Digital Video Recorder without Sky+?

JPS

Hi,

Just had Sky over to install Sky+ in my new apartment where there is already a Sky point installed. However, he told me that I need 2 Sky points to have Sky+ installed and working. I have been told it will not be possible to have a second point installed, but was told you can buy a seperate PVR that can record programmes for you, so if I just got normal Sky, it would still be able to connect to the Sky box and record channels for me.

Is this possible? Would this do the job? Just not sure if it can be connected to a Sky digi box and record channels properly?

Thanks

Josh

dhotchin1986

Hi. If you have a look at this website. This will help you. http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/pvr.html

buglawton

Am interested in same. Had a look at that link. No-one makes a satellite based PVR that is not locked into the Murdoch cash stream. Pity as I get the best signal and choice on the Freeview satellite service - such a product that can do the job of PVR on all the Freeview sat channels - for nowt - would be very desirable.

dhotchin1986

The other way is..... buy a normal video tape recorder or a hardrive recorder that can record from your AV channel. The only problem with this is if you change your sky channel it will also record that as well.

MercilessKiller

Big thread and discussions about it here:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300054

Someone managed to get it working with:
Phillips HDRW720

buglawton

That thread seems to show the state of the art if you don't want ot subscribe to sky, all a bit if a kludge with 2 boxes and remember not to change channels on the Sky box when recording!

Just goes to show that monopolies are alive & well in the UK today - "no can have" a one box satellite PVR without Sky+.

superscaper

buglawton wrote: »

Just goes to show that monopolies are alive & well in the UK today - "no can have" a one box satellite PVR without Sky+.

Well it is a proprietary system that is not necessary, eg I watch TV (even digital TV) yet I have never given a penny to Sky or used their services. Not really a monopoly as far as I can see. It's a bit like saying itunes is a monopoly because Apple refuse to open source AAC.

stevo25

topfield make some look here http://www.topfield.co.uk/satelliteequipment.htm
but they are more expensive but these are more hobbyist too

penrhyn

Back to the original poster, why could you not have a second feed run in?
A communal dish problem or what?

PS The Humax 9200 Duovisio is a fine DTT PVR.

BTW there is no such thing as a Freeview Satellite service, there is however Freesat from Sky, and in the future the BBC (never slow in wasting the licence feepayers money) own Freesat service.

JPS

Thanks for replies. Doesn't seem to be much out there! Just really gutted that I can't get Sky+, was so looking forward to it.

Yeah penrhyn, it's a communal dish and when the property was built there was no such thing as Sky+, so one Sky socket was enough. I have been told by letting company that Sky+ isn't allowed in my place as we are not allowed to have a 2nd feed put in.

May just have to stick with my freeview PVR and get a normal Sky box, which is a bit of a shame

buglawton

superscaper wrote: »

Well it is a proprietary system that is not necessary, eg I watch TV (even digital TV) yet I have never given a penny to Sky or used their services. Not really a monopoly as far as I can see. It's a bit like saying itunes is a monopoly because Apple refuse to open source AAC.

Sky control who gets the freeview cards to put in their sky boxes, and then this is the only way you can access the electronic programme guide for the freeview channels. Which is why I said "monopoly" as far as sat PVRs go.

The Topfield mentioned by stevo25 looks neat but £469 (!) and I assume it can't access the EPG.