Recording from a Samsung Smart TV

Jolly_Roger

Having formerly had an analogue TV with a Freeview set top box, I was able to not only watch a TV programme, but also record up to two other TV programmes at the same time.

However, we have recently bought a Samsung Smart TV, but this has no programme recording capability. It appears that we have to plug in an external hard drive and record on to this. Am I right in understanding that this can be a bog standard external hard drive, of the type that I currently use with my PC? If so, what would be the minimum storage capability that I am looking for?

Also, I have read on the Internet that Smart TVs only allow you to record a single programme at a time and you can only watch the programme that you are recording. Is that true? It sounds utterly retrograde if so....

As an alternative, is there any type of box that you can buy outright and install that allows you to download Freeview programmes from the Smart TV in the way that I have been used to?

Thanks a lot.

AJXX

I think this is entirely going to depend on the model of TV you have? Can you post the model?

I'd say as a baseline 500 GB minimum would be required if you're recording TV, that is usually the standard size HD fitted to Freeview and Sky boxes - that should hold around 300 hours of SD programs or 83 hours of HD.

Of course 1 TB HDD's won't cost much more if you wan't to double the above numbers. I found one on Amazon for £45 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Slimline-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B008PABFX8)

Jolly_Roger

It is a Samsung UE32H6400AK.

AJXX

Based on the manual (http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201407/20140728152214250/[ENG]X14DVBEUH-1.113-0626.pdf)

Any HDD can be used and the TV can format this to the correct format if it's wrong - minumum speed of 5,400rpm is required however most drives have at least this speed.

Therefore the 1TB I linked to above would be perfectly fine. Sizes I'd suggest the same as above 500 GB minimum, ideally 1TB.

Was unable to find how many channels you can record/watch at the same time but I assume you can watch 1 and record the other as a minumum.

grumbler

For recording another program while watching you need two tuners. I don't think that this TV has two.
ETA: http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/tv-audio-video/televisions/flat-tvs/UE32H6400AKXXU

Tuner/Broadcasting

• 2 Tuner
  
  No
• Twin Tuner
  
  No
  
  

It does have an analog tuner on the top of the DVB-T one, but I think analogue broadcasting is a thing of past in UK.


You can record on a USB stick as well. If it's a hard drive, I'd use a 'portable' 2.5" one that doesn't require a power supply.

Jolly_Roger

When you say "tuner", could you post me a link to such a thing that would allow me to record, at least, two programmes at once, and that would be compatibe with this TV?

Many thanks.

AJXX

grumbler wrote: »

You can record on a USB stick as well. If it's a hard drive, I'd use a 'portable' 2.5" one that doesn't require a power supply.

I was going to suggest the same, however the manual states this isn't supported?

We recommend a USB hard disk drive with a minimum speed of 5,400rpm for TV recording. USB memory
sticks are not supported.

Top of page 120

Although I'm not entirely sure how the TV would "know" you're using a memory stick and not a SSD HD etc...

wongataa

Jolly_Roger wrote: »

When you say "tuner", could you post me a link to such a thing that would allow me to record, at least, two programmes at once, and that would be compatibe with this TV?

Many thanks.

You would need a separate box. A Freeview or Youview PVR box.

grumbler

wongataa wrote: »

You would need a separate box. A Freeview or Youview PVR box.

I think it needs clarifying: a Freeview PVR or a Youview PVR

(AFAIK the latter has internet TV built in as well, that is hardly needed for a smart TV).

Generally, I think even a simple Freeview box can do the job. It can be used for watching while the TV's tuner is used for recording to an external HD (or a pen drive?), but recording two programs at once generally will be impossible.

Jolly_Roger

We still have our old Humax set top box, used with the analogue tv. Will that do? If so, what is the cabling connection to the Smart TV?

grumbler

Most likely it will. For cabling see the manual as there are various options.

Antenna cable goes to the box. Then another antenna cable goes from the box to the TV. I think extra HDMI or Scart cable is optional.