Cable and Dvd Recorders

Alan Peach · 05-02-2007, 17:26

Hi
We have just been given a free DVD Recorder the model is Panasonic DMR-E55EB .
Will this hook up to Cable and we be able to see all the stations so i can use it properly .Or is it a case of it will only record of one channel and it has to be watched .
What in earth is the point of making Dvd recorders if they cant be used properly via Cable ? .

Ive tried hooking it up but it doesnt find all the tv stations ,seems to find just one and i have to then use ntl remote to change what we want to watch .
The tv incidently is a Thomson 32 inch widescreen ,it is a few years old now though .

What do you have to buy now if you want to be able to use all of this equipment properly via Cable ? .Do the new HD teles also have this problem with Ntl ? .How do these work with cable ? .Do you download the film to the HD and then put it onto DVD at a later date ( when you have time ) .

Alan

Graham M · 05-02-2007, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Peach

Hi
We have just been given a free DVD Recorder the model is Panasonic DMR-E55EB .
Will this hook up to Cable and we be able to see all the stations so i can use it properly .Or is it a case of it will only record of one channel and it has to be watched .
What in earth is the point of making Dvd recorders if they cant be used properly via Cable ? .

Ive tried hooking it up but it doesnt find all the tv stations ,seems to find just one and i have to then use ntl remote to change what we want to watch .
The tv incidently is a Thomson 32 inch widescreen ,it is a few years old now though .

What do you have to buy now if you want to be able to use all of this equipment properly via Cable ? .Do the new HD teles also have this problem with Ntl ? .How do these work with cable ? .Do you download the film to the HD and then put it onto DVD at a later date ( when you have time ) .

Alan

Yep, exactly the same as if you connected a VCR

Alan Peach · 05-02-2007, 17:32

One problem i seem to have , i have only installed scart sockets though so bare this in mind .
I dont seem to be able to find the channel that ntl is on thru the DVDR altho the scart is going to AV1 from the DVDR so do i set it to record of that ? .

Alan

walfordking · 05-02-2007, 17:48

my tv is a combo of video and DvD and I can tape any program I want on cable/freeview/normal tv channels. my Dad has freeview but can't record anything cause he's got just got a tv and video not together. so my advce is to sell your DVD recorder and get a combo tv.

King Of Fools · 05-02-2007, 17:55

A DVD recorder uses exactly the same technology as in a VCR except that it records on DVDs rather than tapes - all of the same limitations apply.

The only device that can record a different cable channel than the one being watched is the V+ box (like Sky+ HD but for cable).

Aragorn · 05-02-2007, 18:07

OK, here's the scoop.

The standard NTL/TW STB has two scart sockets, TV & Video/DVD, but only one digital decoder/tuner. It outputs the same digital signal on both scart sockets, so you can only record the channel currently on the STB.

Solutions -
1. The old PACE boxes and some Samsung (if you asked) have an RF bypass which outputs the old analogue signal for terrestrial channels via coax cable. This can be fed into the DVDR and through to the TV. You can then either record BBC 1,2, ITV, C4 or 5 via the coax input and watch digital or vice versa.

2. If you still have a good aerial feed, watch that on TV while recording digital.

3. The V+ box has three digital tuners so you can record two channels to disk while watching a third. The disk recordings can then be recorded to DVD, although with V+ a DVDR is slightly redundant IMO.

If you only have the standard STB with scart from STB to DVDR, you need to set the DVD to record from scart input.

HTH

gadge · 05-02-2007, 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

OK, here's the scoop.

The standard NTL/TW STB has two scart sockets, TV & Video/DVD, but only one digital decoder/tuner. It outputs the same digital signal on both scart sockets, so you can only record the channel currently on the STB.

Solutions -
1. The old PACE boxes and some Samsung (if you asked) have an RF bypass which outputs the old analogue signal for terrestrial channels via coax cable. This can be fed into the DVDR and through to the TV. You can then either record BBC 1,2, ITV, C4 or 5 via the coax input and watch digital or vice versa.

2. If you still have a good aerial feed, watch that on TV while recording digital.

3. The V+ box has three digital tuners so you can record two channels to disk while watching a third. The disk recordings can then be recorded to DVD, although with V+ a DVDR is slightly redundant IMO.

If you only have the standard STB with scart from STB to DVDR, you need to set the DVD to record from scart input.

HTH

yea the cool part with v+ is as your copying from the harddrive to dvd you a flick through the channels aswell you cant with sky+ you have to watch it.

RealDiamond · 05-02-2007, 20:52

If youve got a V+ box you will at some point need to eraze something. with DVD RW costing 10p per DVD at most you can back up the hole V+ to DVD.

DVD+RW( sony )and DVD-RAM (panasonic) also allow catch up tv just like the V+ Box plus the DVD can be taken to a mates house and watched there, a V+ box can't do this. DVD use for long term storage/and portable media isn't over yet .