40" TV with USB record function

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floydbloke

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Topic # 160114 24-Dec-2014 11:26

Looking to get a 40" or 42" LCD for the in-laws for a 50th wedding anniversary present and I would like to get them one with USB recording functionality.

Given their age, ease of use is a must.

Couple of questions please:

How reliable is recording to a USB HDD? Is it a gimmick and should I go for a purpose-built PVR instead? Recordings don't have to be full HD but I would like them to not 'jump' and not pixelate.
I have seen the Sony KDL40W600B at a good price but looking at the manual it says you can't schedule recordings direct from the EPG. This pretty much rules out this model. Is this a Sony limitation or a Freeview constraint (licencing??)?

Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important. (T.S. Eliot)

lxsw20

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Reply # 1203109 24-Dec-2014 11:28

The problem I have with my LG TV with built in record function is it doesn't talk to the freeview EPG, so it's like the old days of picking a time/date to record.

k1w1k1d

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Reply # 1203148 24-Dec-2014 13:01

We have a Samsung UA55H6400 with the USB recording function. The 40" UA40H6400 should also have this feature.

I have fitted a 320GB 2.5" laptop harddrive in a cheap case I bought off Trademe to the TV. This works very well.
Just select the program from the EPG and push the red button. You can even turn the TV off and go to bed, as long as you leave the power on.

Rikkitic

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Reply # 1203195 24-Dec-2014 13:39

I don't have experience of TVs but I have done a lot of PVR recording from my cheap UHF (HD) and satellite (SD) STBs and there are almost never any problems, even with old IDE drives. In my experience USB recording in general is reliable and good quality. The Freeview EPG is almost always a problem, though, except on approved units, which usually cannot record or have recording restrictions. I resigned myself to that long ago.

I reject your reality and substitute my own. - Adam Savage

matabo

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Reply # 1203244 24-Dec-2014 14:27

"I have seen the Sony KDL40W600B at a good price but looking at the manual it says you can't schedule recordings direct from the EPG. This pretty much rules out this model. Is this a Sony limitation or a Freeview constraint (licencing??)?"

It seems to be a Sony limitation, although on their upper priced models i think they have put through an online update .

I actually purchased one (KDL40W600B ) for 700 bucks online from the warehouse . Amazing picture , just no schedule record , just record the program you are watching . Thankfully, they had a no question full refund within 7 days , so I bailed out of it .

The warehouse are doing a boxing day online sale again (KDL40W600B ) , this time , 40inch for $489 and 48inch for $700 , its free delivery .

Remember ,they will only work on a UHF aerial not a sat dish .

Thats where Samsung are ahead , they work on both , also samsung (I think) have a TV on demand app installed which Sony don’t .

floydbloke

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Reply # 1203253 24-Dec-2014 14:43

Thanks all.

matabo:

The warehouse are doing a boxing day online sale again (KDL40W600B ) , this time , 40inch for $489

I think I might go for this, looks to be a good deal, and probably get a decoder/recorder down the track because I just clicked that the TVs will only have single tuner so can't watch one channel and record another.

Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important. (T.S. Eliot)

matabo

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Reply # 1203256 24-Dec-2014 14:46

I think it kicks of at 7am Christmas day

floydbloke

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Reply # 1203525 25-Dec-2014 07:36

matabo: I think it kicks of at 7am Christmas day

....and...predictably..their site has crashed.

Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important. (T.S. Eliot)