Picture Quality
Picture quality from the Humax PVR-9200T is amongst the best in its class. Under our test environment, the best picture was obtained by running the PVR-9200T in S-Video mode via the TV Scart socket with a quality Scart Cable (not the one supplied!). Video quality was better than with RGB.

In Use
The PVR-9200T was fast to react to channel changes and EPG information requests. In addition, all BBC-interactive services were accessed quickly by using the red button.
As with many PVRs, whilst the basic functionality is reasonably straightforward, some complex functions can prove a little difficult to master. For this reason, without sounding patronising, non-computer literate people might have a few problems understanding the more complex aspects of the functionality. Sadly, procedural omissions in the user manual made grasping functions like editing recordings even more difficult.

Main Features
1 Screen Ratio Selection
A full range of screen ratios are supported to suit a 16:9 or 4:3 TV. When the screen ratio is set to 4:3, pictures can be viewed in 16:9 letter box mode with no loss of picture information. Additional options of 14:9 letter box and centre cut-out are also provided for 4:3 TVs.
1 Time shifted Recording
Pause live TV and play back in a time shifted manner with the ability to fast forward and rewind the programme from the watching point. Slow motion playback and commercial skipping (30 second skip forward) are also available in time shifted recording mode.
1 Channel Lists and Favourites
Freeview channels can be grouped and favourite channel selections made.
1 Instant Recording
A single button record function is provided for recording up to two channels simultaneously without the need for timer scheduling.
1 Scheduled Recording
Advanced recording schedules can be set up from the “Recording Schedule” menu. Two overlapping programmes can be recorded, making use of the PVR-9200T’s twin tuners.
1 Recording Editing and Book Marking
Conveniently, it is possible to edit recordings and to split a recording file into two separate recording files. Adding a bookmark when playing back a recording also allows certain point/s within the recording to be quickly located from the bookmark list.
1 Renaming Recordings
Recorded files can be renamed using on-screen keyboard character selections.
1 Recording Protection
Recordings can be password protected against accidental deletion. Non protected recordings can be deleted from the ‘Recorded Programme’ menu to free up hard disk space at any time.
1 Picture in Picture (PIP screen)
The PVR-9200T supports Picture in Picture, allowing two channels to be watched at the same time (when no recordings are being made).
1 Programming Guide (EPG)
The comprehensive programme guide (EPG) provides useful information.
1 Top UP TV Compatible
A Top Up TV compatible Conditional Access Module for pay TV cards is provided.
1 MP3 & Digital Album Playback
MP3 files can be uploaded from a computer and played back on the PVR-9200T using the provided USB cable (5GB limit). In addition, JPEG photographs can be uploaded and played back as a slide show.
1 Radio Recording & Playback
Freeview carries many digital radio stations and the PVR-9200T allows them to be digitally recorded and played back with no loss of quality through a Hi-fi system connected to the rear panel RCA connectors.
1 Software Upgrades
The PVR-9200T software can be upgraded ‘over the air’ or by using an RS232 cable from a PC after downloading software updates from http://www.humax-digital.co.uk/
1 Signal Strength & Quality Readings
Useful for aligning a DVB-T antenna, the PVR-9200T provides details of the transmitter being received, together with full signal strength and quality readings (as a percentage).
Improvements over PVR-8000T
One of the problems with the PVR-8000T was that a recording with a start time of say 19:00, actually started slightly after 19:00 by the time the hard disk had spun up. To correct this, it was necessary to manually set recording time to start a minute earlier – which then resulted in the recording file being named incorrectly, as the PVR named the recording based on the programme being broadcast at 18:59. This made it difficult to find and identify recordings for later playback as they were frequently incorrectly labelled. The PVR-9200T solves this problem, with most recordings now being named correctly.

Weak Signal Performance
The PVR-8000T had class-leading tuner sensitivity and worked very well in poor Freeview reception areas. Amazingly, the PVR-9200T is better still with a digital reception threshold several dBs better. In our test location, it even locked onto DVB-T signals of below 35dBuV from Crystal Palace (55 miles distant) on an aerial facing the opposite direction, producing a watchable picture where the PVR-8000T received no DVB-T signal.

User Interface
The somewhat cumbersome time shifted recording interface of the PVR-8000T has been improved upon on the PVR-9200T and the handset is improved.

Areas for Improvement
The PVR-9200T comes with a low quality single screened Scart cable which suffers from crosstalk between the wires. Video quality can be significantly improved by buying a quality individually screened Scart cable. The user manual leaves something to be desired! There are spelling errors and important omissions in various procedures.

Conclusions
Like the Topfield TF5800PVR this product can be complex to use. However if you are confident using this type of equipment it has many benefits. The unit has many improvements over its predecessor, and offers excellent, class-leading, tuner sensitivity.