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 Saga

Away from the video side, the hi-res audio support is a welcome addition. It means those connecting the Aura to a decent external speaker system can get a strong performance from locally stored or streamed audio files, even if connecting through the HDMI, which can handle up to 24-bit/192 kHz levels. Setup couldn’t be easier. Plug the aerial in, power in and HDMI to your TV and everything is set to go. Then you just follow a simple on-screen guide, which automatically searches for TV channels over your aerial connection and lets you connect to your local Wi-Fi network. That’s it. The whole process took no more than five minutes for us, with no techy knowledge necessary. That means you won’t be able to save them forever (BBC iPlayer, for example, keeps most shows for 30 days), AND you won’t be able to fast-forward and skip commercials on apps such as the ITV Hub or All 4. So does the Humax FVP-5000T set-top box manage to push the limits of tech without leaving users scratching their heads with the remote? We spent time with the new telly streamer to find out.

Design & Connections

Channel changing is near instant if you simply tap in the channel number you want, (Same works in the epg to skip to a channel you want to see the epg at the curent time) Re your other issues, suggest you visit the MyHumax faq threads for the 4000/5000T (including how to display the programme info). Currently there's no Netflix, though. Humax told us that discussions are ongoing, but as yet the market-leading streamer hasn't signed off on an app. If the Aura has an achilles heel, this is currently it. Audio Description is also available plus Subtitles, so those with poor sight or hearing can enjoy shows with everyone (these are recorded automatically if broadcast).

More information on quality can be found in this old but still very helpful article from Harvard Business Review.The picture quality through the Freeview Play tuners in both SD and Full HD is every bit as good as that of the FVP-5000T. Watching Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is on BBC2, we get some inviting shots of a French antiques market on a cloudless summer’s day. The cobbled streets and stalls are bright and colourful, but with a realistic sense of tonality and texture. Having to tap a channel number rather than browsing or pressing "next channel" relies upon you having to know the channel number (e.g. you have to know that 101 is BBC One HD). This is a ridiculous "solution" (It's not a solution) to have to rely upon in a product in 2018. The suggestion not to press channel up or down to avoid long delays of several seconds between channels seems amazing in a so-called high end product demanding a premium price. With 3 tuners record up to 4 programmes simultaneously whilst watching a 5th. With smart recording never miss a recording, the guide will suggest alternative recording times avoiding recording clashes.

View what’s on for the next 7 days with the on-screen TV guide. Set reminders, recordings and find out programme information from an intuitive timeline. In fact, right up until its discontinuation, the FVP-5000t was sold as new without a clear indication that one of the UK’s major broadcasters won’t have an app on it, as ITVX support will never be added. Everything I posted is correct. I know the interface very well. I am a computer programmer and have a PhD in a programming/GUI related field so I know my onions.The discontinuation of the Humax FVP-5000T marks the end of an era for a device that was once a go-to choice for Freeview recording. However, the discontinuation was somewhat expected at this stage, given that the device lost support for ITV Hub in 2022 and never supported ITV’s new streaming service, ITVX. The popularity of set-top boxes has dwindled over the years as more and more people use catch-up and streaming services, like Netflix and Disney+, instead. But one of the best set-top boxes can bring you the best of both worlds, allowing you to record live TV, access the best streaming platforms and even audio streaming platforms, like Spotify, all from one device.

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. Another cool place where this integration is evident is when you’re watching a live show that’s also available via a streaming app. So for example, I’ll stumble across Doctor Who20 minutes after it had started – and the FVP-5000T will offer to start the show from the beginning – by loading it up directly from BBC iPlayer. For the money, you get a lot of features to boost your evening of telly viewing. Plus, considering the complexity of those features, Humax has somehow delivered a really simple system to use. The FVP-5000T offers a great blend of good looks, ease of navigation, breadth of content and modern accessibility. While the Aura is spot on for sound, we still recommend that you buy the cheaper but still brilliant Humax FVP-5000T while you still can, and add a Google Chromecast with Google TV if you also want streaming. The experience won’t feel much more split than the Aura already does but, more importantly, the smart offering will be more complete and a little better for picture quality too.

Humax FVP-5000T: A Brief History

A good, dedicated Freeview box, like the FVP-5000T, gives you a range of features not available on a telly. You can record programmes onto the internal hard drive (and choosing what to record is super-easy, using the electronic TV guide), you can even set it to record a full series and it’ll get recorded automatically every time a new episode airs. This news may come as a blow to consumers who have relied on the device for its robust features and reliable performance over the years.