0804wv22 DIgifusion FVRT100

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Digifusion FVRT100
Fusions first hard-drive recorder is armed with an extended listings guide and twin tuners but as Ian Calcutt discovers, this is no Sky+ box for Freeview
FEATURES 40GB hard-disk drive; three recording modes (SP, LP, EP); up to 60hr (TV) or 700hr (radio) recording capacity; one-touch recording; MultiGuide proprietary EPG; manual timer-record option; twin digital terrestrial tuners; pause/rewind live TV with rolling 30min memory buffer; simultaneous playback and recording (except current broadcasts); six-speed forward and reverse search; two-speed forward and reverse slow motion; automatic and user-defined Snapshot chapter marks; Snapshot chapter deletion; interactive and digital text compatible; favourite channels; over-air software upgrades; onscreen aerial alignment meter; subtitle display; subtitle recording (future upgrade option); TV and personal reminder calendar; sleep timer; child lock; dimensions: 360(w) x 45(h) x 240(d)mm SOCKETS Back: 2 Scarts (TV: composite, RGB, S-video out; VCR: composite, S-video out; RGB loopthrough); RF aerial in/loop out; DC mains in; RS232 serial service port CONTACT www.fusiondigitec.com

Freeview PVR 250

ledgling British digital TV company Fusion is embracing hard-drive recording in a big way. The DigiFusion FVRT100 is essentially a version of the earlier FRT100 Freeview set-top box with two digital tuners and a 40GB hard disk added for high-quality video recording of up to two channels at once. It is one of several upcoming hard-drive based personal video recorder (PVR) products from Fusion, including one with an external drive for simple transferring or upgrading and a pocket AV recorder/player. The main features of the FVRT100 are the MultiGuide onscreen listings calendar and compression technology for increasing disk capacity, even after youve made recordings. The Thomson DHD 4000 is the only other digital TV/hard-drive PVR to offer this.
The TV Scart outputs composite, Svideo or RGB, while the second Scart will output composite or S-video. If you want to burn to DVD you can route the TV Scart via your recorder for the best quality. If you connect a DVD player to the second Scart, the FVRT100 will accept RGB in and loop through to its TV output, so you can daisychain both items into one RGB Scart on your TV, in case youre short of inputs. The remote control is similar to the FRT100. The layout is acceptable but the keys are too stubby, which is especially awkward for playback.

OPERATION

These fiddly qualities also apply to the onscreen menu, which is inherited from the FRT100. Several confirmation or cancel commands use colour-coded keys (confusingly, the green key can both Fusions proprietary version has the upper hand for now because it already covers seven days in advance. Later in the year its due to expand to 14 days. An EPG is nigh-on essential to a PVR as it makes programme recording easier, though Fusions habit of overlaying the programme synopsis where your cursor sits on the channel grid is cumbersome. To jump through the days you need to use the Calendar feature, where you can also store your personal reminders using a somewhat unwieldy text entry system via remote control.

DESCRIPTION

The other unusual thing about the FVRT100 is that its so small as slim as most Freeview boxes in fact so the extra tuner, hard drive and electronics dont add bulk. The front-panel display is basic but it shows the time when in standby and the channel when switched on, an improvement over the FRT100 digibox. There are channel controls on the front which, along with the separate rear phono output, make it convenient for digital radio listening. There is no digital audio output, but video connection options are generous, though you cant access Freeview or recordings from the RF aerial output its Scart only. Also, the recorder has no card slot or module for Top-Up TV subscription channels.
Though good overall, it doesnt live up to the best PVRs
add or cancel a recording), while other operations use a combination of the separate OK or Cancel keys. The graphics also have the same cluttered, fussy designs as the FRT100. Theyre not pretty and for those with small screens or poor eyesight, they could prove frustrating. Irritating for everyone will be the constantly noisy hard-drive cooling fan. The MultiGuide is a useful feature, especially because Freeviews own extended electronic programme guide (EPG) has yet to be rolled out nationally.

