Looking for recommendations for a MyFreeview STB

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littleheaven

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Topic # 166065 1-Mar-2015 15:45

After the Cricket World Cup finishes I am considering getting rid of MySky HDI, as we now get most of our entertainment via Netflix and Hulu Plus on an AppleTV, thanks to the wonder of Unotelly. I use the MySky recorder often, but I've just realised all the shows I tape are local or Australian and are on the standard Freeview channels. I'm keen to get the best MyFreeview box I can. I've got an old Sony Bravia - one of the original true HD models -so it would be nice to get a bit of fake Smart TV functionality going.

I've been considering this Panasonic model: http://www.panasonic.com/nz/consumer/tvs-home-theatre-and-audio/blu-ray-dvd/blu-ray-recorders/dmr-bwt840gz.html and this Samsung: http://www.samsung.com/nz/consumer/tv-audio-video/blu-ray-player/blu-ray-player/BD-F8500A/XY both of which are recommended on the Freeview site.

The Samsung seems to have an advantage in the apps side of things, with support for both Lightbox and TVNZ On Demand, if I have researched correctly, but I'm not sure how good it is compared to the Panasonic, which seems to have some great features although I can already use my Sony home theatre for the DLNA stuff and the 4k upscaling is no good to me at this point. Plus, it's quite pricey. However it seems to have better customer ratings. I'm assuming both have expandable storage.

Does anyone have experience with either of these who could give me their thoughts? Or is there another unit I should be considering, like MagicTV?

My main requirements are dual channel recording, decent storage space, good wireless performance (although I could get some cable run to ethernet connect if it was totally necessary), good range of apps for streaming services (like Netflix), and it would be nice to have some SmartTV functionality.

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

Currently using: Modified 2008 Mac Pro, HP M6-1017TX Laptop, iPad Pro, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S, AppleTV4.

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Reply # 1249027 1-Mar-2015 20:44

I have had the Panasonic (earlier model) for over a year now and still going treat. The biggest thing I miss from MYsky boxes is the 3 tuners.

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 1249037 1-Mar-2015 21:15

Either of those will be OK provided you are in FreeviewHD Terrestrial UHF coverage. If you are satellite only coverage then neither of them will work.
I've had 2 different Panasonic models and they are excellent. You can expand storage with add on Hard Drives but they will only work on the unit they register to. Easier just to transfer the recorded files to a PC via your network.

froob

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Reply # 1249042 1-Mar-2015 21:30

I have a Panasonic DMR-XW440 and it works really well. Not sure what the differences with the model you've linked to. The only two niggles I have with it are that it can't play DLNA content off the network while it is recording (not enough processing power I assume) and the iPhone app basically doesn't work.

shk292

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Reply # 1249043 1-Mar-2015 21:37

I have a Panasonic PVR - the 1TB non-4k one. It's great as a PVR and will play over the LAN to another device. But, it doesn't seem compatible with many files for DLNA/UPNP playback and has a poor range of online apps. The Samsung might be better for online apps, there TVs certainly are

littleheaven

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Reply # 1249109 2-Mar-2015 01:17

Thanks for the advice. I get good terrestrial UHF so that's not a problem, and my Sony home theatre system handles DLNA streaming from my Mac just fine, so I'm not too worried if it doesn't work well on the Freeview box. My TV has a Freeview tuner in it also, so I will be able to get the functionality I had with MySky of recording 2 channels on the PVR a while watching a third via the tuner in the TV. Having TVNZ on demand as an app on the Samsung would make me lean in that direction, but if it's a crap PVR then I'd rather get the Panasonic and use our PS3 for TVNZ (they say the new app is coming soon...). A bit inconvenient needing so many devices but it'll save me nearly a grand a year in Sky bills so I guess it's worth the compromise.

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

Currently using: Modified 2008 Mac Pro, HP M6-1017TX Laptop, iPad Pro, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S, AppleTV4.

stocksp

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Reply # 1249116 2-Mar-2015 07:24

I have a Panasonic dmr-pwt530gz available for sale if you are interested . Used for a couple of weeks and then I picked up a TiVo. In box and like new.

Dunnersfella

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Reply # 1249132 2-Mar-2015 08:19

The new Panasonic recorder has already been released in Aussie... 3 tuners.
I know where we'll be headed after we drop MySky.

jonathan18

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Reply # 1249157 2-Mar-2015 09:06

Dunnersfella: The new Panasonic recorder has already been released in Aussie... 3 tuners.
I know where we'll be headed after we drop MySky.

Yeah, three tuners sounds good, especially when you have one million channels to tape from when using Sky. But, given the paucity of content on FTA, what's the likelihood of there being three programmes on at the same time that you (or those in the same house) want to watch?

Back in the days, sometimes we'd have both TiVos recording stuff, (so at least three programmes taping), but as FTA content has dropped in quality and the slack in out house has been taken up by SVOD (primarily Netflix), it's a rare event to be taping even two things concurrently.

Do the Samsung Freeview recorders allow wireless streaming of recorded and live content to a device, like the Pansonics do? That would be something personally I'd put down as a must-have.

old3eyes

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Reply # 1249217 2-Mar-2015 10:23

jonathan18:
Dunnersfella: The new Panasonic recorder has already been released in Aussie... 3 tuners.
I know where we'll be headed after we drop MySky.

