Launch: October 2012 | Price: £279 (rrp)
The Humax HDR-1000S is the very first of the second generation Freesat receivers with <free time>, a service designed to offer the user a more seamless experience in accessing the content you want to watch.
This review is based on my experiences over the duration of a day/evening, as a semi-technical individual, combined with the thoughts of a.n.other, with zero technical ability but a passion for television! It should therefore give a fairly impartial review of how the Humax HDR-1000S performs for everyone, not just those familiar with how the service operates.
Opening the box you will find an external power supply, a change from the now discontinued FOXSAT-HDR, which used an in-built power module. External power supplies are probably the way to go despite them getting in the way; they offer quieter operation of the unit itself because less fans are needed to keep the unit cool; the HDR-1000S on our test was whisper quiet, just a slight boot noise from the HDD every now and again. This would definitely suit those with a PVR in the bedroom!
Front image of Humax HDR-1000S Freesat+HD <free time> Receiver
The box also contained a complete range of accessories, including remote (with 2 x AAA batteries), HDMI cable, Ethernet Cable, plus helpful quick start guide and <free time> manual, though very basic compared to the details manual of the FOXSAT-HDR (sure the full manual will be online soon).
We have differing opinions on the remote, the other tester loves it, where as I’m not a fan; it is very long and with the stylish curve, hard to hold in my hands, though given time, this can be forgiven. What can’t be forgiven is the use of gloss black by so many electrical products these days; it is a nightmare to keep clean for those that like everything to look pristine. The remote also has a few clicky buttons, rather than soft press, and these are the main navigation buttons so used quite often; the noise they make is a little annoying. Fortunately though Humax have now dropped support for multiple inputs therefore preventing inadvertently pressing one of the other inputs and so no longer had control of the PVR; unfortunately a further price for this though is the inability to set the remote to control your televisions volume and standby (unless we’ve missed that!).
As for the unit itself, it is clearly well thought out, with a modern look (and lots more gloss and chrome!) and will suit any television setup. However, we do still prefer the box style look of the previous version, rather than all the curves, especially given most television equipment uses sharp lines. Fortunately being black, it is subtle enough not to matter much; though a white version is also due so just make sure you like the look of it before opting for such an obvious colour!
Rear image of Humax HDR-1000S Freesat+HD <free time> Receiver
The unit carries the usual connections you’d expect, with a number of buttons on the front for basic operation, though this unit is very much remote control led, as you’d expect. There is a less than subtle reminder of this with two identical guides to how the remote works! There is a USB port hidden on the front, with a CI slot (CI/CI+) on the right hand side, but most of the action takes place at the back where you will find the power socket, LNB inputs (twin tuner), HDMI, Ethernet, Optical (S/Pdif Out), RCA (CVBS/L/R), TV Scart and USB port. Humax have dropped one of the scart ports, though unsurprising given the move towards HDMI everything. What is more surprising is the lack of the LNB output found on the FOXSAT-HDR, which allowed a little more flexibility for those with only one satellite cable (loop-through); this unit is very much designed on two cables, with SRC (single cable) LNB functionality due to be added in the future.
Setup is easy, the quick start guide is simple enough to follow, with the Internet connection being the only difficult part if you don’t already have a router or homeplugs close by you can plug straight in to. We believe the Humax wifi adaptor will work on this product, though haven’t tested ourselves. Once you have plugged in the required cables, you are ready to go.
The start-up is nice, only takes a few seconds and has a fancy, albeit slightly jerky animation of the <free time> logo. You will then be greeted with the postcode screen to start the setup process. The postcode can be any UK postcode and will determine the regional channels that are default to the main channel positions (such as BBC, ITV etc). The nice change here is that the postcode can be entered simply by using arrows and the OK button, rather than confusing those that don’t understand how to enter letters on numerical buttons. Once you click next, it will confirm a few basic picture settings, then on to the channel search screen. Funnily enough I sat their waiting for the channels to populate the list as has been the case with every Freesat receiver before, but with this unit, it was instantly ready, so I needn’t of wait! The next stage was confirmation of my Internet connection (plugged directly into router via Ethernet cable), showing access to BBC iPlayer and ITV Player, I guess so there are no nasty surprises when you find 4OD and 5 Demand are not yet available! The final stage was the parental control allowing you to set a PIN number so younger eyes don’t see channels they really shouldn’t; great to see you can skip this stage.
Once past that final step, you will find yourself on BBC 1 ready to explore the new device; the very first thing we found was the sound was very low, and if you are use to controlling your sound via the television remote, then the best advice is to turn the Humax volume up to maximum and then never use it again. We did however find the sound differing between main channels and on-demand, but it was a minor nuisance. Overall the picture and sound quality is second to none; very crisp when tested on high-definition channels and not overly soft on SD channels.
Now the stages that follow might get a little confusing to understand, as you really just need to play around to understand how the menus work and how to navigate the system. It didn’t take us too long to get a reasonable grip on things (unlike the remote) but it is a completely different experience. One thing’s for sure, whether you get frustrated or not by the structure negotiation, the menus look visually stunning, the best being the slight dark fade on the bottom half of the screen when looking at the now/next data for the channel you are on; lovely. All this beauty does come at a cost though, as the screens can delay by a second before appearing, so not ideal for those that like to speed through, though this might improve once the system is fully populated and bugs ironed out.
Now and Next programme information within TV guide
Freesat have taken an interesting step with <free time> which is very much about reducing the amount of data you see on-screen, on an initial button press; the most obvious being now/next programme data rather than a full list showing hours ahead. You can of course still see head, up to 7 days, but it requires a further click or two. There are no doubt shortcuts to be found once you get familiar with it, but almost all options require a few clicks of a button for more information. The TV Guide is great though; it has icons for the channels and shows 7 channels on the screen, as well as programme info at the top and a mini-screen so you don’t miss any action from the live channel. You can also type in a channel number to straight to that channel on the guide, as well as skip forward/backwards 2 hours or 24 hours.
