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Fusion Digitec Digifusion FVRT 100
£250
The lowdown
Two years on from the launch of the Sky + satellite decoder/hard disk recorder and bizarrely there still isn’t an equivalent unit for digital terrestrial (Freeview) viewers. That’s because while Sky offers two week’s worth of easy to access on-screen listings, there isn’t a similar universal listings guide for Freeview.
Fusion Digitec aims to change that with the Digifusion FVRT 100 Freeview decoder/hard disk video recorder. It uses its proprietary Multi Guide to deliver seven days worth of programme info to the screen, which users can easily browse and then earmark programmes for recoding.
What’s good?
Like Sky + the FVRT 100 can store up to 40 hours of programming on its 40 Gigabyte hard disk pause, rewind, and forward live TV and let viewers watch one programme while recording another.
What’s bad?
While it is fairly simple to use and operate overall the FVRT 100 lacks the simplicity of the Sky+ box, and especially its rival’s remarkably intuitive remote control. Also unlike its satellite equivalent, viewers can’t play catch up by watching a programme from the beginning while they are recording it. When it comes to recorded programmes, picture quality isn’t quite as good as its rival.
Do you need it?
For the time being though, the FVRT 100 is the closest digital terrestrial viewers are going to get to a Sky + of their own.
6/10.
September 10, 2004 in Digital TV | Permalink
Comments
I've just returned my second FVRT100 to Dixons for a refund. First unit was "DOA" and would not power up. Second unit worked electrically but the incessant loud whining noise from the fan which won't turn off on even on standby means it's impossible to live with. Also the remote control channel change arrow keys didn't work necessitating a return to the guide every time. How clunky is that? I was told by their support that "my unit had missed an update" which considering it came with a manual showing this function working is a bit hard to believe. Nice picture quality though. Didn't get a chance to try recording. Price now down to £180 in Dixons for anyone who likes whining fan noise.
Posted by: Ian Meharg | Nov 5, 2004 4:43:10 PM
Very easy to use straight out of the box. Generates a superb quality picture on all channels even on an old TV in a marginal area for receiving didgital signals. Solved my lack of channel 5 at a stroke.
My only criticism is that I was told that I could watch one digital channel whilst recording two others in the background. In reality, when the second recording begins, the current session is lost. I use this device all the time now and love the ability to pause live television when the phone rings and then catch up again by fast forward through the adverts.
Posted by: David Garn | Nov 15, 2004 10:54:51 AM
I think it is brilliant. It may not be as good as Sky+, but it is still very good. My machine doesn't have a noisy fan sound (it is totally silent)and I now record all sorts of things that I couldn't be bothered recording before; it's great to have a standby library of programmes to watch when there is nothing else on the telly. And now it has become second nature to pause and rewind "live" tv when you missed something or have to answer the door.
Posted by: Andy Shepard | Dec 10, 2004 6:41:21 PM
This is a great gadget. It will change how you or your family view television for the better. The combination of a 14 day program guide (My machine just got upgraded overnight from 7 day!), easy interface and digital recording means that you will watch what you want rather than what's on. Highly recommended.
Posted by: Rob Coombs | Jan 9, 2005 10:48:37 AM
A good product, but without a good signal it goes in to an extremely slow mode - even turning up volume and playing recorded programs is a 2 minute operation before you get a response - I originally through it had frozen on me.... Don't think about this product if you don't have a loft or roof mounted arial.
I don't think much of the TV channel listings presentation - a grid listing (like the Sky box listings, the RadioTimes.com listings etc) would be better... but what they have is usable.
I didn't have too much of an issue with the noise... others have suggested it is very noisy... I haven't noticed it... yet
Even though it is a freeview, I was hoping to be able to use it like a VHS video recorder and record video TO it so that I can have immediate and easy access to it... but that is not possible. You can record FROM it... but not TO it (Also; you can not plug it in to Sky to record any Sky channels either).
A facility to record all episodes of a program rather than having to select them individually would be nice...
I found the selection of programs in the near future quite a strain - the process is :
1) you would have to select the Calendar option from the menu,
2) then the date,
3) then move around the time listings to locate the program,
4) then select the program,
5) then confirm the record (and adjust the settings (SP/LP/EP etc))
That is all pretty standard... but to record another... you then start all over again.... this soon becomes a pain - it would be nice to have a "back" button to return to where you were before you made the selection.... BUT; my understanding is that fusion are continually upgrading the software (e.g. a 7 day EPG is now a 14 day EPG) so this may be resolved if enough people find it a problem....
The fusion web site could be a lot better for support - e.g. a proper forum and some in depth [useful] product information pages etc ... oh; and the installation helpline is a 9-5 only... no good if you get the unit home after work and then can't use it until the next day!... they could have put the open times on the manual so you know....
Overall; Even though I have a few complaints (above), I am quite happy with the unit now that it is working, and probably would recommend it.. not that I have much experience with any other units...
