MoneySavingExpert.com - Cutting Your Costs, Fighting Your Corner

Freeview PVRs Top deals on Freeview boxes that record live TV

ARCHIVELast updated:

12 Apr 2011

Hi. Many sales are short lived. So we put all the latest, plus deals, guides & loopholes in the free, spamless weekly email.

Ensure you don't miss out. Join the 8m who get it emailed each week

FAQs Privacy Policy View Past Emails Unsubscribe

Important! Ensure you know how to shop safely before trying these deals

DOs:

DON'Ts:

For safety, pay by credit card if over £100
Use unfamiliar sites without checking
Let your antivirus run out
Protect purchases under £100

Full DOs and DON'Ts

Tips for shopping safely

Whether it's a retailer or restaurateur, airline or air-conditioner seller, computer shop or car rental company, there are always two main risks. Either it's a dodgy company, or it's a legit company that has financial problems and goes bust.

The aim of these tips is to help you minimise the risks.

Quite simply, its customers are immediately transformed into creditors. This hits hardest if you've ordered goods or tickets from them, and not had delivery, as then you become one of a line of people trying to get your money back out of the company's assets, and you usually get back much less than you paid in.

Even if you've had delivery, if the company you bought from goes under and there's a problem with the goods, it can mean you've no comeback.

While MoneySavingExpert.com endeavours to check deals are valid, we don't check companies ' finances. Even huge names like MFI and Woolies have folded, so it's very important you use the right strategies to stay protected where possible.

Pay by credit card for something over £100, and Section 75 laws supercharge your consumer rights.

Unlike debit cards, cheques or cash, pay in full or part (even just £1) on a credit card and by law the lender's jointly liable with the retailer.

This means you have exactly the same rights with the card company as you do with the retailer. So if it goes bust, you can simply take your complaints there instead and get money back if there's no delivery.

Yet it's important you ALWAYS REPAY IN FULL each month, so there's no interest cost. See the full Section 75 guide.

Section 75 doesn't apply to purchases under £100, but there's still an option which can help. It isn't a legal protection, just Visa, Mastercard and Amex's rules, but it's a good back-up.

Spend on a Visa, Mastercard or Amex credit card or any debit or charge card. If the goods don't appear, you can try to ask your bank/card provider to reclaim the cash from the seller's bank, so long as you complain within 120 days of realising there’s a problem. See the Chargeback guide for full details.

Bogus websites are often set up to cash in on popular products like Ugg boots and Tiffany necklaces, so be wary if it's an unfamiliar site. And don't think that because it appears on a reputable search engine, that makes it a reputable site - always check.

Most folk know to look for a security padlock on the bottom right of a website, but that doesn't mean the site's legit, just that payment's secure.

To find out who registered the site and when, search the Whois database. Reputable firms should also appear on the Companies House site, the UK Government's official companies register. Be very wary of businesses with just a PO Box or email address.

Study the site's worldwide web ranking on Alexa. Anything in the top 100,000 means it's reasonably big and a good, though not foolproof indication of legitimacy. Do a quick Google search for other shoppers' experiences.

Crucially, ensure your security's up-to-date - free software can be downloaded to your computer in about five minutes. Full details in the Free Antivirus Software guide.

Many people are surprised to learn you've MORE rights buying online (or by telephone/catalogue) due to the Distance Selling Regulations.

These give you a legal right to send most goods back within seven days for a full refund (including outward delivery costs), even if there's no fault. You'll usually need to pay for the return delivery. Read Consumer Rights for a full guide.

However, of course, this is balanced by the fact ordering online automatically means there's a time gap between ordering and delivering - when the company has your money. So if it goes bust during that time, the distance selling rights don't help.

Ultimately, there is always a risk that a company can go bust. If the above routes don't apply, then you have to make a decision about whether you're willing to take the risk of parting with your cash.

Don't be scared of this. Every day we all make transactions based on trust, and this is part of that, but do balance up the amount you're spending against the risk. Don't give large amounts of money to a company you're not sure about.

We've only included deals with reasonable stock available at the time of writing, but these can still go quickly and prices fluctuate, so always check for yourself first.
Please report any cheaper finds in the Freeview PVR forum discussion.