The navigation is great, the HOME button takes you to the menu where you will find everything in a scrolling menu, plus you can skip all that and press the TV GUIDE button to get straight into the action. You can also take a single step back with the BACK button, or exit to your last channel with the EXIT button, simple. There are also buttons for recordings, settings and search, so every option is pretty much catered for on the remote itself.
The key facility of this new Humax HDR-1000S is without doubt <free time>, which isn’t just about a new look menu, but also the Interactive services. There is plenty of information available about <free time>, but the principle idea is the ability to go up to 7 days into the past to access a programme you might have missed. Scrolling back through days gone by you will find all programmes for the channel you had highlighted on the TV Guide (did say it gets a little complicated if you haven’t used it!), at which point you simply click OK, which will give you the option to play through the on-demand service. Now at this stage, only BBC iPlayer and ITV Player are available, so programmes will only appear 7 days backwards for those, but when 4OD and 5 Demand join, it will cover them too. When you click to play, you will be transferred to the on-demand service of choice via your Internet connection.
Backwards TV guide letting you watch programmes that have already been on
The on-demand services seem to work ok; I have to confess to only having a 2.5mbps broadband line, so I did spot a few problems (more to follow), but it is a least a good benchmark to what is possible for you lucky ones with fast lines. From accessing a programme on the guide to it physically playing within the on-demand services is about 20-30 seconds, so not bad at all, though it can sometimes be hard to explain to another person why it isn’t instant like a live programme or recording. The option for high-definition on BBC iPlayer was available (hurray), though SD was the order of the day for my slow connection. We did stumble across a problem straight away though, the programme only lasted a few seconds before it was jerking constantly, probably trying and failing to buffer; this led to having to exit as it wouldn’t pause, stop or anything! When trying again, we simply paused the programme as it started, then left for a minute and pressed play; this got rid of the buffering/jerk issue. As said though, this is most likely down to the speed of my broadband, but we have seen reports on the forums of similar, so might just be a bit glitchy at the moment. You can also access the on-demand services via a specific menu; you don’t have to go through the TV Guide.
Freesat have introduced a new showcase option too, highlighting what they deem to be the best programmes to watch that day/evening, or best of on-demand. The suggestions we were given were a nice mix and current, so hopefully this will be the case each day. You can set reminders and recordings from the showcase menu which is very handy.
Showcase section that offers recommendations on programmes to watch
Recording is simple and you will have plenty of space on this 500GB unit (1TB option available), you can either press record on a live channel (though we found knowing it was recording a little difficult to spot), or select to record from within the TV guide. The recording structure has been improved, with it sorting series into one place, as well as allowing you to choose whether to record a single episode, an entire series, or in high-definition if available. The recordings are also sorted by a number of options, which include HD, A-Z, most recent, still to watch, series etc, so finding what you want shouldn’t be too hard. Playback is simple, just select the programme and enjoy, with the option to pause, stop, fast-forward/rewind up to 32 speed.
There is a non-freesat mode too, for those that want to add more channels not currently on the Freesat TV Guide (EPG), but it remains a lesser priority and basic in operation; DiSEqC is supported up to version 2.0.
Overall can the Humax HDR-1000S be classed as all style and no substance, absolutely not, it has been incredibly well thought out and will be a system used by all manufacturers of the G2 spec Freesat receivers going forward; Humax have done an incredible job to build a unit around this new Freesat standard. We do still feel that it takes too many clicks to access specific areas of the system, but we may uncover more shortcuts, and it can react a little slow at times if you are use to navigating through menus at lightning speed. We also find that whilst the unit itself is inoffensive enough in black, it is a little ugly compared to conventional receivers, but then Freesat/Humax are taking a bold step into the future, and this little rocket ship maybe fits the bill. Of everything, it is actually the remote control that was the biggest let down for me personally (why don’t manufacturers think more carefully about the device you use to control everything), hard to hold (in my hands) and some very noisy buttons which ironically are louder than the whisper quite receiver itself. We would also like to have seen built-in wifi but with the invention of homeplugs, shouldn’t prevent most from getting online. It would also have been great to launch with 4OD and 5 demand too, plus a few more interactive features like Netflix (rumoured), but hopefully they won’t be far behind.
Apart from those little niggles, the unit is quiet, relatively quick and simple in navigation when you consider the amount of data/graphics it is pushing, and the on-demand services work very well, providing you have a suitably quick broadband connection. Picture and sound quality is amazingly good, unmatched at this time in comparison. Yes, it might take a little time to get use to the completely re-developed structure, but once you do, you’ll be wondering how you ever coped with the more static/analogue approach of the G1 spec receivers. At an rrp of £279, the unit is relatively good value for money and a worthy upgrade if you are keen on a better looking interface and want access to more interactive services.
Performance 8/10
Design 9/10
Features 9/10
Value 8/10
Joinfreesat score 9 out of 10
The Humax HDR-1000S launched this month with an RRP of £279. You can buy now via our product page (also available through other retailers).
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October 22nd, 2012 at 2:13 pm
This is a great review, thanks!
I’m on the old foxsat HDR, but I’m still considering an upgrade. At this moment I don’t see enough benefits to spend another £279, but the interface looks very slick indeed. (the ondemand stuff is not something I would use a lot, but a great add-on regardless)
ps, is the remote responsive? This is one of the main let-downs with the old HDR.
WouterQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Yes, didn’t have a single issue using from any angle, a significant improvement.
adminQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 2:25 pm
I am interested in the SCR function , what more can you tell me about this , will it be a software update over the air, applicable to all or will it be an enhancement on future stbs and not retrospective ?
