Humax HDR-Fox T2 Freeview HD DVR
The telly addicts' new best friend?
Review From a fairly slow start, the number of Freeview HD recorders is growing quite quickly; but the Humax has been one that many people have been waiting for. The company has a pretty good pedigree with DVRs for other services, and expectations have been quite high for the HDR Fox T2.
Humax's HDR-Fox T2: a week's worth of telly in a box
It’s a fairly large unit – standard hi-fi component width, with a front panel that has a big power switch, dot-matrix display and buttons for channel and volume. On the rear there’s a Scart, analogue audio in, composite video, HDMI, Ethernet, optical output, aerial input and output plus a CI+ bay. The hard drive is 500GB, which is sufficient for around 120-160 hours of HD content.
The remote is a fairly substantial affair. If you’re used to the Humax Foxsat HDR remote, initially you’ll find it infuriating, as the ‘i’ key has moved position. However, it can also be programmed to operate three other devices; there’s a list of codes in the back of the manual. All the buttons are a decent size, and it’s feels comfortable in the hand.
Of note is the ‘TV Portal’ button which doesn’t do anything yet, but will give access to an on-line video portal later this year, due to include SkyPlayer and perhaps other services too.
The meat of this machine, though, is Freeview HD. Setup is straightforward and simple, the box auto-tuning and finding all the channels without any problems. Picture quality is extremely good, on both SD and HD channels. Standard def looks about as good as it’s going to get and HD includes full transcoding to Dolby Digital 5.1, making this only the second Freeview DVR I’ve seen that gives you surround sound when it’s broadcast.
The remote can be programmed to control TV, DVD and your AV system too
As you’d expect, there are the usual playback features, such as being able to skip forward and backwards by a definable amount, perfect for skipping over adverts.
COMMENTS
Could say the same about a lot of kit.
Are there any 100% trustable PVRs?
Wiping recording schedule - didn't they fix that?
Paris beacause...
one of the screenshots shows a BBC programme called "An American in Paris". But then knowing her, that does not narrow it down a lot.
RE: YMMV
I agree...my wife didn't understand why I bought it but she can't live without it now. We rarely resort to watching live TV and albeit for the initial problems (which were fixed with OTA firmware updates) has worked perfectly. I'd buy another Humax...this one looks a tad expensive at the moment though.
DRM
All programmes on Freeview HD can be recorded; there's nothing to stop that.
The content controls are designed to prevent copies being made elsewhere, but not to stop actual timeshifting.
There are devices with BluRay or DVD recorders, like the Panasonic DMR-XW380 which I reviewed here not too long ago - but in my view they're a compromise, and designed more as a disc recorder with twin Freeview tuners than a PVR.
YMMV
You must have been unlucky, my 9200 is the best gadget I've ever bought. It's not that it's never given us a problem, but they've mostly either been issues that have been fixed or have been when I haven't followed the instructions (reverting to default settings after a patch etc.). It's more than made up for those by being simple to use and doing what it says on the tin. Or in fact more, with the improvements to the functionality that were rolled out later. Now if the powers that be could only get on with turning off the analogue signal to the south-east and boost up the digital power I'll be very happy.
