The biggest advantage is being able to record a whole Channel { or two } and then delete what you don't want. While playing its possible to speed it up to * 24 times so you can whiz though a lot in a short period of time.

 

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It does have a few quirks -

 

{ quirk 1 } the remote control is very cramped so its not a R/C that you can use in the dark - until I get used to it I have not moved my Master unit - that R/C I can use blindfolded.

 

{ quirk 2 } With PIP on it cant handle widescreen Auto but switching to nonauto widescreen sorts it out.

 

{ quirk 3 } if you are recording One Freeview source PIP does not work when in fact there is no reason for PIP not to work. { Note that used to be the case with the Humax but the latest software update sorted that out so you can record two programs and still have the PIP function on }

 

 

{ 1 } So far the Hard disk is silent { and running very Cool } - it does not spin up until I recod or play back something { and even then you cant hear it } and the Recording quality is excellent.{ you could never tell it was a Recording }

 

{ 2 } now as far as I am aware only the BBC and Channel Four has this function - its a digital PDC { Programme Delivery Control } so lets say something should start at 8 pm it can detect if the program is running late or early so you never miss anything - also it has a ' offset ' so on the other channels it will start early and end late by a few minuets { unless two program times clash of course }

 

{ 3 }  its possible to move the PIP area ' left-right-top-bottom '

 

{ 4 } The front panel displays the Channel number its tuned to - very handy when you have as many Freeview sources as I do .

 

{ 5 } Timer and Record very easy to set - its all just clicking on the EPG so there is no actual times being typed in.

 

{ 6 } When playing a Recording PIP still works { not all units allow this }

 

{ 7 }  when you are recording two Freeview Channels its possible to play a past recording ' at the same time '

 

{ 8 } It uses ' Chase play ' - lets say you have set newsnight to be recorded but you arrive back before it ends - While its still being record you can press play and watch the start { but it will still keep on recording the whole program }

 

{ 9 } A very big Plus point - the Recording store lists recordings by Program name { and time/date } and they are easy to play or delete + it stores the EPG info as well so even if its something you recorded a year ago - there is still the EPG entry to view.

 

{ 10 } it does appear that it can accept a larger Hard Drive as it has the software on a chip so bang in a bigger drive and it will format it correctly - Something to do after I get though the treatment.