Freeview PVR and Telstraclear

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broonie27

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Topic # 57381 11-Feb-2010 16:38

Is there a device (a box to go under my TV not a PC based device) out there that will allow me to view and record Freeview UHF signals and TelstraClear cable TV signals onto a HDD? I've found a few Freeview HD digital TV recorders on the MyFreeview site but they only seem to allow recording of UHF signal and there are plenty of HDD recorders out there but they don't also have Freeview tuners. I want something to do everything!

sbiddle

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Reply # 298029 11-Feb-2010 17:15

The only way to get both is to use a PC based PVR. There are no standalone boxes that will do this.

The best bet might be the TelstraClear PVR which isn't far away.

butlerboy

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Reply # 298240 12-Feb-2010 08:59

what about the panasonic pvr's. i'm pretty sure that they record from both freeview hd and an external source. (i could be wrong though)

sbiddle

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Reply # 298249 12-Feb-2010 09:16

If setting up manual timers and making sure the channel is correct on the external STB is your thing it could be an option.

A single PVR with full EPG just makes things so much simpler.

butlerboy

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Reply # 298280 12-Feb-2010 10:23

sbiddle: If setting up manual timers and making sure the channel is correct on the external STB is your thing it could be an option.

A single PVR with full EPG just makes things so much simpler.

i totally agree. but without going down the pc route it's the only solution that comes to mind that does exactly whay they want.

broonie27

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Reply # 298426 12-Feb-2010 15:52

butlerboy: what about the panasonic pvr's. i'm pretty sure that they record from both freeview hd and an external source. (i could be wrong though)

hey butlerboy, you're spot on, the panasonics does what i'm looking for. the only problem may be the EPG - i read a review of the blu-ray version in PCworld and it said the EPG didn't work properly in NZ.

the spec on the Dick Smith site (http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4b74bb6a0004e394273fc0a87f3b06ef/Product/View/GH7016) says it HD but then mentions "2 x LP horizontal Resolution (500 lines)" - what on earth is that?

freitasm

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Reply # 298430 12-Feb-2010 16:18

broonie27:
butlerboy: what about the panasonic pvr's. i'm pretty sure that they record from both freeview hd and an external source. (i could be wrong though)

hey butlerboy, you're spot on, the panasonics does what i'm looking for. the only problem may be the EPG - i read a review of the blu-ray version in PCworld and it said the EPG didn't work properly in NZ.

You obviously meant to say you read it here on Geekzone, surely?

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broonie27

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Reply # 298437 12-Feb-2010 16:38

I meant to ask, what connectors do I need to be able to record from a telstraclear decoder to this device?

ZollyMonsta

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Reply # 298468 12-Feb-2010 19:15

broonie27: I meant to ask, what connectors do I need to be able to record from a telstraclear decoder to this device?

You can use from the SD TCL decoder:

RF Out: Lowest quality output

Composite + L/R Audio: Higher quality

S-Video + L/R Audio: Highest output from current SD box

How you connect it depends on what inputs your device has... S-Video would be best, otherwise use Composite.

Composite will require a cable with 3x RCA Plugs at each end (Yellow, White, Red)

S-Video will require a S-Video Cable and a cable with 2x RCA plugs at each end (Red, White)

Note: S-Video is only available on some models of the SD 'ADB' set top box.

Hope this helps.

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broonie27

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Reply # 298478 12-Feb-2010 20:19

ZollyMonsta:
broonie27: I meant to ask, what connectors do I need to be able to record from a telstraclear decoder to this device?

You can use from the SD TCL decoder:

RF Out: Lowest quality output

Composite + L/R Audio: Higher quality

S-Video + L/R Audio: Highest output from current SD box

How you connect it depends on what inputs your device has... S-Video would be best, otherwise use Composite.

Composite will require a cable with 3x RCA Plugs at each end (Yellow, White, Red)

S-Video will require a S-Video Cable and a cable with 2x RCA plugs at each end (Red, White)

Note: S-Video is only available on some models of the SD 'ADB' set top box.

Hope this helps.

it certainly does. many thanks indeed for such a thourough answer.

JimmyH

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Reply # 298896 14-Feb-2010 18:16

I own two older Panny recorders (that both lack a freeview tuner) and think they are both great, I therefore looked at the new Panny HDD recorders, with twin Freeview tuners, with a view to an upgrade. There were two issues - the cost (which was steep but not a showstopper) and the nasty fishhook with HD recording that they don't publicise. Namely, it records HD to the harddrive, but if you burn to disc it re-encodes it to standard definition only. If you just want to watch and delete off the drive (which isn't that large - 250MB from memory) then that's OK. But if you occasionally want to archive material, transfer it to a laptop to view "on the road" or transfer to a media player then it's not great. I will purchase something like it when I can access the HD recording - either by burning to disc, accessing the harddrive over a network, or a USB drive transfer option.

Spyware

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Reply # 298913 14-Feb-2010 19:37

TiVo allows copying of transport streams to computer.

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sbiddle

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Reply # 298919 14-Feb-2010 20:00

JimmyH: I own two older Panny recorders (that both lack a freeview tuner) and think they are both great, I therefore looked at the new Panny HDD recorders, with twin Freeview tuners, with a view to an upgrade. There were two issues - the cost (which was steep but not a showstopper) and the nasty fishhook with HD recording that they don't publicise. Namely, it records HD to the harddrive, but if you burn to disc it re-encodes it to standard definition only. If you just want to watch and delete off the drive (which isn't that large - 250MB from memory) then that's OK. But if you occasionally want to archive material, transfer it to a laptop to view "on the road" or transfer to a media player then it's not great. I will purchase something like it when I can access the HD recording - either by burning to disc, accessing the harddrive over a network, or a USB drive transfer option.

Reencoding only occurs on the DVD model - simply because DVD is not a HD format and is therefore incapable of supporting HD content.

The more expensive Blu Ray model allows recording of HD content to Blu Ray.