Philips DVDR3480

[penfold]

Hi. New here, not posted before.

I have a Philips DVDR3480, bought mainly to record stuff off my sky+ box. Its a pretty good DVD really, and is multiregion, however, an issue I have is....
When I have recorded a program from the Sky+ box, when I switch off the recorder, it appears to have set my Sky+ box to widescreen, with Black lines on top and bottom, but when I check in the picture settings, its still set to 4:3. I have to set it to something different, and then set back to 4:3, and everything is fine again. I have a standard 28" TV set, with 2 Scart Inputs. The DVDR is set to use 4:3 LR in the settings, that gives me black lines at top and bottom. Cant see why it is doing this. When using the DVDR as a player, this does not happen. Only happens when I set the SKY+ box to copy, and then record this output on the recorder. I am using SCART for everything, Sky+ and DVDR. Using the video out on Sky+ to the EXT in SCART on the DVDR. No ariel etc connected to DVDR. ANyone any ideas???

[ramjet]

the vcr out on a sky box is composite and is for a vcr , not an rgb dvd recorder, so have you tried the rgb out from the tv scart socket on the sky box to the recorder ?

and check all settings are how you want them , which tends to be 16:9 widescreen rgb

[penfold]

Hmmmm No, wasnt aware of that. Can you possibly go though the connections for me. Also what happens if the DVDR is on standby or off, can I still watch Sky??

[ramjet]

I dont have a philips as I wouldnt have one if it were given to me , sorry but I hate philips products with a passion

but having read through these forums here I have ascertained that the tv out on a sky box is rgb and the vcr out is composite

this means that normally the tv out goes to the tv , and the vcr out goes to a vcr , obvious really , but shows no mention of a dvd recorder as they havent taken that into account

therefore , I am assuming you need to do the same as for sony , pioneer and panasonic and use the tv out from the sky box to the dvd recorder

the vcr out is for a vcr which you are not using , hence your problem, if sky fitted 2 rgb scarts and not one then we would all be fine

most ppl would now connect rgb tv out to the dvd recorder , and the vcr output to an composite scart input on the tv , its not as good but its the best a sky box can do

hopefully when the recorder isnt busy you can watch rgb through the dvd recorder in/out connection , when it is busy you must watch the tv using its own tuner or whatever

[JayCee]

Originally Posted by penfold

Only happens when I set the SKY+ box to copy, and then record this output on the recorder.

There is a known bug in the Sky+ software which affects boxes.
The way around the wrong aspect ratio problem is not to use the "Copy" option but just select the prog from your planner and play it instead.

[penfold]

Thanks

Would it also be bettet then, to go.....

Sky+ TV Out to DVD Ext in
DVD TV out to TV AV1, and have nothing connected to TV AV2. rather than...
Sky+ TV out to TV AV1
Sky+ VCR out to DVD ext in.
DVD TV out to TV AV2

Question is will this unit pass though, even if its switched off, or on standby.