Posted by: BB98uk | Jan 9, 2005 10:06:55 PM
I do not have any noisy fan problems. Difficult to hear it to be honest.
I have had a couple of lock up problems. I was moving around the various facilities experimenting whilst reading the manual when the whole thing went blank and I lost total control. I disconnected power and reconnected and started again. After that it seemed to be OK. Havn't had that happen since.
I got up on the first morning to find that it would not react at all to the remote or to the front panel buttons. I disconected the power and reconnected and it all burst into life again.
That has not happened since either.
The clock is a minute out for some reason. Strange but no problem. I just extend the recording setup a little to cover it.
Otherwise, pretty good. The graphics could be a little less "Flashy" and a little more direct I feel. I agree with the comments about the channel listings.
Posted by: Mike Marriott | Jan 11, 2005 8:47:29 AM
I purchased this device after having six months of problems with a similar Pace device which I returned to John Lewis as unfit for purpose. I have found it to be superior. I use it frequently and since latest software upgrade this week the catch up facility is now available along several others.I use it with my 4 year old digital TV and find the results superb. the only criticism is that the Menu Screen Dislplays are too busy which makes the information hard to read at a distance.
Posted by: Steve Barrett | Jan 12, 2005 10:25:55 AM
I've had mine a few weeks now and this week am having difficulty with it freezing up on me. I rang my friend who has experienced similar problems and has found in order for the box to update itself, before you turn off to stand-by you need to turn to Channel 1, otherwise it freezes up and doesn't receive the updates. This info is not mentioned in the manuel.
My box IS noisy and rather annoying.
I also have a problem with seeing the graphics properly due to them being in white. I feel if they were black and in a thicker font it would be easier. (No I'm not blind)! I also find it hard to see the time being that it's in the bottom corner of the screen.
My box is still on the 7 day calendar, do I need to do anything special to get it to update to the 14 day calendar? Or perhaps it's due to the trouble I've been experiencing.
I think it is a great little invention and I've been waiting patiently for 6 years now for something of this caliber to come on the market.
Posted by: Jude | Jan 12, 2005 10:54:23 AM
I have had my box for several months now and it is great. However, you should be aware of its power consumption due it constantly having its fan going, furthermore i would not recommend buying for a bedroom or a room where you enjoy reading, relaxing etc. because the fan is very noisy once you get over the 'honeymoon' period.
In the first few weeks it didn't bother me but now i frequently unplug it while its not being used, leaving it overnight once a week to update.
Posted by: Anom, | Apr 6, 2005 12:18:01 PM
Ihave had the unit now for over 4 months, As everyone did i think the unit hung and did all sorts ti i found out i had to set it to standby to update the unit, scince then its been great, The only fault i have had is the remote went down and they swopped that the same day. If i could have one thing i would like to be able to record from external scorce Mainly Sky. the reeason i bought it was so i could get rid of the video recorder, this i did but now I cannot tape any sky programmes. Unless anyone knows a way around that?
regards Andy
Posted by: Andy | Apr 20, 2005 2:42:35 AM
I have had the FVRT150 for 3 months and all appears to be working well with the exception of recording programs on ITV via the guide menu. It appears that every time I set the unit to record ITV whilst it may start on time or slightly early it always sems to miss the last minute of the programme - this is extremly annoying when watching a drama, and you do not see the conclusion!
Does anyone know of a solution!
Posted by: keith Malcolm | May 4, 2005 1:52:12 PM
I'm on my second unit - and this one seems the same as the first... my recording just dissapear! No regular fault - just sometimes I have about 2 - 5 recordings - so it's not a capacity problem. They may stay for about a week - then I check the library and they have all gone - anyone else had thos problem?
Posted by: Andrew B | May 6, 2005 2:05:14 PM
This is a good machine when it works but is horribly unreliable. I am about to return my second tuner/recorder since buying the first six months ago. The interim has been characterised by repeated reformating of the hard disk (with loss of all recordings). It has now gone through a power cut which has rendered it unuseable. I have just visited a website where 3 of 5 reviewers have had exactly the same problem - each with two machines packing up. Apparently Digifusion denies there is a problem, which is a bad sign. John Lewis Direct no longer sells it. Why?
Posted by: Gavin | May 15, 2005 1:17:28 AM
I have just purchased a FVRT100 and noticed that the fan is noisy. Has anyone found a way of manually modding the box to fit a quieter fan - or should I use the tunr off at the mains method of reducing noise!
Posted by: mjh | Jun 20, 2005 7:26:20 PM
Have bought digifusion FVRT150. What can I say other than superb. Had no probs whatsoever. Picture quality and sound A1. Watch it on LCD TV and looks great. Slightly long winded to record if setting up days in advanced but worth the effort.
Great little box!!
