Looking to record Freeview

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#652549 8-Jul-2012 16:30

We have one of these lying around that we don't use anymore after getting playTV, I don't think it is even a year old yet.

http://www.sony.co.nz/product/rdr-hx780/sku/rdr-hx780_bmau2

Will sell it cheap.

farcus

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#652552 8-Jul-2012 16:36

learning to use a Tivo is going to be cheaper, easier to learn than a hard drive / DVD recorder and cause them far less headaches in the long run.

JimmyH

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#652642 8-Jul-2012 21:23

Mostly I agree with the advice to get a Tivo (or one of the My Freeview boxes).

However, definitive advice depends very much on what exactly they want to do.

If all they want is a device connected to their TV, to record TV for later watching and then deletion, and to watch TV only in that room, then get the Tivo. It's cheap (got mine for $199 in Bond & Bond), and relatively easy to drive.

If, however, they want to burn material to disk for keeping, want the ability to move recordings around (say taking the movie they recorded upstairs to watch in a bedroom), or need the ability to move material to other storage because they are recording more than they can watch for periods, then a Tivo may not necessarily be the right call. Unless they want multiple Tivos with the home networking package, or are technically literate enough to transfer recordings over a network, then a Tivo wouldn't be the right call. In that case, I would recommend either a Panasonic DVD recorder or Blu Ray recorder. Somewhat more expensive, and not quite as user friendly (but still not bad) and give you the ability to burn shows to write-once or re-writable disks - for more storage, the ability to play material in other rooms, and the ability to archive.

The final choice really depends on what they want to do, budget and degree of technical literacy.

gregmcc

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#652650 8-Jul-2012 21:39

JimmyH: Mostly I agree with the advice to get a Tivo (or one of the My Freeview boxes).

However, definitive advice depends very much on what exactly they want to do.

If all they want is a device connected to their TV, to record TV for later watching and then deletion, and to watch TV only in that room, then get the Tivo. It's cheap (got mine for $199 in Bond & Bond), and relatively easy to drive.

If, however, they want to burn material to disk for keeping, want the ability to move recordings around (say taking the movie they recorded upstairs to watch in a bedroom), or need the ability to move material to other storage because they are recording more than they can watch for periods, then a Tivo may not necessarily be the right call. Unless they want multiple Tivos with the home networking package, or are technically literate enough to transfer recordings over a network, then a Tivo wouldn't be the right call. In that case, I would recommend either a Panasonic DVD recorder or Blu Ray recorder. Somewhat more expensive, and not quite as user friendly (but still not bad) and give you the ability to burn shows to write-once or re-writable disks - for more storage, the ability to play material in other rooms, and the ability to archive.

The final choice really depends on what they want to do, budget and degree of technical literacy.

Just how technically literate do you have to be to transfer recordings over a network to another tivo or PC?? it's dead simple, all the other tivo's and the PC with the software on show up in the now playing list, from the PC software a list of connected tivo's show up, as well as a list of recorded shows on each one, you can even schedule auto transfers to your PC.

Jaxson

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#652673 8-Jul-2012 22:27

And TIVO costs between $200 and $300....

How much money are you prepared to spend so you can give a copy of a program to your mates...And why aren't they paying you for that feature. With the main programmes on demand, and youtube carrying some programmes etc, the transportability issue doesn't seem too big any more.

b0untypure1

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#652883 9-Jul-2012 12:53

Thanks team $200-300 is the budget and I looked at TiVo today. It seems good because you can record 2 channels and watch a third also we have telecom Internet at home so it is unmetered usage. I think a DVD recorder won't be as useful unless it can record 2 channels at once, my mum loves her coronation st lol

Jaxson

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#652884 9-Jul-2012 13:01

b0untypure1: also we have telecom Internet at home so it is unmetered usage.

That's a bonus, but remember that under normal* usage the data volumes are very minimal, as it uses this connection to maintain the guide only. So don't think you're restricted to Telecom in the future.

(* use CASPA though and yes, you will clock up some data usage.)

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JimmyH

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#653119 9-Jul-2012 18:55

gregmcc:

Just how technically literate do you have to be to transfer recordings over a network to another tivo or PC?? it's dead simple, all the other tivo's and the PC with the software on show up in the now playing list, from the PC software a list of connected tivo's show up, as well as a list of recorded shows on each one, you can even schedule auto transfers to your PC.

Not very, from my perspective or the perspective of most people here. However, I recall how many times I had to show an elderly relative to change the TV input to AV1 and then change channels on a satellite box not the TV (it took many times and weeks before they were comfortable and I took a fair few support calls when they accidentally pressed something else), and the grief I have got from the GF about how hard it is to use the setup in my living room (which I, and many on GZ, would regard as simple and straightforward).

