Recording sky TV when using a standard digital decoder

Forums › Sky, Neon, Lightbox › Recording sky TV when using a standard digital decoder

NinaC

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#140849 22-Feb-2014 12:05

Hi everyone
I have a standard sky decoder, silver pace model and would like to record certain programmes every week and the odd movie. I don't want to upgrade to my sky. Is it possible to buy something to do this? I just want to record like I used to with the old video recorders etc. I would rather a hard drive than record to disc. Excuse me if I sound a little naive, that's because I am when it comes to digital tv, so no big fancy technical terms please or I might blow a fuse :)

Nina

1 | 2

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#992273 22-Feb-2014 12:20

You would need to find some form of HDD recorder that has a timer function and A/V inputs. There is nothing that comes to mind that would meet these requirements at a reasonable price unless you want to buy a 2nd hand DVD recorder.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#992311 22-Feb-2014 13:30

Just look for a cheap old analogue DVD recorder with HDD on Trademe. Use the A/V input and timer record and it will work fine. I do this but have now upgraded from an old Panasonic analogue recorder to a FreeviewHD Panasonic BluRay recorder which still records Sky (Silver PaceBox) OK with the same SCART to Composite video cable I used on the old one. Advantage with my Panasonic is is ability to transfer recordings to my PC via my wireless network.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#992312 22-Feb-2014 13:31

Actually "to record like I used to with the old video recorders etc" you could just get an an old video recorder. Second hand or in charity shops I guess they can probably be had for around $10 now. Or you may still have one lying around. Connect, put in tape, set timer, and you would be good to go.

However, the quality won't be great. A better option is a DVD recorder with a hard drive, as sbiddle suggests. A good new one will set you back in the region of $400-500 if you look for sales. Or, if all you want to do is record off the Sky box and nothing else, a second hand model without digital tuners can likely be found on Trademe for much, much less.

If your budget runs to it, and you have a working UHF aerial that receives terrestrial Freeview as well, I would recommend the Panasonic XW390. It's a good unit.

Edit: Typing

rlevis

347 posts

Ultimate Geek

#992315 22-Feb-2014 13:54

Of course for the above you will need the decoder on the correct channel when recording begins. If you also need to have the decoder change channels, I think only a computer can do what you need. See the HTPC forum. There are some using an Infrared (IR) Blaster on a computer which sends the required IR signal to the decoder to change channels when required. You need a PCI card which can take the audio/video output from the decoder, and some free software to schedule the recording like perhaps MediaPortal.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#992358 22-Feb-2014 15:34

rlevis: If you also need to have the decoder change channels, I think only a computer can do what you need.

Not correct.
The silver Pace box has a booking facility using the Sky program guide. Just find the program and time, press OK twice and the box will change to that channel at the program start time. Also gives a warning message on screen 5 mins prior to changing. I do this occasionally when needing to record different channels during the night.

rlevis

347 posts

Ultimate Geek

#992362 22-Feb-2014 15:47

I see. Never knew that. Must be a new feature with these new decoders.

NinaC

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#992416 22-Feb-2014 17:23

Thanks for all the interesting advice! I especially like the idea of a second hand recorder off trademe.
I was recently told that it wasn't possible to record digital TV with an old DVD recorder. I have a JVC DR-M10 DVD recorder which is currently only being used to play DVDs for the kids. Would it be possible to record sky with that?

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

NinaC

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#992442 22-Feb-2014 17:40

JimmyH:
If your budget runs to it, and you have a working UHF aerial that receives terrestrial Freeview as well, I would recommend the Panasonic XW390. It's a good unit.

Edit: Typing

We are rural and the only way we could get TV reception on the analog system was to get sky. I'm not sure if we are able to get reception via a UHF aerial now that it's been changed to digital freeview. My TV has freeview, it's a Samsung smart TV (just in case that makes a difference, I suspect not).

