Loading ...Nov 20 2008
It has been officially announced that Freesat+ will arrive in UK stores from 22nd November 2008.
The first Freesat+ Digital Box will be launched by Humax (FOXSAT-HDR) and will initially be available across selected John Lewis, Comet, Argos and Dixons stores plus some selected independent retailers, priced at around £299.
Check checking out Humax FOXSAT-HDR price comparison page for the latest prices and availability.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Bring it on !!
November 20th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Where did this news come from? Humax direct are still saying end of Nov.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Humax through Freesat, so both
November 20th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Early start for me on Saturday then – hunting down a Humax PVR
)
November 20th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Praise the Lord ! Looks like this weekend will be taken up driving round the shops to find one ! Yipee
November 20th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
How can we find out which stores will stock it? Will we be able to order online?
November 20th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Excellent news, look forward to seeing some reviews, I wonder if the lip sync issues have been put to bed at last!.
I’m now interested to know if the drive can be upgraded to a 1 TB Sata drive?
November 20th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
First thing – Buy the new Humax-HDR
Second thing – Diablo Cam for the CI slot and programm it!
Third thing – Swapped me Sky card with Setanta Sports from Sky box to new my new STB!
Finally the best thing – The Sky box is heading to the Skip>
Happy Days
November 20th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Johhny S – If you do this, please get in touch, we’d love a report from you to post up on here of how it went
November 20th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Good news on the one hand.
However, the lack of a reliable review means I for one won’t be rushing to buy one.
I want to know about picture and sound quality as well as recording quality and lip sync issues before taking the plunge.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
What Hi-Fi say they will be the first to review the Humax Freesat PVR in their January issue on sale 11th December.
Not too long to wait.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Well, one of my neighbours will be trying to get one in time for Christmas. Personally I don’t like the price tag and I’m prepared to bet that if I wait a couple of months I won’t have to pay the early adopter premium. But I will definitely be getting one.
November 20th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Don’t get to excited! Just popped into my local COMET to see if they are going to have stock for Saturday launch. The very nice chap looked it up on the system and they are not expecting delivery into the warehouse until the 24th. Then depending how many they get depends on how they are distributed around the stores, should be in store around the 26th. Sorry to be a bearer of Doom and Gloom.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Sorry not about the PVR but just noticed that BBC HD’s DOG isn’t there looks much better
November 20th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
John Lewis are also not expecing stock until the 24th, so im not sure why they would say that its available from the 22nd, when it will not be!
November 20th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
John Lewis Bluewater are expecting over 1000 though, so thats good news
November 20th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I can’t imagine that a single store in Bluewater would be obtaining 1,000, not unless they distribute to all the southern stores?
November 20th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
thats what the sales lady at bluewater said when she checked the stock mainframe.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
you could always keep on not believing it, and stay home, so the rest of us can go get one.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
November 20th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Just called into my local John Lewis, without great hope, but was informed that stock was due in their central warehouse tomorrow (Friday) and that they should have them available in-store two or three (presumably working) days after that.
I have pre-ordered with them and hope to have it by the middle of the week.
At least that saves me hunting round on Saturday etc etc!!
November 20th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I registered with John Lewis about when I first saw the Humax PVR on their website (about 10 days before the info was shared on this site) . So far still no email from them, so I may have to go onto my nearest store on Saturday and order one, as I do not expect to actually recieve an email form them offering me one!
Now all we need for christmas is Channel 4 HD to come on stream
November 20th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Till – The John Lewis site just offers an notification when their website has stock available to purchase, it won’t be first come first serve. Suspect they might not have online availability this weekend, but instead just a few of their stores.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
if you text the argos stock code (532/1832) and the name of the town u live in to their stock text service on 61201 they will reply once stock has been received.
You can then reply again to reserve it for 24 hours.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Admin- Thanks for that. Now I will be going into JL at the weekend! I did wonder how their notification system worked when I signed up..
November 20th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Johnny S / Admin, Can you please explain about the Diablo Cam?
What it does, what you need to make it work, what it costs, is it legal and what you can receive through it.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
I intend to get a HD in the next month or so, if I get a humax PVR this weekend will I be able to use it with my regular sony crt tv with scart sockets only?
