Panasonic DMR-PWT550GZ for FreeviewPlus Recording

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431 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1497268 22-Feb-2016 19:22

Wills1:

Ventura:

It has been a little buggy, but you do have the option to turn the freeview plus off. This will increases its speed.

I saw it at JB Hifi for $290 the other day. (I see it is back up to $498). A real bargain just for the recorder, netflix and Blue ray alone.

It will also stream tv to i devices over the network using the panasonic app.

Hopefully there will be further updates to improve the UI, but I have found turning it off and unplugging power if it hiccups fixes any problems which i have to do very rarely.

I still recommend it, just look out for specials

Oh no. Freeview Plus is one of the main reasons I am after it. It seems to be really difficult to find a Freeview PVR that is Stable without Bugs. Thats one of the main reasons We've stuck with Mysky for so long, because its rock solid.

Will be interested to see what you end up going with. I was thinking of getting rid of Mysky too as we stream a lot of our shows online and have netflix and lightbox. So really now with streaming services Mysky is a waste of money.

I want to be able to record normal channels series link, watch netflix (not a big biggy, as we can do that anyways as I have a computer hooked in to my dumb tv to make it smart) as we can stream from anywhere.

"In the real world as in dreams, nothing is quite what it seems" - The Book of Counted Sorrows

Senility Guild

Oliver

80 posts

Master Geek

#1497531 23-Feb-2016 07:58

Wills1:

Any updates on how this unit is functioning with Freeview Plus?

I'll be replacing MySky within the next couple of weeks. Trying to decide between this and the Aerialbox T2200.

I've found it frustratingly slow - both before the recent update and now. Often pressing a button (eg to open tv guide) appears to do nothing, only to have the guide suddenly pop up a couple of minutes later once I've forgotten about it. The family find it unusable and only use it if they want Netflix, otherwise they use the regular Freeview that is built in to our tv.

I bought this hoping to give up having a dedicated HTPC under the tv, but we're going straight back to it due to the slow speed of the Panasonic.

littleheaven

2130 posts

Uber Geek

#1497609 23-Feb-2016 10:06

You can cancel your Sky package and just keep the box to use as a PVR for the Freeview channels - costs less than $20 per month. Then just buy a Freeview Plus box like the AerialBox T2100 for around $170. The latter does record but is only single tuner, and I have to say the Sky PVR function is much more user-friendly than my Panasonic PVR. Plus it has live rewind which I miss when the small person barges in and yells all over a vital piece of dialogue.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

Wills1

710 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1498076 23-Feb-2016 20:20

littleheaven:

You can cancel your Sky package and just keep the box to use as a PVR for the Freeview channels - costs less than $20 per month. Then just buy a Freeview Plus box like the AerialBox T2100 for around $170. The latter does record but is only single tuner, and I have to say the Sky PVR function is much more user-friendly than my Panasonic PVR. Plus it has live rewind which I miss when the small person barges in and yells all over a vital piece of dialogue.

Thanks, I might look into that!

kiwipearls

431 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1498251 24-Feb-2016 07:49

littleheaven:

You can cancel your Sky package and just keep the box to use as a PVR for the Freeview channels - costs less than $20 per month. Then just buy a Freeview Plus box like the AerialBox T2100 for around $170. The latter does record but is only single tuner, and I have to say the Sky PVR function is much more user-friendly than my Panasonic PVR. Plus it has live rewind which I miss when the small person barges in and yells all over a vital piece of dialogue.

What do you say to them to keep the box? And what do they call the charge for keeping it as a PVR? I always thought when you cancel you have to return the box? Does it still have epg?

"In the real world as in dreams, nothing is quite what it seems" - The Book of Counted Sorrows

Senility Guild

littleheaven

2130 posts

Uber Geek

#1498338 24-Feb-2016 10:00

kiwipearls:

littleheaven:

You can cancel your Sky package and just keep the box to use as a PVR for the Freeview channels - costs less than $20 per month. Then just buy a Freeview Plus box like the AerialBox T2100 for around $170. The latter does record but is only single tuner, and I have to say the Sky PVR function is much more user-friendly than my Panasonic PVR. Plus it has live rewind which I miss when the small person barges in and yells all over a vital piece of dialogue.