Many thanks
MartinQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 2:30 pm
In a recent interview we had with Freesat, they said the following which was backed up by Humax:
adminQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Admin. Thank you for a very comprehensive review – it was extremely helpful.
John HerefordQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:06 pm
Black Shiny Reflective Gloss, No Thanks!!
I’ll stick with Gen1 or switch to another manufacturer for Gen2.
GQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Real shame you can’t control TV volume and standby from the remote. I imagine that Harmony will add it to their list of gadgets eventually so that their remotes will work. But this is one of the basic things that people I know like about the SKY box and it should be available on the state-of-the-art Freesat machine.
EamonnQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:27 pm
While playing back a recording you mentioned it’s possible to “pause, stop, fast-forward/rewind up to 64 speed”, but can you please confirm it is still possible to jump forward/backwards, and custom set this forward/back time in settings? Being able to jump forward 2 mins with a single button press is great for skipping over ads!
Also, if watching a program on delay, which you are also recording, does it still jump you to live when the recording ends, like on the current HDR? Or is this bug fixed too?
Thanks
James
James CockerQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:49 pm
It can manage up to 32 speed (corrected original review – says 64 in manual!) and the skip option is 15 seconds backwards/forwards. Haven’t found an option for changing this timescale.
Can’t answer the other yet.
adminQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Just wanted to mention that at IBC the guy from Freesat demonstrating the Humax unit said that built-in Wi-Fi would be coming on the white model next year however most Wi-Fi dongles should work (not Humax specific) on this model although they couldn’t guarantee it – they have tested the device with most commonly available dongles but obviously not all.
Night WatchmanQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Thanks admin for the review and whilst the freesat and freetime issues are the principal business of the machine, you have noted there is diseqc up to v2.0 and that the non-freesat mode is basic:
1. Have you been able to ascertain if the non-freesat mode has changed in any way from the previous model?
2. Can you set a timer recording manually or from a basic epg?
3. Can the new box combine modes in any way to allow recordings on non-freesat and freesat to co-exist?
RozzoQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:23 pm
I will confirm back when the unit is set back up again, had to disconnect it to set up another unit for tonight’s recordings! From memory, I’m not sure if the non-freesat mode differs because it has been a long time since I operated the FOXSAT-HDR. I didn’t spot the timer option but will check that one out tomorrow. Not aware of any ability to combine Freesat and non-freesat channels like there is on the Manhattan but will check that too.
adminQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 8:26 pm
Excellent review, thank you. The remote control does sound a little annoying, especially the clicking. I mostly like the current control for the HDR, with the exception of the narrow angle and short range of response. One thing I would like is for the OK button to double for pause / restart. Would be much handier than the tiny ‘proper’ pause and play buttons on the HDR remote.
Would you able to show a picture of the remote showing the button layout? I also have a Humax HD with I use with a motorised dish for non-Freesat mode – mainly for French channels – since it’s not possible to use the recorder properly / fully with Freesat and alo use a motor. Annoyingly the remote layouts for the HD and HDR are very different and cause many mistakes when switching between receivers. I much prefer the HDR layout.
It’s a pity they didn’t get rid of the volume control since it’s mostly more trouble thanks its worth.
My HDR remote also came with a dodgy 0 button – have to press it hard (unlike all other buttons) – which I didn’t really notice (maybe it got worse) until too long after I had it. Any dodgy buttons on the new remote?
Keith (original)Quote
October 22nd, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Great review. I picked one up at weekend, replacing SKY HD with this and a Netflix subscription (via PS3 at the minute).
On the whole I’m pleased with it, but I’m getting the same issue on the iPlayer, constant stuttering… I have to literally pause it, wait a few minutes then start playing. However I have a very fast 20-30mbit connection and can stream perfectly in HD on the PS3. To me its like the box doesnt buffer enough data before starting playing. Hopefully Humax will sort it out.
JonoQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 10:17 pm
Does the box support HDMI-CEC?
GlynQuote
October 22nd, 2012 at 11:20 pm
I got one of these at the weekend upgrading from the foxsat HDR.I’m generally very pleased with it. But have a few niggles I’ve found.
The auto aspect picture size is irratating changing between the commercials and some programmes giving a three quarter screen on the CBS channels.
Set recording is easy to do and I like the easy layout and simple menus. However when setting up a recording, you cannot alter the time it’s starts or finishes unless you manually set up the recording. This ment a programme I recorded on Sunday evening which was running 8 minutes later than advertised on the EPG was ended before the programme had ended so I missed the final scene. Humax need to consider adding a over run time of 10 minutes buffer to account for later running programmes as you could do on the Foxsat model.
Also Humax has not giving the option to record programmes weekdays only as I did on my Foxsat . The best you can do is use the daily setting and delete the time slot at the weekend after the unwanted recording has happened or set up a manual recording five days a week which is very tedious.
I’m looking forward to Channel 4 and Demand 5 players joining the service this will greatly enhance what I think is a very good box of tricks. My score is 7 out of 10
NeilQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 7:26 am
Hmm… Two things I love about the old Foxsat HDR were (1) Loop-Through Satellite Cable and (2) Adjustable Skip interval. Makes this box suddenly much less attractive to me.
WilliamQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 7:36 am
Others have said you can adjust the skip forward/backwards option, I just didn’t find it yesterday.
adminQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 8:30 am
Thanks for a great review. Unfortunately I can’t see enough benefits at the moment to justify an upgrade from the HDR. Maybe in a year’s time when 4OD etc become available and the price comes down I’ll think different.