November 20th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Al ( Original) – The Diablo and Trex CAMS are capable of managing the NDS SKY encryption system. You either need a valid SKY card or a programer and the ability to program in order ro circumvent the NDS encryption key. A less expensive option a Viacess CAM and subscription card for ART and get all the Premier League games in English. But hey let’s put a hold on the until we see what if the CAM slot is enabled.!
November 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
.AL (original ) ART only available on HOTBIRD ar 13 degrees East. By implication this means this option would only be available in FTA mode and you would need two twin or quad LNB’s a dish boom adapter and diseqc stacker box and all this assumes that the Humax can handle it!
November 20th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Before people become over-excited, there’s a sentence in the press release that’s fairly important. It says
“Stock will be arriving in stores throughout December to increase distribution across the UK”
There will certainly be a few around this weekend. The emphasis is on few; as for reviews, the plan at PCW is to have a “first look” review on the web, followed by a review in print based on more extensive use a little later.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Al (original) – I’ll explain how Google works if you like
Glen.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Actually Glen I used Google and just got up the Diablo Cam web site which did little to explain what it did or what it was used for in the context of TV.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:00 am
How comes Argos are pushing an HDMI lead with this box, when it comes with one?
November 21st, 2008 at 4:29 am
Now available to order from Comet for home delivery
November 21st, 2008 at 7:29 am
Just checked, you cannot order from Comet yet, says no when you go through checkout. Keep watching our product page:
http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/digital-boxes/humax-foxsat-hdr
November 21st, 2008 at 7:38 am
AL (original ) In short these CAMS – cards are used to circumvent Pay per View encryption. eg: NDS (Sky) Conax Irderto Viacess etc. They can be updated via OTA from a particular Satellite or by self programming with a card programmer and PC. As broadcasters make modifications to deal with the unlocking of the encryption keys then these are responded to by updating the CAM’s – cards – via the aforementioned methods.
In the second option I described you purchase a legitimate card from a Sat dealership or via eg ebay source and Viacess CAM.
These CAMS and cards are really only an option of you have multisat capability via a motorized or multiple LNB setup.
November 21st, 2008 at 8:00 am
Well I’ve just bought one from Comet for £299.99 could have had it Sat 29th for nearly £12 delivery. Took advantage of free delivery and getting it on Fri 5th Dec. So I got an HDR in the bag and confirmation of my order – happy fella!
November 21st, 2008 at 10:23 am
Did you do this online? I can’t even find the box listed online!
M
November 21st, 2008 at 10:26 am
I phoned John Lewis to order the new Humax HDR and to my surprise they took my order over the phone. They have 1000 new units coming in over the weekend and at this moment in time they have orders for 810, so hurry if you want one.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:27 am
See http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/humax-foxsat-hdr-available-at-comet
November 21st, 2008 at 10:41 am
I just called John Lewis sales and they tell me they cant take orders for items not in stock, I quoted the above post re ordering and they still refused the order. Perhaps Mr Stevenson would like to give us an insight on how he managed to order? Special phone number?
My preference is JL due to their 2yr warranty, unless someone can confirm the manufacturers warranty is 2yrs
November 21st, 2008 at 10:46 am
MikeT – All Humax Freesat products carry a 2 year warranty, no matter where you purchase from.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:53 am
To Mike T from Mr Stevenson. The phone no 01322 624 123 John Lewis Bluewater Kent. Best of Luck
November 21st, 2008 at 11:02 am
Thanks P Stevenson, just rang JL and they have no stock but are taking pre orders as you said.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:33 pm
For all interested parties. Humax have confirmed today the following:
Diseqc software is retained permitting motorized operation in FTA mode. However whilst it was thought that recording in “real time” might have been an option also this isn’t the case and the range of recording options are focused solely on the Freesat EPG. For most users I expect this will be fine.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Just pre-orderd mine from JL in Kingston, they wont say how many they have coming in, only that they will be in during the next two weeks. Still, saves me from having to rush out to Kingston first thing Saturday and if P Stevenson is correct, hopefully mine will be one of the 1000 arriving at the weekend
November 21st, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I have just received an email from Argos saying that they have stock in the SE. They have accepted my order for delivery on Monday 24th November.
