Recording/on freeview

castle96

Hi, some help please.
TV is Samsung UE40H6400 smart.

With my old TV I used to record both sky and freeview onto tape/VCR.
Bought new TV (above) and only ever bothered to record sky. No problems.....
Now looking at getting rid of sky, so I looked at freeview (comes up at top of screen when I press 'source' on TV remote.) All other things, sky/dvd etc, also come up. Freeview is connected by coax aerial. I want to record Freeview (see below *)
When I press 'record' on TV remote up comes "Recording (or timeshift ??) is not currently available. Check your TV and USB device"
My booklet shows the record button as.... "when the external HDD (???) is connected you can watch and record at the same time"

HDD ? The only reference to HDD is on a USB port - USB HDD 5V 1A. Into this I have a Chrome casr plugged. Obviously I could not plug the end of the coax areial into a USB port.

I have binned my VCRs. On what will I record freeview ?? (I assume the Sky record of a freeview channel) function will not work if I bin sky.

*How do I get a 'record' function on the TV remote ?

Many thanks for any assistance/advice. Surely many others do no have sky and do, record freeview

macman

You can either buy a dedicated PVR (Humax or similar) and record on that, or use any hard drive or flash drive connected to the USB port, if your smart TV allows that.
Once you cancel your Sky sub, the PVR functions on the Sky+ box will cease to work, nor will you be able to access existing recordings, as the decryption software will no longer function.

almillar

You had a satellite tuner and an aerial tuner. That satellite tuner had several outputs, one of which you were able to plug into the VCR, and record from.
Now you've only got one tuner, an aerial one, built into the TV - and its only output is, the TV screen. You do have the option of a very basic PVR (personal video recorder) on the TV, by plugging a USB hard drive into that USB connection, but it'll be very basic, and you'll be stuck watching what you're recording. You can power your Chromecast via another USB port if your TV has one, or via a wall plug BTW.
macman's right - a PVR is the way to go. If you look on eBay or Gumtree, you should find plenty of BT or Humax 'YouView' boxes - these plug into the aerial to give you Freeview HD, into your TV via HDMI, and if you can plug them into your network, you can have well integrated on demand too.

castle96

thanks both - further Qs please

OK, so I need a Humax (friend keeps going on about Sagem is best !).

Do I NEED a twin tuner ? Want to watch prog A and record prog B.
I assume a single tuner will allow me to do this ? as I watch A on TV and let box record B.........??

or does a twin tuner allow me the On demand things ? Can I only record 2 progs with a twin tuner ? Need Catch up too

Most on ebay seem to be twin scart connection. These are older ones ? Surely new ones would be hdmi ?

Can you recommend a new box for me please.

This one
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertainment/digital-and-smart-tv/set-top-boxes/bt-youview-hd-recorder-500-gb-22103774-pdt.html

says "connect to the internet/ethernet cable". I thought I would be plugging in to my aerial cable ?????

lee111s

Don't discount BT TV either. Their basic package isn't bad and their box is decent.

I also love the youview TV guide that simply lets you scroll left up to 7 days and play shows right from the guide on demand rather than having to go into the individual on demand applications such as Iplayer or 4od.

castle96

OK thanks. You like the BT one. I dont really care about the make. Will buy new from Currys etc. Any answers please re Qs above.

Want to plug into aerial cable (wifi/ethernet is a bonus only. "Need satellite dish/freesat" - no), record 2 progs. Or watch one, record one. 200 hrs progs - OK.....

Any recommendation, + answers to above Qs would be of great help you wonderful people

mac.d

You can watch one programme using your TV's built in Freeview while recording another channel on the PVR, but a twin tuner is the better option as it lets you record two things that are on at the same time (you will sometimes get two programmes that overlap slightly, and will have to choose only one to record if you buy a PVR with a single tuner).

The basic PVR's might have an internet connection but don't really need them as they are really just for watching the TV via your aerial, and have very limited 'smart' uses. However, like new TV's nowadays, most seem to be marketed as smart PVR's and they have apps installed on them that allow you to use your internet connection to watch BBC iplayer, Now TV or even Netflix in addition to the standard Freeview and Freeview HD channels via the aerial.

Just make sure the one you pick is a Freeview PVR and not a Freesat. If you want smart connectivety via your internet, hook that up too, otherwise, pick your box, plug your aerial into it and then connect it to your TV and off you go.

Humax are generally considered the best brand of PVR, but those BT Youview boxes are pretty popular these days too.

JJ_Egan

The BT UHD recording box is a Humax and you should be able to get one for £60 delivered if a BT BB customer .

Rodders53

mac.d wrote: »

Humax are generally considered the best brand of PVR, but those BT Youview boxes are pretty popular these days too.

Humax make the BT boxes: down to a price, so (allegedly) not as well-built (e.g. plastic rather than metal case):D

However, it does all depend on what Freeview transmitter the OP watches... not all broadcast all the possible TV channels... so the choice may be restricted/restrictive. :eek:

But a simple solution to that exists: The OP can get a freesat box to replace the $ky box using the same cables to the $ky dish. Downside is they tend to be slightly more money than the Freeview ones. The latest do all the catchup / iPTV services, if important. :T

teddysmum

Humax have a wide range of boxes in their refurbished items online shop. These have a manufacturer's warranty (shorter than retail) but are much cheaper (even than beat any price sellers) and even include the latest PVRs which will record up to 4 programmes at the same time.

almillar

Do I NEED a twin tuner ? Want to watch prog A and record prog B.

In this day and age, I'm surprised you've found a single tuner PVR. Have you?!

If you've got a single tuner, the PVR is stuck on one programme, and yes, you'll switch back to the TV to watch something else. But you can get twin tuners so cheap (see my ref to YouView boxes) that it's pointless to get a single tuner IMO.

or does a twin tuner allow me the On demand things ?

No. That's 2 tuners listening to the aerial. On demand (and catchup, Smart) refers solely to things coming via internet.

Most on ebay seem to be twin scart connection. These are older ones ? Surely new ones would be hdmi ?

Correct. At this point, you're looking for a Freeview HD box, not just Freeview. Again, YouView unless you know better!

Can you recommend a new box for me please.

Ahem. See above. The Humax or BT Youview boxes (avoid the TalkTalk ones) must be nice and cheap now. If you want internet on it, note they're not WiFi.