PERFORMANCE

The FVRT100s digital tuners are less sensitive than some weve seen so be careful if you live in a fringe Freeview area. The general picture quality, though, is up to usual standards, creating a reasonably sharp, colourful and pleasant picture. Paused live TV playback and SP-mode hard-disk recordings are as good as the original programme but LP and EP
Small, cheap and not user-friendly
Video connections are generous but theres no digital audio output
The FVRT100 is as slim as a standard Freeview receiver
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Hard Disk Recorders

recordings depend heavily on the quality of the broadcast at the time. They can hold up fine but may show digital blocking if the bitrate is low on that channel. Its handy to be able to reduce the disk space a programme takes up after recording it, but its best to stick with SP and compress better-looking recordings afterwards if you must clear space. Bookmarks are added automatically at 5min intervals to help navigation. Manual bookmark addition is useful too, as is the option to delete chapters, meaning you can perform basic editing, which is not available on previous integrated digital HDD recorders. However, there are major oversights. If you stop playback and resume either from the menu or simply by pressing Play again, you are returned to where you began, not where you left off. Also, despite supporting usual hard-disk features such as simultaneous playback and recording, you can only play programmes that have finished recording. One of the delights of Sky+ and practically every other PVR is

FACT FILE

G Twin Freeview tuners G 40GB hard disk

recording

G Super Compression
Technology (60hr max video capacity) G MultiGuide extended EPG G Two Scarts including RGB/S-video out G Personal reminder calendar
that you arent restricted to this tape model, where you cant touch a recording until it has reached its end. Despite the clever functions mentioned above, this PVR is most suited to those moving into digital TV for the first time or upgrading from a standard digibox. At least with the additional tuner you can watch or record one channel while recording another and you can store 20-60hr of programmes on the hard drive (depending on picture quality) to play at any time without affecting current recordings.

WHATS GOOD

SP picture mode; twin digital tuners; efficient video compression; proprietary extended EPG; bookmarking and editing; good video connections

WHATS BAD

Cannot play recordings in progress; cheap handset; noisy fan; not very user-friendly; no digital audio out or modulated RF out; not Top-Up TV compatible
PICTURE SOUND FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE ALSO CONSIDER.
%%%%% %%%%% %%%%% %%%%% %%%%%

CONCLUSION

The FVRT100 brings many of the features of Sky+ to the Freeview market. The twin tuners offer recording and viewing flexibility, while the 40GB hard drive is fine for moderate use in good SP quality. The ability to delete chapters and alter modes to increase space even after recording are novel additions and the MultiGuide gives it an advantage over Freeviews troubled EPG. However, the onscreen menus are cluttered and fiddly, and the fact that you cant play a programme that hasnt finished recording is daft, given that virtually all other hard drive recorders do this. The lack of quick resume playback is also disappointing. Though good overall, the FVRT100 doesnt live up to the best PVRs and it wont take long for a more experienced manufacturer to wipe the floor with this one. In a toss-up between this and the Thomson DHD-4000, wed plump for the Thomson. Despite sharing some of the FVRT100s flaws, its user interface is superior. But whichever one you go for, the PVR revolution is now in full swing
HUMAX PVR-8000T A superb integrated receiver/recorder hobbled only by the single tuner and delayed roll-out of Freeview EPG Reviewed: Feb 04 PACE TWIN DIGITAL TV RECORDER Twin tuners and easy to use so still a good beginners option, despite the limited 20GB (10hr) hard drive Reviewed: April 03

OVERALL VERDICT

Decent picture quality and several notable features but let down by technical shortcomings
The fascia controls are convenient for flicking through digital radio stations
August 2004 I WHAT VIDEO AND WIDESCREEN TV 29

