Misc

Review: Technisat HDFV

Most Freeview HD receivers do what they say on the tin, but little else. TechniSat's impressively small and refined-looking HDFV black box packs in more than just access to the three free-to-air high definition channels. Ins and outs seems comprehensive at first, with outputs for HDMI, Scart and composite video. There's also a set of analogue audio outputs, a USB 2.0 slot and an Ethernet LAN port. The USB slot can play files stored on a memory sick or external USB hard drive, but also lends the HDFV another dimension. In a move that puts this machine ahead of the curve, live TV shows – even from the likes of BBC HD and ITV 1 HD – can be recorded straight to a USB device in MPEG format. It's not possible to set series links (this isn't a Freeview +HD box), but there is a timer for setting recordings. It's certainly one up on rivals such as the Icecrypt T2200, which will need a firmware upgrade (due shortly) to perform a similar function. That Ethernet LAN port is an essential part of the Freeview HD spec, but it serves another purpose on the HDFV – streaming from a PC on the same broadband home network. In practice the HDFV badly needs a second USB port because using a Wi-Fi adaptor (available separately from TechniSat) renders USB playback or recording impossible. Whatever the resolution of your flatscreen TV – HD Ready 720p pr Full HD 1080p – it's worth using this box's 1080p output if your TV can accept the signal; you'll find the onscreen menus are a jot clearer. Attached to a Full HD telly the HDFV managed to deliver clear and concise images from BBC HD, with a sequence from athletics' European Championships spotlessly rendered without any picture noise. Colours are also impressively bold and bright, and though that characteristic remains for standard definition digital channels, there's none of that stunning HD detail; BBC One appeared relatively clean and upscaled just enough to fit a bigscreen TV, but with the odd jagged edge and pixellated area on show. Recordings, meanwhile, are identical to the original broadcasts; good news, since archiving to a PC (as TS files) is possible. The interface for working the HDFV's Freeview HD tuner is pure simplicity. An eight-day EPG in grey, black and white tones makes good use of the remote's numbers and Fastext coloured buttons. Schedules for ten channels over two hours are squeezed into one screen, while jumping back and forth in two-hour chunks – and changing day – are each a one-button job. Attach a USB stick or drive and a split-screen holds basic file directories for both it, and any PC on the same network. USB playback is restricted to MP3, JPEG and MPEG files, with recordings made in MPEG format, but saved as TS files. Streaming from MPEG, JPEG and MP3 files from a PC is also possible (we encountered a few problems with a Mac running TwonkyMedia, although MPEG files played OK) from the interface's NAV menu, though a shortcut on the remote wouldn't go amiss. If you pause live TV, it essentially starts recording it to a buffer on a USB stick, and when you eventually take it off pause there's an option to save it as a bone fide recording. It may not be the finished article, but this Freeview HD receiver-cum-recorder's all-round performance combines with some nifty features that ought to help it do well in an increasingly crowded market. We liked:It may lack the flourishes of others, but the HDFV's interface is the quickest and easiest we've seen on any Freeview HD receiver or recorder. It's almost impossible to get confused. Picture quality is impressive from SD and HD channels – either live or recorded – and playback of digital media from a USB stick, while limited, is slick. We disliked:Video file playback is limited to MPEG files, making the HDFV's ability to stream video files rather wasted. The interface's NAV menu, which hosts the machine's recording, streaming and digital media tools, resembles a simple file list more akin to a PC than a thoroughly ambitious machine such as this. Verdict:With a generally polished interface and only minor rough edges, this is one of the best – and certainly the best value – pieces of Freeview HD kit on the market; plug in an external USB hard disk and this competent receiver grows into a competent recorder that's mostly a joy to use. Related LinksTechRadar Reviews GuaranteeRead more digital TV recorder reviewsRelated StoriesReview: Sharp TU-T2HR32Review: Humax HDR-FOX T2

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