Freeview HD box with harddrive

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gcam032

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#23343 26-Jun-2008 08:13

Does anyone know when FreeView HD set boxes will be released with builtin harddrives?? Ones that work natively with the EPG?

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#140636 26-Jun-2008 08:21

I think they are coming out in August sometime

sbiddle

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#140639 26-Jun-2008 08:33

I heard the specifications were in the process of being finalised and that we should see a unit before Xmas.

gcam032

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#140648 26-Jun-2008 09:16

Has anyone had experience with a 3rd party box with HD that doesn't work with the EPG?

sbiddle

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#140653 26-Jun-2008 09:23

gcam032: Has anyone had experience with a 3rd party box with HD that doesn't work with the EPG?

I don't believe there are any.. Unless there are some boxes coming out of China already for other markets?

bazzer

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#140670 26-Jun-2008 11:50

I'm guessing Play TV will fit the bill, but when that will be released I don't know...

Spong

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#140705 26-Jun-2008 14:17

There are at least of couple of receivers on the way very soon with USB sockets that claim they can record to an external HDD. The first one due any day is at: http://www.freeviewnz.com/ and at $275 retail seems a great deal if it lives up to it's promise.
Secondly there is the NZ version of the Strong STR5440 which my supplier says is a couple of weeks away. There are details of the Aussie MPEG2 version out there, and it looks great, e.g. http://www.dpanda.com.au/p/473024/strong-srt5440-hd-pvr.html

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

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gcam032

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#141022 28-Jun-2008 12:53

Thanks for that mate, the first one looks awesome, especially with the USB port! I've been to his site but can't figure out how to buy from him??? Anyone dealt with them before? I emailled but haven't got a response yet...

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#141023 28-Jun-2008 13:14

gcam032: Thanks for that mate, the first one looks awesome, especially with the USB port! I've been to his site but can't figure out how to buy from him??? Anyone dealt with them before? I emailled but haven't got a response yet...

Did I miss something, is this aussie retailer selling NZ DVB-T compatible decoders? The specs only talked about MPEG-2 so buying from him will get you an HD decoder that works in Australia.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

gcam032

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#141024 28-Jun-2008 13:18

I was talking about the one at www.freeviewnz.com ... It's an NZ guy. Fully compatible.

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#141033 28-Jun-2008 14:05

gcam032: I was talking about the one at www.freeviewnz.com ... It's an NZ guy. Fully compatible.

Oooops sorry about that. I thought it related to the reply above yours. Should have read further back up the thread.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

gcam032

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#141035 28-Jun-2008 14:14

sweet as, just an update - he's now listed the decoder on his dealer site satlink. So hopefully we'll be able to buy it soon!

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angrybeaver

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#145474 9-Jul-2008 15:30

I notice they have dropped the reference to recording to external hard drive via usb - wonder why that is? Maybe it's not going to after all. http://www.freeviewnz.com/hd_receiver.html

gcam032

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#145484 9-Jul-2008 15:36

Hmmm. Yes that is interesting. I wonder if it just plays content from an external drive and cannot actually record. That would be a bit of a waste though...

Anyone got, or know of, any HD terrestrial receivers with USB for external recording?

Spong

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#145497 9-Jul-2008 16:00

The new Strong STR5440 claims to record to external hard disk, and they are available now, but sadly they don't support MHEG-5 so the EPG can only display current programming, and what's on next (instead of the full 7-8 days that boxes with MHEG-5 can do). Why they decided to release this expensive model with such a shortcoming, is anyone's guess. It hardly makes a useful PVR in this state. Hopefully a firmware update will fix this in the future. As for the Satlink model, I'm hoping to have a sample unit to try this week. I'll let you guys know what gives. I noticed also that reference to recording to USB HDD has been removed. I know there have been delays due to firmware issues, so hopefully this will be available in the future, if not on the release date.

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

gcam032

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#145500 9-Jul-2008 16:04

Thanks! I'm sure we'd all be keen to hear about how the trial box goes.

Just another question. I don't actually have a HD tv, just a CRT tv. The reason I want a Freeview-HD box is to future proof because I know that a TV upgrade is on the horizon. I'm making the assumption that a HD set-top box can punch outut to my tv in nonHD format, correct? i.e. it is possible to receive HD terrestrial and watch on a non-HD tv

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