topic Re: Recordable TV Boxes in Technology

Recordable TV Boxes

fr8ys — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 13:48:45 GMT

We regularly see customers mentioning their replacement TV Hub does not record and asking for advice on alternatives.

Below I detail the 2 alternatives that I feel are the best options depending on if you want to buy new or nearly new.

New

The Manhattan T4R records 2 channels whilst watching a 3rd. It is based on Freeview Play so is a different system to YouView.

Downside is there is no remote recording app, but if you didn't use this then it doesn't matter.

I've just moved over to this and there is quite a comprehensive instruction guide on line.

It also has access to all the current popular catch-up Apps

Nearly new

EE Pro Box. Available from CeX and online auction sites.

This is based on YouView so you will be used to it's functionality and it has up to date catch-up apps which your existing YouView box will have lost, like ITVX

You can also link it to the EE app for remote recording notifications.

It records 4 channels at once and allows you to watch a 5th.

Downside is that these boxes may be used and will have been sold to CeX by EE customers, or being sold by the EE customer, against their terms and conditions so are considered a grey commodity.

Grade A boxes are new or like new and come with a limited guarantee from CeX themselves.

Also if they go wrong there is no support (apart from any limited guarantee) available, as I've found out / knew, as my wifi on the box doesn't work any longer.

I've got both boxes working in tandem so there is not conflict with remote controls.

Please note that the above is my own personal view on what is available as an alternative.

If you decide to go this route you can phone the TalkTalk Loyalty Team to return your TV Hub and ask for the removal of the TV / Entertainment charge.

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

watchit69 — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 16:26:45 GMT

I purchased a Hanhattan T4R as suggested which worked well except we couldn't get subtitles on BBC iplayer, other platforms such as ITVx were ok. Have you experienced the same?

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

fr8ys — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:00:47 GMT

I've just tried it on mine @watchit69 Called up the night manager and used the S/AD button and it turned subtitles on and off.

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

fr8ys — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:13:06 GMT

What may be a future game changer though is that there is a recordable Freely box being developed.

Whether this will actually record the Internet channels, or is a hybrid box that has a Freeview tuner that does the recording I don't yet know.

Interesting that companies say that streaming via the internet is the future, but a recordable Freely box is on the horizon.

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

ferguson — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:29:24 GMT

Ooh, source?

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

fr8ys — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:30:19 GMT

Computer Active magazine @ferguson

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

fr8ys — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:35:35 GMT

Or cord busters @ferguson but this dates from September and seems to dismiss being able to record the Internet channels

https://share.google/8IhE7qGnpRYriaTJt

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

ferguson — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:36:20 GMT

Thanks. Did a bit of digging myself and found the following piece, recording streaming channels looks like a pipe dream.

https://www.cordbusters.co.uk/first-freely-recording-box-humax/

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

ferguson — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:37:00 GMT

Oops, cross posted!

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

nambuso-TT — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:19:46 GMT

Hi there @ watchit69. I am very sorry to hear that you are experiencing issues with getting subtitles on BBC iplayer. Please confirm if you are still experiencing the issue so that we can try to troubleshoot this for you on our end. Thanks

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

fr8ys — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:37:17 GMT

@nambuso-TT this is a discussion thread in the lounge, not a help request on the TV board.

And even if so, this is not @watchit69 thread.

It is not even a TalkTalk supplied box, but a retail purchased Manhattan box.

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

fr8ys — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 14:07:27 GMT

@watchit69

There was an update overnight that may help your issue although it mentions BBC channels rather than iPlayer. Email from Manhattan as follows.

T4•R software update 2.12 is now available.

This update resolves three issues introduced by the v2.11 update: subtitles could fail to display on BBC channels, the web remote would stop responding in YouTube, and some hard drives could produce increased noise. We're sorry for any inconvenience these issues caused, and we're grateful to customers who helped us identify and test these fixes over the past two weeks.

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

fr8ys — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:15:55 GMT

As suspected, the Humax hibrid Freely / Freeview Aura recorder will only record the Freeview channels and not the Freely ones.

https://www.cordbusters.co.uk/humax-aura-ez-freely-box-record/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAP3HxdjbGNrA_cfGmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHhjhS62D4uqBHWN153LxSX4D5GLVb_EHHmr-KIBcE4oGe1la8cqNiKjq_utu_aem_-EODknFUk9JkN5vF-YKuDg

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

fr8ys — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:13:06 GMT

Manhattan have now released a Freely Box. Again doesn't record as broadcasters are prohibiting manufacturers from incorporating recording of Freely Channels as they want to force the watching of adverts.

However it is getting good reviews and for around £70 the Manhattan Aero seems good value if you want to ditch the aerial or dish.

Hopefully Freely will get the full range of Free to Air stations soon.

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

ferguson — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:19:32 GMT

I know you live in hope @fr8ys , but it seems that the main point of Freely is that it does NOT get OTA channels, via aerial, or otherwise.

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

fr8ys — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:29:50 GMT

@ferguson if Freely is to take over, as broadcasters hope it will, from Freeview and Freesat, then they need to increase their current line up of stations to at least match the currently available entertainment channels (personally I can do without the shopping ones etc) that's what I was alluding to.

I won't make the jump until I have to as have Freeview which I record and Freesat for the extended HD channels (and Now for the sports, the only thing I pay for, except the TV licence pf course).

And the biggest drawback of Freely, no TV if your broadband goes down.

Re: Recordable TV Boxes

ferguson — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:40:02 GMT

A bit like the biggest drawback of VoIP and your landline! Sadly, the pathway looks to be one way.