The Best Buys: Freeview PVRs

The price of Freeview recorders has risen over the past few years, but so have their abilities. Most now include snazzy hi-tech features as standard, such as the ability to record a series at the touch of a button, and come with a minimum 160GB storage.

The Cheapest: Refurbished Dion 250GB Twin Tuner Recorder, £49.97 delivered

With Freeview PVRs, the best deals are often on refurbished models that have been returned and repaired.

The Tesco Outlet* shop on ebay is selling refurbished Dion DTR250SS10 250GB Recorders for £49.97 online, including delivery and a year's warranty - the cheapest PVR by quite a way.

This is a cracking deal but you'll have to get in quick if you want one, as stock is limited. It's worth noting there's little feedback available on the model, so do feed back your experience in the forum discussion. It has a seven day electronic programme guide, as well as two scarts, and it'll record and store up to 160 hours.

Recording Time (max): 160 hrs
EPG (Electronic Programme Guide): 7 days
Tuners: 2 (record 1 channel whilst watching another)
Warranty: 1 year
Series Link (records whole series in one-touch): Yes
Refurbished 160GB Freeview PVR, £70 delivered

Electronics giant Maplin's offering refurbished 160GB Freeview PVRs for £69.99, with free delivery and a year's warranty.

Its told us that though the majority will be Bush PVRs, the brand and model may vary. Stock's limited, so get in soon if you want one.

The Freeview PVR will store up to 80 hours of recordings, plus it has a series link feature that lets you record an entire series at the touch of a button.

Recording Time (max): 80 hrs
EPG (Electronic Programme Guide): 7 days
Tuners: 2 (record 1 channel whilst watching another, or record 2 & watch a recording)
Warranty: 1 year
Series Link (records whole series in one-touch): Yes
The Top Deal: Refurbished Humax Black Twin Tuner 160GB, £96 delivered

Market leader HumaxDirect often sells Grade A refurbished (ie, should look brand new) versions of its best-selling boxes at significantly reduced prices.

It's selling the refurbished 160GB Humax PVR9150T-G for £89.95, plus £6 delivery. It usually retails at £139, so this is a meaty discount.

Whilst they're more expensive than the box above, they're also amongst the most feature-packed, easy to set-up, and reliable PVRs available, and aren't short of accolades for it.

It can store up to 100 hours of recordings, and also comes with a year's warranty and an eight-day electronic programme guide.

Recording Time (max): 100 hrs
EPG (Electronic Programme Guide): 8 days
Tuners: 2 (record 1 channel whilst watching another, or record 2 & watch a recording)
Warranty: 1 year
Series Link (records whole series in one touch): Yes

Share shortlink: mse.me/pvr

Found a cheaper deal?
Let us know in the Cheap Freeview Recorders Discussion
and we'll add top finds here

Full stop Spending Guide

* If a link has a * by it, that means it is an affiliated link and therefore it helps MoneySavingExpert stay free to use, as it is tracked to us. If you go through it, it can sometimes result in a payment to the site.

You shouldn’t notice any difference, and the link will never negatively impact the product. Plus the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by these links. We aim to look at all available products. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the top deal, it is still included in exactly the same way, just with a non-paying link. For more details, read How this site is financed.

For the sake of transparency, so you can check there’s no difference, here are duplicate versions of the * links that don’t help MoneySavingExpert.com: Tesco Outlet

Important! Ensure you know how to shop safely before trying these deals

Tips for shopping safely

Whether it's a retailer or restaurateur, airline or air-conditioner seller, computer shop or car rental company, there are always two main risks: either it's a dodgy company, or it's a legit company that has financial problems and goes bust.

The aim of these tips is to help you minimise the risks.

What happens if a company goes bust?

Quite simply, its customers are immediately transformed into creditors.

This hits hardest if you've ordered goods or tickets from them, and not had delivery, as then you are simply one of a line of people trying to get your money back out of the company's assets, and you usually get back much less than you paid in.

Even if you've had delivery, if the company you bought from goes under and there's a problem with the goods, it can mean you've no comeback.

While MoneySavingExpert.com endeavors to check deals are valid, we don't check companies' finances - even huge names like MFI and Woolies have folded - so it's very important you use the right strategies to stay protected where possible...