I can't answer for the OP's parents as I don't know them. Only he can - that's why I posed the question.

b0untypure1

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#653209 9-Jul-2012 22:01

yea jimmy it took my mum a week to learn how to swap our sony bravia from TV -> AV1 so she can watch a tape. So the entire day tomorrow is going to be a TiVo 101 crash course for her. I was undecided and read the forum replies back to her. One Geekzoner posted that i can help her record programs from afar using tivo's website. She was more than happy because that is one thing less to learn. Sadly the lady in Noel Leeming did not even know what it was, and customer service was shocking. I put on my happy face because the New Plymouth bond n bond is closed down and noel leeming is sadly the only place to go. Ill post back letting you know how it goes

Skolink

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#653213 9-Jul-2012 22:06

b0untypure1: I put on my happy face because the New Plymouth bond n bond is closed down and noel leeming is sadly the only place to go. Ill post back letting you know how it goes

My sister just took my parents' DoA TiVo back to Bond&Bond (purchased 6 months ago, but they only have reception now). They could not swap it because they said it was discontinued and there are 'none in the country'! So you wouldn't have been able to buy one at B&B anyway.

b0untypure1

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#653800 10-Jul-2012 22:58

thanks for all the help, i would have never though of a tivo. Bought an installed it today, looked like crap. Used HDMI for obvious reasons and it is running smooth as. Records 15min after a show, just how mum likes it incase it runs late. Sooooooo easy to use. I wrote her out some step by step guides on how to watch tv, record, watch the recorded show, and how to record in advance (like set up a recording for next wednesday etc). For the season pass i can set it up from wellington, but she doesn't mind the extra weekly practise. Remote is so easy. I only used the arrows and the tivo button. Before tivo i could not get channel 4. and now its crystal clear along with the other channels. so i can say it has boosted our reception too. also i read other threads, and my unit is quiet and makes no noise except fan noise (no HDD sounds at all). So easy to use and although very slow, i think my mum will get the hang of it in a week or so. One last thing, do not sit on the remote while you have a drink break, somehow i got it on retailer demo mode, and was like WTF i cant use my tivo

but yea all is good now, clear picture, records perfect, and basically, is TV for dummies.

Skolink

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#653835 11-Jul-2012 07:25

Great result! Welcome to the world of TiVo!
I would suggest setting up a Seasons Pass for the 'news', with the setting 'keep at most 1 episode'. My parents find that quite useful.

allan

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#653862 11-Jul-2012 09:17

b0untypure1: ... It seems good because you can record 2 channels and watch a third...

Actually that's not quite true, you can record 2 channels and also watch something already recorded at the same time, but it it only has 2 tuners so not possible to do as you suggest.

Still a great and easy to use box though.

JimmyH

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#654121 11-Jul-2012 18:23

Jaxson: And TIVO costs between $200 and $300....

How much money are you prepared to spend so you can give a copy of a program to your mates...And why aren't they paying you for that feature. With the main programmes on demand, and youtube carrying some programmes etc, the transportability issue doesn't seem too big any more.

Fair points, but that isn't what I meant. However, last years Twin tuner Panny can be had for under $500 and it wasn't giving shows to my "mates" that I was promoting. What my (somewhat older) Panny gives me that a Tivo doesn't (and I have a seldom-used Tivo as well) includes:
- Ability to also record from my Sky Box as well as Freeview
- Ability to easily burn shows to DVD RW for temporary storage if I run low on disk space
- Ability to easily burn shows to DVD RW if I want to (say) watch them in the bedroom
- Ability to easily archive stuff I want to keep on DVD R
- Ability to stream recorded content to iPad, WD Media player, Laptop or whatever (if one of the newer models); and
- On my older Panny, a 60 second skip button - *the* killer feature for ads.

It just depends on whether any of these are things you want to do, and whether they are worth the extra cost to you. To me, they are.

gregmcc

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#654144 11-Jul-2012 19:22

JimmyH:
Jaxson: And TIVO costs between $200 and $300....

How much money are you prepared to spend so you can give a copy of a program to your mates...And why aren't they paying you for that feature. With the main programmes on demand, and youtube carrying some programmes etc, the transportability issue doesn't seem too big any more.

Fair points, but that isn't what I meant. However, last years Twin tuner Panny can be had for under $500 and it wasn't giving shows to my "mates" that I was promoting. What my (somewhat older) Panny gives me that a Tivo doesn't (and I have a seldom-used Tivo as well) includes:
- Ability to also record from my Sky Box as well as Freeview
- Ability to easily burn shows to DVD RW for temporary storage if I run low on disk space
- Ability to easily burn shows to DVD RW if I want to (say) watch them in the bedroom
- Ability to easily archive stuff I want to keep on DVD R
- Ability to stream recorded content to iPad, WD Media player, Laptop or whatever (if one of the newer models); and
- On my older Panny, a 60 second skip button - *the* killer feature for ads.

It just depends on whether any of these are things you want to do, and whether they are worth the extra cost to you. To me, they are.

If you have a 2nd or 3rd Tivo you can easily transfer to other tivo's on the network, get the home networking package and you can auto transfer recorded programs to your PC in a ready to play format to you iDevice or droid etc.

Not to mention remote scheduling of recordings (can you do that on any other freeview box?)

Feature/cost/ease of use wise there is currently nothing in the NZ market that even comes close

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