Panasonic DMR EX77 - is this right for me???

[nidum]

Hi Guys - this is my first post so go easy on me!!

I'm looking to take my first steps in the dvd/hdd recorder market. As with a lot of people I've narrowed down my choice between the Panasonic EX77 & the Sony 870, with my preferred choice being the Panasonic.

My current setup at home is a 32" Sony CRT hooked up to a Virgin Media digital box. I have no external aerial plugged into the tv, I rely on the digital box for my "cable" channels (tuned into channel 6 on my tv) and the terrrestrial channels tuned in on channels 1 to 5.

If I plump for the Panasonic EX-77 with its digital tuner, by hooking it up to my cable box (and not an external aerial) will this be sufficent for the recorder to pick up any freeview channels???

If not, would I be better off seeking a recorder without a digital tuner (due to my lack of aerial)???

Apologies if I'm being particularly thick!!!???



Thanks.

[Teknowledgy]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forums

Unfortunately, in order to receive any freeview channels, you would require an aerial to be connected to the RF IN of the EX77. In regard to purchasing a model without a tuner, I believe you would be hard pushed to actually find one that has no tuner (if any at all exist). However, considering that you already have Virgin Media, it makes no difference whether or not you have or use a tuner of any description. - Although, only having the one source for your programmes does prevent you from recording one channel whilst watching another, - the only way to get around this in your situation would be to either fit an external aerial to use the EX77's tuner, or to pay extra for an additional set-top box from Virgin.

Although, I have to say, my belief is that it really all comes down to one having a certain understanding of what features the proposed DVD recorder to be purchased has, and how these features may or may not work with one's existing or proposed viewing trends. Could you maybe live without the ability to record one channel whilst watching another for example? - A way around this might be to record some material onto the Hard Drive over a period of time, and then start to watch the recorded programmes that you may have saved up, whilst at the same time recording additional programmes from Virgin.

In regard to connectivity, you would simply hook up the EX77 to your TV via a SCART cable (hopefully your TV has a SCART socket or 2) and you would then watch DVDs, recorded programmes or Virgin (the EX77 can pass a SCART signal through itself and back to the TV when in Standby mode) via the AV channel on your TV.

Hope this helps.

Regards.