MyFreeviewPlus record to NAS

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geostuff

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#195559 24-Apr-2016 14:24

I ditched Sky several years ago in favour of my Roku3 running Plex, and Freeview satellite for the occasional free-to-air content. I have a Qnap T-421 NAS with about 7TB of space remaining where I store all my media for Plex.

My satellite's LNB bit the dust some time ago so I am thinking of getting a UHF aerial and a new FreeviewPlus set top box, but I don't want to spend money on a product with a built-in HDD such as the AerialBox T2200.

What I am searching for is a product that:

• Works well with the new FreeviewPlus;

• Has PVR functionality (i.e. pause, rewind, record live TV, series link, etc.); BUT

• Does not have an internal HDD - instead recording and playing back from a network device (i.e. my NAS)

• Lower price point (ideally < $200)

Does such a device exist?

sbiddle

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#1541171 24-Apr-2016 14:45

Firstly you can't record Freeview Plus as it's not designed to be recorded - that's why it's on demand.

I doubt you'll find any off the shelf box that does what you want. Your best bet is a custom build mini pc running something like nextpvr, media portal etc dumping content to the NAS.

geostuff

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#1541227 24-Apr-2016 17:14

Cheers sbiddle, that is essentially what the last few hours of researching have revealed to me too. Some of the Linux-based STB solutions such as VU+ or the X Cruiser XSDR600 seem as though they can do nearly all of what I am asking for, but they are just as expensive as the AerialBox T2200, somewhat complex to set up and operate, and may not be compatible with all of the freeview features. Looks like the T2200 is the only option at this point.

How great will it be when more people have their own NAS and consumer devices start adding the ability to utilise the immense storage capability they present! I'll keep dreaming...

sbiddle

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#1541233 24-Apr-2016 17:28

geostuff:

Cheers sbiddle, that is essentially what the last few hours of researching have revealed to me too. Some of the Linux-based STB solutions such as VU+ or the X Cruiser XSDR600 seem as though they can do nearly all of what I am asking for, but they are just as expensive as the AerialBox T2200, somewhat complex to set up and operate, and may not be compatible with all of the freeview features. Looks like the T2200 is the only option at this point.

How great will it be when more people have their own NAS and consumer devices start adding the ability to utilise the immense storage capability they present! I'll keep dreaming...

You can keep dreaming because what you want to do goes against what content owners will allow you to do. The copyright act in NZ only allows format shifting for you to watch content at a later time - it does not permit long term storage of content.

blakamin

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#1541235 24-Apr-2016 17:32

I've been reading up on this since this thread and find it quite amazing. I recently bought a new TV with freeview plus here in Oz, and one of the features is recording (to a USB HDD).

Amazed there's such a difference between Aussie and NZ freeview plus.

geostuff

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#1541273 24-Apr-2016 17:42

While you have a point re: copyright, the AerialBox T2100 (and others) allow you to plug in an external HDD via USB, as blakamin pointed out he has done over in Oz. I would think all manufacturers would need to do to meet the requirements of the copyright act is to have an 'expiry' for certain content, whereby the device keeps a log of what has been recorded and auto-deletes it after said period of time. Even Sky - who tends to go a bit nutty over copyright requirements - allow MySky to record and save content for years. I would still have stuff recorded from the RWC2011...

This USB recording feature was the was the original reason I was searching out options for utilising a small fraction of my NAS for storage, instead of a crappy external USB drive.

My point is - if an external USB drive is OK, why isn't a NAS?

blakamin

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#1541279 24-Apr-2016 17:52

Over here, it's even mentioned on their website.

sbiddle

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#1541282 24-Apr-2016 17:54

blakamin:

I've been reading up on this since this thread and find it quite amazing. I recently bought a new TV with freeview plus here in Oz, and one of the features is recording (to a USB HDD).

Amazed there's such a difference between Aussie and NZ freeview plus.

There are plenty of TV's here that can record to a USB drive.

Freeview Plus on the other hand is very different since it's just an On Demand streaming product.

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Spyware

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#1541285 24-Apr-2016 18:05

Catchup (ondemand) content in Australian Freeview+ cannot be recorded.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

blakamin

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#1541288 24-Apr-2016 18:08

Spyware:

Catchup (ondemand) content in Australian Freeview+ cannot be recorded.

On demand stuff, no, but the fact the "freeview plus" will record makes catch-up pretty pointless, unless you didn't know it was on anyway.

blakamin

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#1541289 24-Apr-2016 18:10

sbiddle:

blakamin:

I've been reading up on this since this thread and find it quite amazing. I recently bought a new TV with freeview plus here in Oz, and one of the features is recording (to a USB HDD).

Amazed there's such a difference between Aussie and NZ freeview plus.

There are plenty of TV's here that can record to a USB drive.

Freeview Plus on the other hand is very different since it's just an On Demand streaming product.

And that's where the difference lies. They market it here as a complete system, not just catch-up tv. Here it's a complete one-stop menu.

I've never used it... We have foxtel, netflix & plex.... :D

I will after the mrs has finished watching netflix though.

Edit: I had a look... meh... I'll stick with foxtel, netflix & plex.

Jase2985

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#1541357 24-Apr-2016 21:01

freeview plus wont record, i think you are getting confused as to what freeview plus actually is.

here it is a one stop menu too, if you click the right button on the remote. any previous content will come over an internet connection and is on demand and cant be recorded, where as future content can be recorded, just as you could with any typer of recorder or software.

most of the dishtv range is offered in both nz and australia

JimmyH

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#1542474 26-Apr-2016 22:28

I think that the only way you could record FreeviewPlus would be to buy a compliant set top box, and then feed the output from its HDMI output into a PC in real time. Possibly controlling the FV STB using an IR blaster.

This is technically possible, but requires a STB, a convenient PC, a capturing device, and likely some electronics in the middle to cope with copy protections. Issues of dubious legality aside, unless you already have most of the hardware and are comfortable tinkering with esoteric set-ups, it seems awfully fiddly and expensive given the dearth of good content on FV.

On the other hand, it might let you use Comskip etc to process the recorded file and remove the awful commercials before watching.