- FIRST Freeview HD+ PVR in the UK
- 2 x DVB-T2 Tuners allows two HD or SD recordings at the same time
- 320GB Hard Drive for 180Hrs SD recording or 60Hrs HD recording
- 8 day EPG with Series Link and Trailer-Booking (new Freeview feature)
- 3 x USB 2.0 ports for software upgrade, and media upload/download
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Technical Details
Product details
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Product Description
The Digital Stream DHR8203U is the first Freeview HD PVR (Personal Video Recorder) available in the UK. Not only can you record SD programmes, you can now record HD at the touch of a button.
The 8-Day EPG has one touch recording, supports Series-Link to enable whole series recording, and the newly released feature TRAILER BOOKING. This lets you set a recording simply by pressing the green button during a normal advertisement for the programme.
There is no subscription cost whatsoever for Freeview HD, unlike other HD options.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
111 of 113 people found the following review helpful
I bought the 500Gb version of this box and it is generally excellent. Latest software downloaded from MIT London's website was very easy to install via a 2Gb USB stick. Picture quality on the HD channels is stunning, if you have never seen HD on your shiny new flat screen TV prepare to be amazed at the difference. SD picture quality is also very good and on a par with my TV's tuner, although I had to amend the Digitalstream's picture settings slightly (a new menu option added in the September update). Recording is reliable and works well, and on playback there are no glitches (unlike my old Vestel based PVR which would occasionally skip and randomly lock up). EPG appears in less than a second and is clear and well laid out, although only shows 7 channels at a time but you can page up and down and skip forward and backward two hours at a time. You can slso skip forward and back by 24 hours at a time, and there is also a search function. You can plug in an external hard disc and copy standard definition recordings to it (no HD due to copyright issues), however the machines uses the Linux XFS filesystem so getting the files onto a Windows PC is a little convoluted if that's what you want to do.
The only downside is the rather noisy fan, even with the latest update it can be noisy. You probably wont hear it at normal TV volumes but you probably will during quiet moments. Thankfully the latest update has changed things slightly and the fan now only comes on when the box gets warm, it used to be on all the time.
Pros:
Stunning picture quality on HD channels.
Excellent picture quality on SD channels.
Easy to use.
Reliable recording (although depends on broadcaster sending signals at correct time, are you listening Channel Five?).
Can record two channels at the same time (and in certain circumstances, even watch a third).
Cons:
Some may think SD picture quality is slightly soft.
Noisy fan when the box gets warm.
The only downside is the rather noisy fan, even with the latest update it can be noisy. You probably wont hear it at normal TV volumes but you probably will during quiet moments. Thankfully the latest update has changed things slightly and the fan now only comes on when the box gets warm, it used to be on all the time.
Pros:
Stunning picture quality on HD channels.
Excellent picture quality on SD channels.
Easy to use.
Reliable recording (although depends on broadcaster sending signals at correct time, are you listening Channel Five?).
Can record two channels at the same time (and in certain circumstances, even watch a third).
Cons:
Some may think SD picture quality is slightly soft.
Noisy fan when the box gets warm.
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
I bought this device to replace a Thomson which was so bad it was returned. The Digital Stream however, had no such problems, worked straight out of the box and a dodle to set up. Many have marked down because of fan noise but I have had no problems or reasons for a reduced score. The DHR8203U does change channels rather slowly, this becomes instantaneous if I use the program +/- button. Programming timer recordings and series link recordings is also easy and, so far, trouble free.
I recently performed the suggested upgrade to 4.03.r7901 using USB memory stick, it was trouble free and worked straight away after reboot, all the updated and new funtions performing as described. Really no complaints with this device and of the four types I have experience of the Digital Stream is by far the best.
I recently performed the suggested upgrade to 4.03.r7901 using USB memory stick, it was trouble free and worked straight away after reboot, all the updated and new funtions performing as described. Really no complaints with this device and of the four types I have experience of the Digital Stream is by far the best.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
I have been known (!) to have problems with installing, connecting and effectively using technological equipment. (Understatement). So I opened the box with great trepidation, followed the instructions, plugged it all and switched it on. Simple! And it worked - beautifully.
Instead of dashing back home to catch a programme or having to choose between 2 or 3 programmes that I really want to watch I can just click on the programme in the guide and record it. I can even record a series without having to set the times, channels etc.
Good to be able to watch in HD too.
Great value for money. So easy a meerkat could do it - I can highly recommend. Thank you
Instead of dashing back home to catch a programme or having to choose between 2 or 3 programmes that I really want to watch I can just click on the programme in the guide and record it. I can even record a series without having to set the times, channels etc.
Good to be able to watch in HD too.
Great value for money. So easy a meerkat could do it - I can highly recommend. Thank you
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Could be, should be! a winner but isn't quite.
I have had this machine for about a year ans totally agreed with the negative reviews - rubish
information booklet, handset etc. Read more
information booklet, handset etc. Read more
Published 20 days ago by jman
What a load of trash the box and Amazon customer care
Like many others who have writen poor reviews about this product I have had the picture constantly freezing, it also can cut out for a few seconds but leave the sound on and this... Read more
Published 21 days ago by wilde01
Failure
Had to return this item. On/off switch didn't work!Think product should be tested before leaving the factory to avoid situations like this.
Published 1 month ago by Peter Midwinter
Digital Stream freeview + hd
I searched lots of Freeview + hd boxes on the internet, and read the reviews. This one seemend to be the best. Read more
Published 1 month ago by quizzer
Digital Stream Great freeview box
I think this freeview recorder is great value for money, it has no delay in going through the menus unlike alot of boxes I have experienced. Read more
Published 1 month ago by chrisbaylis
A very adequate set top box
Due to various factors I can get neither satellite nor cable, so Freeview HD was our only option for HD TV. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Alansworld
top box DHR 8203U freeview+hd
One of the Best on the market.Good set up spot on NO prob's
and Help from Amazon is the best and thank you for that.
yours Phil
and Help from Amazon is the best and thank you for that.
yours Phil
Published 3 months ago by Phil
good all round product
Nice slim box, was easy to install, even for me!!took a liitle time to figure out the controlls. It takes a little while to sort itself out when you first switch it on. Read more
Published 3 months ago by CG
Far exceeded my expectations!
Far exceeded my expectations!
Having lived with the Digital Stream DHR8203U for over a week now I thought it a good time to write a review. Read more
Having lived with the Digital Stream DHR8203U for over a week now I thought it a good time to write a review. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Daz Bock
Just didn't work for us
Post-Christmas I decided that I was fed up with missing bits of telly that I wanted when I was out. Disinclined to line the pockets of Sky or Virgin, I did some research and bought... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Geek for Games
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