Optimising my TV reception & pictures through my DVD recorder

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gofraser

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Topic # 13273 1-May-2007 15:21

Hello all,
Apologies for posting a pretty straight forward question but this is my first time on here...

I have a 40" LCD Samsung TV which is about 2 months old connected to Sky using the 'basic' coax cable.

I have just bought a Panasonic DVD recorder (250GB HDD), sorry can't remember the product code. Since I fitted the DVD recorder there has been a degradation in the picture quality. I taped a soccer game onto the HDD on Sunday mornign then transferred it onto a disk for a friend. The quality of the disk copy was decidedly average.

Any tips as to how to improve the image? Do I need to get special cables and if so any tips?
Also what cabling is best to get stereo through the Sky decoder? The Sky websites recommends SCART, but the TV doesn't have a SCART socket.

Any assistance is much appreciated.

Brunzy

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Reply # 69085 1-May-2007 15:42

First,check the record quality setting on the hdd ie ep,sp,lp etc and try a test rec on them to see what suits you best.( Best done on a ststic image like the EPG)
Scart can be connected to composite,S Vhs,and component whatever your dvd and Sky decoder supports.Quality getting better in the order written

sbiddle

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Reply # 69088 1-May-2007 15:55

gofraser: Hello all,
Apologies for posting a pretty straight forward question but this is my first time on here...

I have a 40" LCD Samsung TV which is about 2 months old connected to Sky using the 'basic' coax cable.

I have just bought a Panasonic DVD recorder (250GB HDD), sorry can't remember the product code. Since I fitted the DVD recorder there has been a degradation in the picture quality. I taped a soccer game onto the HDD on Sunday mornign then transferred it onto a disk for a friend. The quality of the disk copy was decidedly average.

Any tips as to how to improve the image? Do I need to get special cables and if so any tips?
Also what cabling is best to get stereo through the Sky decoder? The Sky websites recommends SCART, but the TV doesn't have a SCART socket.

Any assistance is much appreciated.

How do you actually have your DVD recorder hooked up to the Sky decoder?

Most models of Sky decoders have two outputs.

You can get a SCART -> component cable which you can run from your Sky decoder to your TV and can use the composite output to go from your Sky box to your DVD recorder.

gofraser

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 69090 1-May-2007 16:03

Just followed the install instructions in the manual...

Aerial cable from wall -> Sky decoder
Coax cable (supplied with DVD recorder) from Sky decoder -> DVD recorder.
2nd coax cable (supplied with DVD recorder) from DVD recorder -> back of TV.

Also a red/white/yellow 3 plug cable goes from DVD to back of TV. Apologies mind is blank on what this is called!!!

Thanks.

sbiddle

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Reply # 69093 1-May-2007 16:05

Since you're using the RF output (coax) it's not surprising your picture is bad. Your need to really upgrade your cabling rather than using an RF cable.

What model Sky decoder do you have?

gofraser

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 69094 1-May-2007 16:13

Cheers for the feedback.
Not sure what model it is, not at home just now but will check this evening.

So basically the best option is:
SCART -> composite for Sky to TV
Composite from Sky to DVD
& what from DVD to TV?

Thanks again.

cyril7

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Reply # 69102 1-May-2007 17:57

In the order of analog video connections worst to best, RFcoax, Composite, S-Video, Component.

The best option depending on what your equipment supports is most likely Sky > TV via Component, and Sky > DVR/DVD via composite, and DVR/DVD > TV via component.

It all depends on what your TV supports and what Sky box you have. Models numbers will help. Dont worry about SCART connectors, they are just connectors, a place for wires to meet and connect. There are plenty of options at a small price to connect via SCART.

Cyril

richms

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Reply # 69161 1-May-2007 22:59

forget the coax RF cables. There is no reason for your antenna to go into your sky box unless you want to take the output to other tv;s and still have the free to air analog channels mixed in with it, and even then the modulators skys boxmakers use tend to suck.

Dish into sky, connect the dvd-r to one scart, the tv to the other with approriate cables/adaptors, since no dvd-r has component in you have to use scart RGB to the DVD-R off the TV socket, and then composite to the TV off the other. You can just watch the sky thru the dvd-r if you take component to the tv from the dvd-r

Richard rich.ms

richms

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Reply # 69162 1-May-2007 23:01

dont record a composite from the sky, it will need to be comb filtered again, and that really adds problems to the image. S-video minimum...

Richard rich.ms

gofraser

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 69374 3-May-2007 09:59

Thanks all for your assistance.
Will get the appropriate cabling at the weekend and update on success then.
Cheers.