One thing though, I haven’t seen any mention of the new machine’s archiving or media playing abilities. Does it work just like the HDR in this respect (ie possible to transfer files between USB and HDD, but rather clunky operation) or have things improved?
Lawrence PearceQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 9:13 am
No wifi built-in for the 1TB version.
adminQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 10:15 am
Is it possible to record an earlier programme (with free time) rather than watch it live as it streams? This would get round the problem of terrible broadband! You could set recordings going, leave them going overnight and watch them the next day. Or set something recording while you’re watching something else.
ChrisQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 10:21 am
No, you can’t record past programmes, they are only accessible via the linked-in on-demand service.
adminQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 10:30 am
The stuttering problems people are reporting with the on-demand features don’t bode well for the severe down-grading of the red-button streams.
Keith (original)Quote
October 23rd, 2012 at 10:33 am
Probably not but a quick few second pause at the start of a programme seems to sort it, plus Humax are no doubt aware of the issue as it has been reported by a number of users.
adminQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 10:49 am
Does the new model suffer the subtitle bug during live-rewind?
I thought this issue had been solved with the last update to the Foxsat-HDR but I noticed last night that it was still a problem. However, by accident, I found a work-around. If you press OK if/when subtitles appear after wind-back, the subtitles vanish. Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but if not, I thought this info might prove useful.
Keith (original)Quote
October 23rd, 2012 at 10:53 am
Yep – I think that’s basically the issue I’m thinking of too. I don’t know if the “platform neutral” and “global availability” phrases are real or just myths, but Freesat is supposed to plug the gaps in Freeview, Freesat’s red button streams are being removed becuase of expense and to fall in line Freeview, and the get-out clause for removing over-the-air services is that they can be reached over the net instead. But not for those whose broadband is below par, which is highly likely to be the people who can’t get Freeview anyway and rely on Freesat who have just had their services withdrawn!
ChrisQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 10:55 am
Good point. Perhaps this might be an approach for Humax to resolve this issue by building this in automatically – or maybe have it as a option for slower connections. Humax have (on some occassions) shown themselves very responsive to resolving reported issues. Hopefully, this will prove to be the case on this occassion too.
Keith (original)Quote
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:05 am
Thinking about it, it could actually be a Freesat issue for them to resolve with Humax, given the software coding is generic across all planned G2 boxes. Sure we’ll see a fix and might not even require a receiver software update.
adminQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:38 am
Does the box allow viewing programmes on currently recording transponders like the samsung does?? I.e. record 2 programmes and view 1 live from a smaller selection of channels?? One of the Samsung’s plus features in many negatives!
CastleQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:52 am
Another good point.
Keith (original)Quote
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Thanks admin, a great review there. As with other Humax products I have no dount that minor bugs and product updates will follow but sounds good for the initial firmware release to market. Any chance you could add a photo of the remote control?
NeilQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Good review enjoyed reading it. For those people that dont want to upgrade to the new box yet as still happy with the old Foxsat HDR.
Are the new on,demand channels 4od, demand 5 coming to previous gen boxes?
Dave GrantQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Doesn’t seem likely, but there is no confirmation either way. If anyone will do it, it will be Humax.
adminQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Any chance in confirming this for me? As if the option doesn’t exist, I may hold off my order for now.
Thanks!
James CockerQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 3:43 pm
in addition to the stuttering problems with BBC iplayer, I also have a problem whereby I cannot get the iplayer to show me an HD version of a program if I select it from the backwards EPG. HD will work if I select the program from within the iplayer standalone app.
To clarify, I am selecting a program that is available in HD, and am going backwards in the guide from an HD channel.
The program plays in SD, even though I have gone into the standalone player and set the quality to HD in the settings. The same program launched from within the player will play in HD, as I mentioned.
I have posted about this in another forum and a member there says he doesnt get this behaviour, and his unit works as expected. This is bizzare and frustrating as I am on the latest software version (I assume so as it fails to find a newer one)
Anybody else having this issue?
My broadband is around 11Mb, and plays HD from within the iplayer app perfectly, its a not a broadband or network issue.
Thanks
Gareth PhillipsQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 5:33 pm
Would it be worth importing it to Ireland
robert o mahonyQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 6:25 pm
Personally I think there are no real advantages in buying G2 at this moment in time as apart from the backwards epg. The Humax Foxsat HDR currently possesses BBC iplayer and ITV player just like the new G” box. You can easily search for past programs within these individual players. To be honest, I like browsing through the iplayer for different programs.
Also, I understand the need for Freesat to strike while the iron is hot and release the first G2 model in line with Youview and Sky’s extra on demand services, however with regards to marketing the product, it doesnt make sense leaving out 4od and demand 5 from launch.
There have already been enough problems with Freesat in the past saying “itv player coming soon” to specific boxes – most that have never seen or will ever get to see this. Lets hope “4od and demand 5 coming soon” is not another fiasco.
Lee SQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 6:45 pm
I too have just brought the new box and loving it, the sharp new EPG is far better than anything I have seen in the last four years,and I cant wait for the likes of 4 and five to join the on-demand services, what I don’t understand why do people compare in a negative way . The shop I brought it from showed me in the correct way of demoing this sort of stuff. connected up to Broadband and connected to the servers in the shop, all of which worked in the correct manor hence why I changed from my old Humax HDR and put that one in a second room,what I did find interesting was this new box can play certain formats of films, Pictures and MP3′s. as too a Humax TV portal with Wiki TV Picassa, teletext holidays etc and apparently more to come , Cant wait to see what that brings , its shown me how the future is going only Hope the broadband providers start putting faster speeds in the villages like mine, So my view is if your looking for a freesat Next Gen box you wont beat a box like a Humax , I was very happy to see the Humax HDRS 1000s become the first to come out with the next generation again . well done Humax,
steve .vQuote
October 23rd, 2012 at 9:05 pm
For those like me who wished to see a picture of the remote for the new model it’s currently available here: http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/freesat/support.asp. You need to scroll down a little.
