Humax Foxsat-HDR
The basics
The Humax Foxsat-HDR is a High Definition (1080i) Freesat set-top box with 320GB hard drive, twin tuners and HDMI, Scart or component output. Standard definition shows can be up-scaled or backed up to USB drive, and the optical audio out can handle full Dolby 5.1 surround sound.
The good
This monstrous Hi-Def recorder delivers stunning playback and pixel-perfect recording of the Freesat BBC and ITV HD channels, together with top notch upscaling of SD output. Build quality is first class – the Humax uses a fraction of the power of a Sky HD box on stand-by – and even the clear EPG is available in 1080i resolution. The 320GB hard drive will store around 80 hours of HD shows or 200 hours of normal programming, and if that’s not enough you can plug a USB key to back up your favourite shows.
The bad
The big downside of the Freesat is that you’ll need to install a dish – budget around £75 for installation, although an old Sky dish should also do the trick. The line-up of HD services is currently very limited, especially compared to Sky’s ever-expanding portfolio of sports and movies, but remember – there’s no subscription to pay.
The bottom line
If there weren’t a ban on hunting with dogs, Murdoch himself would be dressed up like a toff and stalk this crafty fox. It’s cheaper and greener than the Sky HD service, with a huge hard drive, great connections and brilliant audiovisuals.
User comments (16)
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Jason06 September 2009
Dont pay to get someone to fit a dish you can get a dish, sat finder, this receiver and qaud lnb on amazon for £300, finding signal is easy. Just point dish towards every other in neighbourhood and use sat finder. Will be up and running in 15 mins. A great peice of kit.
Report as inappropriatejoeyhead30 October 2009
another fantastic addition to my home cinema set up ,this piece of kit through my tosh mt-700 720p projector ,suits me sir
Report as inappropriateAnonymous07 December 2009
This is an excellent piece of kit!! Highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to go down the SKY route.
Report as inappropriatePat19 December 2009
Fabulous system, extremely user friendly, installed in an afternoon. Lovely to record films, and programmes and watch them when I want to - hard drive is big enough to keep films on, unlike the Sky one, and of course there's no subscription. Picture quality is wonderful, although only able to get the BBC HD channel at the moment, but no doubt that will improve, and a big plus is the lack of subscription. Warmly recommend to anyone.
Report as inappropriateDonaldB129 December 2009
Have just bought this - after Sky informed me that my basic subscription is going up again in january. All we ever recorded and series linked were terrestrial channels anyway!! This is one great piece of kit - picture quality is excellent - marginally better than Sky although noticeably better on HD. One small downside is not all the freeview channels are on Freesat yet (Dave for example) but you do have the option for "non-freesat mode" (450 channels to trawl through). I am sure many people will start analysing how much they actually watch the "Sky" channels and make a sensible choice. I am also sure that more freeview channels will go on Freesat soon. Finally this was a doddle to set up - plugged in my old sky dish and 5 minutes later all done.
Report as inappropriatef1only10 February 2010
Great piece of kit easy to install shame about the garbled manual its a mess all over the place for instructions.
Report as inappropriateAlan13 February 2010
is this a freeview box and a freesat box, it seems to be only the latter, but it is in the freeview section
Report as inappropriateAnonymous07 March 2010
this humax is the best pvr i have had its never froze unlike the 6 thomson pvr i had over 1 year although more expensive its worth it great hd thats FREE never missed any programs not as easy as the to set up as the freeview pvr but well worth the time and money even though i had to have a dish put up pity you cant get all the freeview channels such as dave and some music channels but the hd makes up for this
Report as inappropriateMick17 March 2010
Can i get Freeview signal in Germany. At the moment i am watching the FTA channels ie: BBC 1 - 4, ITV 1 - 4, FIVE etc: via the Astra 2 28.2 east
Report as inappropriateMick17 March 2010
Can i get Freesat signal in Germany. At the moment i am watching the FTA channels ie: BBC 1 - 4, ITV 1 - 4, FIVE etc: via the Astra 2 28.2 east
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Chris20 April 2010
I like many others made the leap from Sky to the Humax, fantastic bit of kit and no subscription. Pro's: Amazing quality, huge hard drive BBC & ITV HD And it also comes with a CoAxial, scart and HDMI cable free with it! how many other manufacturers throw all that in? Cons: Remote is not as intuative and needs more aiming than sky Not all freeview channels are on freesat
Report as inappropriateMister05 August 2010
Best thing about this is being able to copy HD1080 data from a pc to the drive via usb. requires a little converting but worth it to be able to watch it on a big tv.
Report as inappropriateHaydn07 August 2010
Wonderful bit of kit and Great to get HD sports for free. Speaking at the start of the season though-When will they introduce a pay view option for footy? so as to challenge the less reputable current providers in the UK.
Report as inappropriatecherrypop05 October 2010
you guys are so right
Report as inappropriateKelly and Alex02 November 2011
We had Sky before and we wished we would have kept it. This one is sooooo hard to use :L It takes about 2 days to get the knack !
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