Digital TV and recording

At the moment I have an analogue cable service from Virgin Media. When
setting up the VCR for when I'm away it is possible to record from a mixture
of terrestrial channels but only ONE 'cable' channel (having left the cable
box on that channel)- but this is not a problem.

I am thinking of going over to a digital cable service (from Virgin Media).
I've been told that it wont be possible to record and view from different
channels simultaneously. I've also been told that it wont be possible to
set up recording from different channels. If these are actual limitations
the service is more-or-less useless and I would rather stay with an
analogues service as long as possible as it would be impossible to go back
to analogue. However, given the success of digital cable I can't see how
this can be true.

My main requirements are to be able to -
watch one channel whilst recording another
set up my VCR to record from a number of channels

Where do I go from here? Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed as I
just can't see a way through this problem.

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway

"Bill Ridgeway" wrote in message

At the moment I have an analogue cable service from Virgin Media. When
setting up the VCR for when I'm away it is possible to record
from a mixture of terrestrial channels but only ONE 'cable' channel
(having left the cable box on that channel)- but this is not a
problem.
I am thinking of going over to a digital cable service (from Virgin
Media). I've been told that it wont be possible to record and view
from different channels simultaneously. I've also been told that it
wont be possible to set up recording from different channels. If
these are actual limitations the service is more-or-less useless and
I would rather stay with an analogues service as long as possible as
it would be impossible to go back to analogue. However, given the
success of digital cable I can't see how this can be true.

My main requirements are to be able to -
watch one channel whilst recording another
set up my VCR to record from a number of channels

Where do I go from here? Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed
as I just can't see a way through this problem.

I think you'll have to consider going down the road to hard disk recording
for time shifting digital channels, and use the VCR for making permanent
copies (if required) - eventually buying a DVD recorder for the same
purpose.

I believe that Virgin market a hard disk recorder for digital cable, which
lets you record up to 2 channels while viewing a third, but you will have to
check this.

--
Max Demian

"Max Demian" wrote in message
...
"Bill Ridgeway" wrote in message

At the moment I have an analogue cable service from Virgin Media. When
setting up the VCR for when I'm away it is possible to record
from a mixture of terrestrial channels but only ONE 'cable' channel
(having left the cable box on that channel)- but this is not a
problem.
I am thinking of going over to a digital cable service (from Virgin
Media). I've been told that it wont be possible to record and view
from different channels simultaneously. I've also been told that it
wont be possible to set up recording from different channels. If
these are actual limitations the service is more-or-less useless and
I would rather stay with an analogues service as long as possible as
it would be impossible to go back to analogue. However, given the
success of digital cable I can't see how this can be true.

My main requirements are to be able to -
watch one channel whilst recording another
set up my VCR to record from a number of channels

Where do I go from here? Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed
as I just can't see a way through this problem.

I think you'll have to consider going down the road to hard disk recording
for time shifting digital channels, and use the VCR for making permanent
copies (if required) - eventually buying a DVD recorder for the same
purpose.

I believe that Virgin market a hard disk recorder for digital cable, which
lets you record up to 2 channels while viewing a third, but you will have
to check this.


They do indeed - the V+ box.

I've had one for 12 months - wouldn't be without it now.

You can archive stuff to tape or DVD if you wish but if it's mainly just for
watching at a more convenient time then for me it is the way to go.

You can set to record up to 8 days in advance for individual programs and
for series you can set up a series link that will record every program in
the series without further intervention. You can put the box into standby if
you're going out and it will still record.

Like any new technology it does have the occasional bug and some people have
had more than their fair share of problems. All I can say is I'm very happy
with it and have had very few problems.

If you are looking to upgrade (or already have ) to HD TV the box has an
HDMI and component out (as well as Scart and RF for standard TV's). It also
has an optical Dolby 5.1 output. Be aware though there is not a lot of HD
content on VM, although it is getting better. The recent spat with Sky will
probably have put the kibosh on getting any of their HD channels in the near
future.

--
Regards

PLC
(Even Damnation is poisoned with Rainbows)

Paul Collins wrote:
If you are looking to upgrade (or already have ) to HD TV the box has an
HDMI and component out (as well as Scart and RF for standard TV's). It also
has an optical Dolby 5.1 output. Be aware though there is not a lot of HD
content on VM, although it is getting better. The recent spat with Sky will
probably have put the kibosh on getting any of their HD channels in the near
future.


