We first reviewed Thomson's 40GB hard-disk-based Freeview receiver in August 2004. However, like many set-top boxes and hard-drive recorders, it accepts new software via aerial,so you wake up one morning and effectively get a new product for no extra charge and without going back to the shop.
In the case of the DHD4000, you get an alert after an upgrade has happened and an onscreen message that you can keep and refer to for details. Meanwhile as features go up, prices comes down. Once £300, the DHD4000 is now available for well below the £200 point.
Obviously from the outside the DHD4000 is unchanged and its appearance is the only real letdown. It's horribly dated and looks more like an engineering prototype than something suited for your livingroom. The ring of blue LEDs that rotates during playback may seem natty at first - and inspired by the Sky front panel - but after a while it's distracting.Thankfully, like Sky , you can tone it down so it doesn't look like a Christmas tree at night.
The DHD4000's basic specs are good.It has two built-in digital terrestrial tuners so you can record one Freeview channel while watching another,or record two overlapping programmes at once,even if you're playing something from the hard disk.
Crucially, it has a full onscreen digital radio and TV guide (EPG) to make choosing and identifying programmes easy.The new software version (coded 1.7.7) adds a fullscreen guide option and expands the EPG to 14 days in advance, better than Sky digital boxes and equal to the current DigiFusion Freeview range.You can also set up regular daily or weekly recordings based on a given timeslot,though this does not follow any actual programme around the schedules like TiVo or,to some extent,Sky .
You can still set the timer manually if preferred and there's a new automatic 'guard time',which adds up to five minutes to all recordings in case of overruns.
It also has a live broadcast buffer to store up to 30min of the current channel and a new instant record feature,which grabs a live programme - including buffer content - when you hold down the Record button. The calendar function enables you to set personal reminders,for months or even years ahead,so it's good for birthdays or anniversaries.
One of the most helpful features is the thumbnail function.With the new software you can specify how frequently the recorder creates bookmarks (at 1, 3,5 and 10min intervals or not at all).You can also preview each chapter before playing back a recording.
Along with the user-specified bookmarks that you can add at any point and the fact that you can edit out these portions from a recording, you've got a powerful little machine that you can use to top and tail programmes or chop out ads before transferring to an external DVD or videocassette recorder.Sadly, the tiny remote control makes it easy to hit the wrong keys and delete whole programmes accidentally.
Capacity is somewhat limited by the 40GB hard drive (approximately 20hr of TV).You can compress recordings into LP mode to gain about 25 percent more space,which can be done when the hard disk fills up.Groups of programmes can also be selected for archiving (on a connected recorder) and even scheduled to happen when you're not around.If you're handy with special screwdrivers you can swap to a bigger hard drive,but you'll invalidate the warranty.
Hearing impaired viewers can now record subtitles with the DHD4000.You must select them before recording, but they can be toggled off or on during playback, like a DVD.
Another useful addition is a resume play feature.Before, if you stopped playback part-way through, the machine wouldn't remember where you left off,but now it can - at least for a while.
Finally,the new software adds simultaneous play and record of any currently recording programme (also known as chasing playback). However,unlike Sky you have to access these programmes from the guide, not the recording list.Also the countdown time display becomes very confusing for a programme that's still recording because it doesn't go down as you play! An elapsed-time counter would be more logical throughout.One for the next upgrade perhaps?
The numerous software enhancements do not affect the audio-visual performance one way or the other,but that's no bad thing as the DHD4000 was always excellent in this department. Providing that the original Freeview broadcast is vivid,sharp and colourful,then your recordings look every bit as good.It's extremely quick to react to trick-play commands,while the choice of seven search speeds and the improved bookmarking facilities make navigation a joy.
There's still a brief stutter in the audio when you jump out of fast picture search,but otherwise it appears stable.The sound quality remains solid and the choice of two kinds of digital audio output - plus analogue phono - make it simple for connecting to hi-fis and amps.
The front panel controls are helpful for digital radio,but the addition of a channel number display would be ideal so you don't need to turn on the TV every time.
Compressed LP recordings lose only a small amount of detail. Contrast and colour are powerful throughout,though you may see slightly more digital noise in the image.Generally,Standard and LP recordings hold up well,even on a fussy 32in LCD TV.
Overall, this is both a fine set-top box and recorder. The functional improvements genuinely enhance and heighten the viewing experience, especially the ability to pause and rewind live broadcasts or to play programmes from the start while the rest of it is being recorded. Along with the expanded listings guide and timer options, the DHD4000 is now very close to being a Sky box for Freeview. In a few ways it's actually better than its trendsetting digital satellite counterpart.
Only with its looks and remote does it fall down, though if you have a 'learning' universal remote, you can copy the vital controls into a more pleasing handset.
