Product Description
Humax HDR-FOX T2 500GB Freeview + HD Digital TV Recorder -
Humax HDR-FOX T2
The Humax HDR-FOX T2 is a feature-packed, Freeview + HD digital TV recorder, complete with recording, multimedia, home-networking and on-demand services for the ultimate experience without subscription TV. Simply connect the HDR-FOX T2 to your HD TV to enjoy high-definition content (HD), as well as access to 50 standard definition Freeview TV channels and 24 radio stations.
stunning High Definition Viewing
large recording capacity
twin tuners for simultaneous recording
Freeview HD +
Live Pause: phone rings during the last ten minutes of a show, but do not panic. Pause live TV to make a call or answer the door, then just continue where you left off.
Energy Saving <. / H4>
Other features
Customer Reviews: Humax HDR-FOX T2 500GB Freeview + HD Digital TV Recorder
Amazon Verified Purchase
I was forced into buying this because my Samsung TV in the kitchen did not have a good enough Freeview tuner to do justice to the excellent display. I am so pleased with the Humax; using the HDMI interface in 1080p mode I can make the Samsung display the whole picture without over-scan cropping the picture. The HD pictures are superb, and the up-scaler from SD in the Humax is a very good one, without any of the silly and redundant noise-reduction features of the Samsung. And the Humax is a twin-tuner recorder too!
The EPG in the Humax is excellent, very easy to navigate, and one soon gets used to the fact that it also displays past programs as well - the time line at the top shows where we are. Normal detail navigation with the remote control uses the central four NSEW buttons around the select button; channel page jump is by using the program up-down buttons; time jump uses the >> or << buttons to go to next screen, and >>| or |<< buttons to see the same time on the next/previous day. If one is right handed the most used buttons all seem to be in just the right places for the thumb. A great feature is that while browsing the list you can still see and hear the current channel being shown in a small window on the left.
Initially I found the assorted time-stretching, time-shifting, recording, skipping forward, etc, functions complex and disconcerting, but that is partly because one is talking to a Linux PC inside the box, and there might have to be a few steps taken before making a recording, and partly because there are so many different options available. But you can also just press the record button on the remote control to grab what you are watching, just like with a VCR. After a few months, we have all found it really does work very well; if we have missed something it has become quite intuitive to use the << button a few times to roll back at 2x or 4x or 8x or 16x or 32x speed just to have another look, and then >> to roll forward through an advert or link to catch up. Slo-mo can be from 1/2, 1/4, down to 1/8 speed, and back to normal by repeatedly pressing the |> button.
The manual is comprehensive and quite well laid out, especially so when considering how much is possible with this machine. The more I have studied it and experimented with various functions, the more I have to agree with how it has been done. But there is a steep learning curve.
The Ethernet works well; hooked into my home network it does not require a PC as a host. It can just use the ADSL modem like any other computer for viewing things such as the BBC iPlayer. When I am more confident about its security I plan to allow it to look at my central server for music, home movies, pictures, etc. Edit 19/5/2013. It now looks at a dedicated DNLA Media Server, see Addendum 7 below.
The USB on the front works nicely; I put in my Test Stick with various patterns, music and a home video on it. All worked as hoped, more so than when putting the same stick into the Samsung.
The box as delivered had an old firmware within - January 2011, and the HD pictures were poor and breaking up. I asked it to do an OTA update, and fortunately there was a June 2011 version available, which took the best part of half an hour to download. After this finished the pictures were superb, and the Freeview+ option works - which allows you to flag a future program for recording if you see a green dot on the trailer. I've since set it to automatically update whenever an OTA update is available, and it has successfully found each of them.
One small niggle was that the eco-power-down is ON as a default, and set to two hours! I could extend the time to 10 hours easily, but it took slightly more digging to find out how to turn OFF the eco function.
