recommended recorder

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Mattmannz

471 posts

Ultimate Geek

#157213 23-Nov-2014 21:19

Have just ditched sky and am using an amazon fire TV with Netflix and xbmc.

I have a free view decoder in both TVs but do miss recording and pausing TV.

Anyone got any recommendations?

TiVo, Magic TV, Dish TV, Home cast?

1 | 2

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1181782 23-Nov-2014 21:35

Panasonic.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Mattmannz

471 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1181786 23-Nov-2014 21:41

I see some of the Panasonic unit an can stream via a browser. Does that work well?

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1181880 24-Nov-2014 08:23

Mattmannz: I see some of the Panasonic unit an can stream via a browser. Does that work well?

No idea as I've never tried. If I wanted streaming I'd use my PC. FreeviewHD recorders are designed to watch and record digital TV, not browse the internet. Smart functions are just a gimmick. If you need smart functions get or build a HTPC.

Gilco2

1556 posts

Uber Geek

#1181890 24-Nov-2014 08:55

I like the DishTV units. I have a DishTV s7090pvr which has been flawless apart from when 6 months old had to have new remote receiver which was done quickly. Machine away total of 4 days. And I have a DishTV1050pvr which has been flawless as well.
I am wary of Panasonic now as in 2010 I paid $1200 for a boat anchor Panasonic bw880 recorder. It pixelates all the time then the fan packs up our local JBhifi didnt want to know so emailed Panasonic and no reply so been sitting doing nothing.
MagicTV 3700 in one room is still going great has been flawless and Ultraplus x-9200 is okay just unreliable series record otherwise great. So for my own viewing I just use the DishtV units as have been so good.

Other people will have different experiences. DishTV are the best for product support in my view and very helpful

HTPC Intel Pentium G3258 cpu, Gigabyte H97n-wifi motherboard, , 8GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 5500 tuner, Silverstone LC16M case, Windows 10 pro 64 bit using Nextpvr and Kodi

jonathan18

7413 posts

Uber Geek

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Trusted

#1181924 24-Nov-2014 09:47

B1GGLZ:
Mattmannz: I see some of the Panasonic unit an can stream via a browser. Does that work well?

No idea as I've never tried. If I wanted streaming I'd use my PC. FreeviewHD recorders are designed to watch and record digital TV, not browse the internet. Smart functions are just a gimmick. If you need smart functions get or build a HTPC.

Perhaps the OP is talking about the ability of the Panasonic units to stream the actual video content (both recorded and live TV) from the recorder to other devices? (I know they can to an iPad, so assume it's possible on a laptop as well?) - so kind of the other way around to using the recorder to browse the internet!

Check out other posts here on the quality of streaming - I'm sure it's been reported on as working well. Personally, this feature would be critical to me for any replacement purchase once either of our TiVos die.

Mattmannz

471 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1181926 24-Nov-2014 09:51

Yep that's the one Jonathon, would like to be able to watch the recordings on other devices in the house. Will do a little more research.

My folks have a Dish TV 7090PVR which is the DVB-S version and I don't really like the interface on it. Perhaps I am used to the nice minimal interface that comes on my TV for freeview.

Price is also a bit of a consideration - I have had a full HTPC setup in the past with dual DVB-T tuners and really want to keep things low cost and small and minimal.

Thanks for the comments.

Cheers
Matt.

marlinz

441 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1181928 24-Nov-2014 09:52

Mattmannz: Have just ditched sky and am using an amazon fire TV with Netflix and xbmc.

I have a free view decoder in both TVs but do miss recording and pausing TV.

Anyone got any recommendations?

TiVo, Magic TV, Dish TV, Home cast?

I have a Magic TV here , easy to use , had to buy a replacement remote once that is all.If it dies ever i would buy another one

Amazon Echo

Amazon Dot

Lifx Bulbs

Nexus 5X
Magic TV 3600
Sony EX700

Unblocking service
Amazon Fire TV x 2 = Netflix USA + Amazon Prime
Lightbox

E3xtc

771 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1181952 24-Nov-2014 10:13

We have a Panasonic PWT530GZ; went from DishTV T1020 which wasn't playing nicely with our low signal. Never looked back. We couldn't afford the next models up from the 530, but am still well impressed. Handles the signal well, has dual tuners, live TV pause/RWD, plus streaming to other DLNA clients (iPad, other Panasonic TV's, etc) of both recorded content and live TV. Love it!