Posted by: anon | Jul 26, 2005 4:43:52 PM
We have had a digifusion for about a year, and have changed it 5 or 6 time (I've lost count) because it kept on crashing. The fan has always been noise, every single unit has sometimes deleted the entire memory. Once it took several minutes to respond to the remote, after switching off at the mains the library was empty and the problem still persisted. often it crashes and will not respond to anything and has to be unplugged from the mains, a pain if you are recording something.
One unit would not power up when we got it from the store, so that one had to go straight back.
our signal is not great and the picture keeps on breaking up (this is probably the fault of the aerial though) but sometimes the unit suddenly decides there is no aerial at all. Some recording are corrupt and will not play, and sometimes the unit crashes and will not play recordings or live TV, but the unit still responds to the remote. Usually all these problems are corrected with unplugging the unit, but it is annoying and it doesnt always work. Most recently the display shows EPG (or EP9, it could be either)and won't respond to the remote.Anyone know what theis means? Finally, the customer support line is useless, with stupid opening hours and the people cannot give useful advice, although they do know about most of the problems.
However, when it works, it is brilliant, and we have all got used to pausing live TV and always having a store of programs to watch when there is nothing on TV. I can't cope with watching ads now in the rare instants when I watch live TV!
Posted by: Alice | Sep 2, 2005 9:55:00 AM
I have just returned a FVRT 200 after a day because we simply can't live with the noise it makes. You the hear the fan from 25 feet away! It's on even in standby mode so what must the power consumption be like? When I called DigiFusion support about the noise they recommended not standing it on a glass shelf or on top of a VCR. They also suggested cutting out some foam circles to stand it on. In my view the best place for it is back in the box! How did its older brother, the FVRT 100, get such a glowing review in a popular home entertainment magazine with no mention of the fan noise I wonder?
Posted by: Andy | Sep 24, 2005 7:37:17 AM
Best thing since sliced bread. Used daily. A couple of minor hitches maybe but the tech support is good.
The review above needs updating as it's waaaaaayyyy out of date. The software upgrades have seen to that.
Posted by: Pete duh forgot the rest | Oct 1, 2005 4:16:34 PM
More of the same. My unit can go for weeks without a problem and then it goes into slow responde mode, or just freezes. Unplugging the power works sometimes bu it is not guaranteed. The support line said that I should reset the factory defaults. I did but it took an age due to the slow response. The odd thing is that when you get into menu mode you can move around the selections at speed. Trying to select a channel can take several minutes. The operating system seems to be crippled. Ah well I will keep trying.
Posted by: Martin | Oct 4, 2005 12:55:47 PM
I have had the 100 for a year now & yes noisey fan but otherwise fine the only problem is it has come up with "hold" in the display window & i cant seem to operate it at all. I phoned technical & they seemed to think if i turned it off for an hour then plugged it back in it should cure the problem. Heres HOPING.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 5, 2005 3:03:34 PM
I bought a FVRT100 from Currys in January 2005 then after 3 weeks we had the deletion problem, so i changed it for another one then after a month, same again so I got a refund and bought one from Argos (FVRT150 ), this was a DOA, got another one replaced had that since May , now we have deletion problems ,freezing, HDD saying its full when its actually empty, EP9 on screen so you have to turn it off and on again, corrupt recordings that you have to delete, im taking mine back and getting a FVRT200 or should I?? it seems technical support know all about these problems, an update is coming out in approx 2 weeks, but if you live in a flat with a shared aerial and your signal strength drops below 65% at the time of recodring then the box classes this as corrupt and kindly deletes the file and everything in the library. Problem is when this box works its fantastic ...when it does'nt its abysmal!!
Posted by: Damian | Oct 12, 2005 3:46:28 PM
I have a fvrt 100 it has a hard disc inside
on stand by it is still running all the time.
The hard disk is what makes the noise.
not a good thing in this day of trying to save energy.
The pace one I have makes no sound at all on stand by.
Posted by: D mckellar | Oct 20, 2005 1:01:43 PM
I have just bought the discussed item and after reading this i am afraid i am going to pull what little hair i have left out. So heres hoping for a new dawn and a new day for the fvrt100.
Posted by: Gareth | Oct 29, 2005 6:43:23 AM
A friend of mine can't change the time on her FVRT100 since the clocks went back, and can't find any instructions in the book. Was expecting it to look after itself when on line, but no go. I haven't got one, so don't know about. Any simple instructions/ answers would be welcome.
Simon
Posted by: simon | Oct 30, 2005 1:33:43 PM
Well, I've been pretty pleased with my Digifusion box until this morning -- when, at the change from BST to GMT it not only put its clock back, which was fine, but also put all the scheduled recordings I'd set up back an hour, too. So anything I'd set up to record at 6pm has been changed to start at 5pm, instead...
Not terribly impressive.
Posted by: Matt Gibson | Oct 30, 2005 2:40:27 PM
