Freeview Terrestrial with DVR REcorder

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sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#88713 22-Aug-2011 00:10

The setup:
Sony LCD TV - older model with no Freeview Tuner and only 1 HDMI input
TEAC Freeview Terrestrial Decoder box (HD-B6T)
Panasonic DVR Recorder

Wants:
1. Record Freeview (I think the HD-B6T can do this if you add a USB hard drive, from memory, OR use the Panasonic DVR)
2. Watch DVD's through HDMI (using the Panasonic DVR)
3. Watch Freeview

Solutions?
1) Buy a new TV with built-in tuner and more than 1 HDMI input - least attractive due to $$$
2) Buy a cheap A/V receiver and run the DVR and HD-B6T into the receiver using HDMI, then from the receiver to the TV with HDMI. The receiver switches between DVD and Freeview, but in this set up, can the DVR record Freeview?
3) Use the recording function of the HD-B6T, and simply use the Panasonic DVR as a player.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Need more info?

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#509751 22-Aug-2011 00:38

1) Right - it'll work but cost.
2) No - in this configuration the DVR will not receive any signal from the FV box.
3) Do this - get a USB drive for FV recording/playback (assuming the recording function works reliably on the TEAC - many are flakey) and connect that via HDMI to the TV. Connect the DVR to the TV via component, composite, or whatever else you have. It wouldn't provide a better image than component if it were connected by HDMI anyway.

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#509780 22-Aug-2011 07:47

Ta - especially the bit about component video and RCA audio cables for the DVR. That'll save quite a bit of headache / extra equipment.

How about if I use the 'video out' or 'antenna loop out' from the freeview box into the DVR - or the video/audio out from the TV? Or the video/audio out from the freeview box?

As it's a non-freeview TV set it should pass a video signal capable of being recorded to the DVR (albeit in SD - although that's all the DVR can handle).

I guess the advantage of using the TEAC is that it a) has its own menu system for recording, which is more sophisticated than that of the DVR and b) it records in HD (or does it?).

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#509804 22-Aug-2011 09:37

My advice, sell the Panasonic DVR and Teac Box on TradeMe.
Then, put a few extra dollars together and buy the Panasonic DMR-XW380.
It'll offer more functionality, ease of use and dare I say it, reliability.
One less remote too...

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#509895 22-Aug-2011 12:22

sultanoswing: How about if I use the 'video out' or 'antenna loop out' from the freeview box into the DVR - or the video/audio out from the TV? Or the video/audio out from the freeview box?

Antenna loop out won't help as the DVR won't have a digital tuner (I assume). Video out to the DVR - sort of, but programming the system to make unattended recordings would either be impossible or a nightmare.

bfginger

1267 posts

Uber Geek

#511493 24-Aug-2011 21:10

It sounds like the Panasonic DVD Recorder you've got is an anlogue era model right? The recording quality won't be very good and it'll need to tie up another receiver to record from Freeview. That isn't a very good recording setup.

Single tuner Freeview|HD receivers with an external HDD don't make for a very good primary recording setup unless you seldom record anything.

The best option without buying a new TV would be the Panasonic BWT700, which does it all. It is periodically available for under $1050.

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#511503 24-Aug-2011 21:26

Yeah - it's an analog jobbie - so SD only, and soon to be obselete in the switch off.

I think I'll go with the following strategy for now:

1) Use the Teac Freeview box to view and record, via the single HDMI input... it doesn't need to offer advanced functionality or even watch one, record another channel ability (if I recall my father's TV watching habits).

2) Use the DVR as a simple DVD player, connected via component and RCA audio.

If or when he does want more functionality, the Panasonic "all-in-ones" you guys have mentioned look like the bee's knees.

Thanks for the advice.

Jaxson

8041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#511586 25-Aug-2011 08:18

Just been discussing this with a mate recently.

There is a lot of emotional attachment to the analogue DVD/HDD units as a lot of people paid good money for them, not that long ago too.

The reality is they are now close to worthless (unless you are prepared to team them up with something else to record freeview in SD, constantly recording off AV1 input etc). I think people should be dumping them now whilst they still work to some degree. Just my personal opinion, but by selling the analogue recorder and the freeview box, you're half way towards something that works with freeview, with a proper EPG etc.

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JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#512088 25-Aug-2011 20:41

I have an analogue unit and love it, and I certainly will keep using it after the switch off. Sky Decoder --> DVD recorder has been my standard setup for 5 years (on second DVD recorder). While it is an SD unit, both it and my player upstairs upscale, and the picture quality is very watchable.

The Freeview DVD units downscale to SD anyway when you record a disk, so you don't get much from the new models unless you spend a lot and buy one with a Blu Ray drive. Plus, any gains are swings and roundabouts - the problem with Freeview certified units is they have removed the ad skip button (which is a key benefit of the unit I have).

Even if I do replace the one I have in the living room, it will be pensioned off to the spare room rather than dumped.

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#512166 25-Aug-2011 22:47

JimmyH: I have a VCR and love it, and I certainly will keep using it after the switch off. Sky Decoder --> VCR has been my standard setup since the 1980s. While it is an SD unit, both it and my player upstairs upscale, and the picture quality is very watchable.

The Freeview DVD units downscale to SD anyway when you record a tape, so you don't get much from the new models unless you spend a lot and buy one with a Blu Ray drive. Plus, any gains are swings and roundabouts - the problem with Freeview certified units is they have removed the ad skip button (which is a key benefit of the unit I have).

Even if I do replace the one I have in the living room, it will be pensioned off to the spare room rather than dumped.

RingoTB

118 posts

Master Geek

#512731 26-Aug-2011 22:25

I was in a similar situation a couple of years ago. I would suggest that you look at the MagicTV and get rid of the TEAC unit. It is a twin tuner unit with a 500GB HDD and will record 2 different channels simultaneously and also let you watch a third channel (within certain limitations).

Have a read of the thread here:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=43120

The MagicTV box will also output 1080p via Component so you can get full HD from it and keep theTVs one HDMI input for your Panasonic DVR. You can also save SD content from the MagicTV onto the Panasonic DVR via composite or S-Video.

There is also a hacked firmware for MagicTV which lets you skip forward in 1 minute jumps, or an older beta firmware that jumps forward in 10 min jumps, and backwards in a 6 min jump. Both are perfect for removing the ads. More details in the above thread.

bfginger

1267 posts

Uber Geek

#512740 26-Aug-2011 22:49

You'd be lucky if that thing accepted 1080p over component. But it'd probably be no worse set to receive 1080i, at least for the HD channels.

The new Magic TV model with a 1tb HDD should be released within the next few weeks so you may like to wait and see.