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#992514 22-Feb-2014 18:54

rlevis: I see. Never knew that. Must be a new feature with these new decoders.

Nope, you have been able to book programming on the decoder and have it change the channel automatically for at least the last 7 years. I've been doing it that way since at least then. Not new at all.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#992519 22-Feb-2014 19:05

NinaC: Thanks for all the interesting advice! I especially like the idea of a second hand recorder off trademe.
I was recently told that it wasn't possible to record digital TV with an old DVD recorder. I have a JVC DR-M10 DVD recorder which is currently only being used to play DVDs for the kids. Would it be possible to record sky with that?

If you don't have terrestrial Freeview reception then there's no point in spending on something like the XW390. I'm not familiar with the JVC model you quote, but unless it's really odd then it should work.

Look at the back of it. If it has three sockets (usually coloured red, white and yellow) labelled video in (or similar), you should be good to go. The recorders manual will tell you how to record - look for something like "recording from AV inputs" in the manual.

You don't say what model your decoder is. It should have two outputs on the back - one that connects to the PC and another (which is marked VCR on my decoder). If this second output has yellow, red and white sockets then just connect it to the recorder - red-to-red, white-to-white and yellow to yellow. If it's a rectangular socket then you need a SCART to 3 RCA cable, which will cost in the low tens of dollars from somewhere like Dick Smith. Mine's a SCART cable, which the technician supplied, connected and tested as part of the decoder install.

You *may* need to poke around in the decoder menus to set the second output correctly. If you get stuck with this then call Sky's 0800 number.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#992522 22-Feb-2014 19:13

NinaC: Thanks for all the interesting advice! I especially like the idea of a second hand recorder off trademe.
I was recently told that it wasn't possible to record digital TV with an old DVD recorder. I have a JVC DR-M10 DVD recorder which is currently only being used to play DVDs for the kids. Would it be possible to record sky with that?

Correct. It's not possible to record digital TV on an analogue recorder but once it's been processed by an external digital tuner (STB) there's no problem. I used to record freeview from my STB composite A/V outputs to an old Panasonic recorder before I bought my new Freeview one. Just couldn't record in HD like the new one.
And yes your DVD recorder will work fine as long as it has composite A/V (yellow, red, white) inputs.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#992523 22-Feb-2014 19:15

JimmyH:
rlevis: I see. Never knew that. Must be a new feature with these new decoders.

Nope, you have been able to book programming on the decoder and have it change the channel automatically for at least the last 7 years. I've been doing it that way since at least then. Not new at all.

+1. Me too. It's a feature of Sky's EPG, not the box.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#992524 22-Feb-2014 19:17

JimmyH:

If your budget runs to it, and you have a working UHF aerial that receives terrestrial Freeview as well, I would recommend the Panasonic XW390. It's a good unit.

Edit: Typing

The BWT720 and 835 are even better (you can burn HD to Blu Ray) but don't touch the PWT530 as it doesn't have any A/V input sockets.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#992525 22-Feb-2014 19:20

JimmyH:

Look at the back of it. If it has three sockets (usually coloured red, white and yellow) labelled video in (or similar), you should be good to go. The recorders manual will tell you how to record - look for something like "recording from AV inputs" in the manual.

The silver Pace box has SCART sockets on the back. One for TV and the other for Recorder so needs a SCART to composite A/V cable or adaptor.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#992555 22-Feb-2014 21:43

B1GGLZ:
JimmyH:

Look at the back of it. If it has three sockets (usually coloured red, white and yellow) labelled video in (or similar), you should be good to go. The recorders manual will tell you how to record - look for something like "recording from AV inputs" in the manual.

The silver Pace box has SCART sockets on the back. One for TV and the other for Recorder so needs a SCART to composite A/V cable or adaptor.

Yes, I meant look at at the back of the DVD recorder to make sure it had AV inputs. Sorry for any confusion.

I covered the outputs on the decoder and SCART sockets later on in the post.

1 | 2