Humax PVR-9300T Freeview PVR Comments

We've recently upgraded from a cheap PVR (the one with the mirror finish) to the 9200T and while the extra recording capability is really nice I found the usability somewhat lower. While the cheap one's remote had big buttons for the recorded programs and programs scheduled to record the humax hides the list of recordings under the slidy bit and relegates the programs to be recorded to an option inside the menu.

Further with the humax although you can set up recordings using the EPG you trying to do so on a program that's already started just switches you to that program, very annoying!

And on the subject of the EPG the humax won't do a full height one, it only gives you five channels with an info pane at the top which doesn't seem to be toggleable (and doesn't show you any information about the selected program).

I did consider this model because of it's very low standby power consumption (0.6w compared to 6w for the 9200T and 15w(!) for the topfield 5810) but with reconditioned 9200Ts availible direct from Humax for £110 and the non-functional USB port on this the choice was made in favour of the older one.

p.s. There is also a very good comparison chart between various PVRs that helped tremendously here: http://www.pvrjunction.co.uk/compare/

Sounds like a lovely piece of kit - So glad Humax have got this out of their system - now roll on the FreeSat HD Version .... taps foot impatiently

"In fact the only operational flaws we could find were minor ones - to enter the list of recorded programmes, you have to enter the setup menu rather than simply hitting a button on the remote."
On the 9200T there is a button that loads the list of recorded programs as a pop-up and keeps the TV in the background. Drop the flap on the remote and its on the top row second from the right (little box with a few horizontal lines), I'd be surprised if they have removed that from the latest version.

Humax's are groaning under the weight of their own extensive functionality; complicated menus, options and button presses that get in the way of doing the basics: watch tv, record it, play it back. Whilst Sky+ may cost a minimum £10 / month and have a couple of annoyances that are way overdue a fix, watching TV, recording it and playing it back are lessons in simplicity. Having switched to a Humax from Sky+, we've all but stopped using live pause and recording of TV. Putting recordings and planned recordings in different screens is moronic. Not showing the day of the week, but the date it was recorded? Stupidity in design rarely seen outside Yugo's R&D* lab. There's Sky+ and there's everything else. Nothing comes close. And this from someone who loathes the Sky monopoly.

And TR, whilst I'm on my soapbox: any review of any PVR that doesn't show several screengrabs of the EPG: 0/10.

* Yes, yes, it was probably just some bloke in a corner office with some crayons.

Looks good, parents have the 9200T might look at getting this, however a shame Component video was missed out

Kimbie

I have a PVR-9200T and I must say that, although it's different to Sky+, it's every bit as easy to get through.

Having just 1 button to get to the TV guide or to your list of recorded programs beats the menus my dad has to drill into to get his recordings & viewing all sorted. Plus being able to see the TV while selecting what to record is brilliant. And as for not showing the day of the week it was recorded - I'd much prefer to have the date it was recorded personally so that when I'm listing my recordings by title I can see which order the programs were shown quickly & easily.

Sky+ is nice and easy enough my dad (who doesn't work these things out easily) likes it but I much prefer my PVR. Each to thier own and what they get used to first I guess.

The one thing that I did have to do with my PVR is remove the sliding bit at the bottom - there's 2-3 of those buttons I use all the time and having to slide that down was getting irritating.

Is the main difference with the other one the size of hard drive and the lack of HD?

Another person here who wouldn't mind some screenshots of the EPG, even if it is just to compare it with my V+ Box.

Pbryanw, its the same EPG as the PVR-9200t. Screenshots and video are uploaded on pvrjunction.co.uk/compare

'... a response to customer feedback said that a USB port wasn't a key feature'
What! That IMHO is absolute rubbish (both the fact & the reason)! How are you supposed to archive the stuff?! The reason I have delayed upgrading from my 8000T (or whatever its called :) was because I want a decent archive facility (i.e. not having to reply on recording off the SCART). A friend has the 9200T and says the bundled Humax SW is rubbish but that third party apps to the job well (slow speed but quality high) and I had hoped they may have improved things with the 9300T. I think this omission is more technical and/or political (i.e. I seem to remember that Humax have cited copyright issues in the past).

