[Merged] ntl DTV & DVD Recording - Page 2

BaconSarnie · 25-02-2004, 16:50

You can get a VHS VCR with a Freeview decoder in it (and a 7-day EPG if you're in Wales). You can also get a few HDD recorders with Freeview decoders. There a rumors of HDD/DVD recorders with Freeview or Cable decoders in them.

More info at: http://www.pvruk.co.uk/

altis · 25-02-2004, 16:51

I've never seen one, but you might want to investigate the DreamBox DM7000:
http://www.dream-multimedia-tv.de/Be...eaturelist.php

dukeofearl · 25-02-2004, 16:55

For the Freeview DTT users there's this - http://www.pacefreetoview.co.uk/02d.asp
A twin tuner hard disk based recorder, which can watch and record two different channels - not a lot to watch on Freeview though, and it won't even work when the topuptv subscription channels start on DTT......

SMHarman · 25-02-2004, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proppinupthebar

You would need seperate demodulators (SKY- QPSK,DTT- COFDM) and then a Common Interface slot into which you slot the required descrambling module (into which you add the smartcard). Sky won't allow a CI module to be produced.

and NTL / Telewest will?

SMHarman · 25-02-2004, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaconSarnie

You can get a VHS VCR with a Freeview decoder in it (and a 7-day EPG if you're in Wales). You can also get a few HDD recorders with Freeview decoders. There a rumors of HDD/DVD recorders with Freeview or Cable decoders in them.

More info at: http://www.pvruk.co.uk/

They exist - just not on UK cable networks.

http://www.scientificatlanta.com/pro.../Exp8000HD.htm

25-02-2004, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

and NTL / Telewest will?

Nagra CI interfaces are available as is the kit that they fit into. I have two different manufacturers test kit with CI interfaces and appropriate cards.
They are not however available to Joe Public and won't work as they need setting up on the central Conditional Access sytem.

SMHarman · 25-02-2004, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proppinupthebar

Nagra CI interfaces are available as is the kit that they fit into. I have two different manufacturers test kit with CI interfaces and appropriate cards.
They are not however available to Joe Public and won't work as they need setting up on the central Conditional Access sytem.

And if a mrf built it would NTL set it up on the CCAS?
I would imagine Sky would soon cave if NTL/TW/FV all had plug and play functionality to a Sony/Panasonic HDD/DVD/DigiTuner box and they did not.

Geoff103 · 25-02-2004, 17:15

All I want is to watch digital cable TV and have the opportunity to record another digital channel on a DVD recorder.

And be able to buy it Dixons and self install.

Is that really too much?

paulyoung666 · 25-02-2004, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff103

All I want is to watch digital cable TV and have the opportunity to record another digital channel on a DVD recorder.

And be able to buy it Dixons and self install.

Is that really too much?

sorry if i have missed the reason , why dont you go to sky+ ?????????????

SMHarman · 25-02-2004, 17:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff103

All I want is to watch digital cable TV and have the opportunity to record another digital channel on a DVD recorder.

And be able to buy it Dixons and self install.

Is that really too much?

Then all you need to do is rent a second STB from NTL at the cost of ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£15 a month installed and maintained by NTL and connect this to your DVD recorder you buy from Dioxins or your Windows MCE or other HDD recorder.

If you buy the right DVD recorder then you could put this second STB and DVD recorder into another room and then playback by putting the disks into a DVD player in your main room. Then you get Cable in two locations.

Simple really.

25-02-2004, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

And if a mrf built it would NTL set it up on the CCAS?
I would imagine Sky would soon cave if NTL/TW/FV all had plug and play functionality to a Sony/Panasonic HDD/DVD/DigiTuner box and they did not.

Fair point, no ntl would not add Joe Publics kit to the CAS!!!

Snowballs and Hell come to mind regarding Sky and a CI module tho. They already have 7 million subscribers, and I can't see people leaving them for this functionality.

Again I will point out tho that the broadcasters will not be happy with perfect recordings which can be copied and swopped between people.

SMHarman · 25-02-2004, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proppinupthebar

Fair point, no ntl would not add Joe Publics kit to the CAS!!!

Yet at the moment they won't provide their own equivilant either. My Mother in Law has the SA8000 box, its fantastic. I want one. The product exists, all NTL has to do is work out the monthly rental and start installing them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proppinupthebar

Snowballs and Hell come to mind regarding Sky and a CI module tho. They already have 7 million subscribers, and I can't see people leaving them for this functionality.

But these people would not be leaving sky, just decoding on a different piece of kit. Being as sky boxes are sold, not rented I can't see this being a problem as Sky already have boxes manufactured by Panasonic and the like. It will not increase their support overhead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proppinupthebar

Again I will point out tho that the broadcasters will not be happy with perfect recordings which can be copied and swopped between people.

Sky plus records the digital stream. Recording must be falling in popularity as the number of +1s and Mix channels increase. E.g Friends is now on E4 then E4+1 then later that evening (and +1) then Second Chance Sunday (&+1) then on C4 the next week and I'm sure there is a C4 repeat too.

I don't bother recording it as I have about 8 chances to watch it!

The old stuff not out elsewhere is where they are missing out. I think whoever is recording all the 'All Creatures Great and Small's would hapily buy them on DVD if they could but the BBC needs to sort it's arcive release rate out.

25-02-2004, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Sky plus records the digital stream. Recording must be falling in popularity as the number of +1s and Mix channels increase. E.g Friends is now on E4 then E4+1 then later that evening (and +1) then Second Chance Sunday (&+1) then on C4 the next week and I'm sure there is a C4 repeat too.

The point is you can't take the HD out of Sky + and swop it to your PC and then burn copies of entire series of friends etc. With a DVD recorder you could.

SMHarman · 25-02-2004, 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proppinupthebar

The point is you can't take the HD out of Sky + and swop it to your PC and then burn copies of entire series of friends etc. With a DVD recorder you could.

Why can't you? Surely you could write an app to access the FAT of the Sky+ HDD, so you can see the stream. The next problem is decoding it. That would be difficult as you point out the snowballs in hell and modular sky cards scenareo, but ultimately not impossible in time.

I'm sure this can be done with the SA8000 as that must record the decoded stream as you have quality options, thus it is already possible in the US, the biggest market. That box has Firewire and USB2 on it so connecting the HDD to the PC must be a breeze.

25-02-2004, 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Yet at the moment they won't provide their own equivilant either. My Mother in Law has the SA8000 box, its fantastic. I want one. The product exists, all NTL has to do is work out the monthly rental and start installing them.

Apologies for fragmented replies. I had to look up the SA8000 (and its not a QA standard!).
Its not as simple as it already exists so we can use it. The software and hardware would need extensive re-writing/modification. America uses NTSC we use PAL, the SA8000 may not use DVB as the ATSC standard is also available over there, the americans use 6MHz wide TV channels. Thats just three major changes I can think of off the top of my head.