Dual Tuner PVR for less than £100 ?

[james_tigerwoods]

Not sure if this has been done to death, but I'm after a budget PVR in the region of £100 - it needs to be a Dual Tuner model so I can watch and record at the same time (I've noticed that some of the £300 ones only have single tuners - why is that?)

I'm not bothered about brand, but it, ideally, wants to have 160Gb disk, but I suspect that 80Gb would suffice.

I've seen a Hitachi HDR162 from Argos which gets decent writeups, but I'm after a PH opinion too

Thanks

James

[GreenV8S]

Maplins do a dual tuner PVR for £99 now. It's not as user-friendly as a Sky box but still seems pretty good.

[james_tigerwoods]

I've seen this - which is a refurbished jobbie:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=22810...

Or this one which doesn't say that it does have a dual tuner...

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=22794...

[telecat]

Humaxdirect have the 9150T available for £96.50. Better than any supermarket special. PCWorld had the 9200T for under £100 at christmas.

[james_tigerwoods]

What's the difference between the 9200 and the 9150?

And what's "Grade A"?

Edited by james_tigerwoods on Monday 9th February 15:25

[GreenV8S]

james_tigerwoods said:

Or this one which doesn't say that it does have a dual tuner...

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=22794...

That looks identical to the one I got, which certainly is a dual tuner. It was listed at £99 when I saw it though. It's in a sale and maybe the price has just come down a bit further, but I suggest you check with them in case the lower price is for a lower spec.

[james_tigerwoods]

GreenV8S said:

james_tigerwoods said:

Or this one which doesn't say that it does have a dual tuner...

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=22794...

That looks identical to the one I got, which certainly is a dual tuner. It was listed at £99 when I saw it though. It's in a sale and maybe the price has just come down a bit further, but I suggest you check with them in case the lower price is for a lower spec.

I might mail to find out - shame it's damned ugly really

[GreenDog]

Saved me starting a new topic as I'm looking for something similar, although I'd like something with to play DVDs too.

My mental checklist is something along the lines of :

Plays DVDs
Records to HDD (160gb would be more than enough)
Twin Tuner
Upscales - Not 100% sure if I need this, maybe it's more of a 'would like to have'

As with the OP I'm not bothered about big name brands and I'd like to keep the cost down.

All advice greatfully received

[james_tigerwoods]

GreenDog said:

Saved me starting a new topic as I'm looking for something similar, although I'd like something with to play DVDs too.

My mental checklist is something along the lines of :

Plays DVDs
Records to HDD (160gb would be more than enough)
Twin Tuner
Upscales - Not 100% sure if I need this, maybe it's more of a 'would like to have'

As with the OP I'm not bothered about big name brands and I'd like to keep the cost down.

All advice greatfully received

I did have DVDs on my list, but I've since decided that it's not that big a deal as the cheapest I've seen is £150 - from Comet, I think it was.

I'm not, however, sure what Upscaling is though...

[GreenDog]

james_tigerwoods said:

GreenDog said:

Saved me starting a new topic as I'm looking for something similar, although I'd like something with to play DVDs too.

My mental checklist is something along the lines of :

Plays DVDs
Records to HDD (160gb would be more than enough)
Twin Tuner
Upscales - Not 100% sure if I need this, maybe it's more of a 'would like to have'

As with the OP I'm not bothered about big name brands and I'd like to keep the cost down.

All advice greatfully received

I did have DVDs on my list, but I've since decided that it's not that big a deal as the cheapest I've seen is £150 - from Comet, I think it was.

I'm not, however, sure what Upscaling is though...

Apparently it gives a better quality picture.
My TV isn't full HD though, just 'HD Ready' so I'm not sure if I'll get the benefit anyway - Hopefully someone who knoes more than us will happen on this thread soon

[touching cloth]

Been looking at getting this from John Lewis

http://www.johnlewis.com/230518936/Product.aspx

not sure if it's any good but 2 year warranty and the usual John Lewis peace of mind.

[james_tigerwoods]

Humax 9150 and the Luxor get ok writeups...

http://www.avforums.com/forums/pvrs-vcrs/890274-ch...

http://www.avforums.com/forums/pvrs-vcrs/877194-10...

[SJobson]

I got a Humax PVR9200 320GB from Humax Direct (Grade A) at Christmas - about £127. The 160GB version should be within budget.

Grade A means it's a refurb, apparently, though mine looked brand new. I think it must have been opened by Humax to put the 320GB hard drive in because, as far as I'm aware, the 9200 was only offered with up to 160GB originally. You only get one year's warranty rather than 2 years', but for the cost saving it seems worthwhile.

The 9200 has a USB port so you can get stuff off it onto your computer. The 9150 doesn't have USB but is a newer model so a bit prettier, but functionally much the same.

ETA: the only 160GB version is the 9150, so that's your choice if you want it under £100: Clicky

Edited by SJobson on Monday 9th February 17:19

[telecat]

james_tigerwoods said:

What's the difference between the 9200 and the 9150?

And what's "Grade A"?

Edited by james_tigerwoods on Monday 9th February 15:25

Not Much difference. We have 2 x 9200's and a 9150. The 9150 is smaller and supposedly isn't as well built as the 9200. I haven'r noticed that it matters.

[S6PNJ]

SJobson said:

ETA: the only 160GB version is the 9150, so that's your choice if you want it under £100: Clicky

Not so, My folks have just bought the 9200T at just under 100 notes: Clicky

[james_tigerwoods]

S6PNJ said:

SJobson said:

ETA: the only 160GB version is the 9150, so that's your choice if you want it under £100: Clicky

Not so, My folks have just bought the 9200T at just under 100 notes: Clicky

Which is out of stock

[S6PNJ]

james_tigerwoods said:

S6PNJ said:

SJobson said:

ETA: the only 160GB version is the 9150, so that's your choice if you want it under £100: Clicky

Not so, My folks have just bought the 9200T at just under 100 notes: Clicky

Which is out of stock

Bugger! Didn't spot that!

[E31Shrew]

GreenDog said:

Saved me starting a new topic as I'm looking for something similar, although I'd like something with to play DVDs too.

My mental checklist is something along the lines of :

Plays DVDs
Records to HDD (160gb would be more than enough)
Twin Tuner
Upscales - Not 100% sure if I need this, maybe it's more of a 'would like to have'

As with the OP I'm not bothered about big name brands and I'd like to keep the cost down.

All advice greatfully received

New Panasonic unit due in a couple of months.

500gb
Blu Ray
Freesat HD PVR

[telecat]

E31Shrew said:

GreenDog said:

Saved me starting a new topic as I'm looking for something similar, although I'd like something with to play DVDs too.

My mental checklist is something along the lines of :

Plays DVDs
Records to HDD (160gb would be more than enough)
Twin Tuner
Upscales - Not 100% sure if I need this, maybe it's more of a 'would like to have'

As with the OP I'm not bothered about big name brands and I'd like to keep the cost down.

All advice greatfully received

New Panasonic unit due in a couple of months.

500gb
Blu Ray
Freesat HD PVR

The DMR-BW500 Looks like it is fitted with a Blu Ray recorder. In Australia it is over $2000 which is just under £1000.

Edited by telecat on Wednesday 11th February 15:14

[E31Shrew]

I think its going to be around £500.00 from what I hear.