STB set up

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sheldybro

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#19742 28-Feb-2008 19:01

Hi, a complete novice here with a question regarding Digital set top boxes,
when i programme a vcr / hard drive recorder to record a programme while i dont want to miss, how can i get the STB to change channels?
Is there another way this could be done?

cyril7

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#113610 28-Feb-2008 19:04

What STB, they are all different, also, is it Sky or FTA or FreeView one.

Cyril

sheldybro

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#113616 28-Feb-2008 19:45

sorry i should have been a bit clearer, i dont have any digital tv at the moment, i am looking into getting Freeview but i have my reservations. i am wanting to look at all options and find the best one to suit me.
Currently with the normal analogue set up we have at the moment, there is 5 tvs in our household and most nights there is something different on each one - kids never want to watch what we parents watch, plus i can record 1 channel on my dvd hard drive and watch another at the same time. Freeview has told me that this is not possible and so i have to look at getting several STBs for our house.
will i need to dedicate a STB to a recorder to achive programmed recordings?

BarTender

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#113633 28-Feb-2008 20:55

In short yes, you will need a dedicated tuner to record if you want to watch other channels. There are a number of STB's that have dual Satellite inputs so that allows you to watch one and record another. Some STB's do support recording and watching on the same transponder, IE you could watch TV2, and record TV1, but not watch TV3 and record TV1 since TVNZ and Canwest (TV3 et al) are on different transponders.

If you are planning to get multiple STB's for multiple rooms you will need good quality RG6 Coax cabling around the house, plus I assume you already have a dish? If not you will need a dish + splitter + RG6 Dual Shielded coax + STB for each TV.

This is assuming you are wanting Satellite based Freeview. If you are planning to use DTT and not satellite then hopefully as long as the UHF signal around your house is good enough then you may be able to get away with your current cabling. The only issue will be the expensive ($550 from quotes thus far, not that a fully working box is on the market in NZ yet) boxes you will need to buy.