Connecting Sky+ to an external HDD recorder?

Bruster · 28-12-2009, 15:52

Hi Gents,
I will welcome any information concerning this subject. I bought the Verbatim MediaStation HD DVR Multimedia Recorder 1TB; and I am struggling to make the right connection to my SKY plus box. I would like to record on my media recorder; but the connections are still an issue. Also, I have a DVD recorder which is already connected up and working.
The Sky Box has:
Coaxial
Optical
HDMI
Audio Video Out
S-Video
2x Scarts
Aerial in
RF Out-1
RF Out-2

The Verbatim Mediastation Recorder has:
Coaxial
Optical
HDMI
Component Out
Audio Video in
Audio Video Out

Any Help Guys!

**Chris** · 28-12-2009, 16:07

Moved this query into its own thread as it's unconnected with the previous one.

Tezcatlipoca · 28-12-2009, 16:28

Sky+ boxes do not have HDMI (& I don't think they have optical audio outputs either). Do you have a Sky+ box or a Sky+HD box?

What do you actually want to achieve by connecting the Sky+ box to the Verbatim box? You could connect the Sky+ box's "VCR SCART" to the Verbatim box, for archiving stuff off the Sky+ box's own HDD, but I assume that is already how you have the DVD Recorder connected?

Bruster · 28-12-2009, 16:35

Sorry for the confusion with the various threads. I have a Sky+HD box. I would like to be able to record my movies straight to my Verbatim MediaStation HD DVR Multimedia Recorder for archiving. Also, the DVD recorder is connected via the scart leads.

webcrawler2050 · 28-12-2009, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruster

Sorry for the confusion with the various threads. I have a Sky+HD box. I would like to be able to record my movies straight to my Verbatim MediaStation HD DVR Multimedia Recorder for archiving. Also, the DVD recorder is connected via the scart leads.

Is that even possible?

Bruster · 28-12-2009, 16:46

Yes it is possible. I was doing that with my previous Media recorder (Icy Box), before I bought a DVD recorder. Having a DVD recorder complicates my wiring. That's why I am looking for another method of conection so I can have them both. My DVD recorder will be used as a player only!

webcrawler2050 · 28-12-2009, 16:48

Correction, sorry I should reword that. Is it allowed?

Bruster · 28-12-2009, 16:55

There are very few people who owns a DVD recorder and does not copy movies on to a disc or some other format.

webcrawler2050 · 28-12-2009, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruster

There are very few people who owns a DVD recorder and does not copy movies on to a disc or some other format.

I'm talking within your Sky T&C's?

Can somebody else who is savvy with this confirm?

**Chris** · 28-12-2009, 17:12

If Sky didn't want to allow archiving from their box to some other medium, they wouldn't allow the connections to do it.

I suspect the problem here is that archiving may only be allowed via the SCART connection, and that's in use by the DVD recorder. If possible, and especially if the DVD recorder is no longer required for recording anything from the Sky box, I'd simply connect it directly to the TV via SCART, and not have it connected to the Sky box at all. Then use the freed-up SCART socket to connect the HDD recorder to the Sky+HD box.

webcrawler2050 · 28-12-2009, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

If Sky didn't want to allow archiving from their box to some other medium, they wouldn't allow the connections to do it.

I suspect the problem here is that archiving may only be allowed via the SCART connection, and that's in use by the DVD recorder. If possible, and especially if the DVD recorder is no longer required for recording anything from the Sky box, I'd simply connect it directly to the TV via SCART, and not have it connected to the Sky box at all. Then use the freed-up SCART socket to connect the HDD recorder to the Sky+HD box.

Guess your right. Just not sure on the tech beind it

Tezcatlipoca · 28-12-2009, 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

If Sky didn't want to allow archiving from their box to some other medium, they wouldn't allow the connections to do it.

Yup. And not just the connections... Sky+ / Sky+HD boxes also have an actual archive function, specifically for archiving recorded programmes from the box to Something Else.

I would assume that anything Sky do not allow you / want you to archive (& movies may come under this?) would be protected (e.g. Macrovision).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I suspect the problem here is that archiving may only be allowed via the SCART connection, and that's in use by the DVD recorder. If possible, and especially if the DVD recorder is no longer required for recording anything from the Sky box, I'd simply connect it directly to the TV via SCART, and not have it connected to the Sky box at all. Then use the freed-up SCART socket to connect the HDD recorder to the Sky+HD box.

Yup.

DVD Recorder >SCART> TV

Sky+HD >SCART> Verbatim (using the VCR SCART on the Sky box, not the TV SCART)

Sky+HD >HDMI> TV

Flyboy · 28-12-2009, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

If Sky didn't want to allow archiving from their box to some other medium, they wouldn't allow the connections to do it.

I suspect the problem here is that archiving may only be allowed via the SCART connection, and that's in use by the DVD recorder. If possible, and especially if the DVD recorder is no longer required for recording anything from the Sky box, I'd simply connect it directly to the TV via SCART, and not have it connected to the Sky box at all. Then use the freed-up SCART socket to connect the HDD recorder to the Sky+HD box.

Indeed, there is even an option on the EPG to "copy."

webcrawler2050 · 28-12-2009, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyboy

Indeed, there is even an option on the EPG to "copy."

It was just a thought

Bruster · 28-12-2009, 18:28

Sorry gents, if you double check the first thread, you would have noticed that the Verbatim does not have any scarts socket at all. Just all the other sockets mentioned!
The Verbatim Mediastation Recorder has:
Coaxial
Optical
HDMI
Component Out
Audio Video in
Audio Video Out