Recording Sky.

Boohoo

Hello.
I have a Liteon dvd/hdd recorder upstairs which is fed from a RF2 out on a normal Sky box downstairs.
I have a freeview tv upstairs but only get a few channels.
What i would like to know is when my area goes digital next April how do i keep the same set up as i have now.
I have looked at digital pvr's but they do not record sky so is there a way of keeping the dvd/hdd recorder and buying a pvr just for recording freeview and the dvd/hdd for sky or has anybody got a better idea please.

Boohoo

Nobody got any ideas then?

david39

Not ideal but, if you buy a usb-tv dongle to plug into your computer, (or, better still, an internal card) you can receive Freeview with that. With an operating system that includes Windows Media Centre, you can then record Freeview TV and play it back either on your computer screen or on your TV screen if you can connect them both.

From experience, don't rely on an indoor aeriel as these units are not as sensitive as a full blown TV tuner, especially if you are having reception troubles with your main set now. However, I believe that when the analogue signal is turned off in each area, the Freeview signal gets boosted, so things should improve from that side.

The dongle should only cost you about £20 so, if the idea sounds practical to you, it's not expensive to give it a try. I haven't explored the possibility but you might like to look into whether HD dongles are available yet so that, if the rest of your equipment will handle it, you will receive and record Freeview HD.

Boohoo

Thank you for replying.

I have thought about going down that route but i dont leave my computer 24 hours a day and i want the option to record stuff during the day when i am at work or night time.
I also need the option of recording Sky upstairs from the box downstairs but i am unable to find out how.
Vince

penrhyn

Why don't you just swap out your Sky box for Sky +?

Boohoo

I thought about that but i dont want to spend anymore for Sky than i am.
I did call them and ask but they said i could have Sky+hd but will have to pay for installation and extra a month so said no.
In my post i said i would like to keep to the same setup.
If i got sky+/hd will i be able to watch the recorded progs upstairs while somebody watches another channel downstairs without interfering with viewing.
I have looked at dvd/pvr's but i cant find one that will record a sky channel and a freeview channel on the same unit.

penrhyn

If you get Sky + HD you could move your standard Sky Box upstairs, you would have to pay for a multiroom subscription.
There are no boxes on the market other than those made by/for sky that can receive Sky subscription TV.
You could of course consider Freeview or Freesat which have PVRs available.

Gorgeous_George

Hi

The digital switchover will have no impact on your Sky system. You will still be able to record Sky on the DVD/HDD recorder. The RF out from the Sky box is an analogue signal.

Does the DVD/HDD have a digital tuner? If not, you need a digital receiver to feed the recorder. Some Digital TVs have a digital-out socket but most do not.

I had Sky+HD installed recently. Rather than pay for multi-room I put the old Sky box in a 2nd room (fed from RF2 from the HD box). This allows me to watch either Sky box but I am limited to the free channels on the 2nd box. The 2nd Sky box feeds the TV using a SCART lead. Because I do not have multi-room, I cannot receive pay channels on the 2nd box.

GG

Boohoo

My dvd/hdd recorder isnt digital which is why i asked the question about recording sky.
I want to record from the sky box downstairs and record freeview progs.
I have looked into pvr's but none will record sky or another input source only freeview.
I have tried to find out if sky+hd will let me watch recorded stuff on rf2 out upstairs while somebody is watching sky downstairs but i cant find this out but if it did then i may go that way.
What i want really need is a digital/freeview dvd/hdd unit that i can connect the sky to and freeview and record like i am now with analogue but ready for when changeover comes.

penrhyn

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DMR-EX773EBK-160GB-Recorder-Freeview/dp/B0038VZXMS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1274467889&sr=8-1

The RF2 output on a Sky+ HD unit will only let you watch the same programme thats being sent to the main TV.