cannot use DVD ecorder with Virgin V+

[pmag]

Hello everyone, I am a new member and I am hoping I can some help with getting my new dvd recorder to work with the Virgin plus box. I have read several existing threads but so far haven't got the answer I am loooking for.

I have a sony Bravia 32 inch TV with all the bells and whistles on it. My V plus box was installed and tuned in to AV4 by the engineer and everything worked fine - I simply select AV4 to view all the vigin digital channels.

Then I bought a Goodmans DVD recorder which defaults to AV2. When I try to tune it (on AV2). I get a meaasges saying "cannot find any channels". Also when I select "view souce" on the recorder (on AV2) I get the message "no signal from scart".

The connections are as follows:
Scart lead from V+ box to DVD recorder
Scart lead from recorder to TV

Can anyone help please

Many Thanks

[Aragorn]

to CF
Is your V+ to TV using HDMI (or component)? If using HDMI, the Scart output (to DVD) is disabled and can only be used for 'backing-up' recorded content to DVD.

[pmag]

Yes it is. The engineer tuned it in on AV4 for this purpose (HD) but I can't record to DVD recoder using the V+ "Record to DVD" function either. I get the message saying "cannot find channel".

If the scart ouput is disabled, can I use the cable leads instead?

[Aragorn]

Nope - HDMI disables all other output :-(
As for 'Record to DVD' - afaik it should activate the DVD scart output - which scart on the V+ is it connected to and is the DVDR tuned to the correct input scart.

[pmag]

Re point 1. Thanks - Understood.

I have a scart lead connected form the lower scart socket on the V+ box (to DVD) to the recorder. Then one from the recorder to the TV.

As for tuninng the DVD in, I am using the auto programme search on the recorder. When I use the "view source" button on the recorder, all I get is a message saying "No signal from scart". This is now not surpising from what you have said.

I am afraid I don't know how to tune the recorder into the correct scart for recording from V+ record to DVD function. Whatever I do, I still get the message "cant find channel".

BTW. Is there any way disabling htmi (or retuning) so that I can use the recorder. The picture quality on the digital cable channels was excellent before the V+ box was installed.

[Aragorn]

Maybe 'tuned' was a poor choice of words on my part.
Yes you can disable HDMI and revert to SD format via Scart direct to the TV - afraid I'm not sure which menu to do it in tho! Doing so would activate both scarts (and afaik the RF output).
As it stands, with the scart input from V+ (when it's enabled) the DVD will recieve the current recording selected on the V+ during 'record to DVD'. On the DVD you should have the option to change the 'Input' device, probably AV1 on the DVD to select the Scart input.
This does not allow the DVD to recieve (tune) the standard terrestrial channels - that would need an RF (aerial) lead from the V+ RF output to the RF input on the DVD (with HDMI disabled). Then you could 'tune' the DVD to recieve the 5 regular channels and record them independantly of the V+ channel.
Hope that makes sense.

[pmag]

Many thanks, There's a lot to digest here. I will try out some of the things you mentioned and see what happens.

[Paranoimia]

I also have a Bravia and V+, with a Sony RDR-HXD870 DVD recorder, though my DVD recorder upscales to hi-def, and so is connected via HDMI (AV7).

I have both the V+ and the DVD recorder connected to the TV with HDMI, and the V+ connected to the DVD recorder via SCART from the lower 'VCR' SCART socket.

To record from the V+, you will need to change the input source on your DVD recorder (not your TV) to whichever socket the SCART from the V+ is plugged into. In my case, I need to set the DVD recorder to 'Line 1'. If you're not sure how to do this, I suggest you look for a button on your DVD recorder's remote labelled either 'INPUT' or with a little symbol that looks like a TV screen with an arrow pointing into it. If you don't appear to have either, check the manual... Goodmans may use different symbols.

It is important to remember that the V+ box, when connected to a TV via HDMI, outputs no signal at all over the VCR SCART until the copy process is started, so you will not be able to see anything until a copy is actually in progress.

Also, since the input is a direct feed and not a 'channel' as such, auto-tune will not find anything.

With the TV set to AV4 (your V+ box), go through the V+ 'Copy to VCR/DVD' process, and start your DVD recorder recording from 'Line 1' (or whatever) when prompted.

If you then flick your TV to the DVD recorder input (AV2), you should see the programme being copied.

I hope this is of some help to you.

[pmag]

Many thanks - I will give this a try an report back

[pmag]

Success!!

I can now record onto DCD's from the V+ recorded programmes - so many thanks to all.

I have one further related query though:

I am not able to record terrestial programmes on my dvd recorder. This would be useful if the Virgin service failed (I have experienced this a few times before).

I have connected the old analogue arial to the "input arial" socket on the recorder and then on to the tv from the output socket. However, I cannot tune in any programmes at all from this when I carry out an automatic programme serach on the recorder.

I thought this should work - or should it?

[awesometeeth]

it doesnt work on the v+ no pass through, gotta use your existing tv aerial if you have one