I've asked this question before but overcomplicated it with added features,

After doing some thinking all I want the NAS to do is:

Plug in via ethernet to my BT HomeHub
Allow remote log in to access/copy data
Allow standard HDD's to be added (minimum 2, 4 is possible)

There isn't really a max budget but the cheaper the better.

Any suggestions?

I have seen this I belive it fits 2 1/2 critera (2 disk bays)

Remote log-in is down to the router. You will need to set-up the router to either do port forwarding (probably FTP, ports 20 +21), which is generally a bad thing, unless you want everybody to be able to access it (and make sure that you turn off anonymous users on the NAS!!). A better solution would be to enable VPN in the router, with a secure username and password (min. 20 character password should do), once the VPN tunnel has been created, you can then access the whole local network remotely.

All types of remote access rely on the router. If the router doesn't support port forwarding or VPN, then you will need to change it for a router that is capable of VPN or port forwarding (I'd go for VPN every time, as it is a secure connection).

Additionally, the router should support DynamicDNS - without that, you won't be able to remotely access the router (easily). Basically, every day, the ISP provides you with a temporary IP address for your network connection (totally different from the internal IP addresses). As this address is temporary, you will either need to make a note of it, before leaving home, and hope they don't do the forced re-connect, before you try and access the system. To get around this, you can set up an account with a dynamic DNS service, then configure the router to use the account and register the "temporary" domain - again, the router should ideally support this, there are freeware programs for Windows, Linux and OS X to do this, but it means having to leave the PC running 24/7 in order to re-register the domain, after the forced re-connect, as the router is on 24/7 anyway, it makes more sense to use the router.

Once that is in place, any NAS device can be used for transferring information.

I was looking at the Netgear ReadyNAS series, which SASPro put me onto - I was looking for a streaming media solution. The 2 bay costs about 167€, the 4 bay for around 300€ (Amazon.de), you can put in any SATA drive, I was planning on 1TB at the time, but 2TB drives should be possible).

Alternatively, look at a Drobo, they are nice devices, but a bit pricey, the 5-bay FS solution costs 569€, without drives, but you can mix and match any drives you want (or have laying around) and you can pull out a drive later and plug in a bigger drive and it will rebuild the array on the fly, using the new capacity...

See this is why normal people just buy a USB HDD. Why has it all gotta be so bloody nerdy??

I'd quite like to be able to chuck a few HDDs in a box and plug it into my switch, then access it from Windows Explorer, as if the drives were just there. Why can't I do that? I don't want to know about DNS and VPNs and all that gubbins.

You can, we are talking about remote access (from outside the network), not about accessing it on the network.

Plug it in and go, that is how most of them work. You just need to map the address once, after installation and you can use it as a normal folder, library or drive under Windows. It is only when you also want to access it, when you are on the move (E.g. at work, in an internet café etc.) that you need to worry about DynDNS, VPN or FTP...

The current issue (84) of Custom PC has a full NAS box labs test.

Would you be so kind as to abbreviate it for me?? I could use the help at the moment as I'm about to run out of space AGAIN

Can't at the moment. The reviews aren't online and I don't have the mag with me offshore.
I'll have a google and get back to you.

EDIT

The winner was:
Synology DS210j Disk Station
Very fast, well features and not too pricey.

Thanks Lev. I'll look into it.