DO: Pay by credit card for goods over £100

Pay by credit card for something over £100, eg, flights, kitchens, sofas, and Section 75 laws super-charge your consumer rights.

Unlike debit cards, cheques & cash, pay in full or part (even just £1) on a credit card and by law the lender's jointly liable with the retailer. This means you have exactly the same rights with the card company as you do with the retailer, so if it goes bust, you can simply take your complaints there instead and get money back if no delivery.

Yet it's important you ALWAYS REPAY IN FULL each month, so there's no interest cost. See the Section 75 guide for a full guide and Cashback Credit Cards for how to earn cash on top too.

DO: Protect purchases under £100

Section 75 doesn't apply to purchases under £100, but there's still an option which can help. It's not a legal protection, just Visa rules, but it's a good secondary back up.

Spend on a Visa credit or debit card and, if the goods don't appear within 120 days, you can ask your bank to reclaim the cash from the seller's bank. See the Visa Chargeback part of the Section 75 guide for full details.

DON'T: Use unfamiliar sites without checking

DO: Check the site's legit

Most folks know to look for a security padlock on a website's bottom right, but that doesn't mean the site's legit, just that payment's secure.

To find out who registered the site and when, search the Whois database. Reputable firms should also appear on the Companies House site, the UK Govt's official companies register. Be very wary of businesses with just a PO BOX or email address.

Study the site's worldwide web ranking on Alexa. Anything in the top 100,000 means it's reasonably big - a good, though not foolproof, indication of legitimacy. Do a quick Google search for other shoppers' experiences.

DON'T: Let your anti-virus run out

Crucially, ensure your security's up-to-date - free software can be downloaded to your computer in five mins. Full details in the Free Anti-Virus Software guide.

DO: Know your distance selling rights

Many people are surprised to learn you've MORE rights buying online (or telephone/catalogue) due to the Distance Selling Regulations.

This gives a legal right to send most goods back within a week for a full refund (including outward delivery costs), even if there's no fault. You'll usually need to pay for the return delivery. Read Consumer Rights for a full guide.

However, of course this is balanced by the fact that, order online, and that automatically means a time gap between ordering and delivering - when the company has your money. So if it goes bust in that time, the distance selling rights don't help.

DO: Understand sometimes there's no protection.

Don't be overly scared of this: every day we all make transactions based on trust, and this is part of that, but do balance up the amount you're spending against the risk. Don't give large amounts of money to a company you're not sure of.

The Best Buys: Freeview PVRs

The Cheapest: Refurbished Dion 250GB Twin Tuner Recorder, £49.97 delivered

With Freeview PVRs, the best deals are often on refurbished models that have been returned and repaired.

The Tesco Outlet shop on ebay is selling refurbished Dion DTR250SS10 250GB Recorders for £49.97 online, including delivery and a year's warranty - the cheapest PVR by quite a way.

This is a cracking deal but you'll have to get in quick if you want one, as stock is limited. It has a seven day electronic programme guide, as well as two scarts, and it'll record and store up to 160 hours.

Recording Time (max): 160 hrs
EPG (Electronic Programme Guide): 7 days
Tuners: 2 (record 1 channel whilst watching another)
Warranty: 1 year
Series Link (records whole series in one-touch): Yes
Refurbished 160GB Freeview PVR, £70 delivered

Electronics giant Maplin's offering refurbished 160GB Freeview PVRs for £69.99, with free delivery and a year's warranty.

Its told us that though the majority will be Bush PVRs, the brand and model may vary. Stock's limited, so get in soon if you want one.

The Freeview PVR will store up to 80 hours of recordings, plus it has a series link feature that lets you record an entire series at the touch of a button.

Recording Time (max): 80 hrs
EPG (Electronic Programme Guide): 7 days
Tuners: 2 (record 1 channel whilst watching another, or record 2 & watch a recording)
Warranty: 1 year
Series Link (records whole series in one-touch): Yes
The Top Deal: Refurbished Humax Black Twin Tuner 160GB, £96 delivered

Market leader HumaxDirect often sells Grade A refurbished (ie, should look brand new) versions of its best-selling boxes at significantly reduced prices.

It's selling the refurbished 160GB Humax PVR9150T-G for £89.95, plus £6 delivery. It usually retails at £139, so this is a meaty discount.

