same time.)

As an alternative to a twin-tuner recording TV (assuming there is one), you could hook up a standard Freeview TV to a DVD/HDD recorder with inbuilt Freeview tuner (these are quite common), in addition to the PVR, which will enable you to watch one & record three - thus giving you DVD playing/recording as well as hard-disc recording.

Or with two or more twin tuner PVRs plus the Freeview TV....you can fill in the rest for yourself!

[mike7]

Just seen a cheapo TV on sale in Tesco which has a USB recording system. It only appears to have one tuner and the memory stick that comes with it is enough for 2 hours. I'm sure this will confuse a lot of people as its recording ability is very limited.

[merylly]

Yes. I saw that one in Tescos and it was that which prompted my "greedy" question. That cheapo TV with a memory stick for 2 hours - will it only record what you are watching or will it record 1 program while you watch another (putting aside the digibox question for the moment)
And thanks to you all for replying to this thread. I now feel I know more what I'm doing.
Could you make my day and indulge my laziness and recommend which TV I should go for to partner my Humax

[Geofbob]

Originally Posted by merylly

Yes. I saw that one in Tescos and it was that which prompted my "greedy" question. That cheapo TV with a memory stick for 2 hours - will it only record what you are watching or will it record 1 program while you watch another (putting aside the digibox question for the moment)
And thanks to you all for replying to this thread. I now feel I know more what I'm doing.
Could you make my day and indulge my laziness and recommend which TV I should go for to partner my Humax

NOT ME!!

By the time all the arguments have been settled - LCD vs Plasma; 32" vs 37" vs 40" vs ginormous; Panasonic vs Sony vs Toshiba vs you name it - HD Freeview PVRs & TVs will be in the shops, & you'll have to start agonising all over again!