039 EHC 10 HARD DISC REC G.Test

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Hard disk video recorders

sponsored by

250 Its thin and beautiful, but can Digifusions first hard drive recorder bear close scrutiny?

DigiFusion FVRT100

TS FIRST HARD-DRIVE RECORDER, Digifusions FVRT100 Freeview PVR is a serious and stylish attempt at bringing the benefits of Sky+ to the Freeview market. And while it ticks most of the boxes, some glaring omissions have crept into the design that will probably render it defunct very soon. With twin tuners offering a recording and viewing experience and a 40GB hard drive, the FVRT1000 is fine for making occasional, good quality recordings. It features compression technology that can increase a disks capacity even after recordings have been made. This may not be unique it also features on Thomsons DHD 4000 but it is effective. Its also extraordinarily light and aesthetically pleasing, although the same cannot be said for the clumsy remote control. Although laid out well, the remotes keys are stubby and not great for playback. The same can be said for the onscreen menu, because while colour coded keys seem like a good stab at simplicity, the green button actually adds or cancels a recording, causing needless confusion. The graphics are also extremely fussy and those with small screens will scream out in frustration although they might not be heard beneath the hefty din of the hard-drive cooling fan, which is constantly irritating. Quite the opposite, though, can be said of the
programme guide. While we wait (and wait) for Freeviews own electronic programme guide this units MultiGuide onscreen TV listings suffice and already stretch to one week in advance (soon to be two), an essential feature on PVR and one that makes recording so much easier. The onscreen displays also include a calendar where you can store reminders, although entering text via the remote is a little awkward. Although the picture is very good, the digital tuner is not super-sensitive, and those who live in areas where Freeview signals are less than brilliant and theres still plenty of us should beware.

RECORDING QUALITY

Likewise, recording quality varies. Paused live TV playback and hard disk recording made in SP mode are as good as the original broadcast, but LP and EP modes can be susceptible to digital blocking if the channels bitrate is low. We would recommend recording everything in SP mode and compressing the best quality recordings afterwards to free-up disk space. Once youve made a recording, basic editing is relatively simple. Bookmarks are automatically set every five minutes for ease of navigation, while its possible to delete and insert new bookmarks at will. All in all, the design of the Digifusion FRT100
PC serial port RF aerial in/out
builds on the earlier FRT100 Freeview set-top box by the addition of two digital tuners and the hard disk for high-quality video recording. Its one of Fusions several new personal video recorder hard drive products, including one with an external hard drive for simple transferring or upgrading and a pocket AV recorder/player. But the design does contain some basic oversights, which do detract from the Digifusion FVRT100. One glaring absence is a chasing play feature (the ability to watch the beginning of a programme while its still being recorded), which means that recording with the FVRT100 is inflexible and more reminiscent of using VCR. It makes its rivals, like Sky+ and almost every other integrated digital HDD recorder on sale, not seem like rivals at all. We also noticed that if you stop playback and resume either from the menu or simply by pressing Play again, you are returned to where you began, not where you left off. Thats another reason why this is a decent entry-level model into the world of DVD recording or upgrading from a standard digibox, but nothing more. That said, the additional tuner does allow you to watch and record one channel while recording another, as well as playing any recordings from the 2060hr memory (depending on which recording modes are used) without any current recordings being affected.
Whats good SP picture mode Efficient video compression Proprietary extended EPG Whats bad No chasing play feature No digital audio-out or modulated RF out Not Top-Up TV compatible

Scart (to TV)

Scart (to VCR)

Stereo audio out

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MAKE MODEL

SPECIFICATIONS
Price Subscription fee Recording formats Digital TV tuner Hard disk capacity Maximum recording time RGB recording DVD Playback Video CD/Super Video CD CD-R/CD-RW playback MP3/JPEG playback Tel Web

DIGIFUSION FVRT100

HUMAX PVR-8000T

PACE TWIN

SKY+ 160

THOMSON DHD-4000

THOMSON DTH-7500
250 N/A Hard disk Freeview 40GB 60hrs YES NO NO/NO NO/NO NO/NO www.fusiondigitec.com
200 N/A Hard disk Freeview 40GB 20hrs YES NO NO/NO NO/NO NO/NO www.humaxdigital.com
175 N/A Hard disk Freeview 20GB 10hrs+ YES NO NO/NO NO/NO NO/NO www.pace.co.uk
99 + installation 10 per month Hard disk Sky 40GB 20hrs YES NO NO/NO NO/NO NO/NO www.skyplus.co.uk
399 + installation 10 per month Hard disk Sky 160GB 80hrs YES NO NO/NO NO/NO NO/NO www.skyplus.co.uk
250 N/A Hard disk Freeview 40GB 20hrs YES NO NO/NO NO/NO NO/NO 01732 520920

