Recording 2 channels and watching tv?

dingdongavon

My Father in law has asked me for help so I in turn I am asking you , if it is possible to record 2 different channels and watch another channel on tv at the same time?

He has a dvd recorder but it is playing up so wants to get something that will do the above if possible.

Thanks in advance.

kizkiz

Virgin Tivo
Sky you can only do two

Kurtis_Blue

With freeview technically the signal can easily be split to record every channel at once.
But you dont want to do that, buy a PVR such as this http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/product_stb_terrestrial_hdrfoxt2.aspx record the two channels on that and watch the TVs inbuilt freeview tuner.

Hetty17

I assume FIL is using Freeview, rather than Sky or Virgin cable, who would be providing this equipment as part of the contract.

There are a lot of set-top boxes that have twin tuners, letting you record two programmes at once. While that's going on, you can watch any channel you like via your TV's inbuilt tuner.

I have a Humax HDR-FOX T2, which I'm very happy with; and there are many other manufacturers on the market, such as Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, LG etc. You can expect them to provide HD, the ability to search the programme guide for a particular programme, series recording, and so on. And they're alot easier to use than the old video recorders!

Fifer

There are many potential solutions, but we'd really need to know if he has (or can have) cable, has a satellite dish or/and has a serviceable TV aerial installed to provide accurate advice.

dingdongavon

Hetty yes he has freeview only, not subscribed to sky or virgin. I will look into the ones you and Kurtis have mentioned.

Thanks for your help

dingdongavon

sorry fifer didn't see your reply. He won't want to subscribe to anything and is easily confused so want to keep it simple for him if possble.

Fifer

Humax Freeview+ boxes can record two channels whilst watching another and are very simple to use. No need to ever switch between the Humax and the TV's internal tuner which keeps things simple.

savemoney

Humax HDR-FOX T2 is a good freeview box. It will allow you to watch HD (subject to area most areas now have HD) plus record two channels whilst watching a 3rd one sometimes depending on what's recorded or playback a recording whilst recording two channels.

Main HD channels are BBC 1 HD, BBC HD, itv HD and c4 HD and more to come. Plus playback iplayer, itv player assuming you have powerplugs or wireless usb/router and or tv capable of playback HD or you have to us SD broadcast most LCD/Plasma will payback HD in 1080i

tuggy12

Fifer wrote: »

Humax Freeview+ boxes can record two channels whilst watching another and are very simple to use. No need to ever switch between the Humax and the TV's internal tuner which keeps things simple.

I'm looking into buying the Humax HDR-Fox T2 but didn't realise you could record two programmes AND watch another at the same time.
This would imply that it has 3 tuners?

RTNI

tuggy12 wrote: »

I'm looking into buying the Humax HDR-Fox T2 but didn't realise you could record two programmes AND watch another at the same time.
This would imply that it has 3 tuners?

The humax box I have has 2 tuners (Not the one above however and about 3 - 4 years old). 2 can be recorded and another watched as long as the 3rd channel you want to view is on the same multiplex as one of the channels you are recording.