Hello u.t.t.v.pvr,

My Philips HDRW720 has died again, and this time (the 3rd time...)
it's out of warranty.  I'd got pretty used to watching what I wanted,
when I wanted to, so i'm keen to get another hard disk recorder to
replace it.

The problem is, there's no freeview signal in my area, and won't be
until 2009.  There's no cable, and I can't get a dish and Sky (shared
building and listed building).  So I'm stuck with 4 channels (we don't
even get channel 5 here in the centre of Bath, not that I'm
bothered...).

All I really want is something that will do roughly what my HDRW720
did, pause live TV, and has an electronic program guide, which I can
use to easily record programs or series.   All I can find are freeview
PVR's or analogue recorders with no EPG (e.g. record by setting a
timer, like in the days of the first VCR).  Any suggestions?

Cheers,
R

On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:53:24 -0000, Roger J 
wrote:

>Hello u.t.t.v.pvr,
>
>My Philips HDRW720 has died again, and this time (the 3rd time...)
>it's out of warranty.  I'd got pretty used to watching what I wanted,
>when I wanted to, so i'm keen to get another hard disk recorder to
>replace it.
>
>The problem is, there's no freeview signal in my area, and won't be
>until 2009.  There's no cable, and I can't get a dish and Sky (shared
>building and listed building).  So I'm stuck with 4 channels (we don't
>even get channel 5 here in the centre of Bath, not that I'm
>bothered...).
>
>All I really want is something that will do roughly what my HDRW720
>did, pause live TV, and has an electronic program guide, which I can
>use to easily record programs or series.   All I can find are freeview
>PVR's or analogue recorders with no EPG (e.g. record by setting a
>timer, like in the days of the first VCR).  Any suggestions?
>
>Cheers,
>R


Sharp do a range of HDD  with DVD recorders. They also have a control
link to operate a Freeview box should you get one later.

> The problem is, there's no freeview signal in my area, and won't be
> until 2009.  There's no cable, and I can't get a dish and Sky (shared
> building and listed building).

A bit of lateral thinking, only slightly related but might spark a few
ideas for someone with similar problems with banned dishes at least!

Do you have access to a garden? Does it have a south-east view?
Dish on short mast screwed to paving slab, plastic compost bin over
the top.

OR
 Slightly smaller than usual camping dish (works fine in south of UK).
Fill bottom of plastic dustbin with about 1ft of concrete and plant a
short mast in the wet concrete near one side. Fit dish, align and put
the lid on.

A dish can sometimes work through single glass window in an unused
room with a suitable S-E view.

Roger J wrote:

> All I really want is something that will do roughly what my HDRW720
> did, pause live TV, and has an electronic program guide, which I can
> use to easily record programs or series.   All I can find are freeview
> PVR's or analogue recorders with no EPG (e.g. record by setting a
> timer, like in the days of the first VCR).  Any suggestions?
> 

TiVo. Try Ebay, prices have dropped making some lifetime subscribed 
models a true bargain!

-- 
Adrian C

On 22 Aug, 02:45, Adrian C <em...@here.invalid> wrote:
> Roger J wrote:
> > All I really want is something that will do roughly what my HDRW720
> > did, pause live TV, and has an electronic program guide, which I can
> > use to easily record programs or series.   All I can find are freeview
> > PVR's or analogue recorders with no EPG (e.g. record by setting a
> > timer, like in the days of the first VCR).  Any suggestions?
>
> TiVo. Try Ebay, prices have dropped making some lifetime subscribed
> models a true bargain!
>
> --
> Adrian C

Of course, Tivo, great idea, thanks!

Widgitt, I've no access to the back garden but it's an interesting
idea.  I'm amazed it will work through a plastic dustbin!

"widgitt"  wrote in message 
news:1187741219.446301.234780@j4g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>> The problem is, there's no freeview signal in my area, and won't be
>> until 2009.  There's no cable, and I can't get a dish and Sky (shared
>> building and listed building).
>
> A bit of lateral thinking, only slightly related but might spark a few
> ideas for someone with similar problems with banned dishes at least!
>
> Do you have access to a garden? Does it have a south-east view?
> Dish on short mast screwed to paving slab, plastic compost bin over
> the top.

I was just wondering if a garden dish (without the lid even) would be ok 
anyway?
I mean it's the building that's listed, does it prevent garden shed mounted 
antennae?

Djimbo. 



-- 
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

"Roger J"  wrote in message 
news:1187769361.763580.225010@j4g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

> Of course, Tivo, great idea, thanks!
>
> Widgitt, I've no access to the back garden but it's an interesting
> idea.  I'm amazed it will work through a plastic dustbin!

Ah didn't see this one (U have no garden access).
The plastic distbin lid had me wondering too, although I've never tried it.
I'd like to bet rain on the lid would cause significant attenuation..


Djimbo.



-- 
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

"djimbo"  wrote in message 
news:46cc5296$0$16366$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...
>
> "widgitt"  wrote in message 
> news:1187741219.446301.234780@j4g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>>
>>> The problem is, there's no freeview signal in my area, and won't be
>>> until 2009.  There's no cable, and I can't get a dish and Sky (shared
>>> building and listed building).
>>
>> A bit of lateral thinking, only slightly related but might spark a few
>> ideas for someone with similar problems with banned dishes at least!
>>
>> Do you have access to a garden? Does it have a south-east view?
>> Dish on short mast screwed to paving slab, plastic compost bin over
>> the top.
>
> I was just wondering if a garden dish (without the lid even) would be ok 
> anyway?
> I mean it's the building that's listed, does it prevent garden shed 
> mounted antennae?
>



a lot of listed buildings take the route of a ground mounted dish in a 
garden - although that's a lot harder if the building is a flat obviously.


-- 
Gareth.

That fly... is your magic wand.
http://www.last.fm/user/dsbmusic/

No problem, it works a treat. In any case, it is receiving through the
side of the bin, not the top.

"Roger J"  wrote in message 
news:1187729604.391239.88370@d55g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> Hello u.t.t.v.pvr,
>
> My Philips HDRW720 has died again, and this time (the 3rd time...)
> it's out of warranty.  I'd got pretty used to watching what I wanted,
> when I wanted to, so i'm keen to get another hard disk recorder to
> replace it.
>
> The problem is, there's no freeview signal in my area, and won't be
> until 2009.  There's no cable, and I can't get a dish and Sky (shared
> building and listed building).  So I'm stuck with 4 channels (we don't
> even get channel 5 here in the centre of Bath, not that I'm
> bothered...).
>
> All I really want is something that will do roughly what my HDRW720
> did, pause live TV, and has an electronic program guide, which I can
> use to easily record programs or series.   All I can find are freeview
> PVR's or analogue recorders with no EPG (e.g. record by setting a
> timer, like in the days of the first VCR).  Any suggestions?

More lateral thinking, I read something which may be of interest in the last 
review on this page...
http://svp.co.uk/products-solo.php?pid=2991&prepg=&ref=buyers
This guy lives in an officialy non-freeview area and claims the Toppy's 
tuners are sensitive enough to get decent pictures.
It may be worth borrowing one to try it.
Djimbo.



-- 
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