Humax High Definition Dual Channel PVR / HDR 1003S - Already ranked 'Number 1' in Europe and the UK and destined to dominate the Australian market-
Say 'Hello' to the new kid on the 'VAST' block destined to make an impact on the market finally offering a choice of products to the remote and 'Black Spot' TV viewer.
Although a very recent product on the market, this decoder from Humax is quite exceptionable! Frankly this product is miles ahead of anything else on the Satellite Television market including all of the polished 'Pay TV' products.
Unlike Pay TV, once installed, this service is totally free.
Sporting the full channel line up from the VAST service this twin tuner PVR also has full Ethernet connectivity to your home network greatly increasing your viewing choice.
This allows you to view shows you have downloaded to your computer or stream products from the web such as the ABC catch up service 'iview' directly on your TV.
If you have not done it before, hooking this decoder up to your Home Network is no 'Biggie'. There are three ways to do this.
The preferred (in my opinion) way is a hard wired link to your router (as simple as buying a long Ethernet cable from your electronics retailer or running cable and wall plates for a professional job).
A second approach is the use of PLA's (Power Line Adapter's) which convey the link between your router and the HDR 1003s via the electrical cabling in your home. This is actually a quite simple mechanism to use and is effective.
Third on the list is a wireless connection to your Router - very simple to deploy but on occasion can be prone to problems with interference from other wireless devices, mobile handsets etc. Strangely they can work perfectly in one environment and not at all in another! Diagnosing the problem in this instance can be a nightmare.
Summing up:
This for now, leaves the competition 'dead in the water'. No longer will you wonder if there is anything good on the Telly!
A pleasant surprise is the quality of the remote control feeling solid and comfortable in the hand along with being quite responsive and intuitive to use. Clear thought was placed into the ergonomics of the design. With the remote resting comfortably in the palm of the hand, all the buttons are within easy thumb reach. Noted is the adequate spacing between buttons again allowing for ease of use.
On another subject, an overlooked aspect of similar products is 'connectivity' in that while other similar products connect to the dish using external 'loop through' cabling to cut the cost of manufacture, this can lead to unforeseen problems for the inexperienced user. Humax has eliminated the need for external loops by using integrated silicone twin tuner technology.
Wearing my hat as a Satellite installation technician for VAST, Pay TV and the NBN Satellite project, it is of no surprise when attending a service call for somebody not being able to record on there equipment that this external looping cable has not been installed correctly (or at all) or has been damaged. As a point of interest to the technically minded, I have witnessed all manner of strange and wonderful boo-boo's here. Some quite ingenious in conception such as using a splitter instead of a loopthrough cable (good in theory but the splitter has to be rated for Satellite signal frequencies, has to be 'power pass' on both ports and has to be hooked up to the correct ports on the back of the STU). Even so, a splitter would suffer more signal loss than a loopthrough cable and definitely impart unnecessary noise into the signal.
This is not a problem with the Humax product. Rather than literally 'stitching' two tuners together with cable, the HDR 1003s is designed around a fully incorporated twin tuner. Less service calls for me, less cabling for the consumer but more contented viewers.
Off course this decoder also offers what is fast becoming an industry standard of being able to watch one program while recording another or recording two separate programs while watching something you have already recorded.
With its 500GB Hard Drive this also offers over 400 hours of recording space.
It is refreshing to note the general look and appeal of the Humax decoder. Starting with a novel and unique display mechanism on the front of the unit.
This is built using VFD technology offering a very bright and high contrast display that unlike cheaper LED units employed by other manufacturers is easy to read even in direct sunlight.
Weighing in at approximately 2 Kilograms along with its aesthetically pleasing 'brushed metal' look the display itself is seamlessly intergrated into the front panel giving this satellite receiver an overall satisfying appearance. This certainly is bound to be a popular unit in Australia.
Offering full 1080p or 1080i high definition video, if your TV can display it, this decoder can deliver it. There is no other Satellite Decoder at present offering 1080p (not even in the Pay TV industry). There is competition out there that indicate that they are capable of displaying a 1080p video but they do not have the ability to connect to the Home Network at present so this is a bit meaningless.
Allow me to explain.
I may be wrong but do not believe so - the highest definition broadcast available through Pay TV or Free to Air Broadcasters is 1080i - you may have downloaded 1080p products which you can view in true 1080p on the Humax decoder - however the competition, without a connection to your network do not have the ability to display this.
Hmmm....
Couple this with an optical output for surround sound and you have an exceptional entertainment experience presented by the Humax HDR 1003S decoder.
Another often overlooked aspect is the software installed in set top units. Not so in the Humax decoder. With years of experience they have honed this to deliver quality video and an enhanced user experience particularly where the TV guide is concerned. Citing the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) as an example, it is possibly the most advanced offered.
