freeview digiboxes

[sag]

Hi, I am in the age bracket whereby technology has raced past me so I hope that the following question does not seem too stupid!

I have a 4 year old "normal" tv (analogue) together with an oldish video recorder. I am looking into buying a dvd recorder with inbuilt freeview programmes. This will replace the video.

However, using such a product appears to restrict me to recording only the same channel as I am watching which is not much help.

If I were to also buy a digibox to connect to my tv ( hence being able to access freeview), would I now be able to view one freeview programme (eg ITV4) and record another channel (eg BBC3)?

It appears that if I upgrade just the tv to freeview I cannot record another freeview channel whilst watching a different one.

Any comments would be really appreciated.

Many thanks.

[vehelpfulguy]

The reason we could all record one channel and watch another in the days of analogue TVs and VHS recorders was that we had TWO TV tuners.

One was in the TV (of course) and the other was in the VHS recorder.

So you need to replicate that situation with digital tuners and have two digital tuners.

So if you by a DVD recorder with a digital tuner in it that is one tuner.

You then need another tuner, either a stand alone freeview digital tuner, or one built into your TV.

So the answer to your main question is YES, you will be able to record one channel while watching another if your have two "freeview" (digital) tuners.

It would help if your TV had two scart sockets in it, one for the Freeview tuner, the other for the DVD recorder.

If your TV has not got two scart sockets then connecting it all up could be a bit difficult.

[Elmek]

hi Sag, you really need a tv with 2 scart sockets, one for input from your new dvd recorder and one from the input from your digibox. you could go for a scart splitter to which you could plug in both digibox and recorder and then into your tv and then you could switch between the two. hope this helps. someone at dixons or currys would probably explain better but i`m sure its feasable

[pug100]

you are right in that a dvd recorder will only let you record one channel at once. If you couple this with a freeview box this will allow you to record one thing whilst watching another. How you connect it all together will depend on how many scart sockets your tv has. This site will give you some pointers.

http://www.dtg.org.uk/consumer/connection_wiza rd.html

Another option instead of a dvd recorder could be a pvr. This device records on an internal hard drive and usually has two tuners, allowing you to record more than one programme at the same time such as when programmes overlap.

The main downside of a pvr is that it doesn't have a dvd drive and so cannot play discs and cannot record dvds so you can watch the programme elsewhere. This site lists all dual tuner pvrs. Most popular ones are the Humax and Topfield.

http://www.pvrjunction.co.uk/compare/

[sag]

Hi there,

Many thanks for your replies to my question. I'm really grateful to you techies.

[ACtheTROLL]

looking at the prices ... a HDD/dvd recorder + the cheapest freeview box you can find is what you need.

the luxury of a scart switch finishes the ensemble - but isn't essential.

the hdd recorder is self contained ... you only need the telly to watch recordings (and in all honesty - you can do the watching through the aerial - scart IS better though)

the fv box is your main tuner. which you watch through the scart (or again the aerial).

if you do ever get a new fangled flat telly, sky or whatever is invented next week ... the worst scenario is that the cheapest FV box in the world gets to live in the loft ... or perhaps in your bedroom on top of your old telly.

[sag]

Thanks, ACtheTROLL for your response. I would agree that the cheapest route appears to be as you've suggested. With regards to the question of next week's discovery, I asked a tv engineer about this when UK finally becomes digital in 2012. He said very much the same as you!

Regards.