Cheap recorder?

jammy75 · 14-11-2009, 6:47 PM

Hi, is there a cheap recorder that has a hdmi output and scart throughput?

Thanks.

Geofbob · 14-11-2009, 7:16 PM

You've posted in the PVR forum, so I'm assuming you mean a PVR not a DVD/HDD recorder; & "cheap" can mean different amounts to different people, But this is a reasonably priced (£100) & reliable160GB PVR from Argos - Alba

creddish · 14-11-2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geofbob

You've posted in the PVR forum, so I'm assuming you mean a PVR not a DVD/HDD recorder; & "cheap" can mean different amounts to different people, But this is a reasonably priced (£100) & reliable160GB PVR from Argos - Alba

If the OP really wants HDMI output as stated then Argos also have the Hitachi HDR163 which has this (the Alba doesn't) for the same price. The Hitachi also has an optional Low Power standby mode. Otherwise the two units are functionally identical.

However, the general consensus on the forums is that HDMI is of no benefit on a Freeview PVR.

Colin

Geofbob · 15-11-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creddish

If the OP really wants HDMI output as stated then Argos also have the Hitachi HDR163 which has this (the Alba doesn't) for the same price. The Hitachi also has an optional Low Power standby mode. Otherwise the two units are functionally identical.

However, the general consensus on the forums is that HDMI is of no benefit on a Freeview PVR.

Colin

Thanks Colin - When I linked to Argos I intended looking at the Alba's spec to see if it had HDMI - then completely forgot!

The Hitachi spec also says there's a CI slot & a Scart lead included, neither of which is in the Alba spec - so the Hitachi looks the better buy - though as you say the HDMI socket is a bit irrelevant.

jammy75 · 15-11-2009, 9:19 AM

Thanks fellas, the reason for the hdmi is because the panel I've bought has no scart socket only hdmi and I'm looking for a way to get a virgin SD box to connect to the panel.

creddish · 15-11-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammy75

Thanks fellas, the reason for the hdmi is because the panel I've bought has no scart socket only hdmi and I'm looking for a way to get a virgin SD box to connect to the panel.

That's a fair point. I guess other users who don't have a spare SCART input on their TV because they are are all used by other equipment and they don't want to daisy chain would also find HDMI useful.

As a matter of interest is being able to connect your Virgin box the only reason you want a recorder with an HDMI output. Or do you also want to record the output of the Virgin box. If so then a conventional HDD only PVR will not be suitable as they are only capable of recording from their own internal tuners. They do normally provide SCART feedthrough which was your other requirement.

Colin

jammy75 · 15-11-2009, 5:42 PM

Ideally i'd be able to record from the virgin box as well, guess a dvd recorder might be the solution, any come to mind?

mrash · 16-11-2009, 6:30 PM

Virgin do their own PVR, why not just get one of them? Will save you money and the need for 2 boxes.

V+ HD - Digital TV - Virgin Media

Its also HD, and will allow you to recieve HD Channels

creddish · 16-11-2009, 6:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrash

Virgin do their own PVR, why not just get one of them? Will save you money and the need for 2 boxes.

V+ HD - Digital TV - Virgin Media

Its also HD, and will allow you to recieve HD Channels

How would it save money. According to that link there is a set-up fee of £75 and a monthly fee of £5 unless he had TV XL or the VIP Package which no doubt cost loads more money. He could probably get a cheap DVD/HDD recorder for the price of the Virgin set-up fee.

Colin

mrash · 16-11-2009, 6:44 PM

Well 1st off he would only have one box not 2. He needs HDMI, so this limits his PVR Choice, this will cost him around £100-£120. As he is already a virgin customer, im sure they will upgrade him FOC, as both my brother and sister were. Also dvd/hdd combos are pretty poor IMO and dont let you record 2 channels and watch another etc so are no where near as flexible. Oh, and he wants to be able to record his Virgin tv channels, so this is by far the cheapest and best solution for him.

creddish · 16-11-2009, 9:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrash

Well 1st off he would only have one box not 2. He needs HDMI, so this limits his PVR Choice, this will cost him around £100-£120. As he is already a virgin customer, im sure they will upgrade him FOC, as both my brother and sister were. Also dvd/hdd combos are pretty poor IMO and dont let you record 2 channels and watch another etc so are no where near as flexible. Oh, and he wants to be able to record his Virgin tv channels, so this is by far the cheapest and best solution for him.

You seem to have forgotten the £5 per month subscription charge (=£60 per year). Say 5 year life cycle total subscription £300.

Colin

mrash · 16-11-2009, 10:47 PM

He also wants to record from his virgin box....

Also, if hes been with virgin for some time, he wont be paying anything, they will just upgrade him. My brother got the box install for free and isnt charged £5 a month as he has been with them for 4 years. The best advice is for him to call virgin and tell them what he wants and that because hes been there a while he understands he will be entitled to some "loyalty" bonus. Trust me, it works. Also he will have to be buying dvd's quite regular as well, so a couple of quid a month on subscription v's a couple of quid a month on discs with no flexibility, and if something comes on, you are scrambling around trying to find a blank or one with something you dont mind recording over etc its like going back to vhs all over again.

creddish · 17-11-2009, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrash

He also wants to record from his virgin box....

