Manhattan T3•R 1TB

So this is a review for the Manhattan T3-R Freeview Play 4K Smart Recorder 1TB which is the new upgraded PVR - I wanted to make that clear, because some of the reviews here appear to be talking about another model for some reason.I spent some time reading reviews for other top line recent PVR models before deciding on the Manhattan T3-R. We've been with Sky for 15 years, the missus has gotten used to the Sky box interface and even though we'd been paying over the odds for years, we felt reluctant to go down the freeview/PVR route because there didn't appear to be anything out there that could match the interface of the guide, recordings, etc. But the kids are watching Netflix these days, we rarely watch Sky content, so it seemed prudent to start looking for a decent PVR. You're probably reading this because you're afraid of making that leap into something different. We were in the same boat.After spending a few weeks with it now, we're so relieved that it seems to do pretty much everything the Sky Q box could and I'm left bewildered by some of the reviews written against this product here which almost made me not buy it in the first place.So first of all let's dispel some false claims written in some of the other reviews... Yes, it *can* pause and rewind live TV, quickly and effortlessly. You *can* watch from the start of a program that is currently recording. You *can* choose from the guide and start recording a program from the guide. You *can* move frame by frame forward should you want to. I say all these things because I've done them and there is at least one other review here that oddly said you couldn't.I like the fact you can record a single program, or set it to record an entire series if you want to. Brilliant for Corrie, Eastenders and all the other rubbish the wife watches!You can press a button 'Recordings' on the remote and it neatly lists the recordings in either 'All' or 'By Series' - You can see scheduled recordings you have set to record into the future. If you delete a program you've recorded, it even saves it for a while in the 'Trash' tab section - Just in case the kids decided to delete the last episode of Peaky Blinders before you got to watch it! Just fish it out from the trash.When you first plug it in, it searches for all the channels automatically. The channels are then all listed into a guide which has its own button on the remote. All the Freeview HD channels are crisp, record and then play perfectly in superb quality. The 'Home' menu also includes apps such as YouTube and YouTube Kids. The unit is very responsive and does not lag at all when flipping around in the menu, which I believe is a common complaint for PVRs.Going back to the guide, the programs are not only listed nicely, but you also get program information, photos of the programs (not in every case), all similar to what you might see on the Sky box interface.- *edit* We've had the unit for months now and it has never let us down recording something we wanted. I thought it might flip out over Christmas with all the recordings we gave it to do (some of them airing on different channels at the same time), but it managed the tasks perfectly.So what *don't* I like about it?- {*edit* Have used this device extensively for several months now)... The single most frustrating issue this device has is an *infrequent* syncing issue between audio and visual on recordings. In fairness, I must stress it only happens *sometimes* but the sound will (ever so slightly) go out of sync with the picture. It seems to happen more if you are pausing a lot, rewinding, forwarding through a program. It's not permanent for that recording and it can be resolved by stopping the program, going back out to the menu and back into it again where it will resume where you left it (or switching the device into standby and on again). It doesn't happen a lot, but the fact it happens at all is frustraing. I'm hoping a future software/firmware update will resolve this issue.- Some have mentioned it, and I'm inclined to agree, I think it would be nice in addition to the static blue LED light at the front have a recording lamp, so you know when it's recording. You just have blue for 'on' and red for 'stand by' modes. It's not a deal breaker for me though, maybe I was just used to having that with Sky.- Would be nice to have apps like NowTV (missus watches Teen Mom! on MTV... I know, I know) available on the main menu. Fortunately our smart TV has the app, but would be nice to have it and others on the Manhattan.There are a couple of minor quirky software peeves that I come across every now and again but nothing major that would put you off this excellent machine.In general, we are delighted with it. The remote is a little 'clunky' and the missus prefers the modern Sky remote we got with the Sky Q box - She'll miss it only because she's used to the Sky remote, but again - Not a deal breaker. I found myself getting annoyed with her that somehow she preferred paying £90 p/m just so she can feel all jolly with a superior remote control unit!It's worth saying the interface is certainly different to Sky's. It will take you a short while to get used to it, but once you do, it's just as functional, if not more functional than the Sky Q box interface.I'll be sure to come back and update this review and edit it (already have, twice) should anything go wrong with the unit, but for now at least, we're over the moon with this purchase and will save us a small fortune in the long run!

