I'm seriously considering buying this PVR. Most issues and concerns I have 
already found answers to, however, I have a rather insignificant question 
remaining:

Using the PIP (Picture-in-Picture) technology, is it possible to have one 
picture as a freeview channel and the other as the device connected to the 
PVR's second scart socket (eg, DVD player or games console)?

While relatively pointless, it does seem like a rather amusing possibility.


Thank you for your time.

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:27:27 -0000, "The Berzerker"
 wrote:

>I'm seriously considering buying this PVR.

I would recommend the Topfield instead.

>Using the PIP (Picture-in-Picture) technology, is it possible to have one 
>picture as a freeview channel and the other as the device connected to the 
>PVR's second scart socket (eg, DVD player or games console)?

No.
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"Andrew" <spamtrap@localhost.> wrote in message 
news:l4ihv1dmdk1drkrs2m57rp81amt1oifmv6@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:27:27 -0000, "The Berzerker"
>  wrote:
>
>>I'm seriously considering buying this PVR.
>
> I would recommend the Topfield instead.

Which model are you recommending?

Care to share a few comments about why it's the better choice?

>
>>Using the PIP (Picture-in-Picture) technology, is it possible to have one
>>picture as a freeview channel and the other as the device connected to the
>>PVR's second scart socket (eg, DVD player or games console)?
>
> No.

Bummer

> -- 
> Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
> Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
> please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
> Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:16:43 -0000, "The Berzerker"
 wrote:

>Which model are you recommending?

Topfield TF5800 PVR. See toppy.org.uk for details.

>Care to share a few comments about why it's the better choice?

With Jags EPG you can get it to search the EPG listings for
occurrences of programme's, set the timer automatically and add
padding at the beginning and end of shows. The Humax can't and
consequently can be a PITA.
-- 
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
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Andrew <spamtrap@localhost.> wrote:

> On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:16:43 -0000, "The Berzerker"
>  wrote:
> 
> >Which model are you recommending?
> 
> Topfield TF5800 PVR. See toppy.org.uk for details.
> 
> >Care to share a few comments about why it's the better choice?
> 
> With Jags EPG you can get it to search the EPG listings for
> occurrences of programme's, set the timer automatically and add
> padding at the beginning and end of shows. The Humax can't and
> consequently can be a PITA.

Padding should be coming soon on the Humax.

Both machines have useful features and a number of bugs. Best advice is
to look at the forums devoted to the two machines (remembering that
forums tend to be full of complaints) and see what the problems are.

Topfield has the ability for thrid parties to extend the functionality,
and there are quite a lot of mini programs available, Humax does not.
Topfield can download to PCs and Macs, Humax currently only to PCs.
Humax is cheaper and more widely available.

I have the Humax, and am mostly satisfied with it.
-- 
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mail to the From address is never read

The Berzerker  wrote:

> "Andrew" <spamtrap@localhost.> wrote in message 
> news:l4ihv1dmdk1drkrs2m57rp81amt1oifmv6@4ax.com...
> > On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:27:27 -0000, "The Berzerker"
> >  wrote:
> >
> >>I'm seriously considering buying this PVR.
> >
> > I would recommend the Topfield instead.

> >
> >>Using the PIP (Picture-in-Picture) technology, is it possible to have one
> >>picture as a freeview channel and the other as the device connected to the
> >>PVR's second scart socket (eg, DVD player or games console)?
> >
> > No.
> 
> Bummer

The scarts on the Humax (don't know about the Topfield) are out only. 

-- 
Send e-mail to the Reply-To address;
mail to the From address is never read

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 11:32:47 +0000, danspam@f2s.com (Daniel Cohen)
wrote:

>Padding should be coming soon on the Humax.

That was the rumour over a year ago when I had the 8000T. Making a
buying decision on a vapourware rumour isn't a wise move.

>Both machines have useful features and a number of bugs. Best advice is
>to look at the forums devoted to the two machines (remembering that
>forums tend to be full of complaints) and see what the problems are.

I haven't had any major problems with the Topfield, it is just a case
of getting used to the way it does things.