Bah! Another contender consigned to the `oh so nearly` bin.

Thanks for the link darkmavis. My last Humax was the 8000T. It looks like things have moved on a great deal since then (I hope the new Humax boxes allow padding now), but I'm happy with my V+ Box at the moment (plus I'm still in a 12 month contract with Virgin).

Peter complains that his HUMAX system is inferior to his old Sky box, and that he's stopped using features like live pause.

Why?

If you want live pause, press the 'Pause' button on the remote and you'll find it works the exact same way. And yes, while the HUMAX interface does have its idiosyncrasies (or, put another way, it's not the same as your Sky box), once you've gotten used to them you'll find the whole experience much faster than before.

For example, scheduling multiple programmes in the EPG no longer has you hopping endlessly between the guide and the upcoming recordings list. You select which one you want, and it's flagged live in the guide. You can also search for programmes by title, and aren't made to lean on the 'Page Down' button and scroll through a seemingly endless list of junk. And where a Sky box will often ask you to change what you're watching so that it can record two programmes simultaneously, it's seldom that you'll find yourself running into the same problem. As mentioned in the review, you can watch a show on the same multiplex as any other you're recording, and still have the headroom to record something else entirely.

I should say that I find the box slightly noiser than my old Sky HD box, and the fact the EPG doesn't appear to be saved when you switch the box off is my main annoyance (made worse by the fact the 9200 did it too). However, I chose the HUMAX over its rivals for two reasons: one, HUMAX support in this country seems superb (I've received a number of emails explaining that my box will be auto-upgraded, and that I just have to leave it on overnight), and two, the equivalent Topfield is not only £100 more expensive but also lacks a very crucial feature. You can't press 'Record' in the middle of a program and have it continue to the end. The TR review dismisses this as minor, but for me that's half the point in having a PVR. If the phone goes, someone raps on your front door, or one of the kids is sick, you'll want the programme you were watching recorded from where you left off all the way to the end. The fact the Topfield doesn't do that for you is just unbelievably stupid.

The Humax also has some other interesting things which the review fails to mention..

1) the Humax constantly buffers whatever channel you are watching for 2 hours (when it isn't actively recording something) meaning you can rewind back for up to 2 hours!

2) if you find yourself sitting partway through a film and think I wish I had recorded this... rewind the box to the beginning of the film and then press record - whatever has already been broadcast is stuck on the front of the recording and the box records to the end of the current program / film - end result - the entire program! Best function ever!

For Xiphias, On recording once a program has started. If you use the record button (the one with the red dot to the left of the pause button) while tuned to the channel you want to record it picks it up there, it does sometimes take a second or two but be patient....

These reviews are so informative - thanks all.
I've been in the mark for some time now lookat PVR's.
Decided on a Humax but not sure whether to go for the 9150T or the 9200 because of price.
Apart from upscaling to 720 with HDMI and the Freeview + function are there any other glaring differences?
Tx in advance!

I bought one of these but took it back after 2 Days. The Fan noise is totally unacceptable for use. I happen to be a specialist in noise & vibration problems and this problem has been widely investigated (and solved) in Disc drives.

Fan noise problem is (supposedly) due to be tackled (solved?) in new software update 1.00.12 available OTA at the end of the month.
http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/download_schedule.pl
We'll see if it makes any difference - personally, I'm waiting to see how this upgrade is received before I splash out!

Received the 1.00.12 upgrade this morning, the automatic uprgade failed with an E-HW error, but running a manual upgrade successfully downloaded the update and installed it; the good news is that it fixes the issue with fan noise - the fan kicks in on a power up of the unit but as soon as the boot-up sequence completes (a few seconds) it runs in blissful silence.

Excellent news - thanks Paul! Will definitely consider buying now. :-)

I just bought this machine yesterday - the software version it installed ends with 06 and the fan is noisy, so I have tried to do an automatic update to the new software that ends with 12 which apparently addresses the problem. I've had no luck as the machine tells me that there are no updates available. Can anyone help? it's bound to be me that's the problem - I also tried to do a manual update, but I don't really understand what I'm supposed to do!