With regard to the streaming - the only issue we ran into was our Wireless was running on old B/G (sllllloooow), and the 530 doesn't compress (whereas the next models up do - according to Panasonic tech guys), so I had to upgrade our wireless setup and boom everything started playing nicely. :)

shk292

2841 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1181956 24-Nov-2014 10:18

Panasonic DMW-BWT835. Had mine for about 5 months and it's excellent - great picture quality, twin tuners and easy for the family to use
Only criticism is the network (internet) functions, which are very basic

jonathan18

7413 posts

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#1181957 24-Nov-2014 10:19

E3xtc: We have a Panasonic PWT530GZ; went from DishTV T1020 which wasn't playing nicely with our low signal. Never looked back. We couldn't afford the next models up from the 530, but am still well impressed. Handles the signal well, has dual tuners, live TV pause/RWD, plus streaming to other DLNA clients (iPad, other Panasonic TV's, etc) of both recorded content and live TV. Love it!

With regard to the streaming - the only issue we ran into was our Wireless was running on old B/G (sllllloooow), and the 530 doesn't compress (whereas the next models up do - according to Panasonic tech guys), so I had to upgrade our wireless setup and boom everything started playing nicely. :)

Do they also come with ethernet to allow wired streaming (say to another TV)?

E3xtc

771 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1181962 24-Nov-2014 10:22

jonathan18:
E3xtc: We have a Panasonic PWT530GZ; went from DishTV T1020 which wasn't playing nicely with our low signal. Never looked back. We couldn't afford the next models up from the 530, but am still well impressed. Handles the signal well, has dual tuners, live TV pause/RWD, plus streaming to other DLNA clients (iPad, other Panasonic TV's, etc) of both recorded content and live TV. Love it!

With regard to the streaming - the only issue we ran into was our Wireless was running on old B/G (sllllloooow), and the 530 doesn't compress (whereas the next models up do - according to Panasonic tech guys), so I had to upgrade our wireless setup and boom everything started playing nicely. :)

Do they also come with ethernet to allow wired streaming (say to another TV)?

The 530 does

shk292

2841 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1181964 24-Nov-2014 10:25

E3xtc:
jonathan18:
E3xtc: We have a Panasonic PWT530GZ; went from DishTV T1020 which wasn't playing nicely with our low signal. Never looked back. We couldn't afford the next models up from the 530, but am still well impressed. Handles the signal well, has dual tuners, live TV pause/RWD, plus streaming to other DLNA clients (iPad, other Panasonic TV's, etc) of both recorded content and live TV. Love it!

With regard to the streaming - the only issue we ran into was our Wireless was running on old B/G (sllllloooow), and the 530 doesn't compress (whereas the next models up do - according to Panasonic tech guys), so I had to upgrade our wireless setup and boom everything started playing nicely. :)

Do they also come with ethernet to allow wired streaming (say to another TV)?

The 530 does

As does the 835. As for streaming, there is an app to allow you to stream to Android devices, which usually works. For other TVs, I use a WD TV Live media player, this sees the 835's recorded programmes as files and folders, all of which can be played in HD

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#1182334 24-Nov-2014 19:20

I also vote Panasonic.

I have the XW-390. Twin tuner, good picture quality, external inputs for non-Freeview sources, and will stream across a network using DLNA. Plus, you can burn material to disc (in SD only) if, for instance, you record something and a friend who missed it wants to see it - like we used to do with VCRs.

Mine has been flogged with heavy use for over two years, and just keeps going like a tank.

Mattmannz

471 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1182336 24-Nov-2014 19:22

Thanks guys.

I will look out for a panny on sale over Xmas.

DickDastardly

227 posts

Master Geek

#1186122 1-Dec-2014 09:48

Just assessing freeview options and i have some considerations...

I guess its down to the 1tb Magic TV or something like the Panasonic DMR-BWT840GZ

Does the Panasonic have optical out for integration into my 5.1 audio system? LAN input too??

I think the 840 will play 3D?

I am also in the process of getting a UHD TV, and was considering buying the accompanying 3D 4k upscaling DVD player, at the time i was thinking that i would need to buy say a Magic TV for freeview recording, and a 3D, 4K upscaling DVD player for my Blu Ray, 3D and 4K content. I think this Panasonic unit may tick all of those boxes, 3D, Ultra HD, Freeview and able to record stuff and series link them etc?

Am i thinking about this right?

I don't want no sugar in it - thank you very much

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