>I have the Humax, and am mostly satisfied with it.

So was I over the 8000T I had previously. Now I have the Topfield, the
only thing I can say in the favour of the Humax is the simplicity of
use. In terms of functionality, the Topfield (with third party TAP's)
is massively better IMO.
-- 
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 11:32:48 +0000, danspam@f2s.com (Daniel Cohen)
wrote:

>The scarts on the Humax (don't know about the Topfield) are out only. 

Both machines have a SCART IN for passthrough and SCART out.
-- 
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.

"Daniel Cohen"  wrote...
>
> Padding should be coming soon on the Humax.
>
> Both machines have useful features and a number of bugs. Best advice
> is to look at the forums devoted to the two machines (remembering
> that forums tend to be full of complaints) and see what the problems
are.

Can you point me to the Humax forum, please?

Thanks,
Matti

"Daniel Cohen"  wrote in message 
news:1hb1sh8.10h3nnh1qalrrmN%danspam@f2s.com...
> The Berzerker  wrote:
>
>> "Andrew" <spamtrap@localhost.> wrote in message
>> news:l4ihv1dmdk1drkrs2m57rp81amt1oifmv6@4ax.com...
>> > On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:27:27 -0000, "The Berzerker"
>> >  wrote:
>> >
>> >>I'm seriously considering buying this PVR.
>> >
>> > I would recommend the Topfield instead.
>
>> >
>> >>Using the PIP (Picture-in-Picture) technology, is it possible to have 
>> >>one
>> >>picture as a freeview channel and the other as the device connected to 
>> >>the
>> >>PVR's second scart socket (eg, DVD player or games console)?
>> >
>> > No.
>>
>> Bummer
>
> The scarts on the Humax (don't know about the Topfield) are out only.
>

Testing the 8000T (to sample the HUMAX interface etc) I've got my DVD Player 
connected via the second 'VCR' scart. The signal is passed through fine and 
is full RGB. I'll be damned if the 9200T couldn't do the same.

> Can you point me to the Humax forum, please?
>


http://www.hummy.org.uk/forum/

Andrew <spamtrap@localhost.> wrote:

> On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 11:32:47 +0000, danspam@f2s.com (Daniel Cohen)
> wrote:
> 
> >Padding should be coming soon on the Humax.
> 
> That was the rumour over a year ago when I had the 8000T. Making a
> buying decision on a vapourware rumour isn't a wise move.

I agree, one should decide on the currently available features. Humax
have specifically stated that they plan to implement some features that
are not currently present but have been asked for, but who knows what
the timescale is.
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Matti Lamprhey  wrote:

> "Daniel Cohen"  wrote...
> >
> > Padding should be coming soon on the Humax.
> >
> > Both machines have useful features and a number of bugs. Best advice
> > is to look at the forums devoted to the two machines (remembering
> > that forums tend to be full of complaints) and see what the problems
> are.
> 
> Can you point me to the Humax forum, please?

Several of them.

The best seems to be on Digital Spy

http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/forumdisplay.php?f=119

but there are also

http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?board=humax

and

http://www.hummy.org.uk/forum/index.php
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Andrew <spamtrap@localhost.> wrote:

> On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 11:32:48 +0000, danspam@f2s.com (Daniel Cohen)
> wrote:
> 
> >The scarts on the Humax (don't know about the Topfield) are out only.
> 
> Both machines have a SCART IN for passthrough and SCART out.

OK, I got it wrong. One thing that one *can't* do, though, is record
from a VCR or DVD player onto the hard drive.
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"Daniel Cohen"  wrote...
> Matti Lamprhey  wrote:
> >
> > Can you point me to the Humax forum, please?
>
> Several of them.
>
> The best seems to be on Digital Spy
>
> http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/forumdisplay.php?f=119
>
> but there are also
>
> http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?board=humax
>
> and
>
> http://www.hummy.org.uk/forum/index.php

Thanks to you & to NickM.  My problem seems to be obtaining a reliable
USB2.0 connection, and many of the hummy.org.uk folk seem to have it
too.  I'll try the other two that you mention now...

Matti