Sky connection to TV and DVD Recorder

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jen1001

182 posts

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Topic # 24676 30-Jul-2008 19:17

Hi everyone,

I'm after some advice on connecting a standard Sky Box to a DVD Recorder (JVC DR-MH 305) and a Phillips TV (standard, not flatscreen or HD capable). Sorry if this sounds a bit dumb but I'm not a techie at all so apologies in advance

A Sky technician came to hook everything up today but kinda got me a bit lost. He connected the box to the TV indoor aerial and to the DVD recorder. But then he mentioned that there was a splitter in the wall (there is another TV indoor aerial connection on the other side of the wall for the TV in the bedroom), so he had to take the RF connector out of the living room one because according to him, the Sky signal would be weak otherwise. Is that correct or does it sound like he couldn't be bothered?

Basically, we now can only watch Sky through the DVD recorder as he hooked it up there and we can only watch tv through the Skybox. Because of that we can't record a program and watch another channel on normal TV at the same time and have to keep the dvd player on constantly to watch tv. I'm a bit clueless but I would hate it to be a botched job

Also the TV in the bedroom still works, except for one channel that's no longer visible since the RF connector was taken out.

I called Sky this evening and they contacted the engineer who installed everything asking him to give me a call tomorrow and arrange to come back to see what the problem is but thought I'd get knowledgeable opinions first.

Any advice would be most appreciated

Jen

AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 152785 30-Jul-2008 20:06

Hi Jen
Because I know longer have a standard Sky Set Top Box (STB) I need a little more info to see if I can help.

Do you know what terminals your STB has. Possibilities as follows, apologies if the terminology is not 100% correct.
RF in.
UHF in.
Satellite in.

RF out.
Composite out.
S-Video out.
Component out.
SCART connection.

Your DVD recorder:
RF in, RF out and pass through. (DVD recorder does not have to be on)
Composite in and/or composite out.
S-Video in and/or S-Video out.

Your TV
RF in.
Composite in.
SCART in.
Component in.

Maybe this will help (or confuse)

Connections to TV’s rating the quality of the connection.Lowest to Highest1 RF: Normal round plug that comes from a TV Ariel.2 Composite: Single pin connector usually Yellow at both ends3 S-Video: Round 4 pin or 6 pin connector usually black at both ends.4 Component: Three individual single pin connectors, 1 red, 1 green and 1 yellow at both ends.5 HDMI: Needed for Hi Def signal. Flat odd shaped multi pin connector at both ends.And just to confuse things is a SCART connector which has 21 pins inside a large oblong connecter on one end and any of connector types 2, 3, 4 or SCART on the other end.

jen1001

182 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 11

Reply # 152807 30-Jul-2008 20:42

Hiya AncestralGeek,

Thanks for the quick reply. I did find put a few minutes ago that we could watch Sky without the recorder being on (d'oh!)

The STB has an RF in and RF out, dish input, TV Scart, VCR Scart, 230V/50Hz
The DVD Recorder has an S Video out, component video output, an input/output connector (L1 in/out) and L2 output connector (L2 in)
The TV has a component video output

I'm not sure if it's all the info you need but hopefully it will help a little.

Thanks

AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 152847 30-Jul-2008 22:56

Hi Jen
Missed your reply so this is a little late. Does your DVD recorder have a RF input.

Cheers

jen1001

182 posts

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+1 received by user: 11

Reply # 152886 31-Jul-2008 08:58

Hi Ancestralgeek,

I looked again today and couldn't find a RF input plug out on my DVD

AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 152922 31-Jul-2008 10:42

Hi Jen
Ok no RF in on the DVD recorder, complicates things slightly.
Do you have access to VCR that has a RF input and a composite output. I will experiment at home tonight but are fairly sure that you should then be able to connect the RF output on your wall through the VCR then to the DVD recorder via composite. Means onother box in the AV rack but cannot think of another solution unless there are devices that will do the conversion in a smaller form. At least a second VCR from TradeMe, Cash Converters or garage sale would be a low cost solution.
If anyone has a better work around please advise Jen.

cisconz

cisconz
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Reply # 152942 31-Jul-2008 11:22

jen1001: Hi Ancestralgeek,

I looked again today and couldn't find a RF input plug out on my DVD

Get a scart addaptor to go out of the sky decoder and into the DVD Recorder.

Same for the TV

Hmmmm

AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 153001 31-Jul-2008 13:18

Working on the assumption that Jen would like to be able to chose from the following.
1 Watch one of the analogue channels while recording a Sky channel.
2. Record one of the analogue channels while watching a Sky channel.

As the output from the STB is the same channel for all the outputs on the STB then without a RF input on the DVD recorder some way of connecting to the wall (analogue ariel) socket is needed or am I missing something.

jen1001

182 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 11

Reply # 153008 31-Jul-2008 14:01

AncestralGeek: Working on the assumption that Jen would like to be able to chose from the following.
1 Watch one of the analogue channels while recording a Sky channel.
2. Record one of the analogue channels while watching a Sky channel.

As the output from the STB is the same channel for all the outputs on the STB then without a RF input on the DVD recorder some way of connecting to the wall (analogue ariel) socket is needed or am I missing something.

Thank you for the helpful suggestions so far

That's exacly what I would like to do AncestralGeek. I am still waiting for Sky to ring me and for the engineer to fix the issue, like put the RF connector back in the wall so I can watch TV without having to go through the STB. So far no news from them although I was told to expect a call today??

The only thing I don't really understand is why he said the signal would be "weak" if he didn't take it out...that seems a bit odd to me. Crossing fingers Sky will get in touch soon.

AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 153146 31-Jul-2008 23:13

Hi JenMark 2 version as it took me a while to write the mark 1 while logged on and when I went to post it I was automatically logged off and the post was not published, (been logged to long). Tossed toys out of cot and took a break.After a bit of equipment moving and re wiring I believe that I have duplicated your setup with the only major difference being that I am using a MYSky STB rather than a standard STB.Connected the VCR (Panasonic NV- FJ630) to the wall socket and the VCR to the DVD recorder using the composite output on the VCR. Then connected the VCR to the TV using the RF output on the VCR and the RF input on the TV. The MySky STB was already connected to the TV and the DVD recorder using the TV SCART and the VCR SCART. The DVD recorder is connected to the TV using the Component output. No more connectors left.With the above setup I was able to watch TV3 while recording Sky Sports. Then I watched Sky Sports while recording TV1. Success.Downside of course was the use of the VCR to do the tuning for the analogue stations and the need for another remote. (Remotes are a Pet Hate of mine)Spent some time on the internet trying to find a RF to composite converter without any luck. They did exist, one distributer I found stated that the price of VCR’s became so low that they no longer stocked them.A way simpler but less flexible setup is as follows.Take the RF input out of the STB and connect it directly to the TV. This will allow you to watch the analogue channels and record a Sky channel at the same time. However you would only be able to record Sky channels. You did not mention if your Sky input was UHF or Satellite. If by UHF then do you receive TV1, TV2, TV3 and Prime over UHF.This is a lot shorter version so I hope it makes some sense. Any questions just ask.