Connecting Freeview T1020 to DVD recorder and TV

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caseybear

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#113513 19-Jan-2013 07:55

We have a Panasonic DMR-EH59 dvd recorder and an older (7years) Philips CRT TV. The TV has 3 inputs for A/V (RCA) plugs as well as an S-Video plug.

I was told at the time I purchased the DVD recorder (only 18mths ago) that when I wanted/needed to get freeview, all I had to do was buy a set-top box and connect the aerial feed to the dvd then from the dvd to the TV. Was also told the same thing recently when we went to purchase a set-top freeview.

We purchased the DishTV T1020. We have aUHF aerial. I connected the RF-in to the freeview, then the RF-out into the RF-in of the dvd, RF-out from the dvd to the RF-in of the TV.

As for the RCA leads, on my first attempt I connected the freeview directly to the TV using the AV-2 input sockets (RCA output from the dvd is connected into the AV-1 sockets). Switching the TV to AV-2 I could then see the freeview setup screen so went through that process and was then able to watch/select different freeview channels using the freeview remote and leaving the TV on AV-2.

Then went through set-up process of scanning for channels on the DVD but it didn't pick up any of the freeview channels - it was like it wasn't getting any feed from the freeview. I then tried connecting the RCA output from the freeview into the dvd into what I think is the RCA input (it's labelled AV4 In) and then RCA output from the dvd into AV-1 on the TV. Went through dvd set-up scanning for channels again and this time it didn't even pick up the analogue channels. I think I disconnected the RF into the dvd at the same time on a suggestion from my husband to try and "force" the dvd into finding input from the freeview receiver. I'm a little fuzzy on this point as by then I was getting a bit frustrated and reaching the ends of my technical know-how.

The dvd also has two large black sockets which look like the old plugs computers used to use labelled AV1 (TV) and AV2 (EXT).

We have been given a newer Panasonic flatscreen TV from my parents-in-law to replace the Philips however we haven't picked this up yet so I'm not sure what inputs it has although I'm fairly certain it won't have built-in freeview. In time we will be wanting to connect this up instead of the Philips we're currently using.

Can anyone tell me how I'm meant to connect up the freeview so it feeds through both the dvd recorder and the TV?

And following on from that, even if I do get it set up correctly, am I able to record one freeview channel on the dvd recorder while still watching another on the TV? If so, is this a simple process or quite fiddly involving lots or work arounds and can I still timer record? I'm recalling way back when (in the 90's) we had Sky and a video recorder and if taping Sky you could only tape whatever channel you had the Sky channel set to and if setting timer record you couldn't switch recording Sky channels as someone needed to physically be there to change the Sky channel. I've now been doing some research and learned that freeview channels are broadcast on different frequencies and having a single tuner freeview box seems to me to be quite similar to the old Sky service with one decoder (would have been nice if a sales person had taken the time to explain how freeview worked when we bought either the dvd or the freeview receiver!). If this is the case then we're thinking we'll return the freeview receiver we just bought and upgrade to a dvd recorder with in-built freeview.

We would really like to keep the dvd recorder (or failing that, upgrade to the in-built freeview one) as we use live-pause a lot and the 1.3x playback and want to be able to burn recorded stuff to disc, so a freeview receiver with simple record is not really an option for us.

My third question is if we went ahead and bought the Panasonic DMR-XW390GLK dvd recorder with built-in freeview, could we then use this to watch/feed freeview to the tv? My understanding is that this has a dual tuner so I can record channels from two different frequencies while still watching a third channel as long as that channel is broadcast on the same frequency as one of the channels I'm recording? Or alternatively if only recording one channel, I should be able to watch any other channel? Is this correct and does this actually work in real-life the way it's meant to?

Or if we really want ease-of-use, do we need to get a TV with in-built freeview as well as a dvd recorder with inbuilt freeview?

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#747249 19-Jan-2013 08:43

Firstly well done on the concise explanation of your problem.

