tv recorder thingy
 

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[Closed] tv recorder thingy

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I don't want to pay a monthly fee for a TiVo box (I'm with Virgin), so can anyone recommend a hard drive/disk recorder thingy please - well more what type I guess as I have cable TV (the Virgin freeview channels basic package) which someone warned me can block/hinder you recording from something other than their own box of magic - is that true?

I told my wife we should have kept the VHS 🙁


 
Posted : 20/12/2011 11:30 am
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You can pick up an old (Thomson) Series 1 Tivo box for not very much on eBay (50 quid tops for a decent spec I reckon) - it'll control a Virgin cable box no worries & although there's no official support or EPG for series 1's these days there's a free alternative EPG that you can set up access to. It doesn't do HD tho as it was launched in 2001, but apart from that it's still one of the most user friendly PVRs there is.


 
Posted : 20/12/2011 11:39 am
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or, if you leave Virgin for BT. you have to actually leave virgin, you will get a call from their retention team.

i now have Tivo and faster broadband for no extra cost, cancelled the BT install.


 
Posted : 20/12/2011 11:42 am
 D0NK
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or, if you leave Virgin for BT. you have to actually leave virgin, you will get a call from their retention team.
oooh tempting.

The [url= http://www.hitachidigitalmedia.com/product.do?actionName=showProductAction&pt=23&pg=64&proid=717&language=en&country=GB ]Hitachi[/url] one we got last xmas is basic and a bit rubbish don't bother.

My mums BT one seems OK, not used it much tho


 
Posted : 20/12/2011 11:46 am
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thanks. I tried the old 'i'm leaving trick' but no offer of free box and I'm on a very old package, which is pretty good and I don't want to loose, which I would if I really did leave though.

They're saying I need to upgrade my tv channel to include even more channels I won't and don't want to watch to get the 'free' TiVo box.

Thanks purist - looks interesting and I found one on flea-bay. Want it in time for Christmas though 😕


 
Posted : 20/12/2011 11:50 am
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Tivo boxes are cheaper to rent that the V+ boxes.


 
Posted : 20/12/2011 1:05 pm
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We bought a relatively expensive Humax Freesat HD box and it'll pay for itself in under a year - assuming that you mainly only watch free to air TV


 
Posted : 20/12/2011 1:23 pm
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@sts - if you're anywhere near Yorkshire you might be able to [url= http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=8857683#post8857683 ]pick one up for free[/url]


 
Posted : 20/12/2011 1:28 pm
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nah, bugger down south, thanks.

Pieface - does it record the virgin/cable channels or just the freeview channels on the box?


 
Posted : 20/12/2011 2:27 pm
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Freesat does satellite off a dish (you'll need 2 cables for most recording flexibility) or freeview if you have an aerial. Sadly you can't get one box to do both.

Not sure about using the Virgin cables though.

AV forums are useful.

Telly recorder boxes

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

Freesat / view info

http://www.avforums.com/forums/freeview/


 
Posted : 20/12/2011 3:10 pm
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great, ok thanks and thanks for the links


 
Posted : 20/12/2011 3:47 pm