Since this is a non-specific URL it may well change once the next new product is released. Couldn’t find a specific link for the remote for this model. [Admin, I'm assuming I can't paste an image?]
The user manual (sometimes helpful for answering those niggly questions before buying) would normally be available here: http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/support/downloadcenter_manual.asp, but the HDR-1000S isn’t currently listed (yet). Nevetheless, it’s interesting to see how many products Humax have produced.
Keith (original)Quote
October 23rd, 2012 at 9:28 pm
I thought it might be worth mentioning that 4OD player on the PS3 is only a view-in-browser set up, whereas the iPlayer and ITVplayer are ‘proper’ apps or at least appear so. So the extensive delays in the arrival in 4OD are almost certainly down to Channel 4 and not Humax or Freesat. I use the PS3 for Netflix which is superb, but I find the iPlayer on the Humax provides a much superior picture quality and operation to the equivalent on the PS3. If I remember correctly, the same is true for ITVplayer.
Which leads me to an interesting question, does the HDR-1000S support live-streaming from websites? I doubt if it does, but it would be great if it did since it would be possible to watch tennis events, particularly those no longer broadcast by the BBC. I love to see the Eurosport player and/or TennisTV.com available on the Humax for this reason. I can feed these through from a PC but it’s some rigmarole and my chosen PC doesn’t send audio down the HDMI cable.
I was surprised to discover recently that the PS3 also has a BBC Sport player app (beta). Are there any plans to bring this to Freesat/Humax? Of course this is only of use when the BBC holds the broadcast rights.
Keith (original)Quote
October 23rd, 2012 at 9:31 pm
To clarify, I meant to say ‘iPlayer on the Humax-HDR provides a much superior picture etc to iPlayer on the PS3′.
Keith (original)Quote
October 23rd, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Sorry, another question occurs to me… I doubt anyone has tried this yet, but does anyone know if setting up multiple satellites, motor drives, DiSEqC etc in non-Freesat mode still require the secret menu options?
Keith (original)Quote
October 24th, 2012 at 2:33 am
Off topic really, but Humax produce Freeview, Freesat, and Youview boxes. Can’t see enough advantage in adding Freeview, but a combined Youview/Freesat box is a no brainer to me. In fact can’t see why Freesat and Youview don”t use the same system.
A fully interactive cross platform future should have been the way forwards. I cannot see the sense in the way that things have developed. Why should I have to chose between Freetime and Youview?
EdQuote
October 24th, 2012 at 9:50 am
I have just purchased one of these as a direct replacement for my Sky+ HD box, unfortunately Tuner 2 does not work, I have tried swapping the wires over but with no success, this means that I am unable to watch another channel whilst recording (very frustrating). I have been in contact with Humax who have informed me that this is a known issue that will be fixed via an update during November.
Has anybody else had this issue?
Tony HopkinsQuote
October 24th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
I have no problems using both tuners.
Gareth PhillipsQuote
October 24th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
I had the same problem with Tuner 2, eventually sorted it by re adjusting the length of the protrusion of the copper core in the cable. This was the identical cable that I’d just removed from a first gen HDR so it would appear that this box ifs very fussy about the length of copper inserted in the socket!
Nic CollinsQuote
October 24th, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Ah, actually I’ve just checked the signal strength again and it’s zero for strength and quality on Tuner 2! This is obviously a software problem as I can record one channel and watch another without any problem.
Nic CollinsQuote
October 24th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Apologies, I mis-remembered this. It was the Exit button that cancels the subtitles.
Interestingly, if you do happen to want the subtitles back, press the SUB button. It will display ‘Not available in Time Shift mode’ – press OK and dispite this they reappear. Press Exit again to remove them.
This is the case for BBC News anyway. It may possibly work (or not) differently for other channels.
Keith (original)Quote
October 24th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
It is thought that this could be a power saving feature (not powering an unused connection). When the tuner is in use it will show a reading. The readings are of the selected transponder so can be very different.
David MartinQuote
October 26th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Is it quicker than the foxsat HDR to come out of standby? The Foxsat HDR takes ages. Virgin V plus is about 2/3 seconds, but the old Foxsat HDR must be something like 15secs.
A BeseaQuote
October 26th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Just had a Humax sales email from Graham North promoting the HDR 1000-S which mentions keeping an eye out for TV adverts starting this weekend. Looks possibly like Freesat are going for a Christmas ‘freetime’ promotion push which is good news and about time we saw some TV ads pushing the new service.
NeilQuote
October 26th, 2012 at 7:03 pm
Here you go, http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/freesats-new-free-time-television-adverts/
adminQuote
October 26th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Great stuff, will give it a look shortly, thought very much worthy of a posting!
NeilQuote
October 26th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
My Foxsat HDR EPG and on screen menus have gone all blurry this evening so not sure if my trusty box is on the way out. Even tried putting my glasses on and that didn’t help.
So I might be in the market for the new G2 box to replace it! Have tried different cables etc and the problem is defiantly with the HDR.
Anyway, I digress…
This leads me on to a couple of questions that I’m not sure are possible to answer yet, but welcome any thoughts.
1) Can recordings made on the old Foxsat HDR be copied over and played on the new G2 spec box? Easy enough to copy, I expect, but is the file format the same?
2) In the spec sheet, Humax advertise “contents sharing via home networking” which sounds very interesting. Is this DLNA? Does anyone have any insight on this feature?
Andy ClaytonQuote
October 27th, 2012 at 12:54 am
Would like to know if HDR 1000-S can be a media server i.e. steam recordings to other devices e.g. PS3, iPad.
