BT Youview Humax DTR T4000 - no longer able to record and has removed all scheduled recordings

[Jakedrum]

We’ve had this great digital to box and recorder for a few years. Last week we wanted to record a programme, pressed the red record button, nothing happened. All the other functions work fine.

All the programmes we’d already scheduled to record have been disappeared. And we now cannot set any new recordings.

Tried turning everything off and on again; the remote, the humax DTRT4000, the Sony Android TV. And we’ve checked for latest software on the humax and the tv.

If I do a full reset I assume I’ll lose all my saved recordings. But, even if it works and I regain the record function I’ll also assume this can, and pro will, happen again.

Any thoughts?

[DarrenDev · Accepted solution]

At a guess, I'd say the hard drive inside has probably failed.  A factory reset may help, but you're right that it also may fail again. You could choose to replace the hard drive, however the T4000 is legacy hardware that is no longer updated - you will find that more and more apps will stop working, as content owners withdraw support from their apps.  It's your choice whether you think it worth paying money on something that may not last much longer.

[Kimberlin]

@Jakedrum  I sent both of my Humax PVR boxes to the recycling centre. They were no longer supported by Humax and they effectively became useless items of junk. Do yourself a favour, get rid and get something decent that works.

[Jakedrum]

Thanks, yeah that's what I'm thinking.

And while the Manhattan T4-R is current we can't know for how long and maybe I must start getting used to the fact we're being moved over to only-streaming like with Freely.  No recoding anymore. 
Shame. Removes our ability to choose when to watch stuff and makes viewing less convenient. But that seems to be the way it's heading 😕

[Jakedrum]

Thanks, yeah that's what I'm thinking. And while the Manhattan T4-R is current we can't know for how long and maybe I must start getting used to the fact we're being moved over to only-streaming like with Freely.  No recoding anymore. 
Shame. Removes our ability to choose when to watch stuff and makes viewing less convenient. But that seems to be the way it's heading 😕

[DarrenDev]

It's worth noting that the EE TV Box Pro still allows recording, and we plan to continue allowing recording for a few years at least. As long as DTT remains, recording will too.

[Jakedrum]

Ah OK, thanks. I'd not looked at that box at all, got fixated on Humax.

So I can get one of those and plug and play, and record, without a BT/EE subscription?

[DarrenDev]

I'm afraid the TV Box Pro is only available as part of an EE TV subscription.  Some sellers are selling them online, however they remain the property of EE at all times, so they don't have the right to sell them.

[zulu17]

If your existing historic recordings are still available and viewable on your T4000 AND you are currently able to view via the EETV guide the Freeview channels live then  I suggest that you attempt a Reset keeping recordings. There is a risk if there is a degree of hard drive  corruption that the Reset itself may itself fail to reset and launch itself into a full reset.

Humax boxes even those using Youview  generally are suitable for Freeview viewing and  Freeview recording  use for many years after the Humax  product support ends. They will subject to the  risk of hardware issues  or component failures as with any box. 

[Kimberlin]

With end of life Humax Freeview/recorder boxes, yes, you can undoubtedly still watch Freeview even if the recording element of the box no longer functions. However, as many smart TV's have Freeview built in anyway, though I accept that there may or may not be a PVR function with some makes of Smart TV, there's literally no point in still using a standalone Freeview box with a non functioning PVR element because all one is doing, is wasting electricity having another box plugged in and working if of course, you have a Smart TV.  This is one reason that I got rid of my own old Humax Freeview/PVR boxes, because the Smart TV took over. We don't even record stuff anymore, it's just Catch Up TV now using the various Apps available.