Loading ...The Humax FOXSAT-HDR made an appearance at the IBC show yesterday in Amsterdam, where it will remain until the 16th September.
The eagerly anticipated Freesat PVR made an earlier than expected unveiling at IFA 2008 late August, but despite assurances of being a fully operational box, was unfortunately not able to display any content due to last minute inclusion.
This is the first time the FOXSATHDR has been seen in action, and appeared to be sporting a very similar EPG and menu configuration to that of the FOXSAT-HD; but Humax have said that the look and feel won’t necessarily match that of the finished product, as daily changes are still being made.
The sleek black unit with it’s tinted perspex front panel, discretely hiding the navigation buttons will suit most modern television setups and conceals within the very latest PVR technology with 320GB hard drive, allowing for approx 160 hours of standard-definition recordings, or 80 hours in high-definition.
Including dual tuners will allow for very similar functionality as Sky+, minus the subscription costs. You will be able to record one channel whilst watching/recording another, or even record two channels whilst playing back a previously recorded programme. Couple this with the Freesat EPG, setting up to record couldn’t be easier. Humax also assured us that recording ITV HD will be possible.
Connections include HDMI, Optical Out, Scart, 2 x LNB In.
The Humax PVR also has two USB ports, one front, one back and will be capable of linking up to an external hard drive for further storage capacity. The included Ethernet port will allow data transfer via FTP client to your computer, allowing for 100mb/sec transfer speeds; this however is a planned addition for a future roll out, not available from launch.
Release is still on target for this year but they wouldn’t give a more specific date than this. Humax have assured us that they are reviewing the distribution to ensure that all official Freesat retailers get an opportunity to sell this product and that stock can meet the demands, especially when you also have to factor in Christmas.
Images to follow as soon as possible.
September 13th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Hi from what I have just read above the sooner we get this box the better I have just canceled Sky far to exspenceive for what you get.
Bring it on !.
DavidQuote
September 13th, 2008 at 10:51 am
That sounds awesom! Allowing to connect external hard drives to it is a very good idea – hopefully this means you’ll be able to store hd content on external hard drives from your PC and play them on your TV! Exellent!
DanielQuote
September 13th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
What about DRM ? Can you copy content to BD-R/(W)
discs.
Richard CrichtonQuote
September 13th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I’m sure there are many ‘champing at the bit’ to get their hands on one of these . . I must admit that the ability to connect external storage makes things more tempting plus ‘dual LNB’ inputs too.. Ethernet connectivity would also be an extreme bonus.
It would be interesting to know what effect ‘time shift TV’ has on advertising? We all wizz forward during the adverts, don’t we? Hence, we don’t watch them.
Perhaps something new will be invented called, perhaps, CAD (Compulsory Advertising Display) where you can’t fast forward during advertising? Just kidding really
. . . I think something like that would be unpopular . .
StevenQuote
September 13th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
There is no DRM in the DVB-Stream. Thus it is possible to record with a PC and a DVB-S(2) Card. Why should Humax cripple their box only to have a disadvantage compared to the PC solution?
So I believe that it should be possible to extract the recordings from the box. With an external HD or later over the network.
David TreumannQuote
September 13th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
No DiSEq then, and no indication of whether there is a radio recording facility. It would be quite handy to be able to record audio straight to a memory stick.
RichardQuote
September 13th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Very pleased to hear that archiving via USB port will be included as this wasn’t clarified previously.
Les NicolQuote
September 14th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I think I will wait and see the final release specs. It could be that if one already has the Non PVR Foxsat, going for the Humax iCord may give for a more flexible option and setup.
Les NicolQuote
September 14th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
This is very good news, I can’t wait, I am using at the moment the Humax HDCI-2000 which is top drawer, so I am quite at home with the useful five favorite settings, plus many other points it has. May I say the Freesat venture is the best thing since B&W it will the bring the UK much closer together with our EU countries, I can see the day when we are able to watch any football all over the world along with all the other sports. Hope I get my Humax DTR in time for Christmas
Bert AllsopQuote
September 14th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
For those thinking ahead make sure if your contemplating a secondary archiving Hard Drive when you go for your DVR, that the drive you go for is optimized for AV operation. The 320GB drive in the Humax will be an AV drive. Computer hard drives that are not optimized can and have been known to pose problems when recording. These drives are also somewhat more expensive and this is of course reflected in the price of these drives and in the Sat DVR. Best to shop around if your contemplating going for that extra drive.
