Hi,

I'm in a bit of a quandary regarding my current set up. At the moment I have a Humax 9200T freeview box which has been a great little unit. The only problem is that it doesn't upscale very well and really want to invest shortly in a new 37"+ TV from 32". So the question is do I upgrade now to the Humax Fox T2 Freeview HD+ box or wait until a YouView compatible box is out next year?

Also, some of reviews on the new Humax Fox t2 make me think that its not the finished product in terms of streaming BBC iPlayer etc. but I know that Humax are continually fixing it...

Anybody else in the same boat or have any input?

Cheers,

Bart

Youview has been coming out next year for some years now, so dont hold your breath. Unless you have a really fast broadband connection then you will get little benefit.

Youview has been coming out next year for some years now, so dont hold your breath. Unless you have a really fast broadband connection then you will get little benefit.

Thanks mannyo, I didn't realise that they had delayed the launch. Could make my decision much easier then!

Edited 26 August, 201114 yr by bartsimmo

Or do like i did and get a tv with freesat HD built in, only thing is you dont then get the + functionality

I'm in a similar position to bartsimmo but already have the HD channels (and HD audio) with Sky. My additional question (which hopefully will also help the OP) would be to find out what freeview HD channels are available and what type of audio they transmit before taking the freeview HD recording route.

Take a look at the HUMAX HDR-FOXT2 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004BMB2XC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

I upgraded from a Humax 9300 to a Humax HD Freeview PVR. At first the humax was a bit sluggish and had a few software annoyances, but an update a few months ago sorted all that out and the box is now fine. The 9300 was a poor upscaler though it's HDMI too and I ended up using a Scart out and either letting my telly or my receiver (both have superb upscaling chipsets) and things weren't too bad on SD. Now I have the HD version, not only do the pictures look similar to SKY HD pictures, but the SD upscaling through the HDMI is much improved too.

As for the Humax portal, well there is bugger all on it BBC iplayer is there and works fine if a little slowly. It isn't quite as good as my Sony S579 BluRay at playing the iplayer. But, in it's favour, it also streams stuff on the network quite well and I often play video or music from computers or servers (on my network) through it.

Overall I think it is a pretty good effort and I would give it an 81/2 out of 10.

Edited 26 August, 201114 yr by Lady Elanore

I'm in a similar position to bartsimmo but already have the HD channels (and HD audio) with Sky. My additional question (which hopefully will also help the OP) would be to find out what freeview HD channels are available and what type of audio they transmit before taking the freeview HD recording route.

BBC HD, BBC One HD, ITV 1 HD and Channel 4 HD are available. Channel 5 was coming but they bailed out, so the BBC took the spare channel. The BBC were also trying to squeeze a 5th channel onto the Multiplexer, but I think this has now gone away.

As for the Audio, only ITV doesn't ever transmit DD 5.1, but this is true of their Sky channels too.

BBC HD, BBC One HD, ITV 1 HD and Channel 4 HD are available. Channel 5 was coming but they bailed out, so the BBC took the spare channel. The BBC were also trying to squeeze a 5th channel onto the Multiplexer, but I think this has now gone away.

As for the Audio, only ITV doesn't ever transmit DD 5.1, but this is true of their Sky channels too.

Thanks Amanda.

This has led me to have a quick look for HD boxes and I've just noticed the Sony HDT500 for £240 but there's also an additional £50 back from Sony making it only £190 now. Obviously reviews need to be perused before taking the plunge and I do recall getting an email about other new freeview HD PVRs about to be released so a bit more time is needed before I decide.

Thanks Amanda.

This has led me to have a quick look for HD boxes and I've just noticed the Sony HDT500 for £240 but there's also an additional £50 back from Sony making it only £190 now. Obviously reviews need to be perused before taking the plunge and I do recall getting an email about other new freeview HD PVRs about to be released so a bit more time is needed before I decide.

I don't know anything about that Sony model, but I have owned 2 of their DVD/PVR recorders and thought they were beautifully built. In my experience, the Sony web portal is a fair bit better than the Panasonic one and light years better than the Humax one. If this model has the same access as my BluRay, then it will be an lovely machine to connect to your Network. My Sony is the best streaming device I have ever owned

Question for Amanda as you are Home Cinema expert, Is there any reason why I cannot get iPlayer in HD? through my BT Vision and Panasonic TV or is everyones non HD.

I upgraded from a Humax 9300 to a Humax HD Freeview PVR. At first the humax was a bit sluggish and had a few software annoyances, but an update a few months ago sorted all that out and the box is now fine. The 9300 was a poor upscaler though it's HDMI too and I ended up using a Scart out and either letting my telly or my receiver (both have superb upscaling chipsets) and things weren't too bad on SD. Now I have the HD version, not only do the pictures look similar to SKY HD pictures, but the SD upscaling through the HDMI is much improved too.

As for the Humax portal, well there is bugger all on it BBC iplayer is there and works fine if a little slowly. It isn't quite as good as my Sony S579 BluRay at playing the iplayer. But, in it's favour, it also streams stuff on the network quite well and I often play video or music from computers or servers (on my network) through it.

Overall I think it is a pretty good effort and I would give it an 81/2 out of 10.

Thanks for the review Lady Elanore.

My 9200T connects via SCART to my current tv but are you saying that it could be as simple as buying a tv with a decent upscaler built in and keeping the 9200T?

I do like the idea of HD channels though and streaming although I do have a PS3 too which does a few things the Hummy HD box does!

