Recording off the tele, what do you use?

So, my trusty Humax freesat recording box looks like its on the blink and they’re no longer available.  There doesn’t seem to be much out there, is everybody streaming these days or is there some hidden gem of a recording device available???

Why not just stream?

I haven’t had an aerial, dish or drive for a few years now.

If you have decent broadband a firestick or similar is all you need.

Why not just stream?

Recording means you can skip / fast forward the ad breaks.

I don’t think they are probably as good as Humax, but there are still Freesat options, eg. https://www.richersounds.com/freesat-uhd-4x-1tb/
Have you got an aerial to make Freeview an option? I think that will open up more hardware options.

Unfortunately Sky Q is the Rolls Royce of satellite based recording, it really is pretty slick but $$$$, possibly not silly money if you don’t need sports/cinema.

We use a Freesat Box – if I couldn’t fast forward ads I’d barely watch any non-BBC content…

https://www.freesat.co.uk/get-freesat/set-top-boxes/recordable-4k-tv-box?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxKy5BhBbEiwAYiW–4Fsf-00s4ffOlBUHQVu5az4KDsdkg-a4B4qaUvteTxQQvZNs1oc9xoCx-YQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

If your TV is relatively recent (i.e. last 10 years) you may be able to just plug a USB thumb drive in for recording.

pretty sure all of my tv’s have that built in….never used it

just plug a USB thumb drive in for recording

But can you program it to record in adavnce??????

Unfortunately Sky Q is the Rolls Royce of satellite based recording, it really is pretty slick but $$$$, possibly not silly money if you don’t need sports/cinema

Sky Q is brilliant, but “old” tech now. Satellite TV will cease to be available in the UK in the next few years as the satellites are getting towards the end of their usable life. Sky Q will be Sky’s peak and then they will become yet another streaming provider as they struggle to differentiate themselves.

But can you program it to record in adavnce??????

Yes, on my TV at least. Once the drive is plugged in it adds the record option (including series) to the programme guide.

What TV (make and model) do you have?

Edit: a downside of this method is that you may not be able to record and watch live TV at the same time unless it is dual-tuner.

But can you program it to record in adavnce??????

It depends on the particular telly, but it’s usually just a matter of selecting the program in the guide.  Not sure how far into the future the guide usually goes thought (might be a week).  Again, it would depend on the particular telly whether you could create repeat recordings for the same show too.

I’d say it’s worth trying it out to see if your telly does what you need.

our TV has it built in. I’ve been using it recently after the Topfield pvr packed in. It’s nowhere near as good as a our proper Panasonic pvr. Not sure if they still make them but you can pick one up second hand very cheaply as loads of people seem to have given up recording TV. Recording TV is still way better than streaming imo.

We use the Virgin Tivo box, a bit spendy but not much more than an equivalent fibre broadband provider. Hit series link and it’ll record all episodes as and when they’re available. Not sure if its still available, or if you’re stuck with the newer (but apparently not as good) TV 360 box now.

Why not just stream?

Because often, for stuff you want watch ‘live’ (like the Tour highlights), you can’t start watching it say ten minutes after it started.

We’ve got a Humax freesat box with what seems to be a random UX generator, as it never seem to be the same process twice to record or watch something. It does my nut in, but it does what we want it to.

I’ve not used them myself but I’ve had the freeview equivalent of this on my amazon wishlist for a while, for use in the caravan – then we got rid of the caravan

Oakcastle SB200 Freesat Free to Air HD Satellite Box TV Recorder

Looks like they’re no longer made and sold brand new though

EDIT – at £15, worth a punt?
https://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/majority-oakcastle-sb200-hd-freesat-satellite-box-tv-recorder/

EDIT – at £15, worth a punt?
https://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/majority-oakcastle-sb200-hd-freesat-satellite-box-tv-recorder/

Important Note – SB200 satellite box will not receive any BBC channels

We’ve got a Humax freeview box that still gets regularly used for recording stuff.

dmortsFull Member
Unfortunately Sky Q is the Rolls Royce of satellite based recording, it really is pretty slick but $$$$, possibly not silly money if you don’t need sports/cinema
Sky Q is brilliant, but “old” tech now. Satellite TV will cease to be available in the UK in the next few years as the satellites are getting towards the end of their usable life. Sky Q will be Sky’s peak and then they will become yet another streaming provider as they struggle to differentiate themselves.

Presume that means Freesat will cease too?

I have a Humax aura 1tb that needs selling if your interested.

About 15 months old and cost something like £250.

It’s my late mum’s and as far as I know it’s working fine.

£125 posted

PM me later on if interested as I’m going out now.