• Re: New PVR wanted

    From Chris Hogg@me@privacy.net to uk.d-i-y on Fri Feb 20 07:58:39 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:13:49 +0000, Chris Hogg <me@privacy.net> wrote:

    I have a had a Humax HDR-Fox T2 PVR for several years, regularly in
    use, but is beginning to show its age and getting unreliable. I want a
    PVR with at least the facility for recording two channels while
    watching a third, which I think means twin tuners. But I find there is
    a bewildering choice out there. A pvr with three tuners would be nice,
    if such a thing is available, but twin tuners would be quite OK.

    Suggestions please.

    I eventually got a Manhattan T4.R. Fairly easy to set up the basics,
    and am now exploring all the buttons on the handset and trying to
    remember what they do :-( . But I miss the red-button facility of the
    Humax.

    I have not yet dumped the Humax. Taking the lid off and looking at all
    the caps, I don't see any that are obviously swollen. But I see that
    the whole power unit is replaceable and is occasionally available on
    the 'net, so I will try and get one and maybe revert to the Humax,
    bearing in mind that the replacement unit would probably be
    second-hand and may have the same problem sooner or later.
    --

    Chris
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From David Wade@g4ugm@dave.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Fri Feb 20 09:28:01 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 20/02/2026 07:58, Chris Hogg wrote:
    On Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:13:49 +0000, Chris Hogg <me@privacy.net> wrote:

    I have a had a Humax HDR-Fox T2 PVR for several years, regularly in
    use, but is beginning to show its age and getting unreliable. I want a
    PVR with at least the facility for recording two channels while
    watching a third, which I think means twin tuners. But I find there is
    a bewildering choice out there. A pvr with three tuners would be nice,
    if such a thing is available, but twin tuners would be quite OK.

    Suggestions please.

    I eventually got a Manhattan T4.R. Fairly easy to set up the basics,
    and am now exploring all the buttons on the handset and trying to
    remember what they do :-( . But I miss the red-button facility of the
    Humax.

    I have not yet dumped the Humax. Taking the lid off and looking at all
    the caps, I don't see any that are obviously swollen. But I see that
    the whole power unit is replaceable and is occasionally available on
    the 'net, so I will try and get one and maybe revert to the Humax,
    bearing in mind that the replacement unit would probably be
    second-hand and may have the same problem sooner or later.

    They don't always swell. When my beer fridge with 12v peltier device and switched mode PSU failed, the caps didn't swell at all, but when I
    touched one it just fell off in my hand. Any liquid or gell inside had disappeared, and the inside was basically dust...

    Dave
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Chris Hogg@me@privacy.net to uk.d-i-y on Sat Feb 21 00:26:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Fri, 20 Feb 2026 07:58:39 +0000, Chris Hogg <me@privacy.net> wrote:

    On Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:13:49 +0000, Chris Hogg <me@privacy.net> wrote:

    I have a had a Humax HDR-Fox T2 PVR for several years, regularly in
    use, but is beginning to show its age and getting unreliable. I want a
    PVR with at least the facility for recording two channels while
    watching a third, which I think means twin tuners. But I find there is
    a bewildering choice out there. A pvr with three tuners would be nice,
    if such a thing is available, but twin tuners would be quite OK.

    Suggestions please.

    I eventually got a Manhattan T4.R. Fairly easy to set up the basics,
    and am now exploring all the buttons on the handset and trying to
    remember what they do :-( . But I miss the red-button facility of the
    Humax.

    I have not yet dumped the Humax. Taking the lid off and looking at all
    the caps, I don't see any that are obviously swollen. But I see that
    the whole power unit is replaceable and is occasionally available on
    the 'net, so I will try and get one and maybe revert to the Humax,
    bearing in mind that the replacement unit would probably be
    second-hand and may have the same problem sooner or later.