Denis BradleyQuote
October 27th, 2012 at 1:48 am
Thanks for the great review, I bought mine today but wondered if anyone knows how to setup the tv/av button and if the time can be displayed on the front as found it useful on the previous model, thanks
DamianQuote
October 27th, 2012 at 10:49 am
Hello Guys, I’ve just installed for myself the HDR-1000S and all good so far except for the TV Portal. I cannot get You Tube or Internet Radio in the portal, the packaging states that You Tube is available but is not showing on screen.
Any ideas from anyone?
Dean RogersQuote
October 29th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
I’m also interested in the time it takes to come out of Standby. My current Panasonic Freesat box takes forever.
MikeQuote
October 29th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Oh dear, another lump of cheap plastic c**p by the looks of it. Have Humax been looking too closely at that other satellite broadcasters offering? This will take a prominent position in our homes and looks and quality are important.
Having been a Panasonic customer for 35yrs or so and decided to move on following their attitude to their Freesat products, this was to be a real contender; no more.
It seems like Humax has joined the rush to the bottom, along with many others, that’s a pitty IMHO.
PeterQuote
October 29th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Does the HDR-1000S handle the BST/GMT switch better than the Foxsat-HDR with scheduled recordings? The Foxsat-HDR seems to get very confused handling some correctly but leaving some set in the original time slot and set to record an entirely different programme an hour later. It appears random but it _may_ handle single events differently to series recordings, I guess.
Each year I end up with a number of missed recordings since they show correctly on the EPG but don’t happen or shift time at some later point. Since I cannot rely on it I end having to go through the schedule cancelling and resetting just in case.
Keith (original)Quote
October 29th, 2012 at 7:31 pm
I think Freesat have missed a huge opportunity by not specifying smart-phone / tablet integration for G2. It is something $ky have recently been promoting heavily especially on radio ads for $ky+. I would find it very useful to check and schedule recordings whilst something else is being watched (without interruption) or when the receiver is in standby. I would also find it very handy to schedule recordings from apps such as TVGuide, which can be done for $ky / Virgin. I think this is future direction things are moving and it’s a shame Freesat have given rivals a feature they can promote that is glaring missing from Freesat.
I would have thought Humax might have built this in as an addition / enhancement to the G2 spec.
Keith (original)Quote
October 30th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
I’d like to know if a few problems have been resolved before splashing out again. Can anyone confirm if:
- it now accepts NTFS-formatted USB drives. The old FAT32 (4gb file size) limit was very annoying
- they’ve fixed the subtitles appearing during rewound playback?
- ‘file’ management is better. The old deleting-one-programme-at-a-time limitation was damned annoying, having to wait for ages as it deleted long programmes.
Thanks for any info!
TimQuote
October 30th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Anyone looking to buy one; there’s a £10 off code at Comet next couple of days; code 10HUMAX at the checkout. Thought might be useful
£269
RonaldQuote
November 1st, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Not sure I’d buy anything from Comet right now.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20164228
EamonnQuote
November 1st, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Good point … and the website has died. Maybe the popularity of the voucher code is what finished em off …
RonaldQuote
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:40 pm
Have just purchased a new Humax HDR1000S Freesat box. I am happy with the purchase, except, i subscribe to Box office 365 and cannot get the channel.
I’ve tried re-tuning but this does not work, any idea’s.
Mike BQuote
November 5th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
I’ve just upgraded from an old 320 mb Freesat HDR to the new 1TB Freetime box. A few points:
1. The 1TB machine is only £20 more than the 5000mb machine, buy that one
2. The TV/AV button no longer works, however if you have the old remote, you can use that to access all the features of the new remote and the old ones.
3. The new machine is a quantum leap forward!
4. When you choose to record a program that has a HD alternative, BBC/ITV offer you the HD record option , for some reason Channel 4 does not. Anyone come across a solution for this yet?
Pete KQuote
November 5th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
From their Web Site.
How to get PictureBox…
Simply go to http://www.boxoffice365.com and follow the onscreen instructions to subscribe. At the moment, PictureBox is available to Freesat customers with Humax boxes. But that’s about to change. Soon the service will be available on Freesat’s new G2 boxes. Keep an eye out for announcements.
Kenny BQuote
November 5th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
does the new box have you tube?
antonyQuote
November 6th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
I bought the 1TB version. Good value for the amount of disk space.
Love the unit – graphics and menu’s all look good but Free-Time is currently a let down. I also have a 2.5speed Broadband and it’s good enough for my SONY TV VoD and the previous FoxSat box but with the new 1000s the VoD is jerky and fails as often as it works.
I tested both the Humax WiFi Dongle and plugging in an Ethernet and both work but have the same results on video quality.
The remote is also a let down, the clicky buttons and cheap gloss plastic make me think that I’ll be looking at an All-In-One Remote and hide this one back in the box. Also, the new remote has lost the ability to control the TV volume compared to the previous version.
Overall happy for now, but they need to get the FreeTime working for me to think of buying a Humax again.
TriggerQuote
November 7th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
“Love the unit – graphics and menu’s all look good but Free-Time is currently a let down.”
Told ya. Youview is the platform to go for if you want on demand tv, no question.
Richard CrichtonQuote
November 7th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
mixed review on Techradar I am glad that i kept my card in the wallet for a change! says updates might make it ok in the end but avoid until then.
antonyQuote
November 7th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
now at comet £195,99 just bought the 500gb. very pleased up to now, not tried on demand yet. info bar only shows for about 5sec, hope with a s/w update they will give a choice from 5-10 secounds, love the remote.
