[dr_jon]

My much-loved JVC HM-HDS4 PVR appears to be on the way out, so it's time to look for a replacement. What I'm keen to do is avoid buying something that is lacking a feature I find particularly useful. I was hoping if I list a few things then people could suggest PVRs to look at or not bother with. All replies would be most appreciated. I do understand some features will be "similar to" rather than "identical to"...

Features:

Buffer Live TV so can go back and watch something that is already on.

Record something that is being buffered, so can start the recording at 8pm if it's currently 8:15, provided the machine was on the correct channel.

Jump forward/backward in reasonably large chunks (the JVC does 15 minutes a press).

Jump forward over commercials and such like (JVC is 30 secs a press).

Jump back a bit if jumped forward too far or misheard something (JVC 7 secs).

Instant timer recording (press to set timer in, say, 30 min intervals for something already recording).

Ability to add a little to either end of a Freeview EPG timer recording or to use the broadcasters' signal for when it starts/ends.

1.5x playback with sound.

Either have a DVD recorder built-in (I get that means it will recompress the Freeview, but that's what I do at present) or have some way to get the recordings to a PC.

I think all the other things I'd like are pretty standard. Anyway, like I said, all comments would be most welcome.

John

[creddish]

Originally Posted by dr_jon

My much-loved JVC HM-HDS4 PVR appears to be on the way out, so it's time to look for a replacement. What I'm keen to do is avoid buying something that is lacking a feature I find particularly useful. I was hoping if I list a few things then people could suggest PVRs to look at or not bother with. All replies would be most appreciated. I do understand some features will be "similar to" rather than "identical to"...

Features:

Buffer Live TV so can go back and watch something that is already on.

Record something that is being buffered, so can start the recording at 8pm if it's currently 8:15, provided the machine was on the correct channel.

Jump forward/backward in reasonably large chunks (the JVC does 15 minutes a press).

Jump forward over commercials and such like (JVC is 30 secs a press).

Jump back a bit if jumped forward too far or misheard something (JVC 7 secs).

Instant timer recording (press to set timer in, say, 30 min intervals for something already recording).

Ability to add a little to either end of a Freeview EPG timer recording or to use the broadcasters' signal for when it starts/ends.

1.5x playback with sound.

Either have a DVD recorder built-in (I get that means it will recompress the Freeview, but that's what I do at present) or have some way to get the recordings to a PC.

I think all the other things I'd like are pretty standard. Anyway, like I said, all comments would be most welcome.

John

That's a rather demanding shopping list!

The nearest to that out of the box is probably a Humax 9300. Possibly a Topfield with TAPs added.

You are not going to get a built in DVD recorder in a conventional Freeview+ PVR. To get USB connection to a PC you would have to get a re-furbished Humax 9200 as the current models don't have a working USB port.

The Humax does not have a single button 15m Jump feature but you can quickly use a GoTo feature or a sliding pointer on a "timebar" to any point in a recording during playback. There is an adjustable forward Skip feature with a range (I think) of about 15s to 5m. 30s, 1m and 2m are included in the options.

On the Humax you can use the Freeview+ Series Record and Accurate Recording features or you can disable these features and add automatic padding. But you can't combine these two methods of recording control. Accurate Recording does not work very well on the Humax.

I recall one PVR having a 1.5X or maybe 2X replay with sound but I think it was presumed to be a bug.

Colin

[nvingo]

If you consider the Freesat option, currently there is the Humax Foxsat HDR at £300 (+ ~£100 installation if you don't already have a suitable dish ie. Sky digital). This covers many of you desires but I don't have personal experience of it. Programmes can be copied from the HDD to external USB media for transfer to PC.

Higher in budget and not yet available, Panasonic announced their Freesat PVR/Bluray recorder. There are to be two HDD size versions, and a cutdown conventional DVDR version.
It has been available abroad with one satellite + one terrestrial HD tuner, the speculation is they are launching in the UK with two satellite HD tuners as there's currently no terrestrial HD broadcasts.

Addendum to Colin's description of the Humax terrestrial PVRs, you can use Accurate Recording for some programmes and specify explicit start/end/repeat for others (manual timers) but cannot combine automatic padding with accurate recording.

Other possibilities include Philips' new PVR (Argos, again awaiting delivery) or their HDD/DVD-recorder machines - Philips do constant buffering, or HDD/DVD combos from Panasonic/Pioneer/Sony (HDD/DVDR combos being single tuner/single record).