    I've now connected up my Manhattan PVR according to the instructions
    in the booklet (aerial into the Manhattan; aerial out from the
    Manhattan to the TV aerial in, HDMI out from the Manhattan into HDMI-1
    on the TV), but I notice that the picture is much sharper when I
    select the Freeview input on the TV rather than the HDMI-1 input, the
    picture is much sharper, which surprises me. Is this normal? If not,
    how do I correct it and sharpen up the output from the Manhattan into
    HDMI-1 ?
    --

    Chris
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Feb 21 00:52:18 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 21/02/2026 00:26, Chris Hogg wrote:
    On Fri, 20 Feb 2026 07:58:39 +0000, Chris Hogg <me@privacy.net> wrote:

    On Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:13:49 +0000, Chris Hogg <me@privacy.net> wrote:

    I have a had a Humax HDR-Fox T2 PVR for several years, regularly in
    use, but is beginning to show its age and getting unreliable. I want a
    PVR with at least the facility for recording two channels while
    watching a third, which I think means twin tuners. But I find there is
    a bewildering choice out there. A pvr with three tuners would be nice,
    if such a thing is available, but twin tuners would be quite OK.

    Suggestions please.

    I eventually got a Manhattan T4.R. Fairly easy to set up the basics,
    and am now exploring all the buttons on the handset and trying to
    remember what they do :-( . But I miss the red-button facility of the
    Humax.

    I have not yet dumped the Humax. Taking the lid off and looking at all
    the caps, I don't see any that are obviously swollen. But I see that
    the whole power unit is replaceable and is occasionally available on
    the 'net, so I will try and get one and maybe revert to the Humax,
    bearing in mind that the replacement unit would probably be
    second-hand and may have the same problem sooner or later.

    I've now connected up my Manhattan PVR according to the instructions
    in the booklet (aerial into the Manhattan; aerial out from the
    Manhattan to the TV aerial in, HDMI out from the Manhattan into HDMI-1
    on the TV), but I notice that the picture is much sharper when I
    select the Freeview input on the TV rather than the HDMI-1 input, the
    picture is much sharper, which surprises me. Is this normal? If not,
    how do I correct it and sharpen up the output from the Manhattan into
    HDMI-1 ?

    You cant.

    Digital is digital and if the PVR is turning good digits into shit HDMI
    then that's what you paid for.
    --
    "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch".

    Gospel of St. Mathew 15:14


    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From alan_m@junk@admac.myzen.co.uk to uk.d-i-y on Sat Feb 21 09:05:00 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 21/02/2026 00:52, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 21/02/2026 00:26, Chris Hogg wrote:


    I've now connected up my Manhattan PVR according to the instructions
    in the booklet (aerial into the Manhattan; aerial out from the
    Manhattan to the TV aerial in, HDMI out from the Manhattan into HDMI-1
    on the TV), but I notice that the picture is much sharper when I
    select the Freeview input on the TV rather than the HDMI-1 input, the
    picture is much sharper, which surprises me. Is this normal? If not,
    how do I correct it and sharpen up the output from the Manhattan into
    HDMI-1 ?

    You cant.

    Digital is digital and if the PVR is turning good digits into shit HDMI
    then that's what you paid for.

    It seems to be a common complaint especially when outputting SD content
    on the Manhattan boxes.
    --
    mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Chris Hogg@me@privacy.net to uk.d-i-y on Sat Feb 21 10:21:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:05:00 +0000, alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk>
    wrote:

    On 21/02/2026 00:52, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 21/02/2026 00:26, Chris Hogg wrote:


    I've now connected up my Manhattan PVR according to the instructions
    in the booklet (aerial into the Manhattan; aerial out from the
    Manhattan to the TV aerial in, HDMI out from the Manhattan into HDMI-1
    on the TV), but I notice that the picture is much sharper when I
    select the Freeview input on the TV rather than the HDMI-1 input, the
    picture is much sharper, which surprises me. Is this normal? If not,
    how do I correct it and sharpen up the output from the Manhattan into
    HDMI-1 ?

    You cant.

    Digital is digital and if the PVR is turning good digits into shit HDMI
    then that's what you paid for.

    It seems to be a common complaint especially when outputting SD content
    on the Manhattan boxes.


    I see it is a common complaint https://www.avforums.com/threads/manhattan-t4-r-disappointing-sd-picture-quality.2506671/
    and https://www.avforums.com/threads/discussion-of-our-review-of-manhattan-t4-r-freeview-tv-recorder.2504296/

    With luck they'll put out a software upgrade sometime, although it's
    been a while and no sign of one yet AFAIK.
    --

    Chris
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2