“I always find it odd that companies send out requests for reviews of a product without checking first that it hasn't been returned for a credit! For a few years I've had a FVP-4000 and FVP-5000 linked over our home network, but I wanted to use one of them elsewhere so I decided to purchase an H3. The 5000 always worked very well as a 'remote' for the 4000 (and vice versa), with control of fast-forward/rewind being very responsive. Skipping forward 10 seconds or 10 minutes was a simple exercise, so imagine my disappointment when I connected the H3 and found the remote control function impossible to use. The forward or rewind controls allow only a 3-minute skip - which is not adjustable in Settings - but worse still, operating that more than twice results in a jump to the start of the next video on the list. I called Tech Support who said they were not aware of this particular problem. However a Google search found a thread on Hummy TV from 2017 and a post on Digital Spy in 2018 indicating the fault has existed for more than five years, yet Humax is still selling the H3 without having fixed it! To their credit Humax arranged free collection and a refund, but I would have been much happier with a firmware upgrade!”
“I am extremely unhappy with the performance of the H3 (Refurbished} unit as it has again stopped performing. As with the original unit I purchased a few years ago I am now unable to view TV programmes as I cannot access them. Every time I try I receive an error message stating " Sorry. This channel is not available". The programme schedule and titles appear but the picture and sound do not. It seems as though the unit performs for a limited time and then goes into this error problem.
I have over a couple of years been in touch with you on numerous occasions about this and I have carried out the offered solutions with very little success. I recently e-mailed you about this but to date have not had a reply.”
“I PURCHASED THE MAIN REFURBISHED RECORDER ON 1ST NOVEMBER (ORDER ID~146090092) ((FOLLOWED BY MY BUYING THE H3 'EXPRESSO STREEMER) - ORDER ID #146092569) AND ALTHOUGH IT WORKS I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE EXTREEMLY SLOW IN LOADING!
I BASE MY FINDINGS ON THE FACT THAT i USED TO BE A 'sKY' SUBSCRIBER AND HAVE SINCE BOUGHT A SECOND TV WITH FREEVIEW BUILT IN, MY OBVIOUS COMPARISON IS WITH THE TV WITH BUILT IN FREEVIEW, THERE IS NO COMPARISON. AS THE HUMAX BOX IS SO SLOW!
ANY SUGGESTIONS IN HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM? I WOULD CONSIDER BUYING A NEW NON REFURBISHED HUMAX IF IT WAS GUARENTEED TO WORK WITH THE SPEED OF THE BUILT IN FREEPLAYER IN THE 2ND TV!
tHE OTHER PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS THE COMPATABLE LINK WITH MY OLD TV VOLUME AND THE FACT THAT THE VOUME ON THE TV HAS TO BE TURNED RIGHT UP TO HAVE A DECENT VOLUME WHEN USING THE FREEVIEW THROUGH THE REFURBISHED HUMAX BOX!
LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!
BOB JAMESON”
“Most of the included stuff doesn’t work any more. It seems the developers of the apps, like the one needed for catch up services, are no longer interested in Humax. Also, if I play a stream from my now almost useless FVP4000, and there’s any kind of glitch, even on wired network, the player borks and it has to be reloaded. As a broadcast industry streaming player developer myself, I wouldn’t release most of Humax’s product. While it fails to work it looks ok, even when they break a feature with an update, or abandon the device along with their customers. Really, a very poor show. Whoever runs this outfit does not seem wise.”
“I am not usually motivated to write a review but as I have invested so much time on this product I felt that my assessment might just be worthwhile submitting.
Humax's best-kept secret was the combination of the H3 Espresso combined with a Humax FVP Freeview box with the DLNA Server function enabled.
This had the potential to provide a real competitive alternative to the Sky Q system box and Sky Q Mini multi-room sharing without escalating Sky subscription costs.
Like the Sky Q Mini box, the little H3 box, via the home network link to the main Humax FVP box, could be connected to a TV in another room and with no other connection, provide all the available TV stations and recordings available from the main FVP box independently to what is being watched on the FVP box (i.e. not just repeating what is being watched on the FVP box).
However, the reality is that although the H3 successfully streamed Live TV and the recorded programs, it lacked some useful functionality such as being able to pause/rewind Live TV which is strange when it contains a huge amount of memory!
Also, the remote control/menu is very basic and despite having been in contact with Humax technical support, after many hours of trying different settings I still have not been able to run some of the H3 apps or access the “On Demand” services such as iPlayer, All 4, ITV Hub etc so only getting half the Freeview services!
In summary, it is not surprising that the H3 has been discontinued but the real disappointment is that Humax did not go on to develop a better version to provide a true multi-room entertainment system and a real Freeview competitive alternative to the Sky Q system.
On a final note, I also believe that if Humax had not discontinued their Freesat boxes but had also enhanced them with the DLNA Server function with a much better version of the H3, Humax could have had a formidable Freeview / Freesat Multi-room products that would be a system of choice and not an alternative to Sky for many people like myself that do not want subscription services.
Hope that helps someone.”
“The streamer was bought to provide a signal to a perfectly serviceable digital Sharp 32" TV that predates HD tuners.
The TV is relegated to a spare room and now it can be used to watch HDTV, recordings on the FVP-4000Tt and videos or music stored on my PC.
Excellent value, just like new, and worked perfectly straight out of the box - once I remembered to plug it into the mains !”
“Unit was as new condition in box with all accessories. Took some time to set up, had to reset twice. Initially appeared ideal but constant picture break up apparently due to poor wi fi but unit confirmed internet connection was fine? I have FTTP with 200mbs, wi fi in location which is upstairs is 80mb and Fire Stick, Sky Q etc all perform perfectly. Did call Humax Support but frankly not impressed. Eventually gave up the ghost and disconnected it. Will keep my Sky System it works superbly. Disappointed, this kit is no competition for other current systems.”
