Advice Needed Freeview box recommendations please

[excollier]

Hi all, I am seeking advice on buying a new Freeview box with catchup/Freeview play and wi-fi.
This is for my parents in England - both 80 y/o. (I have lost touch with freeview completely living in Ireland and solely using freesat).
The box needs to be easy to set up and be simple to use, budget £200 max.
Thanks.

edit: seeing mixed reviews on these

Panasonic DMR-HWT150EB

Humax FVP-4000T 500GB
Read more at https://www.freeview.co.uk/get-freeview/play-products#cyPJHguLedfC1xEu.99

 

[Channel Hopper]

A FreeView box with Catchup would usually be called a YouView box, the name of which has a large number of products on Amazon.

The price is proportional to the T1 / T2 tuner system and the upscaling that can be sent to the screen.

I would start with something basic that costs virtually nothing and see if they get on with it, since the top of the range ones can be quite overwhelming, as some clients of mine have discovered.

 

[PaulR]

A FreeView box with Catchup would usually be called a YouView box, ...

No, they are different. As well as catch-up YouView can also offer paid for services when they are supplied from your ISP (BT and TalkTalk I believe).

To be truthful there's precious little difference if you buy your own YouView box outright though.

 

[Channel Hopper]

The Humax DTR and Panasonic Smart series boxes can be bought without any need to go to/through a service provider.

(similar spec throughout, the former has the subsidy advantage and the logo)

 

[mikejp1]

My ISP, Plusnet, is 'dropping' its YouView service. Is there any way (other than BT/TT) to get pay channels at a reasonable price? I have tried to find a way to get in touch with YouView but it is impossible.

I would like to retain the YouView box and its functions like programme guide/record etc

 

[ozumo]

It depends on what extra channels you're after. Now TV has a few packages but the sports channels aren't cheap.

 

[Manikm909]

if u can get a Humax HDR-1100S for around £100 second hand (no longer made) - they are great boxes, they are official Freeview, and support an app for recording etc remotely

 

[Lazarus]

if u can get a Humax HDR-1100S for around £100 second hand (no longer made) - they are great boxes, they are official Freeview, and support an app for recording etc remotely

Errm, no. That's a Freesat box.

OP wants pukka Freeview (DTT).

 

[Manikm909]

Oh yeah . Sorry chaps .

 

[mikejp1]

Back again - once I lose the YouView service with PN I will lose the YouView Programme Guide. Is there any way I can replace it so I can select 'later' recordings? The YouView offers up to 7 days look-ahead and is really useful.

 

[ozumo]

The standard Freeview EPG is at least 7 days so that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[mikejp1]

ozumo - being delightfully ignorant of how these systems work, would I need to do 'anything' once YouView 'drops out' to enable the Freeview PG on the box?

(Excuse the ignorance and howl with laughter if you wish :-) )

 

[ozumo]

YouView is just Freeview & catchup services, plus the option for pay content from your ISP. The box should still work exactly as before but without the pay channels

 

[mikejp1]

Thanks - my 'sub' ends next month so we shall see how it goes.

 

[Channel Hopper]

This might affect many more people in the future unless YouView provides a valid IP address with the services their boxes can 'tunnel' to.

It will be interesting to get responses from others experiencing a similar loss of service whilst their box is under the guarantee period.

 

[ozumo]

The box continues to work:

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[Channel Hopper]

The box continues to work:

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The box will continue to work, but access to the catchup services (and I suppose the schedules) will not

 

[ozumo]

The box will continue to work, but access to the catchup services (and I suppose the schedules) will not

All the services offered on a standard off the shelf YouView box will continue to work, including the EPG, BBC iplayer, ITV Hub, My5 etc.

YouView | Home

Simply Smart TV

www.youview.com

 

[Channel Hopper]

Plusnet offers (offered) two options within the package, the '+' recording version is/was a Humax DTR model, as far as I know same as the one as on the BT circuit.

Edit - the non recording one is also a Humax - DB-T2200 or similar