www.thomson-europe.com

400 N/A Hard disk N/A 80GB 120hrs YES YES YES/YES YES/YES YES/YES 01732 520920

FEATURES

VideoPlus/PDC GuidePlus Satellite control Non-linear editing Playlist editing Timer No of recording modes Library system Chasing playback Pause live TV Rewind live TV Series Link Twin tuner NO/NO NO NO NO NO YES 3 YES NO YES NO NO YES We say: Existing recordings can be compressed to free-up disk space. The Thomson DHD 4000 is the only other PVR to offer this NO/NO NO NO NO NO YES 1 YES NO YES NO NO NO We say: The fixed transfer bitrateproduces a quality picture, which makes up for the lack of recording modes NO/NO NO NO NO NO YES 1 YES NO YES NO NO YES We say: It only records 10 hrs but that should be enough for most people NO/NO NO YES NO NO YES 1 YES YES YES YES YES YES We say: Sky+ is a satellite digibox that records and stores TV shows. It can even record interactive content now NO/NO NO YES NO NO YES 1 YES YES YES YES YES YES We say: Anyone with Sky+ who has a family fighting for hard disk space will welcome this 80hr capacity version NO/NO NO NO NO YES YES 1 YES NO YES YES NO YES We say: Existing recordings can be compressed to free-up disk space. The Digifusion FVRT100 is the only other PVR to offer this NO/YES NO NO NO/YES NO/YES YES YES YES NO NO We say: This unit is packed so full of electronics it can get quite hot. Cant be upgraded for TopUp TV We say: Effective recording using a conventional 3.5in hard drive means it can be easily upgraded, but this is already a sturdy performer. The lack of a chasing playback feature is an alarming oversight, though. NO/YES NO YES NO YES YES 3 YES NO YES YES NO NO We say: The 45-min pause live TV function can bestretched to 90-mins if you sacrifice quality

CONNECTIONS

RGB Scart in/out Component video out DVI or HDMI out S-video in/out Composite video in/out Stereo audio out Optical digital audio out Electrical digital audio out i.Link in/out Photo card slot NO/YES NO NO NO/YES NO/YES NO NO NO NO/NO NO We say: Video connections are generous but the process of burning to DVD is cumbersome and complex We say: Very good picture quality and some great features like twin digital tuners andits SP picture mode, but a few technical shortcomings let it down. An inability to playback recordings in progress as well as not being Top-up TV make this an average deck which is also quite noisy. NO/YES NO NO NO/YES NO/YES YES YES NO NO/NO NO We say: Single tuner means you cant watch one channel and record another We say: Easy to use, brilliant recording performance and featurepacked, this Korean unit is a gem, especially at the giveaway price. It may lack a second tuner, but little else, and by adressing that, Humax could easily become the market leader. NO/YES NO NO NO/YES NO/YES YES YES NO NO/NO YES We say: A smart-card slot ensures that you wont miss out if pay channels are added to Freeview We say: Excellent picture and sound, complemented by intuitive OSD. The HDD only takes 20GB, but this is reflected in a price drop that means its a fair value recorder. NO/YES NO NO NO/YES NO/YES YES YES NO NO/NO NO We say: Digital audio is great for enjoying Dolby Digital movies. Its also handy to have S-video and RGB outputs We say: 10 a month (or free if you take a Sky premium package) makes this a pricey option but for time-shifting TV shows theres nothing to beat it. Of course, for archiving your favourite programmes youll still need a DVD recorder. But try Sky+ and youll never look back. NO/YES NO NO NO/YES NO/YES YES YES NO NO/NO NO We say: Digital audio is great for enjoying Dolby Digital movies. Its also handy to have S-video and RGB outputs We say: Ouch 400 for the extra capacity will hurt and the 10 a month (or free if you take a Sky premium package) makes this a pricey option but for time-shifting TV shows theres nothing to beat it. Of course, for archiving your favourite programmes youll still need a DVD recorder. NO/YES NO NO YES/YES YES/YES YES YES NO NO NO We say: Scart inputs and outputs are RGBcompatible and the USB lets you view/listen to JPEGs and MP3s We say: Files can be transferred from CD-rs; this is clearly a precursor to media centres. The multi-region DVD function is no addon but a quality player in its own right.

