Recording from digital TV

I hope I'm on the right NG. Apologies if not.

I have an analogue cable feed from Virgin Media (ex NTL). The box also has
an input for an aerial. Programmes are mainly recorded from the aerial
which means we can programme the video go away and leave it. It isn't
possible to record from the cable channels as someone has to switch between
the channels which rather negates the main reason for recording.

I am thinking of going over to digital. The box will probably not have an
input for an aerial. If it isn't possible to record programmes other than
being there to do it I'm not interested. Surely this cannot be so and was
wondering how others coped?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway

"Bill Ridgeway" wrote in message
...
I hope I'm on the right NG. Apologies if not.

I have an analogue cable feed from Virgin Media (ex NTL). The box also
has an input for an aerial. Programmes are mainly recorded from the
aerial which means we can programme the video go away and leave it. It
isn't possible to record from the cable channels as someone has to switch
between the channels which rather negates the main reason for recording.

I am thinking of going over to digital. The box will probably not have an
input for an aerial. If it isn't possible to record programmes other than
being there to do it I'm not interested. Surely this cannot be so and was
wondering how others coped?

The Sony STB box will do it automatically with a Q-Link, SmartLink or
compatible VCR. But don't risk recording BBC3 or BBC4 when you are out since
they is an 80% or greater chance of recording a blank screen since the box
is still (after half a dozen firmware updates) not fully compatible with the
stupid text overlays these channels use which means that most of the time
you have to tune out and back in again in order to get them off the screen.


Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway

Bill Ridgeway wrote:
I hope I'm on the right NG. Apologies if not.

I have an analogue cable feed from Virgin Media (ex NTL). The box
also has an input for an aerial. Programmes are mainly recorded from
the aerial which means we can programme the video go away and leave
it. It isn't possible to record from the cable channels as someone
has to switch between the channels which rather negates the main
reason for recording.
I am thinking of going over to digital. The box will probably not
have an input for an aerial. If it isn't possible to record
programmes other than being there to do it I'm not interested. Surely
this cannot be so and was wondering how others coped?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway


I thought the old analogue cable boxes had a timer so you could get the
box to switch channels, so you could record more than one cable channel.
This was certainly the case for xTelewest boxes, you just had to set the
timer on the VCR and the timer on the cable box.

The digital boxes allow you to set reminders with auto switch over / on
and the box will switch over the the desired channel at the right time,
however standard cable digital boxes are useless as they only have at
best a 24 hour EPG, this means you can only record different programmes
on different channels for one day, many people haven't been happy, as
the timer funtion on the old analogue boxes are on the new digital
boxes.

The V+ boxes have a 7/8 day EPG so you can set programmes for the week.

Standard Sky Digital boxes have a 7 day EPG as do their Sky+ and SkyHD
boxes.


--
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On Fri, 9 Mar 2007 22:40:19 -0000, "Bill Ridgeway"
wrote:

I hope I'm on the right NG. Apologies if not.

I have an analogue cable feed from Virgin Media (ex NTL). The box also has
an input for an aerial. Programmes are mainly recorded from the aerial
which means we can programme the video go away and leave it. It isn't
possible to record from the cable channels as someone has to switch between
the channels which rather negates the main reason for recording.

I am thinking of going over to digital. The box will probably not have an
input for an aerial. If it isn't possible to record programmes other than
being there to do it I'm not interested. Surely this cannot be so and was
wondering how others coped?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway


Years ago, when I last bought a VCR, there was something called "video
plus deluxe". The deluxe bit meant that the VCR came with a little IR
transmitter which you stuck near the satellite/cable box. The VCR
would then send the appropriate remote command to change channels as
the timers went off. I've no idea if it still exists mind-you.

Cheers,

Colin.

Bill Ridgeway wrote:

I am thinking of going over to digital. The box will probably not have an
input for an aerial. If it isn't possible to record programmes other than
being there to do it I'm not interested. Surely this cannot be so and was
wondering how others coped?

There are several solutions to this. The most clunky is to use two sets
of times - one on the digital receiver to have it powerup and select a
channel at a given time, and then a second on the VCR to start recording
from its AV input at the same time.

The next refinement is with some VCRs that will automatically start
recording from their AV input when the attached device selects the
input. Hence it then only becomes necessary to set the digital box timer.

Moving on, you have VCRs that have a remote control transmit capability.
Often a small dongle type device on a cord that you position near the
digibox IR receiver. You program the VCR with a code to select the
correct set of IR commands for the device, and it will then control the
external device based on its own timers.

You also have proprietary systems that link the receiver and VCR and
allow exchange of information.

The most sophisticated solutions are provided by the digital hard drive
recorders like Topfield, Humax, TiVo etc that allow automated recording
based on the EPG. Many computer based solutions will also give this
degree of control.

--
Cheers,

John.

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"Bill Ridgeway" wrote in message
...
I hope I'm on the right NG. Apologies if not.

I have an analogue cable feed from Virgin Media (ex NTL). The box also
has an input for an aerial. Programmes are mainly recorded from the
aerial which means we can programme the video go away and leave it. It
isn't possible to record from the cable channels as someone has to switch
between the channels which rather negates the main reason for recording.

I am thinking of going over to digital. The box will probably not have an
input for an aerial. If it isn't possible to record programmes other than
being there to do it I'm not interested. Surely this cannot be so and was
wondering how others coped?

Assuming you are considering Freeview, have you considered a twin tuner box?
This will allow you to watch one channel and record another at the same time
to a built in hard drive.

Beck wrote:
"Bill Ridgeway" wrote in message
...
I hope I'm on the right NG. Apologies if not.

I have an analogue cable feed from Virgin Media (ex NTL). The box
also has an input for an aerial. Programmes are mainly recorded
from the aerial which means we can programme the video go away and
leave it. It isn't possible to record from the cable channels as
someone has to switch between the channels which rather negates the
main reason for recording.

I am thinking of going over to digital. The box will probably not
have an input for an aerial. If it isn't possible to record
programmes other than being there to do it I'm not interested.
Surely this cannot be so and was wondering how others coped?

Assuming you are considering Freeview, have you considered a twin
tuner box? This will allow you to watch one channel and record
another at the same time to a built in hard drive.


I read they were switching from Analogue cable TV to Digital cable TV.

"Beck" wrote in message
...

"Bill Ridgeway" wrote in message
...
I hope I'm on the right NG. Apologies if not.

I have an analogue cable feed from Virgin Media (ex NTL). The box also
has an input for an aerial. Programmes are mainly recorded from the
aerial which means we can programme the video go away and leave it. It
isn't possible to record from the cable channels as someone has to switch
between the channels which rather negates the main reason for recording.

I am thinking of going over to digital. The box will probably not have
an input for an aerial. If it isn't possible to record programmes other
than being there to do it I'm not interested. Surely this cannot be so
and was wondering how others coped?

Assuming you are considering Freeview, have you considered a twin tuner
box? This will allow you to watch one channel and record another at the
same time to a built in hard drive.


Thanks. No, I am considering Virgin Media.

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway