USB Recording on Smart TVs

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › USB Recording on Smart TVs

eXDee

4032 posts

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#189355 25-Dec-2015 17:58

So while i don't use this at all, a question was put to me about recording on smart TVs. Someone asked me if certain brands did it, and I thought, sure, its bound to be a feature of all modern smart TVs right?

Wrong - seems on searching, at least both Sony and Samsung have this functionality intentionally restricted, as far as I can tell. I see comments about how changing region on a Samsung can re-enable recording. Which quite frankly, is ridiculous. I wonder if this is some rubbish broadcaster influence where they won't let them have the on demand apps if recording is available.

It seems we're not alone either, there are some footnotes on sony UK's site that USB recording is not possible for TVs setup to work with BBC's on demand system. Urgh, yuck.

Do any of the brands (perhaps panasonic or LG) offer USB Recording of Freeview content?

k1w1k1d

1519 posts

Uber Geek

#1457175 25-Dec-2015 20:00

We have a 320GB 2.5" laptop hard drive attached to our Samsung UA55H6400 smart TV.
I can't remember ever having had any problems recording any of the Freeview channels.
Pretty sure that the TV on Demand apps are installed.

JarrodM

969 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1457193 25-Dec-2015 20:54

I can record on my Sony Bravia kdl-48w600 I think it is, picked it up last Boxing Day. Have an external hard drive plugged in, but can only view on the device it was recorded on.

DaveB

1139 posts

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Inactive user

#1457314 26-Dec-2015 10:44

Not quite sure where you got your information from, but no problems on any of the various models of Sammys in this household with recording to USB.

Ask a store to give you a demo of how it works.

Ooops, I forgot ......... many High Street retailers would not have a clue on how to demonstrate TV capabilities other than switching it on and saying "What a great picture this TV has".

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1457315 26-Dec-2015 10:47

As a rule, most TV's do it, but almost all are intentionally crippled in order to ensure people buy their PVR's, and don't just record to USB sticks / SD Cards.
I've used it in the past, but only to pause live TV, something that a PVR does a lot better.
LG did break their functionality via a firmware update, they then fixed it... it's just par for the course with this sort of tech from what I can see.

dafman

3925 posts

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#1457332 26-Dec-2015 11:13

JarrodM: I can record on my Sony Bravia kdl-48w600 I think it is, picked it up last Boxing Day. Have an external hard drive plugged in, but can only view on the device it was recorded on.

How easy is it to record on the Bravia? My Father-in-law bought a KDL 48w700 earlier this week and is keen to use the recording ability.

Athlonite

1828 posts

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Inactive user

#1457364 26-Dec-2015 12:34

dafman:
JarrodM: I can record on my Sony Bravia kdl-48w600 I think it is, picked it up last Boxing Day. Have an external hard drive plugged in, but can only view on the device it was recorded on.

How easy is it to record on the Bravia? My Father-in-law bought a KDL 48w700 earlier this week and is keen to use the recording ability.

recording on the Bravia's is as easy peazy as inserting USB stick or HDD accepting the sony question to use the device for recording and then pressing the record button on the remote but do understand that you'll not be able to use the USB device on anything else to watch the recordings sony lock it to the TV

JarrodM

969 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1457437 26-Dec-2015 16:24

Athlonite:
dafman:
JarrodM: I can record on my Sony Bravia kdl-48w600 I think it is, picked it up last Boxing Day. Have an external hard drive plugged in, but can only view on the device it was recorded on.

How easy is it to record on the Bravia? My Father-in-law bought a KDL 48w700 earlier this week and is keen to use the recording ability.

recording on the Bravia's is as easy peazy as inserting USB stick or HDD accepting the sony question to use the device for recording and then pressing the record button on the remote but do understand that you'll not be able to use the USB device on anything else to watch the recordings sony lock it to the TV

Yep pretty easy. Also can use the Bravia guide to set the recording. Only thing is the recording time is quite strict in that it doesn't add anytime on the end of the program. But you can get around this by editing the record time and adding a few minutes on.

Also to make it even easier if it's connected properly and he has a smartphone with the tv sideview app, you can set programs to record from the guide on there, but you can't extend the recordings on there you have to do that with the remote on the tv.

Sharesies

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macuser

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#1457442 26-Dec-2015 16:30

2015 Sony Televisions do not yet support USB recording (the Android TV models) and will be enabled in a firmware in the next couple Months. Pretty pathetic because they're two weeks away from announcing the 2016 models!

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1457459 26-Dec-2015 17:02

Do any other Android TV's allow USB recording?

macuser

2120 posts

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#1457647 27-Dec-2015 08:54

Dunnersfella: Do any other Android TV's allow USB recording?

There aren't any other Android TVs, Sony will get recording in the next couple months via firmware update and the Google box/nvidia box don't include tuners

eXDee

4032 posts

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#1458072 28-Dec-2015 11:48

Hopefully that recording functionality comes to the Sony TVs.

As for samsung, i saw a few comments, including this one:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=165739

At least it doesn't sound like it's a major problem. I assume LG and Panasonic can do it without a hitch then?