The advice you had when you purchased the DVD was correct.
Connecting the RF to the TV via the DVD allows you to record the current analogue channel and watch one channel on the Tv while another is being recorded on the DVD using it's inbuilt tuner.

Your rf connections to DishTV then thru DVD to TV is also correct allowing the same analogue viewing and recording.

The RCA leads from the DishTV are correct and allow you to watch Freeview via your TV's AV input but in SD not HD.

Your DVD will not pick up any Freeview Channels as it does not have a digital tuner. It is analogue only.

The large sockets on the DVD are SCART sockets (European origin).
I had a DMR-EH59 DVD Recorder and setup as follows.

RF in to my Freeview box then out to DVD and TV.
Composite A/V out from Freeview Box to DVD A/V input. HDMI out to TV as my TV had HDMI socket but no digital tuner.
SCART out from DVD to TV A/V in.
SKY Scart out to DVD Scart in.
This allowed me to watch Freeview HD on the TV and everything else in SD by selecting the appropriate inputs.
Could record Freeview and Sky on the DVD in SD.

Your DishTv is capable of recording Freeview HD to a USB stick or HDD plugged into the USB socket or you can follow my setup and record in SD on the DVD.

You can only receive, watch and record one Freeview Channel at a time as your unit only has a single tuner.

I would recommend you take the DishTV back and get a Panasonic Recorder or similar. I'd also recommend getting a new TV with Freeview Tuner. This would let you watch one channel in HD and record two more. I have a BWT720 BluRay recorder and it was well worth the purchase. Will record and burn to DVD in HD or to BluRay in HD. Can connect external Hard Drive and is also 3D capable.

Your last sentence says it all.
YES! Way to go. And don't forget to haggle over price when buying together. Should be able to get 15 - 20% off. JBHiFi were very good when I bought mine.

Cloudy

150 posts

Master Geek

#747252 19-Jan-2013 08:53

The dvd recorder won't "scan" in any channels from the T1020 as it cannot recieve the Freeview signal. To record from the T1020 you select the channel you want to record on the T1020 and then hit record on the DVD. to set up in advance program the DVD to start recording at the time you want and have it select the av input that is coming from the T1020. Make sure the T1020 is on the right channel.
It is much easier to get a usb hdd and use that with the T1020, that way you can book programs from the guide. Much simpler.I have a T1020 and a T1050 and a DMR-ES15 Panasonic. Both units feed into the DVD, but we only use it if we want to transfer something to disc. All recording is done using the two DishTV units.
Home this helps

Cloudy

150 posts

Master Geek

#747253 19-Jan-2013 08:55

B1GGLZ: Firstly well done on the concise explanation of your problem.

The advice you had when you purchased the DVD was correct.
Connecting the RF to the TV via the DVD allows you to record the current analogue channel and watch one channel on the Tv while another is being recorded on the DVD using it's inbuilt tuner.

Your rf connections to DishTV then thru DVD to TV is also correct allowing the same analogue viewing and recording.

The RCA leads from the DishTV are correct and allow you to watch Freeview via your TV's AV input but in SD not HD.

Your DVD will not pick up any Freeview Channels as it does not have a digital tuner. It is analogue only.

The large sockets on the DVD are SCART sockets (European origin).
I had a DMR-EH59 DVD Recorder and setup as follows.

RF in to my Freeview box then out to DVD and TV.
Composite A/V out from Freeview Box to DVD A/V input. HDMI out to TV as my TV had HDMI socket but no digital tuner.
SCART out from DVD to TV A/V in.
SKY Scart out to DVD Scart in.
This allowed me to watch Freeview HD on the TV and everything else in SD by selecting the appropriate inputs.
Could record Freeview and Sky on the DVD in SD.

Your DishTv is capable of recording Freeview HD to a USB stick or HDD plugged into the USB socket or you can follow my setup and record in SD on the DVD.

You can only receive, watch and record one Freeview Channel at a time as your unit only has a single tuner.

