Reg Hardware

Answers to: Is there a networkable Freeview box?

Step forward Topfield 

Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 11:28 GMT

Happy

Any DVR with a USB port can do this in theory.

I have a Topfield TF5800PVR connected to an unSlung Linksys NSLU2 with the Topfield FTP daemon running (tftp-topfield from meory). This allows streaming video to any PC on my network running VLC.

More info from the illustrious www.toppy.org.uk

HTPC 

Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 11:44 GMT

see title

MythTV 

Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 11:54 GMT

Linux

Pretty much any cheap PC with a freeview tuner card and MythTV.

Another vote for the toppy 

Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 21:12 GMT

The Topfield TF5800PVR + slug (or one of the alternatives) is superb* as both a normal under the telly PVR, plus having it's hard disk available via FTP using the slug.

*That's superb if you patch the hell out of it and then add TAPs to make it do exactly what you want. It's a bit grim out of the box but it has been transformed by the multitudes of clever people at toppy.org.uk.

Netgem 

Posted Thursday 4th September 2008 15:13 GMT

The old Netgem (also badged by BT for a while) freeview boxes support some wireless and wired adaptors via a USB port, but they're not DVRs and don't have a hard disk either. Not a bad device for it's time and probably still thousands of them around.

How about a Dreambox ? 

Posted Thursday 4th September 2008 17:29 GMT

Can be bought with DTT, Sat or cable tuner. All models networkable, can record to network share on PC, Mac or NAS. Pricier models can have internal drive or use CF card, can also be fitted with two tuner. They're also linux boxes and fun to play with.