What do you say to them to keep the box? And what do they call the charge for keeping it as a PVR? I always thought when you cancel you have to return the box? Does it still have epg?

I've not done it myself but there are others on the forums who have. I believe it's $18 per month. Not sure if you need to pay extra for the HD ticket to get channels 1-3 in HD still, or if that broadcasts in HD anyway. Just call them up and ask to cancel your basic package plus any add-ons, but that you wish to keep subscribing for the box rental only. I believe the EPG is unchanged, you just can't get the non-freeview channels if you select them.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

Wills1

710 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1499275 25-Feb-2016 17:42

littleheaven:

kiwipearls:

littleheaven:

You can cancel your Sky package and just keep the box to use as a PVR for the Freeview channels - costs less than $20 per month. Then just buy a Freeview Plus box like the AerialBox T2100 for around $170. The latter does record but is only single tuner, and I have to say the Sky PVR function is much more user-friendly than my Panasonic PVR. Plus it has live rewind which I miss when the small person barges in and yells all over a vital piece of dialogue.

What do you say to them to keep the box? And what do they call the charge for keeping it as a PVR? I always thought when you cancel you have to return the box? Does it still have epg?

I've not done it myself but there are others on the forums who have. I believe it's $18 per month. Not sure if you need to pay extra for the HD ticket to get channels 1-3 in HD still, or if that broadcasts in HD anyway. Just call them up and ask to cancel your basic package plus any add-ons, but that you wish to keep subscribing for the box rental only. I believe the EPG is unchanged, you just can't get the non-freeview channels if you select them.

I just got off the phone with Sky. In my case its $18 per month for Freeview, and $20 per month for the rental of the MySky+ box. So thats $38 per month.

I think I will take the box back. I'd rather pay a one off cost for a freeview box. The question is, which is the most reliable! ?

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

littleheaven

2130 posts

Uber Geek

#1499343 25-Feb-2016 18:54

Wills1:

I just got off the phone with Sky. In my case its $18 per month for Freeview, and $20 per month for the rental of the MySky+ box. So thats $38 per month.

I think I will take the box back. I'd rather pay a one off cost for a freeview box. The question is, which is the most reliable! ?

Ouch, that's quite steep. I've got a Panasonic DMR-BWT 840GZ which is apparently their top of the line model, although it's not getting a Freeview Plus upgrade or even the Netflix app, which makes the large price tag rather galling. As a PVR it's not bad. Interface is a bit clunky compared to Sky, but I find it pretty reliable. I can record two channels at once, as it's dual tuner, and it has a big hard drive so I can store heaps in there. It's a blu-ray player and recorder as well, and it can stream from a computer, although there are other devices that do that much better. In hindsight I could have gone for a lower spec model and still been happy. The main think I miss is live rewind, but it does all the other things I used MySky for. I believe they're about to release some new Freeview Plus models rather than retro-upgrade the old ones (other than the 550GZ). Not sure what people's experience of the AerialBox T2200 MyFreeviewPlus recorder is like but in retrospect I would probably go for that one. The guys from DishTV are on here a lot and seem very helpful if people have issues. It has all the features I use on the Panasonic and is under $449, so it would pay for itself within a year, based on a monthly Sky bill of $38.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

kiwipearls

431 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1499344 25-Feb-2016 18:54

Wills1:

littleheaven:

kiwipearls:

littleheaven:

You can cancel your Sky package and just keep the box to use as a PVR for the Freeview channels - costs less than $20 per month. Then just buy a Freeview Plus box like the AerialBox T2100 for around $170. The latter does record but is only single tuner, and I have to say the Sky PVR function is much more user-friendly than my Panasonic PVR. Plus it has live rewind which I miss when the small person barges in and yells all over a vital piece of dialogue.

What do you say to them to keep the box? And what do they call the charge for keeping it as a PVR? I always thought when you cancel you have to return the box? Does it still have epg?