Another niggle, not a Humax problem but inherent because of the way the broadcasters allocate the channels, is that if the box needs to be re-tuned then all the 'Program Record' and 'Series Record' pre-set choices one has made using the EPG will be lost, and need to be entered all over again. Fortunately all the previously recorded programs still remain on the hard disk.
I called up Test-Card W on channel 105 (now on 200) to see how much bandwidth was coming in, and was most impressed with the results, it is all there, and nothing is missing. It showed that the Humax up-scaler from SD to the 1080p display via 1080p HDMI was significantly better than the Samsung scaler doing the same job from SD (either 576i or 576p) via HDMI.
My Humax tuner is the second last receiver in a long string of other tuners fed from a distribution amp near a loft aerial in a fringe area, and it is giving the best and most stable of all the pictures. It has not glitched or locked up at all yet. (But see the later addendum below!) And it is future-proof for 2012 switch-over when there will be much more HD on Freeview. Roll-on the Olympics!
I will be adding to this review when I have played some more with the Ethernet, time shifting and other recording features for a few more weeks.
So far I think it is definitely well worth five stars.
Addendum 1. 9th Nov 2011
Ethernet.
This was easy to set up on auto, and yet allows manual selection of ip address. It all worked first try and was visible to all the tests on my home network. However I still haven't attempted to allow it to look into the rest of my system - and thinking about security I probably will not.
HumaxTVPortal.
After a very slow start - I kept getting an `application error' at the humaxtvportal website - it all suddenly worked immaculately. At first I didn't know why it was slow, because I had the latest software update; and thought maybe I had been too impatient and didn't give it long enough to sort itself out for that first contact. I later discovered the box needs to be turned Off and On again after the set-up for this to become effective.
The BBC iPlayer is super, and appears in full resolution on the screen with no visible artefacts, and this on a web connection typically running at only 3.5Mbits or less. This is a very worthwhile feature, recommended!
There are also You Tube (heavily sanitised), Flickr (poor access), Internet Radio (very limited selection), and Wiki TV (too much like hard work), none of which are a patch on the easy and intuitive BBC iPlayer.
Addendum 2. 03 Dec 2011
Freeze-up.
We've noticed that after a few days it can lose functions and eventually lock up; you can only watch the channel already selected. The first warning is when the annoying 'Red Button' graphic in the top right hand corner has gone away (yay!) without having to press the green button, but alas, so has the Text facility. Changing channels away from BBC at this stage can sometimes restore correct operation. Soon after losing the Text facility, though, it will refuse to change channel, and locks. Switching off and on again at the mains does a cold-boot and everything is OK again.
We have also noticed that if it is left tuned to a non-BBC station this might never happen, so I think there is possibly a bug in the BBC's Red Button software, perhaps causing a memory leak that eventually fills up the RAM and crashes the internal computer. But of course, this is just my speculation, and could be completely wrong.
(edit 6/1/2012) We have also seen this problem in the last few days on a couple of different makes of HD Freeview+ TVs, first symptom being unable to find the Test Card with the magic button sequence on Channel 200 (was 105).
(edit 6/5/2013) The freeze problem seems to have mostly gone away, it has not happened for several months, perhaps the Red Button software has finally been fixed (for now).
Addendum 3. 11 March 2012
HDCP.
I've tried to plug the HDMI output via a Blackmagic HDMI To SDI converter into an elderly (but very good) SDI-only plasma display. Alas, the HDMI connection carries HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) even on 576i (lowest definition output, selected via V-Format button), so I am unable to use the Humax with my biggest display, and only end up with a blank green screen. Note that this will also prevent copying programs at full quality via the HDMI output.
Addendum 4. 10 April 2012
8K mode.
It works well with the new 8K mode used on the BBC London multiplex since the April 4th Switch-over.
Addendum 5. 6 June 2012
Repeat customer.
I've just bought another Humax T2, to go with the living-room "Smart" TV. The T2 replaces a Panasonic offering from Vine which turned out to be just too unfriendly when compared with this Humax.