I would recommend you take the DishTV back and get a Panasonic Recorder or similar. I'd also recommend getting a new TV with Freeview Tuner. This would let you watch one channel in HD and record two more. I have a BWT720 BluRay recorder and it was well worth the purchase. Will record and burn to DVD in HD or to BluRay in HD. Can connect external Hard Drive and is also 3D capable.

Your last sentence says it all.
YES! Way to go. And don't forget to haggle over price when buying together. Should be able to get 15 - 20% off. JBHiFi were very good when I bought mine.

LOL, You posted while I was typing.

trig42

5810 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#747256 19-Jan-2013 09:04

I don't think the T1020 outputs the freeview signal over the RF either, it will just pass through the signal from your antenna to whatever else needs it. To record the outpur from the T1020, you either need a USB drive connected to it, or to use the AV inputs on your DVD recorder.

As mentioned above, if you can afford it, get a Panasonic Digital DVD/HDD recorder - it will have twin tuners/DVD and be nice and easy to drive.

caseybear

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#747282 19-Jan-2013 10:32

Thank you for your replies.

So the T1020 is out. We will be returning to the store.

We weren't really keen on buying a new TV at this stage so could you give me little more clarification on what purchasing the Panasonic DVD recorder with freeview will allow us to do.

At the moment I can watch tv by either having the tv set to AV1 (dvd) and dvd turned on and changing channels using the dvd (i.e. watching through the dvd player), or I can just watch tv by changing channels on the tv (bypassing the dvd altogether). If I want to record something, I can either watch that same channel through the dvd or watch a different channel by switching the tv from AV1 to TV1, TV2, TV3 etc.

If I connect the DVD recorder with built-in freeview (no freeview in the tv) I assume I can set the TV to AV1 and then watch digital channels by choosing which channel using the dvd remote (i.e. dvd controls channel surfing, once analogue signal is switched off the tv will only receive an input signal from the dvd so channels 1, 2, 3 etc on the tv won't work). Is this correct?

Now the dvd recorder has a dual tuner. So does this mean I can be recording one channel and still select another channel to watch on the tv via the dvd? Or does this mean I can only record two channels at once, so presumably if I wanted to watch one of those channels at the same time I would need to go into Playback and watch it (with a small time delay) as it's being recorded (much as I can do now with our current dvd recorder)?

I read somewhere "record two channels while watching a third" but I'm now so confused and have looked at so much that I can't remember if that was in reference to the Panasonic dvd or to another form of dual tuner freeview receiver. Has anyone got a Panasonic DMR-XW390 who can clarify this for me? Is this indeed possible or is it referring to if you have a tv with digital tuner built in you can record two channels using the dvd dual tuner and then using the tv itself watch a third using the tv's tuner (similar to how I can record one analogue channel on current dvd while watching another channel using the tv channel settings)?

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#747297 19-Jan-2013 11:34

caseybear: Thank you for your replies.

If I connect the DVD recorder with built-in freeview (no freeview in the tv) I assume I can set the TV to AV1 and then watch digital channels by choosing which channel using the dvd remote (i.e. dvd controls channel surfing, once analogue signal is switched off the tv will only receive an input signal from the dvd so channels 1, 2, 3 etc on the tv won't work). Is this correct?

Now the dvd recorder has a dual tuner. So does this mean I can be recording one channel and still select another channel to watch on the tv via the dvd? Or does this mean I can only record two channels at once, so presumably if I wanted to watch one of those channels at the same time I would need to go into Playback and watch it (with a small time delay) as it's being recorded (much as I can do now with our current dvd recorder)?

I read somewhere "record two channels while watching a third" but I'm now so confused and have looked at so much that I can't remember if that was in reference to the Panasonic dvd or to another form of dual tuner freeview receiver. Has anyone got a Panasonic DMR-XW390 who can clarify this for me? Is this indeed possible or is it referring to if you have a tv with digital tuner built in you can record two channels using the dvd dual tuner and then using the tv itself watch a third using the tv's tuner (similar to how I can record one analogue channel on current dvd while watching another channel using the tv channel settings)?