I've not done it myself but there are others on the forums who have. I believe it's $18 per month. Not sure if you need to pay extra for the HD ticket to get channels 1-3 in HD still, or if that broadcasts in HD anyway. Just call them up and ask to cancel your basic package plus any add-ons, but that you wish to keep subscribing for the box rental only. I believe the EPG is unchanged, you just can't get the non-freeview channels if you select them.

I just got off the phone with Sky. In my case its $18 per month for Freeview, and $20 per month for the rental of the MySky+ box. So thats $38 per month.

I think I will take the box back. I'd rather pay a one off cost for a freeview box. The question is, which is the most reliable! ?

Ohh I most likely will do the same as you then. Will await box suggestions.

"In the real world as in dreams, nothing is quite what it seems" - The Book of Counted Sorrows

Senility Guild

DickDastardly

227 posts

Master Geek

#1501444 29-Feb-2016 12:54

I also have a Panny 840GZ, would I buy one again.....erm....no.

But as others have pointed out they work pretty well, but a bit clunky.

No 3rd tuner and associated record function drives me crazy - you sometimes struggle recording 2 shows one after the other if your recording a second channel.

The box randomly putting recordings onto the +1hr (non HD) program also drives me crazy.

I'm sitting back until Dish TV bring out a nice big hard drive recorder, with 3D DVD/MKV playback, and 4K upscaling, USB input etc then Ill swap - I do like the menu's from Dish TV, a lot slicker than the Panny.....

In the interim its a good workhorse though....

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

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1501502 29-Feb-2016 14:20

Wills1:

I just got off the phone with Sky. In my case its $18 per month for Freeview, and $20 per month for the rental of the MySky+ box. So thats $38 per month.

I think I will take the box back. I'd rather pay a one off cost for a freeview box. The question is, which is the most reliable! ?

I'm pretty sure it used to be $18 per month total if using a Sky Basic box.

At $38/mth then buying a Sat PVR is a much better option or preferably a Terrestrial PVR if you have UHF coverage. I don't know how they can really justify $20/mth for a MySky+ box.

Wills1

710 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1502058 1-Mar-2016 11:43

B1GGLZ:

Wills1:

I just got off the phone with Sky. In my case its $18 per month for Freeview, and $20 per month for the rental of the MySky+ box. So thats $38 per month.

I think I will take the box back. I'd rather pay a one off cost for a freeview box. The question is, which is the most reliable! ?

I'm pretty sure it used to be $18 per month total if using a Sky Basic box.

At $38/mth then buying a Sat PVR is a much better option or preferably a Terrestrial PVR if you have UHF coverage. I don't know how they can really justify $20/mth for a MySky+ box.

I actually ended up putting my account on hold for 3 months. No cost during this period. I can use the mysky box and view freeview channels only plus two selected sky channels ( They pick )

This is a good option for me, as it gives me free use of the equipment for three months. My hope is Panasonic will release a new Freeview/ Blu-Ray PVR during this time. As when I asked Panasonic direct, they advised there were new models due out early this year.

littleheaven

2130 posts

Uber Geek

#1502097 1-Mar-2016 12:38

Wills1:

I actually ended up putting my account on hold for 3 months. No cost during this period. I can use the mysky box and view freeview channels only plus two selected sky channels ( They pick )

This is a good option for me, as it gives me free use of the equipment for three months. My hope is Panasonic will release a new Freeview/ Blu-Ray PVR during this time. As when I asked Panasonic direct, they advised there were new models due out early this year.

Oooh, cunning! I didn't know you could do that.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

nvpradeepkumar

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1518812 24-Mar-2016 09:22

Hi

Panasonic 3D/4K Upscaling Network Blu-Ray PVR Recorder (DMR-PWT550GZ) is available for 299 NZD @ NL

Check the link

https://www.cheapies.nz/node/5994

Wills1

710 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1518835 24-Mar-2016 10:18

nvpradeepkumar: Hi

Panasonic 3D/4K Upscaling Network Blu-Ray PVR Recorder (DMR-PWT550GZ) is available for 299 NZD @ NL

Check the link

https://www.cheapies.nz/node/5994

I wonder if this means a new model is coming out. Or just a one off special. I am tempted at that price

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