Any generic box do a decent EPG?

[pgh13]

I have a mate who is using his iminent house move as an opportunity to kick a particular satellite broadcaster into touch. That then outs him into the 'how to watch F1 free' camp. He's asking me what he needs to buy, but I use a PC based PVR with DVB-T and DVB-S cards for most of my viewing and on this I get a reliable 7 day EPG off air for most channels including RTL on 19E.
I'm not 'up' on the latest receivers but are there any around that have PVR capability and give a half decent program guide on 19E? I think where he is going has a decent terrestrial signal, so he may go for a Freeview PVR and a cheapie for his F1 (until we can get him hooked properly on satellite). Do, say, the Ferguson Ariva or maybe some of the Amikos (although that may be too troublesome for a novice?) have a decent EPG?

 

[digi247]

I cannot answer for the ferguson or the amiko but if he needs a decent 7 Day EPG stay well clear of the Openbox/Skybox range now and next only, Not sure what kind of budget he has but that would help for further suggestions

 

[Huevos]

Linux box. Set EPG to update every night either online from xml or off air direct from the satellite depending on the channels in question. And with the ABM plugin from ViX you can make the channel list update daily, and even follow the Sky or Freesat channel numbering. Add a hard drive (or if you've got a NAS) you've got a full recording box. These HD boxes start at less than 140GBP. See the forum sponser's site.