How do I connect these components? (TV, HDD, MY Sky, Receiver)

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › How do I connect these components? (TV, HDD, MY Sky, Receiver)

Wyvern

91 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#54887 22-Dec-2009 14:23

Hi people,

I'm hoping someone can help me out with what is probably a fairly basic quesion to most of you out there (I'm a home theatre novice and have no desire to be an expert just want the best set up I can). I'm trying to figure out how to best connect these components.

I have...

MYSky HD
Samsung LCD TV - LA40B650
Sony HDD DVD Recorder - RDR-HX710
Sony Reciever - STR-DB795

I have 2 front, 2 rear and one centre speaker and 1 sub woofer - All Sony gear.

I have included pics of the input/outputs available on the HDD DVD, Receiver and LCD TV and MySky

I would like to be able to ...

1. Watch MySky and record it to the HDD when needed.
2. Listen to TV/Radio/HDD IPod through Reciever

Currently I have an HDMI cable from TV to MySky and thats all. HDD and Reciever not hooked up at all. Can someone recommend the best quality solution hook them all up?

Thanks heaps :)

Andrew

MySky
MYSky

Receiver

HDD DVD Recorder

LCD TV

Wyvern

clevedon

1059 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 205

#284634 22-Dec-2009 15:06

Optical cable from MySky HDi to receiver and leave your HDMI cable where it is. HDD redundant as you can't record from MySky HDi, I think that's right.

Wyvern

91 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#284644 22-Dec-2009 15:54

Yeah, Not so interested in recording off MySky (although I know that can be done as I have done it before at my last house) but just want to be able to record shows direct to the HDD as they are screening - ie in case I ever want to record to DVD instead of the MySky HDD.

Wyvern

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#284645 22-Dec-2009 15:58

A lot of the channels and content out of the MySky has copy protection on it. You can hook the RCA composite video or svideo and RCA audio from your MySky box into a line input on your DVD recorder but will find you won't be able to record a lot of the content.

Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 132

#284652 22-Dec-2009 16:18

sbiddle - rubbish.

hazza87

352 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#284736 22-Dec-2009 22:29

To answer the question in full:
Starting with audio:
1. Connect Digital Optical cable from mysky output to Receiver Satellite input
2. Connect Digital Optical cable from TV to Receiver spare input (For freeview 5.1 if this is possible on the samsung) (Obviously only if you are using freeview as otherwise don't bother)
3. Connect Digital Optical from HDD Recorder to Receiver DVD input

Video:
1. Keep HDMI connection from Mysky to TV
2. Connect HDD recorder to TV via RCA composite cables OR via RCA composite cables to the reciever then just the video(yellow) composite cable from the monitor out port to the TV (Up to you)
3. Connect RCA composite output from mysky to the HDD recorder input ports.

With this setup a universal remote would be very handy and you will need to set the tv and the receiver to the correct inputs when switching between devices.
Ie when watching sky the tv will need to be on HDMI 1 and the receiver will need to be on Satellite.
A Logitech Harmony remote will do all the steps in one button press once set up correctly.

hazza87

352 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#284737 22-Dec-2009 22:31

Also how old is the HDD recorder seems odd that it doesnt have an HDMI output port for upscaling DVDs. If it has one, use this connection straight to the TV instead of the RCA composite cables.

New World

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Wyvern

91 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#284759 23-Dec-2009 07:51

Thanks so much people and especially Hazza! I'll get cracking setting it up today... stoked :)

Wyvern