Well depending on your location you won't be able to receive anything on your TV or EH59 sometime after 28 April to 1 Dec 2013.
See here -
http://www.goingdigital.co.nz/coverage-areas.html?gclid=CPf-_MX48rQCFcshpQodBjEAAg

With the Panasonic Freeview recorder you can watch Freeview on your TV via the A/V input from the recorder. You can then record up to 2 channels but watch only one of the ones recording (at same time no need to go into playback). If you got a new Freeview TV you can watch one channel on the TV via it's Freeview Tuner and record two other channels on the recorder (or the same channel and one other). Not all recording devices allow you to record 2 and watch a 3rd. I pretty sure my Panasonic doesn't and haven't tried. You don't have to go into catch up mode to watch while recording although it is very handy feature. I occasionally change channels after watching something else and can start watching from beginning of recording while recording continues.
The manuals are available online at Panasonic so would be worth you having a read of them.

http://www.panasonic.co.nz/media/526610/XW390%20Operating%20Instructions.pdf
.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#747316 19-Jan-2013 11:44

I'll try and simplify..

caseybear: Thank you for your replies.

So the T1020 is out. We will be returning to the store.

Good Idea.

If I connect the DVD recorder with built-in freeview (no freeview in the tv) I assume I can set the TV to AV1 and then watch digital channels by choosing which channel using the dvd remote (i.e. dvd controls channel surfing, once analogue signal is switched off the tv will only receive an input signal from the dvd so channels 1, 2, 3 etc on the tv won't work). Is this correct?

Yes.

Now the dvd recorder has a dual tuner. So does this mean I can be recording one channel and still select another channel to watch on the tv via the dvd?

Yes.

Or does this mean I can only record two channels at once,

Can record one or two channels at a time and watch one of these on TV (but not a 3rd except on some equipment like MySky).

so presumably if I wanted to watch one of those channels at the same time I would need to go into Playback and watch it (with a small time delay) as it's being recorded (much as I can do now with our current dvd recorder)?

Not necessary to go into playback unless already recording and you want to see from beginning. But yes, same as you do now.

I read somewhere "record two channels while watching a third" but I'm now so confused and have looked at so much that I can't remember if that was in reference to the Panasonic dvd or to another form of dual tuner freeview receiver. Has anyone got a Panasonic DMR-XW390 who can clarify this for me? Is this indeed possible

Don't think so with the Panasonic.

or is it referring to if you have a tv with digital tuner built in you can record two channels using the dvd dual tuner and then using the tv itself watch a third using the tv's tuner (similar to how I can record one analogue channel on current dvd while watching another channel using the tv channel settings)?

Yes, definitely possible.

Edit - Spelling

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Cloudy

150 posts

Master Geek

#747319 19-Jan-2013 11:56

Just to give an example of what is possible Ill out line what can be done with the Dishtv T1050, as I have one.
You can record one channel and watch another or record two channels- ie TV1 and TV3 and watch a third as long as its on the same mux. In this example you could watch TV2 while the other two are recording or maybe TV4, but not prime as it is on a separate mux. TVNZ channels are on one mux, Media works on another(TV3,TV4), Prime,Choice etc on another.
with a dvd recorder connected you can then put content onto a disc if required.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#747761 20-Jan-2013 13:04

Your main issue is that the equipment you have (both the DVD recorder and the TV) is obsolete. You can cludge a solution together that will do what you want, but it will be complicated and fiddly and require set top boxes.

Unless there is a particular reason you are desperately wanting to hang on to a CRT that is 7+ years old, I would advise you to get rid of it while there are still people who will take it. I got rid of my last one recently - which had been relegated to the spare bedroom, was about the same vintage, and cost circa $1200 when purchased. Yes, it was painful to dump something that cost that much and still worked fine, but the reality was it was obsolete and no longer terribly useful. Perfectly adquate off-brand 32" LCDs can be had for around $400 on sale, with Freeview tuners, which will be more useful for what you want in the long run.