Apparently it also does a better job of upscaling an SD image than most
HDTVs but as I've not got an HDTV I'm only going by what's said on
forums/newsgroups.

Stewart

"Stewart Smith" wrote in message
...
Paul Collins wrote:
If you are looking to upgrade (or already have ) to HD TV the box has an
HDMI and component out (as well as Scart and RF for standard TV's). It
also has an optical Dolby 5.1 output. Be aware though there is not a lot
of HD content on VM, although it is getting better. The recent spat with
Sky will probably have put the kibosh on getting any of their HD channels
in the near future.


Apparently it also does a better job of upscaling an SD image than most
HDTVs but as I've not got an HDTV I'm only going by what's said on
forums/newsgroups.


I certainly get a better picture, in the main, via HDMI than via scart.

--
Regards

PLC
(Even Damnation is poisoned with Rainbows)

Bill Ridgeway wrote:
At the moment I have an analogue cable service from Virgin Media. When
setting up the VCR for when I'm away it is possible to record from a mixture
of terrestrial channels but only ONE 'cable' channel (having left the cable
box on that channel)- but this is not a problem.

I am thinking of going over to a digital cable service (from Virgin Media).
I've been told that it wont be possible to record and view from different
channels simultaneously. I've also been told that it wont be possible to
set up recording from different channels. If these are actual limitations
the service is more-or-less useless and I would rather stay with an
analogues service as long as possible as it would be impossible to go back
to analogue. However, given the success of digital cable I can't see how
this can be true.

My main requirements are to be able to -
watch one channel whilst recording another
set up my VCR to record from a number of channels

Where do I go from here? Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed as I
just can't see a way through this problem.

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway


If you have a terrestrial aerial then I cannot see any reason why you
couldn't continue to record as you already are doing. You could record
any terrestrial channels using the VCR's tuner and leave the digibox on
the channel you wish to record from there.

If you receive your 'terrestrial' aerial feed from the analogue cable
box then this will be a problem.

"Resident Drunk" wrote in message
...
Bill Ridgeway wrote:
At the moment I have an analogue cable service from Virgin Media. When
setting up the VCR for when I'm away it is possible to record from a
mixture
of terrestrial channels but only ONE 'cable' channel (having left the
cable
box on that channel)- but this is not a problem.

I am thinking of going over to a digital cable service (from Virgin
Media).
I've been told that it wont be possible to record and view from different
channels simultaneously. I've also been told that it wont be possible to
set up recording from different channels. If these are actual
limitations
the service is more-or-less useless and I would rather stay with an
analogues service as long as possible as it would be impossible to go
back
to analogue. However, given the success of digital cable I can't see how
this can be true.

My main requirements are to be able to -
watch one channel whilst recording another
set up my VCR to record from a number of channels

Where do I go from here? Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed as
I
just can't see a way through this problem.

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway


If you have a terrestrial aerial then I cannot see any reason why you
couldn't continue to record as you already are doing. You could record any
terrestrial channels using the VCR's tuner and leave the digibox on the
channel you wish to record from there.

If you receive your 'terrestrial' aerial feed from the analogue cable box
then this will be a problem.

I would need either a digital box that will accept an analogue feed
(unlikely) or some way of feeding an analogue and digital signal to the back
of the TV. This would put me back to the present situation of being able to
record from any of the (five) terrestrial channels and one (set up before we
go out) VM channel.

Bill Ridgeway

Bill Ridgeway wrote:
"Resident Drunk" wrote in message
...
Bill Ridgeway wrote:
At the moment I have an analogue cable service from Virgin Media. When
setting up the VCR for when I'm away it is possible to record from a
mixture
of terrestrial channels but only ONE 'cable' channel (having left the
cable
box on that channel)- but this is not a problem.

I am thinking of going over to a digital cable service (from Virgin
Media).
I've been told that it wont be possible to record and view from different
channels simultaneously. I've also been told that it wont be possible to
set up recording from different channels. If these are actual
limitations
the service is more-or-less useless and I would rather stay with an
analogues service as long as possible as it would be impossible to go
back
to analogue. However, given the success of digital cable I can't see how
this can be true.

