Help! What Freeview Sat Receiver with PVR (Dual Tuner) ?

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solace10

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 87206 22-Jul-2011 13:40

Hey all

I am new to Freeview - and have fallen into a bit of a newbie trap !
I recently bought a Superview 890 satellite decoder on Trademe from user DigitDirect.
It's a budget version (cost around $100) - BUT I wish I'd done a little more research because....

All seems OK except that I can't watch other channels whilst recording (the entire functionality of the unit seems to be locked whilst it's recording) - which seems ridiculous to me!

Their support staff have patiently explained that this is because it only has one tuner - therefore, you can only access channels from the same transponder.

OK - so I am not an expert, but this does seem crazy to me. Their support staff suggested the only alternative to this is to spend upwards of $450 for something with dual tuner?

Does that sound right to you guys?

Can you make a recommendation for a unit that will give me:

1) Sat connection (already have dish)
2) external HDD PVR function WITH the ability to change channels / use EPG whilst the unit is recording.
3) record from EPG etc...

Is that really gonna cost me $450 + ??

Thanks for your advice!

RunningMan

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Reply # 496701 22-Jul-2011 13:57

Firstly, what the tech support people are telling you is correct.

Secondly, have a read of this recent thread, which appears to be the same question you are asking. See if that helps you out.

Jaxson

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Reply # 496709 22-Jul-2011 14:02

solace10: All seems OK except that I can't watch other channels whilst recording (the entire functionality of the unit seems to be locked whilst it's recording) - which seems ridiculous to me!

What are you comparing this to that makes it seem crazy?

TV + VCR for instance:

There was an (analogue) tuner in your TV and another (analogue) tuner in the VCR. That gave you two tuners, one for watching any channel on the TV whilst the VCR was recording another channel.

As your TV does not have a satellite tuner in it, you need 2 tuners if you want to watch something whilst something is recording.

Without using either I'd recommend:

Vu+ Duo at say $800?

or the new s7090 freeview pvr

These both have internal hard drives already, so you don't need to plug anything into them.

solace10:
Is that really gonna cost me $450 + ??

Yes

davidcole

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Reply # 496712 22-Jul-2011 14:06

My father in law bought a hyundai DVB-S PVR - cost him $800 with the dual tuner functionality. Was a few years ago, technically just as freeview was starting, but I see similar costing ones on the page I'll link to.

Have a look on here. A quick look seems to suggest you might be able to get a dual tuner (at least) for $379.
http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/satellite-receivers-c-2.html

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Jaxson

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Reply # 496722 22-Jul-2011 14:17

davidcole: you might be able to get a dual tuner (at least) for $379.
http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/satellite-receivers-c-2.html

I'm not seeing it?

davidcole

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Reply # 496725 22-Jul-2011 14:21

I think it was this one, http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/ultraplus-900hd-micro-digital-satellite-receiverpvr-p-655.html

Hmm actually you don't want that, that will only record all channels in the same transponder, ie you could record tv1, tv2, U and tvnz7 at the same time, but not tv1 and tv3.

This one definitely can:
http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/ultraplus-x9200hd-digital-satellite-receiverpvr-p-659.html

But check the price!! still almost $800.

solace10

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 496736 22-Jul-2011 14:29

Thanks for your replies.... as I mentioned, I'm NEW to all this stuff, so I am not an expert (I am upgrading to FV from terrestrial TV which is just shocking!)

... in terms of the functionality (or lack thereof), the dual tuner thing is not very well explained and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to be able to buy a unit that allows you to record one tv channel and watch another.....

However, now I know what the issue is and YES - clearly, I should have found this forum BEFORE I bought... but, as even Prime Ministers know, hindsight is a wonderful thing

----------
Thanks for your help!

Jaxson

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Reply # 496739 22-Jul-2011 14:32

davidcole: I think it was this one, http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/ultraplus-900hd-micro-digital-satellite-receiverpvr-p-655.html

Yeah single tuner only.

It's worth noting that (and satellite reception does require you to eventually go into the technical side of it) all the channels come on one of two 'streams' of data. So a twin tuner should allow you access to all shows at all times, -well as long as you can record and watch other channels on the same stream. (This is a rough quick summary of it.)

Terrestrial comes on 3 separate streams so a twin tuner still won't let you record something from every stream at the same time. Really we need tri tuner units to do what you can do on satellite with 2 tuners.

That S7090 unit seems the cheapest option for a full twin tuner satellite unit. The Vu+ Duo has great reviews too, but can do a whole lot more again.

Cheapest option (not best mind you) is 2x single tuner units, of which one can record to external usb.

solace10

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 496791 22-Jul-2011 15:58

>>> Cheapest option (not best mind you) is 2x single tuner units, of which one can record to external usb.

I do have a spare one - so this could be a good temporary option! How would I hook up two to the same LNB line in ?