freeview tv

[timeout1]

My brother has just purchased a tv with built in freeview.
if he wants to record a digital channel, he has to leave
the tv on, although he can set the tv to switch of at a
nominated time.
is it me or is this a backward step.

[Buenchico]

Your brother's problem doesn't arise from a backward step. It's due to the lack of a forward one by him.

In the 'old days', with analogue TVs and VCRs, both devices had their own (analogue) tuner built-in. It was therefore possible to record one programme, while viewing another, because the tuner in the TV fed a signal to the screen while the tuner in the VCR fed a different signal to the tape. Similarly, it was possible to record a programme with the TV switched off, because the tuner in the VCR was still switched on.

He's now got a TV with a digital tuner built-in but, presumably, his recording device (VCR? DVDR?) hasn't got its own tuner. Therefore he can't watch one channel while viewing another and he can't record with the TV turned off. To get back to the situation where he can do these things, he needs to upgrade the recording device by either buying a new one which has a built-in digital tuner or (cheaper) by buying a Freeview box as a tuner to be used with the existing recorder.

Chris

[pug100]

Best thing to get in this case is a Freeview PVR.
He won't regret it.
look here for comparisons

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

or here for some basic info

http://www.freeview.co.uk/products/dtr

I can recommend the Humax very easy to operate. Or go with one with a DVD recorder if he needs to make recordings for others

[timeout1]

thanks guys, for your useful information.
i must say the hard drive recorder with twin tuner seems
an exccelent option. If iam correct this will also fduture proof it, for the anologue switch off.
Andy.

[oldmegan]

I agree that the Humax that you can record on is absolutely great. We can record two different channels at the same time, whilst also playing back a programme that we have already recorded. It is wonderful!!

[pug100]

Yes indeed by 2012 analogue will be no more and we will all need a digital receiver of some sort either DTT or satellite if we want to continue to watch tv.

[timeout1]

great stuff, guys now i know exactly what my next
purchase will be.
all the best Andy.

[Ethel]

Make sure your twin tuner hard drive recorder can also 'archive' (burn) recordings to a dvd disk - very useful when you want to save your recordings for prosperity or watch them through any dvd player.

[timeout1]

Hi Ethel,
yes your right, thats an important point, i will make sure
i purchase one with that option.
Andy.