Tape/VCR's

castle96

I keep hearing that older tape/video recorders, will only be of use after Sept,, for playing back. IE, they will not record digital.
?? But, I amcurrently recording both Sky and Freeview on them. Both of these are obviously digital. So what will happen to stop these vcr's recording (digital signal), after Sept.
I know I should get something newer, but it works as it is ! And it is a pain installing something newer/else.
Can I keep my tape vcr's ??
Thanks

davemurgatroyd

Nothing will stop them recording as at present. What they will be unable to record is off the air digital signals with their internal tuners without a set top box - such as your Sky box or Freeview box or any other digital receiver.

societys_child

If you're currently recording freeview on your vcr I'm guessing you have a freeview box plugged into it? If so, nothing is going to be any different.

macman

The tuner in your VCR is an analogue one, so after analogue switch off it won't record except through another tuner in your TV or in a PVR.

davemurgatroyd

macman wrote: »

The tuner in your VCR is an analogue one, so after analogue switch off it won't record except through another tuner in your TV or in a PVR.

Rubbish it will record the analogue output from any TV or set top box - it does not have to be a PVR a cheapo Tesco £10 box will do.

macman

And please tell me which 'set top box' outputs an analogue signal? Or which TV, after digital switch over?
It was perefectly obvious what I was saying-the OP will need a digital tuner source (be it from TV, digibox, or PVR) to record onto VCR.

Techhead_2

macman wrote: »

And please tell me which 'set top box' outputs an analogue signal? Or which TV, after digital switch over?
It was perefectly obvious what I was saying-the OP will need a digital tuner source (be it from TV, digibox, or PVR) to record onto VCR.

The vast majority of set-top boxes output an analogue signal either as RF, Composite, S VIDEO or RGB which the video will record. Most TVs have video out on one (or more SCARTS).

As the OP is already recording freeview, nothing will happen in September (assuming this is when their DSO2 date is)

macman

But come September there won't be any analogue signal to output.

davemurgatroyd

macman wrote: »

But come September there won't be any analogue signal to output.

You are totally confusing yourself between the RF (and microwave) signals the box receives (after DSO UK terrestrial and satellite will be digital only) and the audio/video signals a box will output to a TV or other external device. Output signals are either digital (HDMI or DVI only) or analogue (RF, Composite video, s-video, RGB or component video). Any VCR or DVD recorder with scart, RF or RCA/phono sockets is recording an analogue signal from those sockets. DSO will not switch off those inputs or the analogue outputs from a set top box. Please do not keep perpetuating this misinformation that analogue recorders will not work after DSO - yes they will not work from their internal tuners but will continue to work recording from external devices receiving digitally transmitted signals and outputting analogue signals.

Buzby

Agreed. STBs will forever output analogue, and VCRs record ONLY analogue - a SCART lead is an an analogue connection between devices. HDMI leads are digital, but I know of no VCRs that work with them.