NEW Freeview HD Digital TV Receiver Tuner Set Top Box Terrestrial + USB Port Schedule Program Recorder

I love this product. It does exactly what I want it to do - records TV onto a memory stick/hard disk for me to put onto my plex server for watching later on. So for those who are wanting some more detail as to what it does here goes. Connecting the box is very simple and the set-up is too. I have a good signal here so I got all the channels I would get on a more expensive tuner. The picture is pretty good, maybe a little soft for some but I find it acceptable (it is very similar to the quality you would get with a DVD recorder from about 10 years ago). I am using a 8GB Lexar USB drive which plugs into the side of the unit, I might get a larger capacity one later on. I did try and use the SD card reader slot with a SanDisk 32GB MicroSD card with an adapter but it could not read the card to write to it. Anyway, you use the EPG (which is a little slow, but it works) to find the programme you want to record - you then "book" it into the PVR, what is really cool is you can choose when to start and when to stop recording which is great to stop it from cutting off the intro or end of a programme (which used to wind me up silly with Sky+) - I often pad 10 minutes each side to avoid this from happening. Then I put the device into standby and leave it, the next day I unplug the USB drive and put it into my computer. The files are MTS format and record at the resolution of the program - so 576i for standard def or 1080p for HD content. The recordings come in at around 15000kbps of video bitrate which is very good, audio is set at 128kbps which is also plenty good enough. It is worth turning on deinterlacing in VLC to get an even clearer picture. What is really neat is that it will record whatever aspect ratio the content was broadcast in, so for older programmes (that are the ones I want to record) it will record them in the proper 4:3 format, but then click back to 16:9 for adverts. The only issues I have with this item are: - The controller is pretty rubbish, buttons are squishy and don't always register and the layout is very confusing with terms that seem confusing - If you unplug a USB drive from the device it will sometimes get upset and then refuse to record to the USB drive - to remedy this you just need to turn the device off and then back on again with the USB connected (i think this is because it possibly runs on a Linux operating system which often has issues with drives that have not been removed properly)

With the Freeview HD box I can now receive ALL channels including CH 57!

This model needs a firmware update as some glitches are still in the software but good value item.

I've had excellent results from using previous Iview terrestrial digital boxes as recorders, and this one also promised well, the only gripe was that you needed to go in again to edit recording times to embrace start and end times HOWEVER, I had other pre-occupations for a couple of weeks and when I came back to using it, there was no tv signal across the whole range, just a blank screen at each supposed tuned channel. Tried everything with changing cables etc. but there is clearly a break in the ariel lead or associated wiring within the box. Attempts to retune just brought up zero recognized channels. Given my attempts to get it working again will probably invalidate the guarantee and the fact it is such a cheap item I probably wont seek reimbursement, but working for just a few days ain't a recommendation for seeking a replacement anyway.

Easy to set up and find stations and a perfect picture , so no complaints there. I already had a 64gb usb memory stick and after 5 minutes figured out how to record and playback programmes. To delete a program from the stick though had to remove and put it into my laptop. The only problem I have , is certain buttons on the supplied remote , interfere with our TVs main controls. For example, when I want BBC1 , pressing 1 on the channel number selector pad , alters the "source" setting of the TV , away from Scart 1 so have to get the other remote for the TV itself to get back to the scart source. The volume-up button brings up the TVs menu settings ! It's probably just a clash with my make of TV (Hanspree) that won't happen with other makes.

Bought it for a friend, he says it's working very well.He likes it

Absolutely amazing product. Quick and easy to install.

Can't recommend this item, I've been using it for a few months and have finally given up with it and purchased a Youview set top box. Picture quality not brilliant and program guide not very good.