At present, both with Ethernet connectivity and its superior user interface, the Humax HDR 1003S is a serious contender for the Home and Commercial market and will definitly give, the industry in general, a wake up call.
With a recommended retail price of $AU 595.00 this is the decoder I am buying next!
This allows you to view shows you have downloaded to your computer or stream products from the web such as the ABC catch up service 'iview' directly on your TV.
If you have not done it before, hooking this decoder up to your Home Network is no 'Biggie'. There are three ways to do this.
The preferred (in my opinion) way is a hard wired link to your router (as simple as buying a long Ethernet cable from your electronics retailer or running cable and wall plates for a professional job).
A second approach is the use of PLA's (Power Line Adapter's) which convey the link between your router and the HDR 1003s via the electrical cabling in your home. This is actually a quite simple mechanism to use and is effective.
Third on the list is a wireless connection to your Router - very simple to deploy but on occasion can be prone to problems with interference from other wireless devices, mobile handsets etc. Strangely they can work perfectly in one environment and not at all in another! Diagnosing the problem in this instance can be a nightmare.
Summing up:
- Hard wired connection (preferred)
- PLA good for longer runs where you do not want cables running around the house or cannot install a hard wire connection
- Wireless - can work absolutely perfectly or it may not!
This for now, leaves the competition 'dead in the water'. No longer will you wonder if there is anything good on the Telly!
A pleasant surprise is the quality of the remote control feeling solid and comfortable in the hand along with being quite responsive and intuitive to use. Clear thought was placed into the ergonomics of the design. With the remote resting comfortably in the palm of the hand, all the buttons are within easy thumb reach. Noted is the adequate spacing between buttons again allowing for ease of use.
On another subject, an overlooked aspect of similar products is 'connectivity' in that while other similar products connect to the dish using external 'loop through' cabling to cut the cost of manufacture, this can lead to unforeseen problems for the inexperienced user. Humax has eliminated the need for external loops by using integrated silicone twin tuner technology.
Wearing my hat as a Satellite installation technician for VAST, Pay TV and the NBN Satellite project, it is of no surprise when attending a service call for somebody not being able to record on there equipment that this external looping cable has not been installed correctly (or at all) or has been damaged. As a point of interest to the technically minded, I have witnessed all manner of strange and wonderful boo-boo's here. Some quite ingenious in conception such as using a splitter instead of a loopthrough cable (good in theory but the splitter has to be rated for Satellite signal frequencies, has to be 'power pass' on both ports and has to be hooked up to the correct ports on the back of the STU). Even so, a splitter would suffer more signal loss than a loopthrough cable and definitely impart unnecessary noise into the signal.
This is not a problem with the Humax product. Rather than literally 'stitching' two tuners together with cable, the HDR 1003s is designed around a fully incorporated twin tuner. Less service calls for me, less cabling for the consumer but more contented viewers.
Off course this decoder also offers what is fast becoming an industry standard of being able to watch one program while recording another or recording two separate programs while watching something you have already recorded.
With its 500GB Hard Drive this also offers over 400 hours of recording space.
It is refreshing to note the general look and appeal of the Humax decoder. Starting with a novel and unique display mechanism on the front of the unit.
This is built using VFD technology offering a very bright and high contrast display that unlike cheaper LED units employed by other manufacturers is easy to read even in direct sunlight.
Weighing in at approximately 2 Kilograms along with its aesthetically pleasing 'brushed metal' look the display itself is seamlessly intergrated into the front panel giving this satellite receiver an overall satisfying appearance. This certainly is bound to be a popular unit in Australia.
Offering full 1080p or 1080i high definition video, if your TV can display it, this decoder can deliver it. There is no other Satellite Decoder at present offering 1080p (not even in the Pay TV industry). There is competition out there that indicate that they are capable of displaying a 1080p video but they do not have the ability to connect to the Home Network at present so this is a bit meaningless. Allow me to explain.
I may be wrong but do not believe so - the highest definition broadcast available through Pay TV or Free to Air Broadcasters is 1080i - you may have downloaded 1080p products which you can view in true 1080p on the Humax decoder - however the competition, without a connection to your network do not have the ability to display this.
Hmmm....
Couple this with an optical output for surround sound and you have an exceptional entertainment experience presented by the Humax HDR 1003S decoder.
Another often overlooked aspect is the software installed in set top units. Not so in the Humax decoder. With years of experience they have honed this to deliver quality video and an enhanced user experience particularly where the TV guide is concerned. Citing the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) as an example, it is possibly the most advanced offered.
At present, both with Ethernet connectivity and its superior user interface, the Humax HDR 1003S is a serious contender for the Home and Commercial market and will definitly give, the industry in general, a wake up call.
With a recommended retail price of $AU 595.00 this is the decoder I am buying next!