VERDICT

Ease of Use Features Looks Picture Sound Value

OVERALL

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DVD recorder/VCR combis
Price Recording formats RGB recording DVD-Audio playback Video CD/Super Video CD CD-R/CD-RW playback MP3/JPEG playback Tel Web

BUSH DVR-H501

JVC DM-RV1

PANASONIC DMR-E75V

PHILIPS DVD R630VR
200 DVD-R, DVD-RW, VHS NO NO NO/NO YES/YES NO/YES www.bush-radio.co.uk
500 DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, VHS NO NO YES/NO YES/YES YES/YES www.jvc.co.uk
500 VHS; DVD-RAM; DVD-R YES YES (2-channel) YES/YES YES/YES YES/YES www.panasonic.co.uk
400 VHS, DVD+R, DVD+RW YES NO YES/YES YES/YES YES/YES www.philips.com/ce
VideoPlus/PDC GuidePlus Satellite control DVD variable bit-rate recording DVD non-linear editing DVD playlist editing Timer No of DVD recording modes Library system Chasing playback (DVD) Trick-play functions (DVD) Zoom (DVD) Progressive scan playback NO/NO NO NO NO YES YES YES 4 NO NO YES YES NO We say: Although difficult to compare, both VCR and DVD are very good in their own right, with DVD playback being first class YES/YES NO YES YES YES YES YES (8-event) 4 YES YES YES NO YES We say: Bitrates can be changed to match capacity left on a disk; they can even be mixed on recordable and rewriteable disks YES/YES NO YES YES YES YES YES (16-event) FLEXIBLE YES YES YES YES YES We say: This is a well-specified DVD recorder and player. The VCR section covers the basic features only YES/YES NO NO NO YES YES YES 4 NO NO YES YES YES We say: Philips first DVD recorder combined with a VCR looks well-featured and has the potential to be a star performer
RGB Scart in/out Component video out DVI or HDMI out S-video in/out Composite video in/out Stereo audio out Optical digital audio out Electrical digital audio out i.Link in/out Photo card slot NO/NO NO NO YES/NO YES/NO YES NO YES NO/NO NO We say: The connectivity may be limited (no S-video output), but thats to be expected at this price NO/YES YES NO YES/YES YES/NO YES YES NO YES/NO NO We say: S-video input only applies to DVD recorder, and theres no RGB for recording from digital TV YES/YES YES NO YES/YES YES/YES YES YES NO NO/NO NO We say: Nothing here for the camcorder or digital camera enthusiast but ideal for dubbing old VHS tapes to DVD YES/YES YES NO YES/YES YES/YES YES YES YES NO/NO NO We say: Not rated yet

Ease of Use Features Looks Picture Sound Value
We say: The basic features and sparse connectivity are more than made up for in the sheer quality of DVD playback and recording. Although audio is limited and CDs dont sound great, this highperforming combi is a bargain.
We say: Although a good performer with some nice features (you can watch VHS tapes in progressive scan mode), the VHS and DVD are not integrated well. enough. JVC could have more impact with their upcoming VHS/DVD recorder combi with built-in hard disk.
We say: Its the DVD recorder section that really impresses with excelllent recording and playback. The VCR performance is merely average but if all you really want to do is copy old VHS tapes to DVD then this is of little consequence and youll also be happy to forgive this Panasonics dire styling.

We say: Not rated yet.

ESSENTIAL HI-FI & HOME CINEMA 75