- Freeview+ HD Recorder
- 1TB Capacity
- Twin Tuner
- Viera Connect
Product Description
Panasonic DMR-HWT230EB Smart 1TB Recorder with Twin Freeview+ Tuners (New for 2013) - Panasonic DMRHWT230EB incorporates dual tuner and a great ability to provide total flexibility of vision. Both integrated HD tuner allows you to record your two favorite programs at the same time, which means you will not miss a new episode for 1TB capacity allows you to record up to 259 hours of HD content. Its function is TNT + allows you to pause and rewind live TV footage you, which means you will not miss a moment. Built-in Wi-Fi gives you a quick and easy way to connect to your home network, giving you access to the full Smart TV platform Panasonic. This platform allows you to pursue programs using BBC iPlayer, put your social networking updated with Facebook or just browse the Internet with full browser enabled.... See more product details
Customer Reviews: Panasonic DMR-HWT230EB Smart 1TB Recorder with Twin Freeview+ Tuners (New for 2013)
Amazon Verified Purchase
This was ordered to replace a Humax Fox-T2 which has gone rogue after about 18 months and then refused to start-up (I had since cobbled various bits of on-line info together to find a 'fix'). As availability of this item was constantly fluctuating over 2-3 weeks and was never available when I wanted to order one, I initially opted for an alternative model with built-in Blu-ray player and for a similar price. Features are broadly similar and availability was immediate but it was found after two weeks' of use to exhibit some operational methods whereby replay of recorded programmes or externally stored media must always be from the beginning as there is no positional memory to allow restart from the point at which it was stopped. That had been returned and replaced with this as it has that desired feature.
In some ways it is simpler to use than the Humax but requires a little more user input. Initial set-up was automatic and it searched for channels and saved them without any input by me and it told me just how long it was likely to take (about 3 minutes). Network connectivity is either WiFi or wired, by choice, the latter a little more simple to set-up. However, although more involved, WiFI set-up was complete in about 2 minutes. With some of the initial settings where data input is required, you perform that via the numeric keys, as you would with a mobile phone. With others, especially with WiFi settings, there is an on-screen keyboard which MUST be used and navigated through with the arrow keys. As there may be mixed upper/lower case and numeric content, this is the more intelligent and perhaps faster option.
The EPG is clean and clear and programmes can be selected for recording either with the OK button, although you may need to press it once or twice more if timings could overlap if successive items on the same channel are desired, or from the Red button which needs a single press. Within the Guide, there is no option to input a channel number as there is with the Humax but you navigate by the up/down arrows. It is possible to move forwards or backwards by a day at a time within the Guide by pressing the indicated buttons. However, scrolling through a few hours within a day is slightly slow in relation to some other PVRs but not painful and it does not have an accelerated speed if held continuously for several seconds.
Although an aerial lead is included, there is no HDMI cable or Ethernet cable should you need them. Both are relatively inexpensive but readily available from Amazon or many high street shops if needed.
Presentation of the machine is excellent. Its form factor is unbelievably small and the top has a pleasing textured feel to it. Under a small flap at the left-hand edge is a USB socket either for playback from memory sticks or other drives and, somewhat unusually, a full-size SD card slot which will accept storage media from most cameras and with the use of a suitable adapter microSD cards from mobile phones and other devices. With its small size and tidy appearance location will not be a problem but don't expect to be able to stand a large flat screen TV on top; it's far too small for that! The Remote control is sensibly large, but not too large, and logically laid out. Its battery compartment was a minor surprise in that the 2 AA batteries are inserted one above the other in individual housings rather than the more normal inverted side-by-side arrangement.
I discovered as a result of scheduling a small number of recordings, one of which was then being recorded, that Network access was unavailable and that access to a USB-connected drive was also denied with respective system messages stating that those activities were not permitted during recording. I did not have one available with media files to test, but I imagine that access to the SD slot would also not be permitted. On a more positive note, should you record something with advertising or a news break between portions and which you wish to avoid hitting the forward SKIP button will take you to within a second or two of the restart point. There is also a back SKIP button that does the same thing in reverse. This is reliable, faster and simpler than a normal FastForward function where it can be hit or miss.
Unlike a few PVR's, there is no ability to record two simultaneous or overlapping programmes and then to watch a third on one of the multiplexes employed using the PVR's tuner. However, you can still do so using your TV's tuner. Should you stop playback for any reason, when you wish to resume you will be asked whether to start from the last point viewed or from the beginning. Some functions, such as viewing a listing of recorded progreammes, are bound together via the 'Options' button which saves undue clutter on the remote control and collects some probably infequently used items together.
Initial impressions are good but I expect to expand the review after a lengthier period of familiarisation and experience.
POSTSCRIPT @ 08-2013
I am finding some previously unknown and apparently undocumented but excellent features with this product.
By chance, I was yesterday presented with a message on switching on to the effect that were some new channels to be added and that a re-tune was necessary - it happened periodically with both of my Humax PVRs but any re-tune if scheduled recordings remained in its 'to-do' list would cause them to be lost. I had some scheduled recordings on the Panasonic (very few so it would have been easy to re-do them if needed) and allowed the machine to find the additions. I checked the scheduler after the update had finished and found that they remained intact.
I have also found that on some stations and with certain programmes, presumably those where timings are less reliable, you may get a warning to the effect that the end of one may be curtailed or the start of the following one lost should you choose succeeding guide entries. I have not seen it often, just a couple of times to date and I don't yet know whether or to what degree those recordings are affected. Although there may be a risk of something not being complete, at least you are warned of the possibility and it will not come as a nasty surprise at some future time.
Amazon Verified Purchase
Very pleased with my new Panasonic Recorder albeit we have not used it a lot to date due to the weather it is too hot to sit indoors. Seems vry compact and a good manual to go with it.
Amazon Verified Purchase
I was surprised it took a week to get it delivered because I decided not to pay extra. It arrived when the tracking said it would, with a crunched corner on the box, but the item inside seemed ok. I ordered the Panasonic HDMI cable at the same time as other reviews said it doesn't come with one bizarre !!!! when they tell you, you need one. You get a power cable and the ariel leads why not an HDMI lead as well. Well still waiting for my lead !!!! The PVR is very neat nice small black box very easy to set up and connect to WiFi. So far it's great easy to use and the picture quality is brilliant love it and would recommend it if you don't mind waiting a week or pay extra for delivery and having to buy an HDMI lead. Order the lead a lot earlier or get one from the shops if you want it when you get your PVR.
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