TV, freeview, recording questions/advice please

elektra

19 year old TV finally giving up ( keeps switching to standby) and 'spare' TV seems to temporarily lose tuning on channels 1&3(i.e picture comes back but no retuning required) although its fine if you watch through video.

So it looks like I might have to buy another TV. I wanted to buy something as futureproof as possible but reading other thread it seems I shouldn't really worry about getting HD ready or LCD.

I've been perfectly happy with analogue/non widescreen/VCR combination. Am in last area to have analogue signal switched off. Not fussed about widescreen(just think everyone looks fat) although think husband and son will want it.

Have a freeview box in another room - things I don't like -
sound and picture breaking up - is this poor signal, cheap box, need a new aerial or combination of all 3 ?
Also don't like how long it takes to change channels - analogue seems instant, freeview you have to watch it load the channel. Am on border of 2 TV regions so can't get local news for either area - with freeview I can only get one.

Recording - what is important to me - being able to record one channel whislt watching another, being able to extend time recordings (allow for programs running late), being able to record 16 days in advance - i.e when on 2 week holiday and record a series or two, being able to watch what I have recorded in another room. E.G Son might be playing playstation and I want to go upstairs and watch video whilst ironing. Also like being able to record subtitles.

If I buy a digital TV can I turn digital signal off so that I can still use VCR in same way - record one channel and watch another.


I'm sure there are other things I can think of but with info given can anybody suggest what I should buy ?

bigdic

Crikey, you don't want much do you?

Ok, from the top.

Digital signal breaking up could be a poor signal, bad aerial or just bad connections. Sometimes a rubbish digibox contributes. You could try a booster (buy at B&Q for about £20), it works for some people but if your signal is rubbish it won't help.

Is your digibox one of the old ON digital ones? They were slower than a week in the jail, newer digi-boxes are a good bit faster at changing channels etc. Also local news is usually rubbish so only having to endure half of it should be seen as a blessing .

Widescreen shouldn't make people look fat if it's set up properly, if you buy a TV with digital built in then it should look lovely as long as you don't turn any of the zoom features on.

You can still use your VCR just like you do just now with your TV, the VCR has it's own tuner built in so you can record using that while watching another channel on the TV.

Good brands of TV to buy are LG, samsung and Panasonic. I'd highly recommend a Panasonic plasma, everyone I know that has one is ecstatic with them.