Also, if hes been with virgin for some time, he wont be paying anything, they will just upgrade him. My brother got the box install for free and isnt charged £5 a month as he has been with them for 4 years. The best advice is for him to call virgin and tell them what he wants and that because hes been there a while he understands he will be entitled to some "loyalty" bonus. Trust me, it works. Also he will have to be buying dvd's quite regular as well, so a couple of quid a month on subscription v's a couple of quid a month on discs with no flexibility, and if something comes on, you are scrambling around trying to find a blank or one with something you dont mind recording over etc its like going back to vhs all over again.

He will only need DVDs if he wants to archive stuff or produce portable media. If he does want to produce DVDs for any reason he can't do that with a V+ box. Maybe your brother has a subscription package which exempts him from additional V+? Why would Virgin Media offer him a free V+ box, install it for free and provide free V+ services if they are not getting something back somewhere?

Colin

jammy75 · 17-11-2009, 9:20 AM

Thanks for the advice fellas, I did think about getting a V+ box, but I already have a good deal off virgin after a call to customer retentions two years ago, so I don't think they'd give me a V+ box for free. Been looking at a sony hxd770 from ebay at around £70 seems like a good option.

mrash · 17-11-2009, 3:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creddish

He will only need DVDs if he wants to archive stuff or produce portable media. If he does want to produce DVDs for any reason he can't do that with a V+ box. Maybe your brother has a subscription package which exempts him from additional V+? Why would Virgin Media offer him a free V+ box, install it for free and provide free V+ services if they are not getting something back somewhere?

Colin

Its called a loyalty scheme, something they dont advertise, much like mobile phone companies. If you say you are leaving them to go to a competitor, then they speak up about the loyalty scheme. For example, i got my wife a mobile on an orange contract in a tariff for just £12 a month, due to customer loyalty, was with them for 2 years, not that long really. You try and get a NEW £12 a month tariff from a mobile operator...These companies like to keep your custom, and can offer huge discounts that just arent advertisable.

Same goes for Virgin, my dad pays HALF the advertised price for his broadband. None of us are affiliated with Virgin in anyway, i personally dont have any services from them and cant vouch for how good the V+ is.

If you dont ask, you dont get. You would be stupid to carry on paying full whack for stuff from these companies.

At the end of the day, what would they rather do? Give away a free box that costs them around £30 and keep another customer for at least another year? Or lose that customer for the sake of £30? Think about it. They get to keep customers, keep them happy, they will tell their mates how good they are, and they get more cusome, THATS what they get out of it giving stuff away. Its simple business.

creddish · 18-11-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrash

Its called a loyalty scheme, something they dont advertise, much like mobile phone companies. If you say you are leaving them to go to a competitor, then they speak up about the loyalty scheme. For example, i got my wife a mobile on an orange contract in a tariff for just £12 a month, due to customer loyalty, was with them for 2 years, not that long really. You try and get a NEW £12 a month tariff from a mobile operator...These companies like to keep your custom, and can offer huge discounts that just arent advertisable.

Same goes for Virgin, my dad pays HALF the advertised price for his broadband. None of us are affiliated with Virgin in anyway, i personally dont have any services from them and cant vouch for how good the V+ is.

If you dont ask, you dont get. You would be stupid to carry on paying full whack for stuff from these companies.

At the end of the day, what would they rather do? Give away a free box that costs them around £30 and keep another customer for at least another year? Or lose that customer for the sake of £30? Think about it. They get to keep customers, keep them happy, they will tell their mates how good they are, and they get more cusome, THATS what they get out of it giving stuff away. Its simple business.

I'm well aware of Virgin Media and their predecessor NTL retentions deals. I've negotiated good deals with them on phone, broadband and TV over the last 5 years or more. However I've progressively abandoned their TV for Freeview for obvious reasons, their phone services because of their high costs of calls. I have retained broadband with them so far and had unlimited 10Mb for £10 per month for a year or so but now they have withdrawn that deal from me and increased it to £16 per month so I'm looking to move to ADSL on a BT line for broadband.

Colin.

mrash · 18-11-2009, 4:19 PM

If you want a good ADSL provider on a BT line, i cant recommend o2 highly enough...after heaps of problems with BT and Sky (slow speeds etc) I moved to o2 and constantly get 7Mb download and 1Mb upload speeds. Had 2 issues in 18 months, both resolved within 5 mins with a call to one of their UK call centres...

creddish · 18-11-2009, 4:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrash

If you want a good ADSL provider on a BT line, i cant recommend o2 highly enough...after heaps of problems with BT and Sky (slow speeds etc) I moved to o2 and constantly get 7Mb download and 1Mb upload speeds. Had 2 issues in 18 months, both resolved within 5 mins with a call to one of their UK call centres...

OK, thanks for that. I'll have a look at O2. I can't do anything ATM as I'm only half way through a 1 year contract with VM. I'd rather not sign up to a 12 month contract with an ADSL provider until I have had a chance to test the service. I should be OK as I'm only about 300 yds from the Telephone Exchange.

Colin