Options to record from VM box & freeview

[Osem]

Hi.

We recently took the plunge and had a new high gain outdoor aerial installed to provide a decent Freeview signal and I've since run co-axial cables to our bedroom and lounge TVs both of which are Freeview enabled and working fine.

In the lounge we have a VHS recorder/DVD player combi which is connected to our VM box and which we use to record TV from time to time. Until now, the problem's always been that we're stuck unable to watch another channel while recording from the VM box. Now we can watch Freeview while doing so but I'm considering buying a new DVD/HDD recorder to replace the VHS unit and am wondering what the connection options for recording might be. Since there are more channels on VM, I'm assuming it'd be best to connect the new recorder to the VM box but if we did that, would there be any way to also record from Freeview without faffing about unplugging and swapping cables etc. Given that our main TV already has a Freeview tuner built-in, would buying a Freeview enabled recorder be a good idea and add to our options or just be superfluous?

We'd also appreciate any feedback/advice on the best choice of DVD/HDD recorder (c. £200) for our intended use and if anyone has any recommendations we'd be glad to receive them.

[Kymmy]

Problem with freeview enabled TV's is that you only tend to have a single tuner within them. So you're still stuck with being unable to watch anther channel whilst recording from the scart socket.

You can just buy a cheap freeview PVR (I got one with 30+ hours recording for £35 off ebay) and use that.. BUT you can't record from the scart with one

[altis]

Time to wheel out my drawing again:



Instead of "Main VCR" read "Main PVR" - which can be Freeview too.

This setup will allow you to watch and record the most combinations of channels all about the house. It doesn't matter that your TVs will tune to Freeview - it all works the same.

Also note that, since the FM hookup has died, you'll need to add an external FM aerial - if you want to distribute that too.

Some Freeview boxes:
http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewboxes.html

Also bear in mind that they have just started transmitting Freeview in HD but AFAIK there are no Freeview HD PVRs about yet. Might be worth waiting - might not!

Edit:
Spoke too soon:
http://news.google.co.uk/news?q=freeview+HD+pvr

[Osem]

Thanks guys.

Just to clarify, we only really need to record in the lounge and are quite happy with the setup we now have there apart from the ageing VHS recorder. When we buy a new HDD/DVD recorder I'd like to know if it'll be possible for us to record from either Freeview or the VM box without having to faff around changing cables. So, if I bought a Freeview enabled recorder would I be able to connect both the aerial coaxial cable and the VM box to it in order that we'd be able to simply select which source to record from and be able to view from the other source on the TV at the same time?

Altis - thanks for that but at my time of life that's rather too complex...

[altis]

Originally Posted by Osem

...I'd like to know if it'll be possible for us to record from either Freeview or the VM box without having to faff around changing cables....

Sure thing. Just tell the PVR to record from Freeview or from the Scart socket - job done.

[Kymmy]

It would be hard to tell it which one to record from unless it had 2 scart inputs which were selectable. Or you could wire in a scart switch and use the monitor output (no I don;t mean a TV/PC monitor)

Freeview PVR's though do not generally enable you to record from the scart socket, so you'll need a seperate PVR It also then depends if the TV allows you to output the freeview on a scart plug whilst watching another scart as you have built in freeview

[Matth]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

Freeview PVR's though do not generally enable you to record from the scart socket, so you'll need a seperate PVR It also then depends if the TV allows you to output the freeview on a scart plug whilst watching another scart as you have built in freeview

Good point, freeview hard disk recorders record the stream, so they lack the capability to encode.

Hard disk/DVD recorders often do have the required encoder, so they can record at different DVD quality/time settings.

Make sure they do have recording capability on the inputs, some may only have through connnection.

Videoplus recording codes should select the freeview tuner for freeview channels, and the input for others - eg. Sky1.


One other thing... why not V+ ?

[Osem]

Getting all confused again now - the tecchie talk does my head in So is the answer to my question that I could record either source but that there's more involved than plugging in a couple of leads if I want to be able to choose which to record which of course I do ?

Have already investigated the V+ route but decided against it as I don't want to rent another box and especially one I won't even be able to choose.

[Matth]

http://www.cramptonandmoore.co.uk/dv...FcJd4wodpToNYA
This one, for instance, can record from its own freeview tuner, or inputs such as SCART, AV or DV - cycled through by "SOURCE" selection.
Also has pass through, but if the TV has two scarts, I'd always use the "triangle" setup so as not to rely on passthrough.

Digibox SCART to TV
Digibox SCART to recorder
Recorder SCART (or HDMI) to TV

That one seems not to use Videoplus, freeview channel recording is by guide selection.

[Osem]

Thanks !