how to record sky on a freeview recorder?

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kiwihans

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Topic # 97141 11-Feb-2012 16:46

Looking at purchasing a freeview recorder terrestrial connection like magictv3600. has one uhf in with twin tuner and one aerial out they call the loop connection the manual states to link to a satellite set top box for example. The retail information however contains a notation "may not work with some multi channel connections".
Can i actually use the loop connection to record sky programmes or do i have to creat an link between coaxial cable aerial sky out and freeview recorder aerial in by using a splitter for the freeview in to accommodate both uhf direct in and sky in? Or is it simply not possible?
Note: these recorders do not have any other type input connections for recording purposes other than aerial type.

Brunzy

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Reply # 580205 11-Feb-2012 17:14

No it won't. A DVD rec would let you record sky via the composite input, wouldn't look flash tho

Jaxson

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Reply # 580207 11-Feb-2012 17:18

Can that panasonic combo freeview/bluray or DVD unit record from external line ins?

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 580210 11-Feb-2012 17:32

Jaxson: Can that panasonic combo freeview/bluray or DVD unit record from external line ins?

The Panasonic Blu Ray recorders have A/V in. I have a BW880 and record Freeview direct off air and Sky via Composite A/V in. Also has SVid in but not component.
The newer BWT700 should be the same.

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 580211 11-Feb-2012 17:40

Brunzy: No it won't. A DVD rec would let you record sky via the composite input, wouldn't look flash tho

+1
The RF modulator in a Sky box (if it has one) is analogue. As far as I know Freeview recorders only have digital tuners, no analogue and can't process an analogue signal. My Panasonic BW880 has twin Digital Tuners but no analogue.
Composite in from Sky is perfectly acceptable on the Panasonic.

JimmyH

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Reply # 580247 11-Feb-2012 19:48

The Panasonic XW380 is a twin-tuner Freeview capable DVD recorder, that us cheaper than a blu ray recorder and will do this as well (I just hooked one up for a relative). Added bonus of a DVD recorder over the Magic TV is that if you have a backlog of material to watch and are running out of drive space, or want to watch something you have recorded in another room, it is easy to transfer a recording to a DVD (+/- R, +/- RW or RAM).

I use a Panny DVD recorder (although mine is an older non-Freeview unit) hooked up to a Sky STB this way, and it works well.

kiwihans

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Reply # 580268 11-Feb-2012 20:45

thks all for the replies. confirms my suspicion. agree that freeview recorders are good but simply only for freeview channels with no dvd backup... looks like i am going to keep my samsung dvd recorder for the sky part and programs i want to transfer over to disc.
Will get the freeview recorder still as using my freeview decoder limits me picking only one channel for recording if i am not at home.

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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Reply # 580280 11-Feb-2012 21:02

If you want the ability to transfer content then spend $199 and get Tivo to solve all your issues.

Format shifting of recordings for long term storage is actually illegal in NZ - so you're actually breaking the law recording TV shows on the HDD of your DVD recorder and then copying them to DVD to keep.

Jaxson

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Reply # 580287 11-Feb-2012 21:09

kiwihans: freeview recorders are good but simply only for freeview channels with no dvd backup...

Did you read the above? There are several devices that do just this.

B1GGLZ

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Reply # 580318 11-Feb-2012 22:53

kiwihans: agree that freeview recorders are good but simply only for freeview channels with no dvd backup

Not true.
My Panasonic will transfer HD content on the HDD to Blu Ray Disc in HD at high speed or to DVD Disc in SD in real time. Also records 2 channels at once.
Only thing it won't do is record from A/V input while watching a Blu Ray Disc which can be a nuisance at times.