13.02.20I am amending and updating my original review which I have left below.I had become disillusioned with my T3-R 1TB after it developed several issues as I have described in my original review.My review was seen by Alex @ Manhattan who replied asking me to contact him direct which I did, he then called me and spent about an hour on the phone with me talking to me about my issues and asking me to run some checks and tests on my original STB.He assured me that the failure rate of the devices is very very low and rare and he was convinced that after discussing the issues with me that I was in the unfortunate position to have a box that had developed some issues.I explained to him that the original box had been excellent and that we were very pleased with it before it started to exhibit the issues I detail in my first review.He arranged for a replacement box to be sent out to me and for the courier company to collect the faulty one from me, this was all arranged on Tuesday 11th Feb and today I received my new replacement which I have installed and is working perfectly, I repeated some of the tests that we performed (and failed) on my original box and the replacement has worked flawlessly. I now have every confidence that this new box will be reliable and work without issues going forwards.I can't thank Alex and his colleagues at Manhattan enough for their excellent care and consideration that they have shown towards me, it has strengthened my decision to purchase this device one factor of which that I hadn't mentioned in my original view being that it is a British product and I am keen to support British companies as much as I can.They have demonstrated the highest level of customer service you could possibly expect to receive.If you are in need of any help or advice with your Manhattan system contact them they will help you.On the strength of my initial impressions of my first box before it started to exhibit the problems I mention and the most excellent customer service I am upgrading my review from a 3 star to 5 star review and I am doing so at my own decision and not at the request of Manhattan.I am very happy with the service and the product and look forward to getting the very best out of it.ORIGINAL 3 STAR REVIEW:OK before my comments I want explain why I have this item! I moved house in Aug 2019, my existing TV supplier could not continue to provide me with the services I used.Also in an attempt to reduce monthly outgoings I wanted to utilise the FreeView options that my new home was already setup for.I had researched and decided on a Humax unit but at the last minute my attention was drawn to the Manhattan offering and I liked the reviews so took the decision to get the 1TB version, at the time it was slightly cheaper than the Humax and seemed to match it pretty much spec wise.At the start we were very happy, the device itself was attractive and well made, the remote was easy to use and program to control the TV on/off and other settings.Picture Quality was great and the sound also very good. The EPG was pretty and not difficult to navigate and all in we were pleased with it.I had hoped the streaming services may increase as it only has You Tube over and above the normal streaming services that presumably you get with all Freeview devices (iPlayer etc.)Sadly though a little over 4 months in our first impressions have faded from memory.We have to routinely reboot it as we often loose the picture but retain the sound, we also get a weird issue where we will change channel and have the picture of the changed channel but the sound from the previous channel or the whole thing just freezes up and stops working/responding.It chops the end off recordings even though we have extended the recording buffer to reduce this.It is very slow to respond to commands from the remote, often the channel up/down button doesn't work then miraculously starts working again only to stop again.I have replaced the RC batteries (no change) I check weekly for any firmware updates but it is as up to date as it can be so no chance of a solution via a firmware update, even if one was available I am not convinced it would resolve all the issues we have, generally we have lost faith and confidence in it.Also, one of the reasons I opted for this unit was because it had WiFi so no need to connect via cable for the streaming services.Well it may as well not be there, the WiFi reception on it is atrocious. In terms of location the STB is about 10 feet from my WiFi router yet we often find that if we try to watch anything on the catch up services like iPlayer, or if we try to watch YouTube the picture will freeze or buffer and the sound is interrupted making anything we are trying to watch almost unwatchable.Since we bought this item we replaced our TV with a newer Smart TV, so to make sure it wasn't a WiFi signal problem I ran a test and tried the same show on BBC iPlayer via the Manhattan STB and from the iPlayer app on the TV - it played flawlessly on the TV app yet all the issues mentioned above continued when I played it on the Manhattan.I had high hopes for this product and it was fine for the first couple of months but now we do not feel we cannot rely upon it to do what is expected of it.My return window with Amazon has long since passed but I am going to contact them to see if I can return it as it is not fit for the purpose for which it was purchased and at the price I feel is not worth the investment.I think with time this product could be very good but it is a long way off being as good as offerings from it's competitors always a risk I suppose with a new company or product.I am hopeful Amazon's excellent customer service will kick in and let me send the item back to them so I can then invest the refund in the Humax model that I had originally decided to buy.

I have had my Manhattan since April, everything was fine, but now it doesn't always record of first episode is recorded it not follow ups. When I try and go on to itv x I can't play the follow up but will play first episode. Anyone else having this issue.