The only reason for opting for the Hummy HD box was because, although expensive, is the best in the market......I don't know whether this is still the case though?

My 9200T connects via SCART to my current tv but are you saying that it could be as simple as buying a tv with a decent upscaler built in and keeping the 9200T?

It looks okay on my tv unless you happen to be 'too close for comfort' and then you'll obviously see a bit of blockiness.

The Humax 9200T will not give you HD programmes, only SD. If you buy a FreeviewHD ready TV then you will see the HD content as it is broadcast. Recorded programms on the Humax will Not be HD.

If I needed a HD PVR then I would go for the Humax but no need as I have BT Vision PVR in HD.

Question for Amanda as you are Home Cinema expert, Is there any reason why I cannot get iPlayer in HD? through my BT Vision and Panasonic TV or is everyones non HD.

I wouldn't go that far but if you can view iplayer and your tv supports HD then you should get the HD iplayer channel on it. Although it isn't currently using 5.1 and the image looks more heavily compressed than the original programme.

I'd say the HD Humax is a great box, but I would like to see this cheap Sony alternative too, as their portal is great.

Thanks for the review Lady Elanore.

My 9200T connects via SCART to my current tv but are you saying that it could be as simple as buying a tv with a decent upscaler built in and keeping the 9200T?

I do like the idea of HD channels though and streaming although I do have a PS3 too which does a few things the Hummy HD box does!

The only reason for opting for the Hummy HD box was because, although expensive, is the best in the market......I don't know whether this is still the case though?

A decent upscaler will set you back quite a bit on it's own. I don't think you would regret buying the Hummy. It has a nice feature that if you set it to record a show on an SD channel and it is available in HD, it offers the higher quality alternative to you

It looks okay on my tv unless you happen to be 'too close for comfort' and then you'll obviously see a bit of blockiness.

Ok, thats good to know thanks John999boy

The Humax 9200T will not give you HD programmes, only SD. If you buy a FreeviewHD ready TV then you will see the HD content as it is broadcast. Recorded programms on the Humax will Not be HD.

If I needed a HD PVR then I would go for the Humax but no need as I have BT Vision PVR in HD.

The primary reason is that I want to have a bigger tv that can handle a freeview input whether SD or HD and the HD Hummy box was the best of the bunch. Does the Vision PVR box broadcast OTA HD?

A decent upscaler will set you back quite a bit on it's own. I don't think you would regret buying the Hummy. It has a nice feature that if you set it to record a show on an SD channel and it is available in HD, it offers the higher quality alternative to you

I like that. Yeah, I think I'm sold - I know at some point I'll have to make the jump anyway so might as well do it now

Just out of interest did you go for the 500GB or 1TB model?

Just out of interest did you go for the 500GB or 1TB model?

I went for the 500GB as they hadn't invented the 1TB :( although I have upgraded to a 1TB sky box).

I think you will find on a larger telly that it doesn't matter what you have as an upscaler, SD pictures pale into insignificance alongside HD images. I have a REON HQV VX chipset in my receiver (the Hollywood Chip) and it's about as good an upscaler as you will find in a bit of domestic kit, but even that still can't make Freeview SD look great on a big screen. It does make the images look better than it would via other means, but it will never look great (but that's a big problem caused by Freeview compression) Having said that a good DVD can look very nice with an expensive upscaler, but there again, who wants DVDs if you can watch the same thing on a BluRay .

As a sidenote, the Reon chip is superb at deinterlacing, but that's another issue

I went for the 500GB as they hadn't invented the 1TB :( although I have upgraded to a 1TB sky box).

I think you will find on a larger telly that it doesn't matter what you have as an upscaler, SD pictures pale into insignificance alongside HD images. I have a REON HQV VX chipset in my receiver (the Hollywood Chip) and it's about as good an upscaler as you will find in a bit of domestic kit, but even that still can't make Freeview SD look great on a big screen. It does make the images look better than it would via other means, but it will never look great (but that's a big problem caused by Freeview compression) Having said that a good DVD can look very nice with an expensive upscaler, but there again, who wants DVDs if you can watch the same thing on a BluRay .

As a sidenote, the Reon chip is superb at deinterlacing, but that's another issue

Great, thanks for your feedback Lady Elanore - much appreciated!

I've just ordered The Hummy HD tonight and went for the 500Gb model in the end as I don't tend to keep many programs/films for that long. I just need to start saving now for a bigger TV!

Great, thanks for your feedback Lady Elanore - much appreciated!

I've just ordered The Hummy HD tonight and went for the 500Gb model in the end as I don't tend to keep many programs/films for that long. I just need to start saving now for a bigger TV!

Enjoy. Just think how many copies of HD Corrie you can now save

I'm a bit late to the thread, but I went from a 9200t to a HDR and have no complaints at all.

There's a definite upgrade in quality on SD channels and a good HD channel can be stunning.

The ability to play back video files from a USB drive is very handy too - that gets a lot of use.

Enjoy. Just think how many copies of HD Corrie you can now save

Ah Ena and the gang

Enjoy. Just think how many copies of HD Corrie you can now save

Ah, you must know me then!

I'm a bit late to the thread, but I went from a 9200t to a HDR and have no complaints at all.

There's a definite upgrade in quality on SD channels and a good HD channel can be stunning.

The ability to play back video files from a USB drive is very handy too - that gets a lot of use.

Thanks Dr Zoidberg. Yeah I like the sound of that. I read that you can record to external drives too but I guess this is recorded in 'Humax only' format?