HUMAX FVP-5000T 2 TB Freeview Play HD TV Recorder - Carbon Black

Product Information

BBC iPlayer, All4, Demand 5, UK TV Player, CBS Catchup, Legend, Pop Player, BBC Sounds, STV Player, Netflix, YouTube

This combination of features made the FVP-5000T a robust and versatile choice for those looking to enhance their Freeview experience – even though, in my review, I noted how its interface was never as swift as one expects from streaming devices these days. The ITV Hub And ITVX SagaBookmarks sadly have not been implemented for several generations of Humax boxes. Nor are they available on any current Freeview+ box. The device was also an early adopter of Freeview Play, seamlessly integrating live TV with catch-up and on-demand services. Humax FVP-5000T That “smooth” experience is hampered a bit by the slow interface – something I really wish Humax would fix in the future – but not enough to stop me from recommending the device.

But if you’re an avid Freeview watcher, this box will give you an upgraded experience. You might even stop paying Netflix and the other paid streaming services – Freeview has a lot of good content (though not all of it is in HD), and with the FVP-5000T’s smart recording features, it’s very easy to find and watch at your convenience. I agree -- same here. The catch-up services have really poor picture and audio quality, and the inability to be able to skip ads. is frustrating. However, it would not surprise me if PVRs disappeared from the marketplace in the not too distant future, leaving just TVs with multiple tuners and recording capabilities as the only option. The interface, however, is where my one main disappointment with the FVP-5000T lies – it’s slow. TOO slow for such a feature-rich (and expensive) device. You feel the lag with every press of a button – you have to wait for the guide to show up on the screen. You have to wait for programme information screens to show up. And you have to wait 2-3 loooong seconds whenever you switch a channel – which turns flipping-channels into a sluggish ordeal. If you prefer to dive right into catch-up TV – which works for up to seven days gone by – then the On Demand button on the remote takes you to a menu for that too. This lays out content either by channel, app, recommendation of Freeview Play, or you can search by category like Comedy or Drama. This includes recommendations for shows on live at that moment too. The first is brand. Looking at the brand of the product is often a really good indicator for judging product quality. For example you’d expect a much higher quality product from a brand known for providing excellent quality than you would from an unknown or even a budget brand.

Media Playback

Should you misplace the zapper, there are on-body touch controls for power, volume and channel selection. However, Humax has assured us that the device should be more widely available again in approximately two weeks. Goodbye, FVP-5000T Simply navigate to a show in the EPG, select it and you’re then given the option to either record the show, record the entire series or set a reminder. Since the box comes with options of a hefty 500GB, 1TB or 2TB of storage, you’ll probably end up setting everything to record, just in case. That said, so much is available on demand that you can always watch that way if you forget to set a recording.

They will in this house. Many of the programmes I record simply aren't available on any streaming service. As long as there are adverts, people will always want to record the programmes. As long as there are pubs, people will always want to record the football and watch it an hour or two later. In 2022, ITV announced that its streaming app, ITV Hub, would no longer be supported on the Humax FVP-5000T. Humax has had great success with its What Hi-Fi? Award-winning FVP-5000T set-top box and, four years into its life, a replacement was long overdue when the Aura launched in 2020. For both specs and looks, the Aura was the upgrade we had been waiting for. The Manhattan T3-R, available in 500GB and 1TB options is the brand's best yet, and can be found at prices that don't break the bank. The large 2TB hard drive will store up to 1000 hours of standard TV (SD) or up to 500 hours of high definition TV (HD)

The FVP-5000T is an impressive Freeview recording box that does most of what you could hope for. The advanced integration between the “live” Freeview channels and the catch-up apps, as part of the electronic guide, will be a game changer for some, combining both worlds for one smooth watching experience. Partner the H3 with any Humax Freeview Play PVR and stream recorded content and live TV via the PVR’s hard drive utilising its 3 tuner capacity. Watching Netflix is just as easy – there’s a dedicated app (and a button on the remote), which you then control with the regular remote. Note, however, that the FVP-5000T only supports content up to 1080p, so you won’t be able to watch Netflix (or anything else) in 4K, at least for now. Slow and Steady If you don’t want to splash out on another box, or don’t need one then the app can help. The Humax Live TV app lets you watch content via your box. This uses the aerial to feed the signal into the box then sends it to your connected device on the same network via Wi-Fi. A pretty seamless way to watch shows on another device. When out of the house this same app is a handy way to access your box to set recordings, but be warned it won’t let you watch live. When Brian May plays his solo at the end of the piece, it’s like he’s making his guitar sing. Again, the sense of place is captured brilliantly in a credible rendition of the sound of the old Wembley Stadium full of 72,000 people clapping in time and singing along to Radio Ga Ga.