Les NicolQuote
September 14th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I am new to the Freesat service and have just set it uip as a mobile solution in a motorhome. I am going to purchase a new HD TV 40-42″ shortly for home and I can already see 3 with freesat included and they are all Plasma screens. Are there any plans to put Freesat into LCD TV’s or will it remain just plasma?
What would be the recommended dish size be for a 40-42″ TV?
I have no experience of Plasma as I have always had a LCD TV so I would appreciate any advice with plasma vs LCD and dish size
Steve CassidyQuote
September 14th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Sorry, previous post should have gone under general questions not this thread of comments. Apologies, I am new to site
Steve CassidyQuote
September 15th, 2008 at 10:48 am
No doubt this PVR will be to the usual very high HUMAX standard.
If I was in “PVR Heaven” Humax would develop the facility to manually record also from an external source – and provide a “G-Link” facility to switch an external receiver (such as SKY) to the required channel for recording.
Such a product would, I think, be unbeatable.
d MayQuote
September 15th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Richard, you said no DiSEqC on this new receiver . . Is that fact? Anyone seen the specification? . .
StevenQuote
September 16th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Steven The Humax iCord has DISEqC 1.1 1.2 1.3 It appears very similar to the spec of the Freesat PVR box but minus the pay per view hardware and the Freesat EPG. DISEqC was included with the Foxsat non PVR box, I mentioned on my earlier post that we will just have to wait and see when we get the full specs. I will be checking out any reviews of the FreeSat box on Dr Dish on Astra 1C The iCord is currently being positively reviewed by this German program (It’s in English between 9 and 11am UK time)
Les NicolQuote
September 16th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Where are the images i know we have already seen it but still where are whey?
DavidQuote
September 16th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Les,
AV drives are a thing of the past as the HDD in the device is an SATA drive which has sufficient thru-put to handle the recordings easily. Only if one bought a really bad SATA drive would there be a problem.
DiSEqC should be working fine, however…. watch out when using non-Freesat mode and wanting to record from Freesat. There is a complex logic involved in Freesat mode and in non-Freesat mode it is disabled. While we do provide the non-Freesat mode, as this is more of a ‘platform box’ it is not desirable to support exotic configurations and we only assure recordings for each individual mode whilst manually placed in that mode. Consider it two different boxes, when you have it in freesat mode it is a Foxsat-HDR, in non-freesat mode it is an iCord and there is presently no automatic switching between the two.
I wouldn’t want to put people off buying, but I want to emphasise that it is a freesat DTR first and a general purpose FTA DTR second.
Bob
Bob HQuote
September 16th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Thanks Les Nicol . . I use the Foxsat looped through with FTA RX and motor (USALS), works fine . . I’ll keep an eye on DrDish at the weekend for anything interesting . . Any new Freesat receiver would have to have similar capabilities . .
It’s a shame there isn’t a technology or specialist type broadcaster like DrDish in the UK . .
StevenQuote
September 17th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Bob. Thanks for the info re SATA over IDE AV drives. I have an IDE drive in an earlier Manhattan receiver and have had (nor gross) problems and noted from other site blogs that issues were cropping up with other boxes. From what your saying this isn’t an issue unless you’ve got a dodgy SATA drive.
Les NicolQuote
September 17th, 2008 at 6:41 am
Steven. Like you I also have an FTA receiver (but it has a 36volt on board positioner) I will hold onto the Humax Foxsat and replace the FTA which is getting on a bit with most likely the iCord and run it through a free standing SuperJack positioner. My motorized dish size and location would be a no no for a DiSEqC motor.
Les NicolQuote
September 17th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Bob It is good of you to offer this information regading the Humax Freesat DVR
I hope you can help me with a ploblem, there would appear little help available reference does & don’ts in regard the Dish requirements.
I have lived in this three storey block of flats for the last five years, the Sky service has been wired to the existing FTA arial using a splitter box to enable the Humax HDCI -2000 to work, the arial installer suggests we need a single wire running to the flat to get the Freesat DVR to function.
I am worried that when we go Didgital on the FTA interference will occure,
kind regards Bert Can you help please
Bert AllsopQuote
September 17th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Bob, your a star when it comes to added information to the comments above, please keep them coming
adminQuote
October 6th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Can anyone confirm or deny the box being able to send recorded programmes around a network?
YellowSphereQuote
October 6th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
YellowSphere – You will be able to transfer recorded programmes via USB to an external hard drive. It’s also the plan of Humax to allow transfer of data via ETHERNET using an ftp client, but that’s not planned for any time soon.
adminQuote
October 9th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
WILL IT HAVE LIVE PAUSE
PETERQuote