November 21st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I’ve just spoken to JL Sheffield out of interest and they’re saying they don’t even have a date for stock anywhere across the group and that stores shouldn’t be taking pre-orders as their computer system shows the buyers haven’t got any stock centrally for distribution across the group, and if they get some, they don’t even know how many will be coming in and any that do will be divided up across the whole country, so a lot of people who pre-ordered could be disappointed.
November 21st, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Ditto Al (Original) at JL Edinburgh. No idea when. Also tried Argos and Comet Edinburgh and locale. Not a set in site anywhere.
November 21st, 2008 at 6:19 pm
JACKPOT!
I emailed Argos via their Ordering System – when it advised me thet they were out of stock and they replied within the hour advising that new stock had arrived – and did I still want to order?
Did I?
I used the Discount Code – AFD10 and it will be delivered on Monday – Post Free.
Don’t order an extra HDMI Cable though. You don’t need one. There is one included in the pack from Humax.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:32 pm
i preordered mine from local supplier and got installation as well so should up and running next week
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 am
No hope of geting one from a shop this weekend. Currys not got and don’t expect delivery this weekend, Argos had some for home delivery, all gone, delivery scheduled 9th December. Comet don’t get any in central wharehouse until 24th, expect a week to reach the shops. Wish I had stayed in bed, Freesat gives customer satisfaction again…. not
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Les Nicol said: For all interested parties. Humax have confirmed today the following: Diseqc software is retained permitting motorized operation in FTA mode.
Thanks for that and as the manuals are not yet downloadable I have the following Questions:
Does the Humax Foxsat HDR also have the required versions of Diseqc for operating multiple LNB’s?
Will it enable different locations to be received via both of the two LNB inputs on the back of the box? Specifically, I would plan to cable the usual quad LNB with two cables down to the box for the Freesat locations at 28 degrees and add LNBs to receive 13, 19 and 23 degree locations. Would the extra LNBs need to all be added onto one of the main cables via a Diseqc 4 way switch and fed in to LNB1 input or would you suggest another combination?
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:15 am
JL Cribbs Causway say their first delivery is pre-allocated with no confirmation of new stock.. Two weeks ago they would not take my order in advance!
Took your advice and rang JL Bluewater. They sold the first batch of 1,000 in one day – they took my pre-order for the next batch due early next week. With luck it will be delivered next week at the possible reduced VAT rate.
No reply to the early warning email promised by JL. Very surprised.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:45 am
Now I am really confused. I was in Kingston on Saturday, so I decided to couble check on my pre-oder with John Lewis, just in case I could chivvy up teh delivery etc. The salesman stated that they do not know when the Humax HDR will be in stock (despite the phone call I made where they took my order and told me it would be in stock in the next two weeks), the web site still shows out of stock. Yet JL in Bluewater have sold 1,000 already and are waiting for a second batch? At this rate Humax’s initial shipment of xxx,0000 boxes into the UK will run out! Now I am wondering do I cancel my JL order and order from Comet or Argos, my intuition says no to Comet as I have never met (a) any salesman with a brain, (b) every previous time I have used Comet, I have had very very poor after sales service.
Decisions decisions. I am all of a qaundary!
November 24th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I ordered one from Comet. Now they tell me that they have sent out all those that were delivered and don’t know when the next lot will come in. So they have cancelled my order so I can join the scrum again – why can’t they keep the order on the books so that priority can be given to those who genuinely want one – they claim first come first served. I’m not trying to jump any queues, just looking for fair treatment. I don’t know that I can be bothered any more if this is how we are treated
November 24th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
It does appear that JL’s left hand does not know what the JL right hand is doing.
Which should we believe? Is all this an over keen saleslady? I notice that JL has taken £1 from my credit card account. I’m told by the card company this is usual to ‘test’ the card. That does confirm the order. As for delivery, all we can do is wait.
Perhaps JL could comment?
December 1st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Admin, or any one else, do you know if the last statement is correct No 58. It would please my Dad if it was,as I just made him replace his Doddery Digi Box with a Humax
December 1st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Matt, no sorry, not true, we get these spam comments quite a lot, they are never accurate, ever!!! We’ve now removed.