ALAN 1Quote
November 7th, 2012 at 7:18 pm
You’ve done well to buy at that price, but no surprise given Comet are going under! Hope Humax will cover the warranty, sure they will. Out of interest, was the entire store being cleared out by hungry shoppers looking for a bargain?
adminQuote
November 7th, 2012 at 8:04 pm
Registered box on line humax gave me a nice surprize with a free upgrade to a 2 year warranty, you must register within 30 days of purchase. yes the shop was full of shoppers most goods with 30% discount, i was told from a member of staff that discount will increase soon. anybody wishing to by the 1000s dont wait to long as they are nearly out of stock of the humax
ALAN 1Quote
November 8th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
I picked one up today for £190 in Comets closing down sale… I’m pleased, but the box is lacking some important features that the previous generation FOXSAT HDR had (notably you can’t make the Humax remote turn on you TV). I had considered YouVIew, but the Freeview signal in my area is dire, so satellite it is…
It’s seriously lacking in things that should be standard, such as no HDMI CEC control, and insists that you use optical out if you want your TV in anything more than Stereo (surely HDMI is more than capable????).
Boot time from standby is just as slow as the Foxsat, 30seconds+ isn’t a big deal, but in an age where my laptop wakes from standby in under 5 seconds not really impressive.
Perhaps software updates will polish this device for us, otherwise I may be looking to see what other hardware manufacturers bring to the table in coming months (fingers crossed).
Heard a rumour that there is an iPhone Remote Record app on the way which will certainly be nice.
It does look like it tries to upscale all channels to my selected 1080p, looks pretty, and sound (once using optical out) is reasonable, although seems very quiet unless I turn the PVR volume to max and then my amp up to 25 (for a bluray my amp is ample loud enough at 15), which seems odd because I’d have thought that the digital optical would have been volume independent.
The new interface is pretty and I can see how Showcase will be a useful tool for seeing if anything interesting is on over the next few days.
In all I’m pleased, it’s not bad for the money, but will keep an eye out to see if anything better hits the market.
JarvichiQuote
November 9th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
do comet have the 1tb version in the stores?
antonyQuote
November 9th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Doesn’t appear so.
adminQuote
November 10th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Just picked mine up from Comet, couldn’t pass a chance up at £195.99, is much better than my Technisat HDFS, ITV player and BBC iPlayer work well, connects to my Windows 7 computer, picture quality brilliant, and love the new Freetime interface bargain at the price and most likely wouldn’t have bought it at the £279 asking price.
SimonQuote
November 10th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Simon @79. Would be interested to know more about your success hooking up to your computer. I’m using a Mac here but if you can connect to Windows 7 then I’d imagine I’d be able to do the same on my chosen computer. What is it that you can see? Is it just a volume on your network and can you browse the contents of the 1000S hard drive from your PC? Do you know what file format it uses? Etc etc Any info on this front will be very useful. Thanks!
Andy ClaytonQuote
November 12th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Re: @80, 79
I too would be keen to hear more deatails on this subject.
On a different matter; it is a shame the G2 spec didn’t specify a 14-day programme guide. That would have been handy.
Keith (original)Quote
November 13th, 2012 at 2:22 am
Would any one with a new humax (1000s) who has managed to view recordings via a pc network be able to see if it is possible to save a standard recording on the pc and watch the recording from the pc hard drive with vlc media player please?
james smithQuote
November 16th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
It is unbelievable that they have left out features such as HDMI-CEC or remote record on what is meant to be a modern and premium priced box. I thought those would have been a given by now and will not be buying until they are added to this or another G2 box.
Neil HarrisonQuote
November 17th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Satbuyer are offering the 500gb at £249.95 delivered when using discount code FREETIME500GB.
NickQuote
November 19th, 2012 at 12:45 am
I’ve had this for a few days now to replace Sky Plus.The positives are HD channels for free.However, the poor remote (black buttons on black background), such as the “back” and “tv guide” buttons are ridiculous for evening viewing.
Also, this is my own fault, but no Sky News on Freesat? – The most popular news channel, and it’s not on freesat – I did expect at least all the freeview channels, and some – clearly not.Disappointing, but the box itself works well, and the on-demand, I have tried so far does seem okay.
Andrew EnsorQuote
November 23rd, 2012 at 9:12 am
Have just returned from 16 days away. My new box has missed series recordings only two thirds recorded and also auto deleted other progs . that I had recorded after seeing they were there overnight (plenty of space left). also tuner 2 does not show up but is working. Remote far two noisey with the clicking.
Bill TQuote
November 26th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Bill @ 86. Interestingly, I have been noticing problems over the past week with scheduled series recording on BBC channels – but this was with my normally trusty Foxsat-HDR. It missed one programme altogether and has started recording a number of others about 10-20 minutes late – there appears no set delay. There were no conflicting scheduled recordings or anything of that nature. So I suspect Bill’s problem may be a Freesat/EPG issue and not an issue with the box itself.
As I’ve mentioned previously, somewhere, Channel 4 often proves unreliable with scheduled series recordings starting far too early, but stopping before the ends of programmes – but the BBC channels have, until now, always been trouble-free.
Admin: would it be a good idea to start a permanent thread regarding known or suspected issues with Freesat / EPG / the boxes?
Keith (original)Quote
December 18th, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Hi I have a new Humax freesat freetime box, I love it but It is supposed to recored full programmes even if i start record half way through, but it does not. Has anyone else had this problem? Is this a settings issue?
stoviesQuote
December 18th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
It won’t record a full programme from half way if you weren’t already on that channel, as the receiver cannot record it to memory otherwise (it can’t physically record everything from every channel).
adminQuote
December 18th, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Strange? I’ve got it on mine OK.
GazzerQuote
December 19th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Hi Admin, Thanks, it doesn’t say that in the booklet. Thanks gazzer as well, did you have to change any settings?
