Advantages: Huge hard drive, One touch recording and excellent picture quality.
Disadvantages: It can't walk the dog (yet)!!!

...If you are looking for a top quality Freeview Personal Video Recorder (PVR) that not only looks good, but also does everything that have always wanted to do with your TV, you have arrived. The Humax 9200 is one of the best Freeview PVR's on the market and in my opinion is the best one. Scanning the Internet looking for a decent one is no easy task, forget the cheaper ones that claim to offer all of the features you need because they probably won't. By paying that little bit extra certainly gives you a whole lot more. This PVR comes with so many features you would actually think that it was more expensive. This PVR would actually change the way you watch Freeview forever. You will never miss another programme again. This lets you record 2 channels at the same time with it's dual digital receiver and recording is so easy... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Simplicity, flexibility, multiple recordings
Disadvantages: Guide loading time, no series link

...I'd been toying with the idea of a PVR for a while and finally settled on the Humax 9200T. It sets itself up out of the box, what could be simpler. Programming is really straightforward too with just a click of the OK button in program guide. No longer do you have to decide which of two programmes on at the same time you wish to record, just get them both with the 9200T's twin tuner. You can also watch a third (though there are limitations based on the combination of channels you are recording). Software updates are ongoing and there was one out just before I bought my machine. You need a PC to update the system if you don't want to wait for an update to be broadcast over the air. One thing lacking is a series link, where you say you want to record the whole of a series and the system then works everything out - hopefully Humax... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Ease of Use
Disadvantages: Limited Manual

...I have had this model since February 2007 and it is now something I "could not be without". The simple set-up and use make this an easy chioce even for the non-technical. Recording is the Humax's strongest feature and this has been made simple by one button press. The manual included in the box has its limitations and I would recommend anyone who needs to know more about this machine to visit www.hummy.org.uk. This site give all levels of information and help with using and maintaining the Humax 9200T. Not least of the help subjects is updating the Humax internal software to enable new features. Highly recommended. One feature new users may question is the slow loading of the EPG. This is a design feature and can be explained by visiting the above site too. A 2 year maker's Warranty makes this a great buy.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Just one up-front cost. No subs. Extra channels. Proper widescreen output
Disadvantages: Needs a good aerial. A limited list of subscription channels muddies the waters somewhat.

.... There is a way round this. One is to have two cheap boxes, another is to have an integrated digital TV (IDTV) and one other box. ** What a silly name that is - has anyone tried perching one on top of a telly? My own initial solution was to have an IDTV for watching and a set-top box for recording. Not the most elegant solution, I grant you, but as the French say, "c'est brutal mais ça marche". The Rolls-Royce solution is to buy a twin-tuner PVR, like the Humax 9200T or the Topfield 5800/5810. These not only have two tuners, but a PC-style hard drive to record to. Now that "Freeview Playback" has launched, they are every bit the equal to Sky Plus only with less channels. They can set a timer for a series and then cancel it afterwards, and they recheck programme information to alter existing timers. ADVANTAGES? - First and foremost, there... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Twin tuner flexibility. Good tech support with upgrades etc from toppy.org.uk forum
Disadvantages: A lot to learn, not helped by p***-poor manual

..., one of which was decidedly loose, and jacked up the signal strength by about 10% in the process. It's very easy to neglect decent aerial connections, both when making them up, and probably when dusting too. To get full advantage from the Toppy and its USB port, you need to bring it to a PC, or, if a laptop is available, the PC to the Toppy. This enables you to update not only its software in advance of any 'over-the-air' updates which are timetabled along with those for every other set-top-box maker, but to add 'TAPs', and download MP3 music files. RECOMMENDED MODIFICATIONS Whilst it does work "out of the box", then if this is your bag, the Humax 9200T is probably for you. If you like the idea of something that you can customise, then the Topfield is unique. It's a little like being a "Mac" owner in a sea of PCs, or perhaps given... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Cheap, given the wherewithal to finish it cheaply.
Disadvantages: Somewhat limited facilties. Crap manual

...with a Dolby Digital Home Cinema set-up. I've now set up the same Barebone PVR in the London area and in Swanage, and on both occasions all available channels were pulled in loud and clear, and picture quality was excellent - well, once you've set the SCART lead to 'RGB' it is. RGB (Red Green Blue) uses a superior six wire set-up to transmit the picture to the TV, not two as in the alternative 'Composite' setting. Only use the latter if your TV can't handle RGB via its SCART input. If your TV is so old it doesn't have a SCART socket, then the digital switch over is going to cause you more problems than buying this set top box will solve. USING IT Well, it was never going to be as good as a market leader like the Humax 9200T or Topfield 5800, but as long as you keep repeating the "It's only 40 quid" mantra, you'll feel better. One... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Never miss a programme
Disadvantages: U-G-L-Y

...I recently bought this freeview player as my old one packed up and I am so glad I did! The Humax 9200T is a basically a freeview player that has a built in hard drive. For anyone that has ever heard or used Sky + then this is exactly the same thing. Firstly if you were to look at the box itself then it is certainly something you will easily forget. It is a big square box essentially! It is not overly attractive at all. On the front you will see numerous buttons which let you change channel as well as pause live TV. There is a display on the left side of the box which shows the time and what channel you are watching. To the right of the machine is a flap which houses the card reader (for Top Up TV). On the back are the usual sockets with the noticeable absenteeism of a HDMI socket. The remote control is also very ugly... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful