[garywood84]

I know that with some Freeview boxes you can flag events to watch in the EPG and then you get an onscreen reminder when the programme is about to start. Does anyone know of a box that would just change to the channel the flagged programme is on, rather than displaying a message reminding you to change?

The reason I'm asking is that I have a DVD recorder that doesn't have Freeview built in. I intend to connect this to a Freeview box, but realise that once switchover happens, if I want to timer record a programme, I'll have to leave the Freeview box tuned to the channel I want to record. So, I couldn't record a programme on BBC1, and then a programme on BBC2 immediately afterwards unless I was there to change the channel on the STB. If I could find a box that worked as above, though, I could neatly get around this by flagging programmes as watch on the STB and then programming the DVD recorder to record the AV input at the time the programme is on.

Many thanks in advance if anyone can help.

Gary

[fernandez]

Although a programme timer, for the purpose you require, was a common feature a few years ago it now seems to be few and far between mainly due, I suspect, to the availability and popularity of low priced PVRs
Certainly a google search doesn't inspire hope

[garywood84]

Thanks, Fernandez.

There must be loads of people who require a box that can do this, especially at the moment, during digital switchover. In fact, almost everyone I've spoken to (especially elderly people) has been unsure about how they could continue using older VCRs/DVD recorders.

Sure, I could buy a PVR, but it's not very convenient if you want to archive recordings to DVD. The alternative would be a new DVD-recorder with a DVB tuner built in, but that's expensive and seems a waste of my perfectly good HDD/DVD/VCR.

Can anyone recommend a box that has a timer?

Gary

PS: I noticed the following product on the Maplin website, and the specifications list a timer. I can't find any details about how this works, though. Can anyone confirm if it would do what I want?
FS3100 - Digital Freeview Set Top Box : Freeview Set Top Boxes : Maplin

[fernandez]

Can't confirm, but it certainly looks like the receiver from Maplin will fit the requirements