Addendum 6. 6 Jan 2013.
Backup to USB.
We recorded a couple of programs and series we didn't want to erase, so have backed them up to a USB Flash drive and more recently to a portable 1TB hard drive in a USB caddy. The USB drives can later be played directly on either of the Humaxen into their TVs, and also a friend's Humax plays them and can copy them. After some experiments I've found that the files copied to a USB drive can also be played directly into my "Smart" TV via its USB socket, but not via the USB on the Panasonic box.
Addendum 7. 19 May 2013
Playing from another Media Server, and used as a Media Server.
I've added a Seagate DNLA Media Server to my Ethernet LAN, and the Humax can see and play the files on it, including those originally recorded by the Humax and then archived to the 1TB disk caddy drive.
I've also now allowed the Humax to share and FTP, and its files can be seen over the Ethernet by the Smart TV and the PCs. The W7 PC can play the recorded off-air video files directly from the Seagate server using Media Player provided the .ts file-type is selected.
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I never wear an anorak. Best to get that out of the way first.
I bought this,although my main interest was the SONY equivalent,about 3 weeks ago from Amazon. All my equipment is SONY so why did I go down the Humax route?
I had read lots of reviews on the sony HDT500,many that mentioned a noisy fan. That didn't paricularly steer me aware from it. It was more the lack of capability, i.e. Youtube,BBCiplayer,etc. I managed,after a hellish amount of internet trawling,to discover the SONY will allow you to use BBCiplayer through the RED BUTTON DIGITAL TEXT. Humax seemed a better proposition through its more accesible TV PORTAL button which gives you access to the aforementioned.I was hoping to find itv player and lovefilm there too.Sadly it's not!There is flicker and wikpedia.I quite like the inclusion of wikpedia,others may not find it a worthy app.
The 4 HD channels are very good.I only have a (self-erected,placed)loft aerial.The pictures are very sharp and clear.I think the other channels are ok,comparable to the 46 inch tv's freeview tuner.
As I'm now not as young as i'd like to be but not as old as I could be,I find the bottom of screen channel labels excellent in their presentation and size. The tv guide is well laid out and easy to follow. One button record is simple and well-thought out.Access to recorded programmes is easy too.
I like the remote control. Other reviewers have criticized it and to be fair,it is not perfect.Quality:well-built.Usability:Excellent. Peculiarly,the "Video" controls, i.e. the pause/ff/rec/reverse buttons are very small.
The buttons you may use most of all though are of a good size:volume,channel up/down/tv portal/keypad.
The Sony had no display on the front of its box. The Humax has an orange circle showing standby,blue means on and red is in record mode.The Humax also informs you of channel currently selected in blue text on the front of the box- quite a handy feature.
I owned a sony dvd recorder previously and scheduled recording meant the machine clunking into action when recording started out of sleep mode. The Humax seems able to silently record while seeming to still be asleep.
I bought the Solwise Homeplug adaptor set at around £38 to go with this to enable it to be hard-wired.They work a treat!
As stated in my intro, I'm not into techie talk so I can't tell you what's under the bonnet. It does what I bought it to do: Experience HD tv: Use HD BBCi player on my tv: see youtube on my tv. I know this machine is capable of being part of a network, allowing the user to view video/music/pics from laptops/computers. That isn't really my thing so I can't provide any information in that field of use.
Hopefully someone at Humax reads reviews here and elsewhere. Some new apps like lovefilm ch4 player etc would be great additions.It would be nice if those running the Humax website would keep purchasers up to date on forthcoming developments regarding new apps.
For me, an occasional tv viewer, this box is an excellent purchase. I recommend it highly in terms of what it does and its build quality.
If you are looking for a freeview box with HD channels, recording capability, a very good programming guide and the CI card slot for top up TV (SKY Sports ESPN etc) then look no further, this is the box! I bought 2 other boxes before I came to this one, trying to save money. I took both back because the programming guide and recording facilities didn't cut the mustard. I was a SKY customer, when you compare most boxes to the SKY+ box, there is no competition.