Whilst they're more expensive than the box above, they're also amongst the most feature-packed, easy to set-up, and reliable PVRs available, and aren't short of accolades for it.

It can store up to 100 hours of recordings, and also comes with a year's warranty and an eight-day electronic programme guide.

Recording Time (max): 100 hrs
EPG (Electronic Programme Guide): 8 days
Tuners: 2 (record 1 channel whilst watching another, or record 2 & watch a recording)
Warranty: 1 year
Series Link (records whole series in one touch): Yes
Twice the space: Murphy 320GB PVR Freeview Set Top Box, £103 delivered

If you're after more recording space, Woolworths online is offering a Murphy 320GB Freeview PVR for £99, plus £3.95 delivery.

It'll record and store up to 155 hours of television, and has a seven day electronic programme guide so you can plan your viewing time.

Sadly, it doesn't come with a warranty as standard; see the free and cheap warranties guide for more on how to overcome this.

Recording Time (max): 155 hrs
EPG (Electronic Programme Guide): 7 days
Tuners: 2, watch one channel while recording another.
Warranty: None
Series Link (records whole series in one-touch): Yes
Massive storage: Hitachi Freeview + Recorder 500GB, £120 delivered

If you're after a Freeview PVR with really eye-watering storage capacity, Comet's offering its 500GB Hitachi Freeview + Recorder for £119.99, with free UK delivery and a year's warranty to boot.

Similar to the models above, it has a twin tuner and can record an entire series via its series link function. Yet its hard drive can cope with up to a mammoth 250 hours of stored recordings.

Recording Time (max): 250 hrs
EPG (Electronic Programme Guide): 7 days
Tuners: 2, watch one channel while recording another.
Warranty: 1 year
Series Link (records whole series in one-touch): Yes

Share shortlink: mse.me/pvr

Found a cheaper deal?
Let us know in the Cheap Freeview Recorders Discussion
and we'll add top finds here

Full stop Spending Guide

* Using these links helps the site stay free to use, as they're 'affiliated links' which invisibly take you via commercial price comparison services like Moneysupermarket or Find, which then pay this site per click.

You shouldn't notice any difference, the links don't impact the product at all and the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by the revenue. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, it is still recommended and still included. The following are identical unaffiliated links provided for the sake of transparency. Click on the following link for more details on how this site's financed.

Seen a better PVR deal, or got feedback on those above? Please post it in the forum discussion and I'll add it to this note.

Why get a PVR?

One of the biggest selling points of these digital recorders is their user-friendliness; all of them have an in-built Freeview programme guide, and you can just browse it and select things to record. Then go away and forget about it, and before you know it you'll have a backlog of shows to catch up on.

The ability to pause live programmes is useful too; no longer will you have to wait with a raging thirst for the ad break before you get a drink, nor deny calls of nature. Used properly, a PVR'll make TV viewing fit around you, rather than vice-versa; many find they never watch shows when they're actually aired anymore.

However, don't get one if:

You primarily watch TV over satellite or cable. These boxes won't be able to record from anything other than Freeview.

If you're looking to record satellite/cable channels in the same way, check out Sky+ and V+ boxes, which can also be reasonable depending on your current package, or waiting for a cheap Freesat PVR (see below).

Alternatively. Do it cheap on your PC!

It's also possible to record shows on your PC's hard drive. All you need is a DVB-T tuner USB stick or PCI card (Hauppauge's good brand to look out for), which can be bought for around £20. The software should allow you to record shows in much the same way as the PVRs above, and you're only restricted by your PC's hard disk size. Note that you still need a TV licence to watch Freeview on your PC.

Want more channels and HD? Consider waiting for Freesat PVRs.

The BBC and ITV's joint venture into non-subscription satellite broadcasting, Freesat, is now a couple of months old. There are just over 80 channels (inc. 2 HD ones) at the moment, slated to increase to over 200 next year. The boxes you need are still quite expensive at the moment, and there are no budget PVR versions.

However, towards the end of the year other manufacturers will be allowed to get in on the act (currently only selected ones are allowed), so better-priced Freesat PVRs will undoubtedly appear. When they do, they'll be included in our weekly emaill.