Yeah, three tuners sounds good, especially when you have one million channels to tape from when using Sky. But, given the paucity of content on FTA, what's the likelihood of there being three programmes on at the same time that you (or those in the same house) want to watch?

Back in the days, sometimes we'd have both TiVos recording stuff, (so at least three programmes taping), but as FTA content has dropped in quality and the slack in out house has been taken up by SVOD (primarily Netflix), it's a rare event to be taping even two things concurrently.

Do the Samsung Freeview recorders allow wireless streaming of recorded and live content to a device, like the Pansonics do? That would be something personally I'd put down as a must-have.

As my TV doesn't have a digital tuner I still rely on my TiVo as my primary tuner and do occasionally have the need for a 3rd tuner..

Regards,

Old3eyes

littleheaven

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Reply # 1249221 2-Mar-2015 10:27

stocksp: I have a Panasonic dmr-pwt530gz available for sale if you are interested . Used for a couple of weeks and then I picked up a TiVo. In box and like new.

Thanks for the offer, but I would prefer one with a 1TB drive. How do you find the Tivo? Is it Freeview compatible? I know very little about them.

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

Currently using: Modified 2008 Mac Pro, HP M6-1017TX Laptop, iPad Pro, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S, AppleTV4.

jonathan18

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Reply # 1249228 2-Mar-2015 10:40

littleheaven:
stocksp: I have a Panasonic dmr-pwt530gz available for sale if you are interested . Used for a couple of weeks and then I picked up a TiVo. In box and like new.

Thanks for the offer, but I would prefer one with a 1TB drive. How do you find the Tivo? Is it Freeview compatible? I know very little about them.

There are many good posts on TiVos on Geekzone, and many of us still use them (we have two) but, personally, I think they're starting to get a bit long in the tooth. I'm kinda hanging out for one of our TiVos to die so I can justify purchasing one of the contemporary crop of recorders.

TiVos are not Freeview-certified, but receive all FTA terrestrial TV/radio channels; TiVo supplies its own EPG, which is 14 days (compared to 8? for the official Freeview one, but in all honesty many listings are missing beyond the first week).

Pros include that they were (when more readily available) well-priced; the remote is supposedly excellent; good ease of use; can transfer material between TiVos (if you purchased a 'key'); can transfer material off TiVos onto a computer (again, with this key), remote recording.

Cons include a dated and clunky interface (SD, relatively slow to respond), small capacity (320GB drives, though potentially expandable or drives can be switched for larger ones), poor ability to play non-TiVo recorded content, no ability to play TiVo-recorded content on other devices on the fly.

They were also one of the first devices to support Quickflix, but everyone knows the quality and future of that service! I've never bothered to use their Casper service either (does it still exist, or was that replaced by Quickflix support?).

(Edit - typos)

trig42

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Reply # 1249231 2-Mar-2015 10:45

One thing in favour of the Samsung at the moment is the SmartHub.

It will have Netflix, Lightbox, Quickflix and TVNZ and TV3 onDemand. Pretty handy for an all-in-one device.

I haven't used the Samsung so do not know what it's GUI is like for setting recordings and going back to view them.

stocksp

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Reply # 1249390 2-Mar-2015 12:40

I find the Tivo to be excellent. In fact one of the reasons I got one to replace the Panny was that the interface was much better (SD or not), the EPG was better etc. Since I also have apple TV, Xbox one, PS3 attached to tv, no real need for smart devices or blu ray playback, and found the Panny was tring to do too much at once, and did not do it as well as either mysky or Tivo.

DickDastardly

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Reply # 1249393 2-Mar-2015 12:42

I have the Panny 840 you mention above.

Some thoughts since I have had the unit which is perhaps 2 months...

Yeah - its a pretty nice piece of kit - and have definitely not missed Sky since ditching it before Christmas.

Soho and The Zone shows can be watched in other means and streamed via my Apple TV.

I do like the recorder - its very user friendly and its great if you have any 3D movies on an external drive for example - these can get plugged in and being optical out goes well over my 5.1 Audio Set up.

The planner is a little weird sometimes where it stacks TV shows - but sometimes the stacks are split and you have 2 stacks with the same show so you have to be a little careful - suspect this can be freeview related..?

I can definitely see where the third tuner thing would be useful. Because of the extended start and finish Freeview puts on the TV show, shows that aren't technically a clash, due to an extended end time the Panny tried to record them on the +1 hour setting which we all know isn't HD...

I would give this an 8-9/10 - I like it - heaps of storage space and loads of great features....

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

littleheaven

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Reply # 1249447 2-Mar-2015 13:28

Thanks, good to know you've had a good experience with the Panasonic. While the Samsung has the apps I want, the storage is not as big as I'd like, the user reviews are almost universally negative and first and foremost the unit needs to be a good PVR. The Panasonic will have Netflix and I assume Lightbox are working on an app for it. I should be able to get TVNZ On Demand via PS3 once they sort the new app out for that. Does the Panny have a browser?

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

Currently using: Modified 2008 Mac Pro, HP M6-1017TX Laptop, iPad Pro, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S, AppleTV4.

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