Extras on this low-cost box for Freesat's Freetime service
include recording via USB and multimedia playback
White
kit from other manufacturers has yet to materialise, Humax has released a
low-cost'zapper'box for Freesat's Freetime service which, much like YouView,
features integrated support for broadband-delivered catch-up TV and video on
demand.
Humax HB-1000S Freesat HD First Look
If
you want to record and timeshift TV and radio channels you'll need to add a USB
hard drive of your own, but it only has one tuner so you can only record one
channel at a time.
Build
and connectivity
Perhaps
because it's being touted as a second-room box, the HB-1000S eschews the curvy
stylings of the manufacturer's Freetime PVRs in favor of a rather plain-looking
black case design about the size of the average free-to-air satellite receiver
with no display other than a power/ standby indicator sitting alongside a power
button. The rear panel has an LNB input, an HDMI 1.4 output, composite video,
stereo phonos, an optical S/PDIF, two USB ports and an Ethernet connector.
Wi-fi requires a compatible USB dongle.
The
classy black remote control is easy to grip and has logically placed buttons
including a central 'Home' one for the main menu.
Humax
HB-1000S Connectivity
Setup
The
user interface is pretty much the same as that found on other Freetime boxes
being both colorful and very accessible, though we experienced some slight
jerkiness on occasion while navigating it using our test box.
The
EPG shows now-and-next information or you can select Later to view a timeline
grid for what's coming up in the next eight days, which can be skipped through
in 24 hour periods. Selecting a Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV or BBC channel (other
than +1s) brings up an Earlier option on the left and selecting it takes you to
a list of shows available on catch-up TV players. You can also sort the guide
to show channels of a particular type such as Radio, Music or those in your
favorites list, view program synopses and set reminders
You
can search for shows by title by manually entering keywords, while a Showcase
section displays recommendations for on-demand and live TV.
If
you want to receive channels other than (or in addition to) what's on Freesat
then the box has a separate STB mode enabling it to be used like a conventional
FTA satellite receiver.
The
use of DiSEqC 1.0 and 2.0 switches is supported and you can perform network
searches, specify FTA, scrambled, TV or radio only, pick transponders to scan
from a list (for 28.2° E) or enter a frequency, select/ enter symbol rate and
specify polarity, FEC and transmission type. An FTA scan of 28.2°E with network
search disabled took three and half minutes, and with it on a little under 18.
It's
better than most Freesat boxes in this regard, but there's no EPG included and
you can timeshift but not record what you find.