This is a close as you will get to the SKY+ box facilities without paying for SKY. The TV guide makes this box so easy to use and knocks spots off the previous HUMAX models (like the PVR9300T) and any other freeviews I have tried. You can browse through the TV guide whilst still watching the current channel in the corner of the screen
The unit and the remote look the part and appear to be better quality than previous HUMAX models. The SKY+ remote has the slight edge on position and size of buttons but again the HUMAX is the best out there IMO as far as looks and function goes! I read reviews mentioning the fan noise, I have heard the fan come on once so its not like its always running, and even when on, it was not an issue. I also read a review about maximum recording time for a single programme being 2hrs, this is a myth! I recorded the F1 at the weekend which was 3hrs long.....tried and tested and it works a treat.
More positives: Quick to set up, upscales the quality of all other channels.
Overall this box has far exceeded my expectations. I loved SKY+ and was sorry to see it go.....until I bought this!
Would definitely recommend!
Humax has always been the quality leader in PVRs, ever since they entered the market. Our aged PVR-8000T died over Christmas after years of good service, so after a disappointing experience with one of the competitors we upgraded to a HD-FOX T2 PVR. We got the 500GB version, but the 1TB should be identical apart from disk size.
First, a warning: when shopping around make sure you get the right thing. Humax also sell a "HD-FOX T2 Freeview HD Set Top Box" which looks the same and costs a lot less, but doesn't have the hard disk, and hence has no PVR functionality. Humax should stop giving products such confusing names.
Moving on to the device, the user interface is much improved in many small ways. For instance, if you want to search for a programme title you can enter the letters using either the old "keyboard" system (navigate to each letter using up-down-left-right) or the "SMS" system (multiple key presses on the digit pad). Search terms are now saved, so you don't have to keep re-entering them every time you want to look. Programs recorded as a series are kept in separate folders, so you can keep the whole run of "Teletubbies" without having to page through them all the time, and when your little darling grows out of them you can delete the lot in one swell foop. Overall the UI is straightforward and simple to use, and definitely an area where Humax leads the competition.
The front panel has a USB port into which you can plug a thumb drive or external hard disk drive, and then either export recorded programmes or import other stuff you want to watch or listen to. Now you can bore your relatives with your holiday pictures on your HD TV, or just put your entire collection of MP3s on random play. Media files can be viewed direct from a USB device, so you don't need to copy the files over before starting the show. Interestingly, the box runs Linux under the hood, so as well as the normal "FAT32" format for USB devices (the one they all come formatted in) you can also use the Linux "EXT2" disk format, which will please Linux users. Firmware updates can also be done via USB key too, which makes life a lot easier. Incidentally it seems that the over-the-air updates are only being put on an HD channel, and as we don't get HD yet we aren't getting the automatic updates. Check the version shipped against the latest on the Humax support site and update if there is a more recent version.
One minor irritation is that exported files are in ".ts" (Transport Stream) format. This is the data format used to wrap video and audio for broadcast transmission, and it contains extra information to help the player recover from interference. Most media player software can play this unchanged, but not all, and having to extract the original MPEG data is a nuisance. It would have been nice if Humax could have done this themselves as part of the export system.
The back panel also has an Ethernet socket, and the latest version of the firmware can view BBC iPlayer and other similar services, moving this device firmly into the "Internet video" space. If you don't have an Ethernet socket in your living room then you can also get a wifi dongle that plugs into the rear USB port.
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Amazon Verified Purchase
As a long term Sky+ HD customer who was forced to cancel my subscription after moving (unresolvable issues with the communal satellite system at new address), I thought it may be useful to write a review in case anyone else is considering switching, whether the move is forced or voluntary.
I approached the purchase of this Humax PVR with a fair amount of skepticism after having used standard Freeview boxes and experienced alternative PVR services such as Virgin. As a result, I didn't hold up much hope for the EPG, ease of use and general performance. In my opinion, Sky's software is the most superior available and despite the odd grievance it was pretty much perfect... or so I thought.
I can't overstate how pleasantly surprised I was by this product - although to be fair the overwhelming consensus of 5-star customer reviews should have convinced me. Firstly, the design, look and speed of the EPG software is just as good as Sky and overall I would say it is in fact faster and more polished. Virtually every button function from Sky+ is retained (occasionally and necessarily renamed e.g. the 'planner' is split between 'media' (things already recorded) and 'schedule' (things to be recorded)) with additions complementing the experience - a prompt that appears when selecting a recording in SD if an HD version exists, the ability to create a customised channel list and do away with Freeview's woeful channel grouping/ordering, the ability to add peripheral storage media via the USB port (and general 'openness' compared to Sky's somewhat 'closed' system) and access via the internet to iPlayer, web services such as YouTube and Wikipedia.
The box itself was 100% plug and play, very simple to setup and intuitive to use. The recording and live pause/rewind features are quick and responsive, and the 500GB storage is more than enough especially as it is not hampered by Sky's disappointing storage-hogging Anytime on demand service.
For me, even as a former Sky customer, I ironically tended to watch and record the vast majority of my TV viewing from channels available on Freeview, and the Humax does everything I had with Sky but better, and with no subscription fee (ok, a much higher initial cost) There are a number of affordable movie options cropping up so Sky Movies are not missed, the only thing that is lacking are Sports.
To summarise, I couldn't recommend this Humax PVR more highly. To anyone considering switching from Sky+HD or with viewing habits similar to mine, you will not be disappointed - trust the vast body of 5-star reviews, the facts don't lie!
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Never having owned a hard drive recorder before I did some careful research before eventually plumping for the Humax-Fox T2 HD. I'm certainly glad that I did. I've been absolutely stunned by it. Not only is it a piece of cake to set up, but the results have been gob smackingly impressive. Gone are the old days of fiddling around with timers on an old VHS machine. This is a perfect example of technology improving things for the better. It really couldn't be simpler. In actual fact this is slightly worrying. You wonder if that is it, because there is no indication that you've successfully set it to record something and you are left wondering if you should leave it on, turn it off or what, and come the time the machine shows no sign of stirring from it's stand by mode. I needn't have worried though. It's just cunningly efficient stealth recording.
The one thing you will have to watch out for if you are considering this machine, and it's something I picked up from an earlier review, is the bloody power saving. Initially I set it up and found I could only get a handful of channels through my TV receiver, and those kept breaking up. After tearing my hair out I read back and found the clue. In standby the recorder will not amplify the TV signal unless you turn it off on the menu. So no, you haven't mucked it up. With this done you'll be suitably impressed and I would expect you to be as pleased as I am with it. I'd have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending this hard drive recorder to anyone.
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I've had an old Humax for about 8 yrs, one of the first freeview PVRs around, and it still works great, but with single tuner, 40GB disk and no HD it was time to upgrade - so when this came out in 1TB, and I saw it also did iplayer, I went for it.
Loads of great features. Latest upgrade has "trailer booking" - when you see a trailer, you press the green button to book it for recording - fab!
Nice touches, like series-record automatically creates a folder.
The iplayer interface is a little slow and only does iplayer, so no 4oD or SeeSaw (yet?) - but once it starts playing it all works fine. I have no doubt this is a feature Humax will extend in the future.
Humax is about the only PVR I've seen (freeview box?) where people don't complaine about it locking up and having to be rebooted / power-cycled - they are totally reliable, they just work - they are a little more expensive than average, but worth the extra.
Lovely interface - very easy to use. works very well streaming movies from my Western Digital media server, with enough zoom options to get the picture just right. Playing photos from my media server doesn't work quite right, but I'm sure they'll fix it.
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