Is there a PVR that records from external source?

[ondesmarteknow]

Looking through the forum it seems it is not possible to get a PVR that can record from a non-Sky satellite receiver.

Before I accept defeat and buy a DVD-HD unit does anyone have any ideas. For instance, are there any such PVRs supplied to the non-UK market - or any new PVRs yet to be launched which might have this facilty.

My first post - so really grateful for any response - even if it just confirms what I already suspect.

[marcdavis]

If you look on Turbosats web shop you should find the sort of PVRs that will come with sat tuners built in. Additinally there is a Freesat service launching in the new year which will enable sat PVRs to be bought from various manufacturers that can use an EPG service to make it even easier to set recordings. They will also ad standards for interctive services to not to mention the ability to watch and record hi def content from BBC, ITV and Chan4 in due course.

[bradavon78]

The way most PVRs work it would be technically difficult to allow external recording. HDD/DVDRs work very differently and thus can do it. You're not accept defeat though they're very good and can do many things PVRs can only dream of.

A PVR and HDD/DVDs aim is really very different. It's just both have Hard Disks, Freeview and an EPG.

[MarkE19]

If you go second hand you can get a TiVo, but you will only be able to record and watch the same channel. However AFAIK TiVo will only give the EPG for Sky/Freesat channels, so not really an option for other satellite services.

Mark.

[JethroUK]

Originally Posted by ondesmarteknow

Looking through the forum it seems it is not possible to get a PVR that can record from a non-Sky satellite receiver.

It depends how your define 'PVR' (twin tuners?)

Philips DVD/HDD only has one built-in tuner but can do all the usual PVR tricks:

EPG for 'any' service - sky included (some models)
Pause/Rewind live TV

+ somethings a PVR can not do:

control any external tuner (change channels at preset time)

whooooping 6 hour buffer + retained even when you change channel, change menus + can dump whole film from buffer to HDD

+write to dual layer DVD

+HDMI/upscaled output

[reforse]

Originally Posted by ondesmarteknow

Looking through the forum it seems it is not possible to get a PVR that can record from a non-Sky satellite receiver.

Before I accept defeat and buy a DVD-HD unit does anyone have any ideas. For instance, are there any such PVRs supplied to the non-UK market - or any new PVRs yet to be launched which might have this facilty.

My first post - so really grateful for any response - even if it just confirms what I already suspect.

Try

http://www.satfuchs.de

There is a Union jack coloured button for Eng Lang.

I bought a Topfield TF4000 with 80gb hdd at a good price earlier this year (much cheaper than buying a sat PVR in the uk). Its wired for the continent but a travel adapter can be got from tesco for 2 quid.

Ours is set up to 19.2e astra to pick up the German channels for the Fraulein (with free Bundesliga match of the day on sat at 5pm for me alsong with some of the Champions league thats on Sk*) and works just fine.

The only issue I have is the remote clashes with my Topfield tf5800 terrestrial PVR.

[ondesmarteknow]

Thanks for the answers so far.

I was already aware of the satellite/HDD boxes but they do not meet my requirements.

It looks as though I shall be buying a DVD/HDD unit in the new year.

[maclynn]

Originally Posted by MarkE19

If you go second hand you can get a TiVo, but you will only be able to record and watch the same channel. However AFAIK TiVo will only give the EPG for Sky/Freesat channels, so not really an option for other satellite services.

Mark.

I use aTiVo to record from various satellites.
You have to do a manual record and you cant add a correct title but the picture quality is excellent.

[foneman]

I think the 'point' of PVRs (and remember, EVEN the SKY HD box is 'just' a PVR..) is that IF you could record from an external input, what would you then do with it??? once you have spent *hours* transferring stuff on to it, it is then bound by the problems of the box... there is no way to name it, no way change it at all, and as all the 'identification' comes down the RF, no way to name it... you will be stuck with eg, 'input 1' , etc... and of course when you want to get it out of the box, it will have a great reduction in quality, etc, etc....

ALL recorders have to pay a licence for recording content - AFAIK this means one *each* for every device.. Tuner, HDD, DVD.. PVRs dont seem to have this expense, they are a 'closed system' - they most likely just record the raw data stream, that is decoded on playing..

there is a better way, though, that will give you 2 (or 3!) tuners, USB and wirless/cabled internet interfaces, DVDR that can be upgraded to Bluray or HDDVD, a HDD that can be changed when you like... as many types of EPG that you want.... look here!...

[Cyril]

Originally Posted by maclynn

I use aTiVo to record from various satellites.
You have to do a manual record and you cant add a correct title but the picture quality is excellent.

You can change the title (and a thousand other things) if you install TiVoweb and either a serial cable (a fiver) or a network card (thirtyquid upwards)

You can alsoimprove the picture quality further still at the expense of disk spaceusing the mode 0 hack.

[Cyril]

Originally Posted by MarkE19

If you go second hand you can get a TiVo, but you will only be able to record and watch the same channel. However AFAIK TiVo will only give the EPG for Sky/Freesat channels, so not really an option for other satellite services.

Mark.

TiVo also has EPG for Virgincable and TiscaliTV/Homechoice and a couple of other UK cable companies.

You can watch a different channeltothe source ifyou have setup either analog+Sky,analog +Freeview, analog +cable or sky + freeview(RF).

It is the only UK PVR to support Freeview and Sky in one combined EPG.

E.g. if you have Sky by SCART and Freeview by RF you can watch freeview while recording Sky

[MarkE19]

Originally Posted by Cyril

TiVo also has EPG for Virgincable and TiscaliTV/Homechoice and a couple of other UK cable companies.

Agree, but the OP stated the PVR was for 'non-Sky satellite' use

Mark.

[JethroUK]

Originally Posted by Cyril

..It is the only UK PVR to support Freeview and Sky in one combined EPG.

who told you that?

Philips HDDVDRs with Guide+ can connect to upto 3 external tuners at any one time (+internal tuner)

.

I think it does highlight that people don't buy/like Philips much - nobody seems to know anything about them

[foneman]

Originally Posted by Cyril

TiVo also has EPG for Virgincable and TiscaliTV/Homechoice and a couple of other UK cable companies.

You can watch a different channeltothe source ifyou have setup either analog+Sky,analog +Freeview, analog +cable or sky + freeview(RF).

It is the only UK PVR to support Freeview and Sky in one combined EPG.

E.g. if you have Sky by SCART and Freeview by RF you can watch freeview while recording Sky

I think he is talking about the SKY **EPG** not the service...

but I think he is wrong, any deck with 'guideplus' will support Freeview and Sky in one combined EPG, won't it??
- by the simple fact that SKY transmits all the channels that freeview does....
(note that virgin/homechoice/whatever only buy channels from SKY, so quality & availability will suffer...)

and a tivo is not easy to get in UK, as the support site says...

[JethroUK]

Originally Posted by foneman

..but I think he is wrong, any deck with 'guideplus' will support Freeview and Sky in one combined EPG, won't it??..

Philips does

Originally Posted by foneman

..... by the simple fact that SKY transmits all the channels that freeview does....

not for that reason - in case of Philips (i can't speak for any other) there would be e.g 2 x ITV4's - 1 records ITV4 from Sky box & other records ITV4 from Freeview box


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