DVR Freeview boxes have been around for a while now. Recent changes to branding mean the "Freeview Playback" label has been launched, with certification given to recorders which offer free channels which you can pause, record and rewind without subscription. You can also play back while you continue to record if you come in half way through a program.
TVonics in particular have a reputation for British-built, eco-conscious design.
Aside from a dedicated low-energy freeview receiver, which produces a single watt on standby, even more standard models produce about half the energy on standby that comparative brands do (3W in this case). In addition, software updates can be prompted through the menu, meaning there's no need to leave your box on standby overnight if you're not recording anything.
The 250GB model I tested allows 125 hours of recording time, and is easy to use too as our video review demonstrated.
Setting up is really easy. TVonics are careful to use as little plastic as possible in their packaging, making for a fully recyclable cardboard protective sleeve. I had cause to put this to the test when I had a typical klutz moment carrying this home and the inner sleeve holding the main box plummeted onto the pavement. Unmarked, unharmed and perfectly functioning, I have a beautifully operational box now installed under my TV.
All I needed to do was connect box to telly using the SCART lead included, and connect the TV aeriel socket to the box using the supplied cable. The TV aeriel was then plugged into the back of the box, and that's it. The box is relatively small (maybe the size of a software box), and comes with a cradle so that you can tuck it vertically next to your TV. It's unobtrusive, smooth, shiny black and looks neat and sleek.
It was mildly irritating to discover that the universal remote included didn't have any batteries and there are no controls on the receiver itself, but, that problem solved, I switched on the box and it autotuned into around 50 channels, about a third of which were digital radio stations. Reception was typically digitally excellent (it does depend on where you are - testing this on the Shiny Towers TV, kindly loaned by Toshiba, produced more pixelated results because of the terrible reception quality of the area).
Freeview Playback boxes should have an instant 8-day EPG and this certainly does. Recording is possible with three options: one touch instantly by pressing the record button, scrolling through the EPG and setting a timer directly, and going into the Timer menu and accessing the EPG from there. The recording is intelligent, in that over-running programs are accounted for so you don't miss the crucial duh..duh..duh...duhduhduhduh at the end of EastEnders as it chimes in over Dot Cotton's horrified expression.
The Library is a doddle to use, and ticks off what you've played back and what you haven't if you're so busy racking up recordings you can't remember where you got to. This is quite useful if you use the series repeat function, where setting a time weekly or daily will just automatically launch the timer. Be warned, if the program fluctuates in time from day to day, you're best off setting up weekly ones for each day of the week, as it won't take yet take this into account.
125 hours is a long time in television (the entire Friends collection, for a start) and I can't imagine needing a much bigger hard drive than this unless you plan to record everything you ever watch.
It's not HD-ready yet, because the content and bandwidth simply won't be available until 2012. However, TVonics assure us that it is all planned for and will be available at the appropriate time.
For those of you who like to support home-grown talent, the TVonics range is designed and built in Wales, with parts sourced mainly in Central and Western Europe. This means the carbon footprint is lower than most, too.
£179 is a reasonable price to pay for a well-designed, considered and good quality DVR. It's not going to revolutionise Freeview, but I certainly like it. I'm guessing lots of others do, as today when I checked, the TVonics online shop was sold out!
Related posts: Shiny Video Review: TVonics DVR250 | Goodmans 80GB HDD Recorder
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