“Only just started using it seems ok the batteries were no good that you sent with it but easily replaced, just have to get used to not having as many channels but saving on subscription from Virgin.”
“I have had Humax PVRs for several years, PVR 9200, FOX HDR, HDR2000 and now FVP4000. I still use a FOX HDR and a HDR2000, so I am familiar with different functions and interfaces. Each time Humax introduce new features, but they also remove other useful ones.
First the FVP4000 good points: Three tuners are really useful. Built-in WiFi is good, much more convenient than a dongle and it works well. They have also retained the Ethernet connection so that a Homeplug device can be used if WiFi signal is poor or subject to interference. Integration of Freeview Play is so much better than the old Humax portal. Media server seems to work well for streaming. The remote control still has TV control capability although less so than the previous remotes. Different remote controls can be set up to control different PVRs without interfering with each other although how to set this up is not explained.
Now the poorer aspects. The interface is clunky and the menu system is slow to respond. Previous PVR menus responded almost instantly to remote commands but the FVP often takes many seconds to respond. This can give the impression that the key strokes have not been recognised, so pressing a key again can then result in an unwanted action or no action at all. The skip forward and skip back keys have gone. Instead it is necessary to fast forward or back to search for the right place. Sometimes I want to do this but usually I want to skip forward in steps of thirty seconds and skip back in steps of 15 seconds – quick, easy and certain. The menus themselves are overly complicated and confusing to navigate. It is too easy to delete whole series of recordings when trying to delete only one, and the mixing up of deletion of recordings with deletion of schedules is a confusing mess. And where is the info button? Yes one can get programme information by selecting a programmed in the guide, but this is confusing because selecting has always meant selecting or switching the channel or scheduling the programme. A small point but why is it not possible to set a ‘bookmark’ when watching a recording. The bookmark facility was removed with the FOX HDR and it has not been reintroduced. Why? The FVP media server seems to work well as a server, but when the FVP is used as a media client to play from another device it does not seem able to see a HDR2000 server although the HDR2000 works well as a media server in its own right. So two incompatible Humax boxes.
The Humax documentation looks nice but it explains very little on what can be done, how the menus are navigated and what the different options within the mean. So it is not very useful. And there is yet another type of remote control, and not just a few keys extra or a few keys missing but a completely different design - and without skip or bookmark keys. It is also very ugly but that might just be a matter of taste.
In summary, the FVP4000T is saved by its integration of Freeview Play and three tuners but otherwise is very disappointing.”
“After upgrading the software it appears to be no different to the 5000T but at a much cheaper price. Also I have some leds on the front I can see where as they are underneath on the 5000T :(
Also I cant hear the hard drive where as the 5000T was chatteringly noisy :)
The remote was faulty but Humax replaced it straight away.
As a result very pleased.”
“Came looking brand new. Connect to the aerial and Wi-Fi no problems and found all the channels. Also using me phone as a controller. Buttons on the remote can be sensitive. On the whole very pleased.”
“As it is a refurbished machine I suppose I shouldn't expect excellent. When I pause live tv and then play I get the words on screen despite this being turned off. Also can only fast forward does not jump like my other box does. Although it will jump back.”
“I already knew this model. I purchased a new model a few years ago. It is regularly updated, so now it is a bit different from when it was new. Improvements mostly. It is easy to program and easy to view the recorded programs. You can record three programs and watch a fourth. HD too. So small compared with the three older versions I have owned. I'm obviously a Hummy fan. We currently own three in different rooms.”
