Humax Freesat HD PVR - first impressions from our test rooms
Forget all the blather about the long overdue Guns N' Roses album, the most eagerly awaited item in AV land has been a Freesat HD PVR - the first box that enables you to watch and record free-to-air high-definition TV, without a subscription (though with the essential addition/use of a satellite dish. Oh, and of course an HD Ready or Full HD TV).
The £299 Humax Foxsat HDR finally landed in shops this weekend, and in our testing rooms, too, where it's currently undergoing a thorough review. With such keen interest in the product - the first stocks of which have already sold out - we thought we'd bring you a hands-on online preview.
First, the basics
To recap, here is the full tech spec of the Foxsat HDR from Humax:
- Freesat HD and SD channel recording
- 320GB hard-disk drive
- Simultaneous viewing of one channel and recording another channel
- Record 2 channels at the same time
- Receive HDTV signals (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 and MPEG-2)
- Under 1W power consumption in standby
- HDMI - digital interface for perfect transmission of picture and sound
- Simultaneous playing of transmissions over HDMI, Composite or Scart
- Easy installation and operation
- Resolution format: 1080i, 720p, 576p, 576i
- DVB-S2 and DVB-S compatible
- Ethernet support
- Full colour high resolution electronic programme guide
- Dolby digital audio output (S/PDIF)
- Automatic software upgrade via satellite
- Upscaling Standard Definition channels
- Audio description / One touch subtitle
- Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth): 380 x 55 x 252mm
- Weight: 3.1kg
What does that mean in real-world terms?
Let's put some flesh on those bare tech-spec bones. Firstly, that 320GB hard drive - that's enough to hold a maximum of 80 hours of HD content or 200 hours of standard definition TV.
Then there's the connectivity: the Humax is capable of outputting at a maximum resolution of 720p/1080i via the HDMI connection, while there are also two Scart outputs, a USB input for accessing other content, and an Ethernet connection for possible future upgrades (much as the Sky+ HD box offers the same, currently dormant feature).
Finally, we're delighted to confirm that not only will the Humax Foxsat HDR allow you to enjoy live programmes broadcast with surround-sound audio, it allows you to record that Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, too. All you need is a suitable receiver/surround sound system to plug it into.
Electronic programming guide and recording options
The Humax Foxsat HDR offers the ability to pause, rewind and record Freesat channels, an 8-Day EPG, series recording, schedule trackings – the box adjusts to time changes on the schedule – and split recordings – for when programmes have a break in the middle.
There are a couple of standout features, too. Should you try to record a programme that’s available in SD and HD – such as BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing – the box will prompt you to choose, ensuring you won’t miss any HD content.
Also, should you try to record three channels at once – one too many – then the Humax will helpfully inform you of any repeat showings at other times, allowing you to record that instead.
Usability first impressions
The interface is clean and clear, and navigation is fast and intuitive – a similarly simple but effective remote control only helps matters. Pausing and rewinding live TV is easy, while setting recordings, accessing your recorded content and skipping through chapters all prove utterly painless.
However, well aware that some usability issues only become apparant once you've lived with a product for a while, we're putting the PVR through its paces for a good while before we reach our final verdict on ease-of-use.
Read our full review from next week
For more feedback - including the crucial verdict on sound and vision performance, both with SD and HD viewing and recording - our full review will be published in the January issue of What Hi-fi? Sound and Vision, which will be posted out to subscribers next week and on sale in shops by 11th December.
Who knows, the Humax Foxsat HD PVR may even be back in stock at retailers by then!
In the meantime, we'll be adding to this blog with more pictures and comments.
- Clare Newsome's blog
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Comments
Useful information, looking forward to your next report.
Regards :- FROGIT
Clare,
Can we have some comment on the box's ability to pick up FTA signals from other satellites as well (with a suitably equiped dish) eg. 28e, 19, 13e.
I believe the orginal Foxsat HD receiver couldn't scan and autostore channels from other sats making it nigh on impossible to use it on them because of the time it would take to store all the channels, but I was wondering if the HDR can?
I'm sure now the pvr is on board, the prospect of opening up other FTA channels on other sats will appeal to many, not least the many Sky subscribers who seem to be chnaging to Freesat. As they say, you can never have too many channels.
Alsone - certainly no indication on initial testing that the HDR works any differently to the receiver-only Foxsat box in that respect....
Hmm thats interesting as the box is widely reported as having DiSeqC which is specifically a control for switching between other satellites. Hence the question. It seems they've upped the spec with DiSeqC but its not clear they've put in the channel software support to go with it, hence the question.
In fact just found this on digital spy, its reported that its actually in a secret menu: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=792037
Instructions to access there.
Although there they seem to be reporting problems trying to switch between non Astra Sources.
That's why we're giving it a good long test - we don't want to just scratch the surface. Priority first and foremost, however, has been seeing how it performs with Freesat channels, which is what the majority of its users will stick to.
Yeah no problems. I appreciate its early days. Just from my own personal point of view (sure I'm not totally alone) I'm struggling to decide on the type of dish to buy if I decide to go the Humax route because I don't yet know if the Humax will perform multi (non Astra) sat duties. Little point spending big £'s on a motorised dish or fewer but still extra £'s on a multiarm set up and a larger dish if the receiver can't handle 19e and 13e as well as Astra 2D. Look forward to your findings when available.
Alsone, you're not alone!! I currently use a Technomate PVR enabled sat receiver with a plugged-in 320GB hard disk and motorised dish. I absolutely love the ability to watch and record BBC and ITV HD, the surround sound on BBC through my Cyrus amp is breathtaking. And there is also a handful of European FTA HD channels, though nothing comparing to BBC. The big let down with this system is the lack of functionality in the user interface - the PVR is very very basic, no inbuilt hard disk - no EPG and only now and next programme information.
I am therefore very eager for a freesat PVR which can also access other satellites - so if the Humax does this I will definately be giving it a serious look. Any info. from the What Hi-fi team in the January edition would be most welcome!! but I do recognise that the majority of users will just want the freesat channels.
Clare
How will this work with a Panasonic tv with built in Freesat ? I'm thinking of buying one after Christmas.
Is it possible to view an HD channel via the tv tuner & record 2 other hd broadcasts on the Humax or will i possibly be paying for a built in tv tuner that will really be a waste of money.
It's a good question - with dishes having dual Freesat feeds, it makes sense for both to go into the Humax PVR, rather than one into the Humax and other into the Panasonic TV.....
I'd forgotten about the dish feeds.
So if the dish had 3 or 4 feeds,2 could go to the Humax & 1 to the TV.I could see that working,not a lot on HD at the moment to record i suppose but would also work with SD.
The reason for asking is that i do this from time to time with Freeview if progs collide,via a twin tuner pvr & DVD recorder,daisy chained.
I really do not understand the hype over this. I recently had FreeSat installed as part of a home cinema set-up. There is currently precious little HD content available, limited to the BBC and the odd snippet from ITV. In addition FreeSat seems to offer only a minor subset of the channels available on FreeView. Have I bought a pup or am I missing something?