Smart - TV or Recorder

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Tia

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#141260 6-Mar-2014 13:20

I am updating my TV and recorder. Is it preferable to buy a Smart TV and a ordinary Recorder or a ordinary TV and Smart recorder?

Thanks.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1000135 6-Mar-2014 13:44

Not sure what you mean by an "ordinary recorder" but if you want to record FreeviewHD you'll need a Digital Recorder, either Freeview approved or some other DVR. Any old analogue recorder would be OK for Satellite or for recording in SD off a STB but doesn't have a digital tuner.

Tia

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1000177 6-Mar-2014 14:25

Sorry to be confusing.

I'm replacing my TV and have been using a set top box with an external HD for recording. (My DVD recorder is non digital and no HD.) I'm going to Sky and trying to decide on MySky (remote recording) and a new DVD recorder (Blu-ray optional). The latter has the benefit of being able to backup recordings. As I understand it - if your MySky goes down you lose everything!

I had decided on a Smart TV but then started to read up on Smart recorders and wondered which was best. I'm leaning towards the Smart TV as it is all in one.

Thanks.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1000194 6-Mar-2014 14:44

Tia: Sorry to be confusing.

I'm replacing my TV and have been using a set top box with an external HD for recording. (My DVD recorder is non digital and no HD.) I'm going to Sky and trying to decide on MySky (remote recording) and a new DVD recorder (Blu-ray optional). The latter has the benefit of being able to backup recordings. As I understand it - if your MySky goes down you lose everything!

I had decided on a Smart TV but then started to read up on Smart recorders and wondered which was best. I'm leaning towards the Smart TV as it is all in one.

Thanks.

Well firstly you can still use your DVD recorder to record from a STB provided it has composit AV inputs.
Not very many smart TVs offer external HDD recording. Most Freeview TVs have no Video out or recording function.
You won't be able to transfer recordings off a MySky to another unit.
I'd go with the smart recorder.
I have a Panasonic BWT720 that does all I want and if I want to use the Internet I use the PC. Neither Smart TVs or Recorders are really designed for Internet use. They are extremely slow and awkward.

lxsw20

3552 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1000198 6-Mar-2014 14:50

My LG will record to USB, problem being it doesn't talk to the 7 Day EPG, making it pretty useless.

Tia

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1000220 6-Mar-2014 15:42

Well firstly you can still use your DVD recorder to record from a STB provided it has composit AV inputs.
Not very many smart TVs offer external HDD recording. Most Freeview TVs have no Video out or recording function.
You won't be able to transfer recordings off a MySky to another unit.
I'd go with the smart recorder.
I have a Panasonic BWT720 that does all I want and if I want to use the Internet I use the PC. Neither Smart TVs or Recorders are really designed for Internet use. They are extremely slow and awkward.

Keep my set top box for recording is a good idea but I'm getting Sky because Trackside is moving from Freeview to Sky. I thought that the Freeview set top box would only record Freeview channels. Hence the need for a new system of recording.

The TV model that I am looking at mentions instant recording and selecting from the Guide. Limited though I expect (no twin tuners etc).

Thanks for your help.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#1000329 6-Mar-2014 19:06

No, that's not accurate. The Panasonic DVD recorders will record both the FV channels (twin tuner + EPG), as well as from the Sky box using AV cables. That's the setup I currently have.

Personally, I think it's a much better solution than a smart TV - in terms of flexibility and performance.

Spyware

3761 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1000388 6-Mar-2014 20:27

Tia:

The TV model that I am looking at mentions instant recording and selecting from the Guide. Limited though I expect (no twin tuners etc).

Thanks for your help.

Instant recording of the DVB-T tuner via the MHEG5 guide only, i.e., provides no ability to record HDMI or composite inputs from Sky decoders at all.

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driller2000

935 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1000399 6-Mar-2014 21:37

i have both and always use the standalone freeview recorder because it has full epg access, series record, record 2 channels at once while watching another

the tv based pvr on the other hand is quite a bit simpler and nowhere near as user friendly