Are all freeview recorders crap?

[chipmunksex]

My 5th freeview recorder has conked out after only 14 months.

Is there any point shopping around reading tons of reviews etc. Or should I just buy a cheap one and start saving for it's replacement.

What about bt vision or virgin media are they a good option? (don't mention the evil empire)

That doesn't seem right, we've had our SAGEM recorder for 2 years with no problems so is there a way you can contact the manufacturer or the retailer and ask their advice?

we had a thomson one for a few years which was great, but died.

Since then we have had 2 x identicle bushs which were returned to argos because they went within guarantee. After the 2nd one I chose a hitachi that had good reviews to replace because didn't want another crap bush. This has now died 2 months outside the 12 month guarantee.

wait a minute that's only 4

It feels like 5

I've had one from Argos for nearly five years and only just replaced the remote control. It was one of the cheapest and still works fine.

Just rub it in why don't ya lisaro?

So what to do?

Our Humax still going fine. It's probably about 2 years old.

I don't believe that is the norm no. My friend has a Sony, going strong after 4 years. Not sure what make my dad's is but that is even older.

I've had a brilliant vision box for 18 months and hope to get a lot lot longer out of it.

Out of interest where do you use them? Is there any chance they could be overheating?

In my front room, it's not hot or anything.

Maybe i should have spent a bit more to start with, but seriously I do think things should last a few years even if they are cheapy.

I am on my third Humax in 5 years....

Sorry chipmunk

Hmm, in your case then wouldn't an extended guarantee be worth it? John lewis can be quite reasonable.

I had a Humax, conked out after just over 1 year, I got the cheapest that they had after that (at Argos which was the Hitachi) that still works fine.

I had a Philips, conked out after 13 months. Now got a Sony, going strong after a couple of years, touch wood. The Philips was repaired for £50 by a local firm but I never got round to putting it back. It's nicer to use than the Sony, but I'll wait for the Sony to break.

I've had a refurbished Dion (bought on Ebay for 40 quid, later saw one new in Tesco at 75 or 80 quid).

It has 250 GB HD and seems to work quite well (though does not have HDMI outout, only SCART for signal into the TV, and RF pass through to feed the TV from the aerial on the roof).

I'd certainly consider an extended warranty from Richer Sounds or John Lewis, if you seem to constantly have problems with your Freeview recording kit.

Cannot comment on Virgin kit - they serve homes about 40 feet away but no properties in my close/estate (seems shortsighted as there are 4 high rise and 2 low level blocks of flats plus maybe 80 houses).

Thanks for your comments everyone.

I think I might go for the welsh ionic (I think) one from john Lewis and then we have the guarantee. and they will deliver to waitrose which is great as actual john lewis is very far!

It's bad enough the things conking out, but all the programs we have lost-dd especially cut up about losing vast quantities of horrible histories and horrid henry- me not so much.

If it's conked out after only 14months then take it back and insist they do something about it, it may be out of warranty but 14months is not a "reasonable" amount of time for a expensive electrical item to last.

Just because it's out of warranty does make any difference, the law says any product you buy should last a reasonable amount of time, 14months is not reasonable.

Have a look at www.adviceguide.org.uk/consumer

*does not