The DVD recorder is trickier. The EH59 is a good model - I have the EH68 which is essentially the same. Come switch-off in your area, it won't be able to record anything unless you get an STB such as the 1020 and feed it through its AV inputs.

Option 1 - keep the T1020 and connect it to the DVD recorder using RCA leads, which will work and is cheap, but will require cables and an additional powerpoint as well as being fiddly for a non-geek to use.

Option 2 - spend a bit more (circa $500), update to a Freeview model which will give twin tuners, a larger hard drive than you have now, as well as a DLNA server etc.

Personally, I regard option 2 as cleaner and this is what I will be hooking up tomorrow. The old recorder will be pensioned-off to the spare room, where I have an STB I can hook to it and where it can be used as a (good) player, until I decide what to do with it.

In summary my advice is - dump the TV, it's obsolecent, verging on junk, and more trouble than it's worth. Think hard about the recorder and, unless money is a real issue, update it as well.

caseybear

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#748312 21-Jan-2013 17:33

Money is a little bit of an issue as I'm currently on maternity leave. Mostly I'm annoyed that the DVD recorder which I only purchased 18 months ago is now obsolete. If the salesperson had said at the time "yes you will be able to hook up freeview to this but you'll only be able to record the same channel you're watching, it's probably better to get the next model up with freeview built in" - I would have just paid the $200 extra at the time and got the next model up. Instead I was told "oh you just need to connect a set-top box to this and it'll be fine", so now I've got a recorder that's actually not going to be much use and am looking at paying $600 for another recorder.

Cloudy

150 posts

Master Geek

#748329 21-Jan-2013 17:40

caseybear: Money is a little bit of an issue as I'm currently on maternity leave. Mostly I'm annoyed that the DVD recorder which I only purchased 18 months ago is now obsolete. If the salesperson had said at the time "yes you will be able to hook up freeview to this but you'll only be able to record the same channel you're watching, it's probably better to get the next model up with freeview built in" - I would have just paid the $200 extra at the time and got the next model up. Instead I was told "oh you just need to connect a set-top box to this and it'll be fine", so now I've got a recorder that's actually not going to be much use and am looking at paying $600 for another recorder.

Have a look at the dishTV website. They have refurbished box's from time to time. My T1050 is a refurbished one, cost $270.00 delivered. Has a full one year warranty. Mine has given no trouble at all. Its dual tuner. not everyone likes them, but on a budget they do the job and are simple to use.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#748342 21-Jan-2013 18:11

What the sales guy told you was technically correct, although a little bit dodgy as he wasn't giving you the full picture in order to sell the obsolescent recorder. If money is an issue, I would recommend updating the TV if you can afford it, holding on to the T1020, and connecting it to the recorder.

Then go:

1. aerial--->T1020--->TV using antenna leads (from memory the T1020 has a pass-through)
2. T1020--->recorder using RCA leads (ie the three yellow-white-red plug one)
3. Recorder--->TV using the best connector it has (presumably HDMI?)

You will be able to record one channel (by setting the T1020 to it and pressing record), and watch another one using the TV's tuner, which seems to be what you want. This will work and be pretty cheap. Compared to a full equipment update tt will have two negatives - recordings will be SD, and it's a bit fiddly as you have to work the recorder and T1020 in tandem. It also has one big positive - the recorder isn't Freeview approved and (from memory) has a 60-second skip button, so you can zap the ad breaks - which is a *big* plus. The recorder will also work as a darn good DVD player.

I currently connect by sky box to my recorder this way and, although it sounds clunky and is a wee bit, it's surprisingly straightforward once you get used to it.

If you hunt around, you can get acceptable, albeit off-brand or bottom of the spec range, 32" TVs with Freeview tuners in the $400-$500 range if you keep an eye on sales.

If you do this then you can always update the recorder or move to a better twin-tuner STB with a hard drive, later when budget allows.