Sony DVD recorder to digital TV connection help

Brewer · 14-05-2006, 7:30 PM

Please can somebody help me. I have a Sony KD-32DX40U digital TV and I've just brought a Sony RDR-GX210 dvd recorder. The problem is I can't find a way to connect it so that when I do a auto tune on the dvd recorder it finds the digital channels. It only seems to pick up BBC 1 BBC 2 ITV CH4 and CH5. IS it possible or will the recorder not tune to the digital channels like BBC4 ??

Thanks:

ijd · 14-05-2006, 7:55 PM

have to use a scart lead, usually tv scart 2 to dvd scart 2 then scart 1 to scart 1, but i can depend on manufacturer and if they are swicheable,sorry i dont know your models.
remember to select av 2 on dvd and it is unlikely you can view what you are recording

nwgarratt · 14-05-2006, 8:00 PM

The Sony recorder does not have Freeview does it?

The recorder will only pick up the analogue tuner inside it. You need to use the digital channels in the IDTV. You have to connect the recorder to the TV by scart cable on the TV AV channel that has smartlink. This is AV3 on my Sony TV. The scart then goes on onto the recorder.

To record digital. You need to put the IDTV on the channel you want and the recorder on the AV socket that the scart lead is on. It is AV2 on my recorder. You have to leave the channel on and then press record and do not turn the TV off unless you use a timer to record with on the TV.

I would buy a Freeview box and record off that and use the digital tuner in the IDTV to watch a different channel while recording another one.

Brewer · 14-05-2006, 8:26 PM

I don't think the recorder has a freeview. If I was to use a freeview box would I be able to use the video plus numbers to set the timer. The problem seems to be that the recorder can't tune into them so can't see them to start the recording. Does the ilink thing from Sony do any good ?

nwgarratt · 14-05-2006, 8:52 PM

Video plus is only for analogue TV.

What the iDTV does is send the digital signal through the scart from the TV to the recorder. THe recorder then has to be on the same AV as the scart lead to see the digital signal and record it.

The TV should have a timer built in to record to a recorder. THe TV can then be put in standby. If you don't set a timer, the TV has to stay on otherwise the signal is lost (and cannot change channels). It is possible to mute the sound on the TV though without affecting the recording.

A Freeview box has its own timer. What you need to do is set the timer and then a matching timer on the recorder. Then both things go on at the same time. A easier way is to use a Sony digibox and use smartlink. The smartlink will turn the recorder on automatically when a timer starts.