I have had the Humax 9300T for about 6 week (so still learning!!) Can anyone tell me if, having set the box to record for, say, a couple of days, is it OK to put the box onto "standby"? When I did this, it only recorded for a 24 hour period. The next time, I left the box on - only to come back to the fan still going(!!) and the picture was frozen and I had to unplug it! I have emailed Humax twice and phone twice, but cannot get through to them.
Any advice would be most welcome!
Thanks

Has anybody noticed the picture quality on the 9300t? I have been setting one up today for my father in law and couldnt help noticing the quality being much worse than I expected on a PVR that has set him back the best part of £200. I have adjusted the output to 720p (What no 1080P!!) into his Toshiba HD TV. The Tosh is really smooth and has great clarity on its own off air terrestrial internal reciever but when the source is changed to the Humax a very noisy mushy picture is displayed. Is this common or is this unit faulty? or Have not quite set things up quite right? I have a VPlus box at home and the quailty of that absolutely destroys the Humax. Any Ideas?

Hi everyone, got one of these at Christmas - love it. However I have one question. It doesn't seem possible to just set a program reminder in the EPG for a future program, it always puts a recording reservation on. Sometimes I just want to be reminded that theres a program on I want to watch - not record it. SKY+, V+ and other Freeview boxes allow this to be done - anyone know if its possible. Also, yes, the fan noise is quite loud (as it was on my V+ box) - can something be done about it? Thanks for any advice you might have, cheers!

Pastyman, I have my 9300T500 connected to a 40in Sony Digital LCD TV. I too have found that, when connected to the TV via the supplied HDMI cable, the picture is not good (all I've done is plug it in both ends & selected 720p via the PVR's menu, have I done it right?). However, when connected using one of the TV's RGB scarts, the picture is superb, a much better picture than when viewed via the Sony's onboard digital tuner! Give it a try.

Well, we had an OTA update last week and the fan noise is now completely gone!! :-) Just a couple of seconds when it's switched on - then quiet! Much better. Still wish it could provide reminders - but thats a small point compared to the great things it does.

I’ve just bought one of these - went straight from a VCR to this, so bit of a culture shock! But on the whole, very pleased with it. The manual is dreadful - written by someone who learned his English from listening to the Goon Show - but luckily, the machine itself is simple to operate. I can’t believe how easy it is to record and replay programmes!

No problem with the legendary “Humax hum” at all. Picture quality not great. Slightly worse than when I was just using the telly (a Hitachi L26H01U), which in turn is slightly worse than my old Freeview set-top box, which in turn is worse than my old analogue TV, a 20-year-old Sony that had the best picture I’ve ever seen. Sigh.

Greecian, could you explain to an idiot what an RGB scart is? Is that the same as an ordinary scart? I did try connecting with a scart cable that I already had, but it produced buzzing on the audio. Changing to the supplied HMDI cable fixed that, but didn't improve the picture.

Only one problem so far ... the Humax remote control has no effect at all on the volume. To adjust the volume, I have to use the TV’s remote. Any suggestions, anyone?

Pastyman
I have the 9300T connected to a Panny 42" plasma. There is certainly a difference in the picture when switching between the TV's own output and then through the Humax but I don't find it a big deal. The Humax's output has a bit more 'punch' which needs turning down. I've found it's easy to retune the TV's contrast, brightness and colour settings to take account of this and done this using the TV's 'ECO' picture setting to make it easy to switch between the two when required. Having said that, since 99% of my viewing is through the Humax it's rarely necessary to change.

RedJoe
I'm guessing Greecian is using the cable's full name and we just call it a scart lead. Because of the difference in picture quality I too tried try what Greecian suggested but found absolutely no difference whether I used an HDMI cable or a Scart lead.

Paul

Well, that is disappointing: Humax has NO email tech support. Although they publish an email address in the instruction manual, and another on the website, there’s no-one at the other end ... just silence.

Good product - no after-sales service.