My main requirements are to be able to -
watch one channel whilst recording another
set up my VCR to record from a number of channels

Where do I go from here? Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed as
I
just can't see a way through this problem.

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway

If you have a terrestrial aerial then I cannot see any reason why you
couldn't continue to record as you already are doing. You could record any
terrestrial channels using the VCR's tuner and leave the digibox on the
channel you wish to record from there.

If you receive your 'terrestrial' aerial feed from the analogue cable box
then this will be a problem.

I would need either a digital box that will accept an analogue feed
(unlikely) or some way of feeding an analogue and digital signal to the back
of the TV. This would put me back to the present situation of being able to
record from any of the (five) terrestrial channels and one (set up before we
go out) VM channel.

Bill Ridgeway

Do you mean 'back of the VCR'? - actually the same applies for both.

I can't see how analogue/digital affect this at all (unless as I said
you get terrestrial via analogue VM box). Analogue and digital boxes
output a TV picture (and sound) full stop. It is likely they output
these over a selection of Scart/Composite and RF channels.

I am assuming here that your VCR is not so old as to not have Scart
sockets - VM-Scart in, aerial-aerial in, VCR-TV (preferably by scart).

Even if your equipment is prehistoric I assume the the new box will
output over an RF channel which you can pass to the aerial in socket of
your equipment.

To reiterate (in case it got lost in the ramble) - if you have an aerial
on the roof giving you BBC, ITV, C4 & 5 then things 'should' work as
they currently do - changing the box will not change how many channels
you can record*.


* - A caveat: I am assuming that the VM box does not auto-change
channels when unattended or switch itself off.

On 27 Mar, 09:46, "Bill Ridgeway" wrote:
At the moment I have an analogue cable service from Virgin Media. When
setting up the VCR for when I'm away it is possible to record from a mixture
of terrestrial channels but only ONE 'cable' channel (having left the cable
box on that channel)- but this is not a problem.

I am thinking of going over to a digital cable service (from Virgin Media).
I've been told that it wont be possible to record and view from different
channels simultaneously. I've also been told that it wont be possible to
set up recording from different channels. If these are actual limitations
the service is more-or-less useless and I would rather stay with an
analogues service as long as possible as it would be impossible to go back
to analogue. However, given the success of digital cable I can't see how
this can be true.

My main requirements are to be able to -
watch one channel whilst recording another
set up my VCR to record from a number of channels

Where do I go from here? Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed as I
just can't see a way through this problem.

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway


If your VCR and decoder have rec-link then you can just select the
programmes to tape on the decoder's OSG and walk away. Recording one
digital channel while watching another digital channel will need more
exotic stuff.

Bill Ridgeway wrote:
"Resident Drunk" wrote in message
...

Bill Ridgeway wrote:

At the moment I have an analogue cable service from Virgin Media. When
setting up the VCR for when I'm away it is possible to record from a
mixture
of terrestrial channels but only ONE 'cable' channel (having left the
cable
box on that channel)- but this is not a problem.

I am thinking of going over to a digital cable service (from Virgin
Media).
I've been told that it wont be possible to record and view from different
channels simultaneously. I've also been told that it wont be possible to
set up recording from different channels. If these are actual
limitations
the service is more-or-less useless and I would rather stay with an
analogues service as long as possible as it would be impossible to go
back
to analogue. However, given the success of digital cable I can't see how
this can be true.

My main requirements are to be able to -
watch one channel whilst recording another
set up my VCR to record from a number of channels

Where do I go from here? Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed as
I
just can't see a way through this problem.

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway


If you have a terrestrial aerial then I cannot see any reason why you
couldn't continue to record as you already are doing. You could record any
terrestrial channels using the VCR's tuner and leave the digibox on the
channel you wish to record from there.

If you receive your 'terrestrial' aerial feed from the analogue cable box
then this will be a problem.


I would need either a digital box that will accept an analogue feed
(unlikely) or some way of feeding an analogue and digital signal to the back
of the TV. This would put me back to the present situation of being able to
record from any of the (five) terrestrial channels and one (set up before we
go out) VM channel.


The ex-NTL cable feed carries both analogue and digital
channels, I believe, so the unencrypted analogue feeds
should still be present, though I'm not sure if the digital
STB has a RF pass-through. If not, then you wouldn't be
able to connect to the VCR anyway, except using SCART.