I’ve had a wee look at the link you posted but could not see a manual for my box but I will have another look. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated
stoviesQuote
December 19th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Hi Gazzer,
Thanks I was being stupid, I’ve seen the manual and will look into it and let you know if this helps. Again any other suggestions are greatly appeciated and thanks again
stoviesQuote
December 21st, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Hi
Does anybody know how to download recorded tv programmes to external usb hard drive as you could with the foxsat HDR.
Nick SmithurstQuote
January 8th, 2013 at 11:44 am
Hi,can anyone tell me why we don’t seem able to record series link on our humax free time freesat box ,other than this I think it’s brilliant!!!
GeorgeQuote
January 8th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Sadly because of a glitch within the system. If you leave the receiver on at all times (not in standby) you’ll not suffer this issue, as it appears to be something to do with the unit not coming out of standby in time.
Other recommendations are to set wake/sleep timers from within the menu to make sure the receiver is on in plenty of time. Also set a larger buffer around the start of the programme so the receiver has time to wake up first.
adminQuote
January 11th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Hi guys will a Humax HDR 500gb 1000s work on a single satallite.I only have one.Not to bothered about recording two channels along as i can watch a channel and record at same time.Going to change dish in summer,for a double one.
chris jacksonQuote
January 11th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Yes, you only need a single dish, but ideally two cables from the LNB (not two dishes!). It will work off a single cable with the limitations you mentioned.
adminQuote
January 12th, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Has anyone used the DiSEqC switching yet to receive two satellites. is it easier to set up than the old Humax boxes and can it record from the second satellite.
BillQuote
January 12th, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Hi all, purchased and installed one of these this afternoon and all was well and good. I came back to switch it on an hour later and it won’t! It seems to be stuck in a loop, the front display lights up “starting” and you can hear the hard drive start up and the logos appear on the tv screen then it shuts down and starts up again repeating itself with no response from the remote or front buttons!
Not a good start, can’t get back to the shop until Monday. I am bitterly disappointed as I thought this would replace my Sky+ HD! I will always now be thinking it as a second rate product!
Turner WalkerQuote
January 12th, 2013 at 9:03 pm
Hi admin,earlier I asked about our free time freesat box not always recording on series mode,part of your advice was to set more time either side of the due recording time to wake the machine up earlier and hence be ready to record,well thanks for the advice and i am pleased to say it seems to have worked! many thanks,much appreciated
GeorgeQuote
January 12th, 2013 at 11:27 pm
No worries, it is a working solution until Humax sort a permanent fix.
adminQuote
January 24th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
When I am recording and want to change the channel I am watching it tells me I cant change channels whilst recording. I can do it on the program up/down button but not all the channels are there eg skynews.
What am I doing wrong?
norman edwardsQuote
January 24th, 2013 at 10:01 pm
Do you have two cables attached from the dish? If so, report it to Humax, sounds like you’ve got the dreaded software glitch that Humax are working on a fix for.
adminQuote
January 31st, 2013 at 11:22 pm
Hi,had my humax freetime box since Christmas,it was a gift from my son.recently having problems when recording.if we set it to record one channel we can’t watch anything else as it says “not receiving signal or signal weak”if we try to change channels.is this a common reported fault?
GeorgeQuote
February 5th, 2013 at 11:57 am
Hi
Ref my earler question, the box was faulty and has now been replaced.
norman edwardsQuote
February 17th, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Someone mentioned that older Humax remotes containing the TV on / volume control function can also be used to control the 1000s, does anyone know which ones will work if i was to purchsse one, for example the RM-F01 or RM-F04?
DaveQuote
February 27th, 2013 at 10:38 pm
Recently messed about with both cables & can now change channel while recording & record two channels at same time though in settings it still says input 2 not receiving a signal though it obviously must be . Onwards & upwards!
GeorgeQuote
March 7th, 2013 at 8:06 pm
I’ve noticed that every time my humax box is put into standby mode it stops recognising that the LAN cable is connected to my router, my other ‘smart’ devices don’t have this problem so assume the problem is with the box, has anyone else noticed this issue?
DaveQuote
March 18th, 2013 at 8:58 pm
I recently bought the 1000s and one flaw I ve discovered is plugging a tp
Link wireless adapter ,with the recommend chipset ,for on demand services sends the box loopy.It won t record or recognise the hdd in the menu .I ended up hardwiring the box to the router and no problem.
DarrenQuote
March 31st, 2013 at 12:53 pm
I want to buy for my french house. I have a satellite dish which gives us free UK channels but I want to record and view later. Will this box work before I spend over £250? Also I do have wifi in house but box too far from TV to use a cable. Read somewhere that I could get something to connect to internet -any ideas. Thanks, I leave next week so need to purchase soon.
Sheelagh DunkQuote
June 15th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
Hi admin
Will the 1000s (or 1010s) allow me to record non-Freesat programs without trouble and switch between Freesat and non-Freesat channels easily ? I saw an entry on a different forum saying that simply going into non-Freesat mode caused scheduled Freesat recordings to be cancelled.
Many thanks
Simon GriffithQuote
June 15th, 2013 at 3:16 pm
Sadly you would need to be in non-freesat mode and set timers, which will result in any scheduled freesat mode recordings to fail. It is sadly the downside of having a platform specific receiver, rather than a universal/generic one; not particular the fault of freesat or Humax.
Don’t forget that if freesat make it too easy to access non-freesat channels with almost the same level of usability, it limits the number of broadcasters that see a gain to be had in paying for an EPG slot etc.
adminQuote
June 17th, 2013 at 10:47 am
Admin
To confirm, if you switch to non-freesat mode, to view a channel, you will loose your recording schedule? with the latest SW?
J
James BQuote