Over the last couple of weeks my 9300 has started ending recordings before the specified end time. For example an hour long program may be finished after 30 minutes or after 50 minutes, thereby missing the end of the recorded programs. It has also started the recording late, so that the program has already started. The start and end record times are set to on-time, so that the series link will work. Has anyone else had this problem, or knows anything Imay be able to do about it?

Thanks for any help.

I have the 9300T, and have to say that it is pretty good. Picture quality is much better than my previous Freeview box (Panasonic), but I do also have a digital aerial on the roof so that might be why. My only problem with it is, as FluffyAV said, it misses the beginning and end of programmes sometimes and if you set it to start recording 1 min before start time etc you can't have it on series link!
The only time I have come across it finishing 30 mins early etc is when you have 2 programmes recording and accidentally watch another programme, it cuts off one of the recordings.

I have only had my 9300 a few days, just a couple of points that might help people.
When I bought it I was asked if I wanted to buy a HMDI & scart lead, I said no thanks.
They are already in the box.
Setting up of the kit was very simple, lots of instructions just make sure you have the right page.
Turned it on and it had installed itself before I sat down.
I have had no problems with menu's or noisy fans or any other foibles other writers have commented on.
As I said early days, but I'll keep you posted.

Ok, so before I said my only problem was the start stop time etc...I have another problem now...Why does it keep on crashing? It'll sometimes just freeze on a channel and we can't change to another and have to switch it off and on again at the back of the unit, this used to happen every few days or so but has been a couple of times a day recently!?!

I have some experience sorting problems out on the Humax 9300T.
I am seeing a number of machines freezing for no apparent reason on a daily basis. My advice is send it back under warrenty. This may also be the reason why Jane590 has some problems recording programs. The Humax is capable of recording two programs at the same time and will still record in the standby mode.

Attention Pastyman and those that are not getting the best out of the 720i connection. I have also found poor performance with the high definition but by matching the aspect ratio of the Humax with say the Sony Bravia (eg. 16:9) aspect ratio you will find one good setting.

Hope this helps.

Although this machine will record two channels at the same time, does it record subtitles on both programmes? I need them because of a hearing problem. Also, can someone give me a brief explanation of what the different 'multiplexes' are? Many thanks

I brought this machine last weekend after a lot of research and i must say i am very happy with it so far... my only problem seems to be that i am not able to use the humax remote for my tv volume and no matter how hard i look at the manual i can't seem to find the answer...can anybody tell me if i am missing something or is this just how it is with this machine? THANKS...

In answer to Sue, I have to have one as I also have hearing problems, so in answer to your query yes it does providing the program has subtitles then the machine will record them. Multiplexes are when a certain group of channels are on a the same multiplex. The main BBC channels are on one multiplex, ITV and most of the channel 4 channels are on another multiplex, shopping channels another and radio channels another. So therefore if you saying wanting to record something from ITV 2 and BBC1 and then wanting to watch Dave (which is on a different Multiplex) then this would not be possible as the two tuners would be in use. Whereas on the above scenario you could say watch ITV 1 as that multiplex is in use as you are recording ITV 2.
Hope that makes thins a bit clearer.

Hello!

I have just ordered the Humax pvr 9300T. My tv is not digital, I used to have the bt vision box but got rid of it, Will this machine make my tv digital with the freeview channels? Thanks for any help.

I have just bought one of these PVR9300T's for my elderly stepmother and was very surprised with its ease of use and facilities, having owned an early (and much modified)Digifusion PVR for several years myself. it was already loaded with the latest software version 1.00.15 (as available from the Humax website).
One piece of assistance I can add is regarding accessing the recordings library. There actually IS a button which does this directly. It is the 3rd (third) button in the top row which is revealed when the lower cover is slid down. (It has a marking of a rectangular box with lines across it). Pressing this button brings up the recordings list over either live TV pictures or even a recording being replayed at the time. A second press of this button clears the listing. Of course, if you have recorded both Radio and TV programmes, it is possible to switch between the seperate listings using the left/right arrow keys.
Hope this helps!

I have just bought one of these PVR 9300T and I cannot receive BBC1, BBC2, ITV or channel 4. My previous Techwood Freeview recorder received all the channels but it suddenly gave up the ghost, so I have had to buy this new one. Any ideas please.