[Bellboy21]

I have two Panasonic plasma TVs, connected to a HDD and VHS recorder by scart cables.
When I set the TV timer and switch off , the TV is in standby with the light indicating that a programme is set.
Each of the recorders, set for the same period, only get a signal while the set is fully on.
In practise, the signal stops to the recorder when the TV is put in standby, meaning that the only way I can record DVB output is to leave the set on.

Panasonic say; "DVB Timer function may not be working because the third party video recorder is not support our Q-Link function. Recording will only be able to take place while the unit is on."

Surely this is a sophisticated piece of machinery and must be capable of interfacing with non Panasonic equipment?
Has anyone found this to be a problem and is there a "workaround"?

Regards David.

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by Bellboy21

I have two Panasonic plasma TVs, connected to a HDD and VHS recorder by scart cables.
When I set the TV timer and switch off , the TV is in standby with the light indicating that a programme is set.
Each of the recorders, set for the same period, only get a signal while the set is fully on.
In practise, the signal stops to the recorder when the TV is put in standby, meaning that the only way I can record DVB output is to leave the set on.

Panasonic say; "DVB Timer function may not be working because the third party video recorder is not support our Q-Link function. Recording will only be able to take place while the unit is on."

Surely this is a sophisticated piece of machinery and must be capable of interfacing with non Panasonic equipment?
Has anyone found this to be a problem and is there a "workaround"?

Regards David.

I am assuming here that you are recording the freeview tuner in the TV which is not clear from your OP
That's because the tuner in your TV has to be energised to convert the digital mpeg2 to analogue audio and video that your recorders can handle. You could connect a seperate freeview box that has programme reservation (it will switch on when the programme is on) and if compatible could start recording. Best solution is to get a freeview pvr

[ROYOLD]

There have been many postings regarding having to have the TV set left on when recording from the TV's tuner.

grahamlthompson has given you the best solution for recording to a vcr.

[LV426]

The way a recorder records is by obtaining a signal and...recording it.

Your VCR will be able to obtain a signal from either one of its AV inputs, or from its onboard tuner. If using an AV input, then that input needs to be connected to something else which feeds it (such as, your TV). If using its onboard tuner, then all it needs is an aerial. Unless it's a very rare type of VCR, the onboard tuner will only be able to receive analogue broadcasts (that's "old style TV - channels 1...5).

You don't say what your HDD is. (note for future reference: few if any forum members are telepathic, so it's helpful and will solicit more useful answers, if you give make and model). But the principles are the same. IF it only has an analogue tuner, then the same applies as with VCR above. IF it has a Freeview tuner then it will (subject to reception conditions and a suitable aerial) also be able to record Freeview programmes directly from an aerial, without any need for the TV.

However, in either case, if you want to record something which only the TV can receive then the TV will need to be on to supply the signal to whichever recorder you are using.

[Bellboy21]

Thanks for all replies/explanations.

I have recently had an upgrade to my aerial, allowing me to record directly to both of the above with reasonable results.
I get excellent quality, recording from my Humax Foxsat to the AV channel on the Funai HDD recorder, and was (perhaps optimistically,) aiming for this level.

Regards David

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by Bellboy21

Thanks for all replies/explanations.

I have recently had an upgrade to my aerial, allowing me to record directly to both of the above with reasonable results.
I get excellent quality, recording from my Humax Foxsat to the AV channel on the Funai HDD recorder, and was (perhaps optimistically,) aiming for this level.

Regards David

A cheap second freeview box would only cost about £20.00 and then you could watch one freeview channel and record another

[Geofbob]

What the OP, and others with the same problem, have experienced seems to me to be a basic flaw with Freeview TVs. Whereas with a Freeview box working in conjunction with a recorder, or a PVR working by itself, you can record while the machines are in virtual standby (ie quietly working in the background), Freeview TVs have to be fully on in order to record from them - ie both the tuner & screen have to be on.

Presumably, manufacturers could have built in the ability for the digital tuner to be connected direct to a recorder, without the screen being on - but they chose not to. Or am I missing some fundamental technical problem?

[Bellboy21]

It's a pity Panasonic could not have allowed a facility to "switch the screen off" for unattended recording, all other processes being unaffected.

DGB

[nvingo]

Originally Posted by Bellboy21

Panasonic say; "DVB Timer function may not be working because the third party video recorder is not support our Q-Link function. Recording will only be able to take place while the unit is on."

From this I deduce that the TV is capable of supplying output from its DVB-T tuner whilst the screen is off, provided a Q-Link Panasonic recorder is connected - otherwise the screen must be on.

[Bellboy21]

Originally Posted by nvingo

From this I deduce that the TV is capable of supplying output from its DVB-T tuner whilst the screen is off, provided a Q-Link Panasonic recorder is connected - otherwise the screen must be on.

If so, I have paid over £2000 to be tied into Q-Link Panasonic recorder.

[nvingo]

Originally Posted by Bellboy21

If so, I have paid over £2000 to be tied into Q-Link Panasonic recorder.

No, just use any other recorder with an alternative Freeview source, as pointed out previously if you rely on the DVB-T tuner in the TV for recording, it is then not available for viewing an alternative channel.
Although if you do choose a Q-link capable recorder from Panasonic which has its own DVB-T tuner, there may be other benefits to having it and the TV communicating with each other.

[Bellboy21]

As I stated earlier, I am recording OK with my existing equipment.
It just annoys me that I have two modern, sophisticated machines with Hardware/ software which is useless to me.

[aekostas]

Originally Posted by Bellboy21

If so, I have paid over £2000 to be tied into Q-Link Panasonic recorder.

I personally would see it as a bonus that I don't intend to use. As far as I am concerned, recording TV requires a tuner, or an external device that can output RGB or (if needs must) S-Video. Life is too short to watch composite. Do your TVs output such signal to the HDD (VCR is irrelevant in this, unless it's S-VHS)?

[Bellboy21]

Originally Posted by aekostas

Do your TVs output such signal to the HDD (VCR is irrelevant in this, unless it's S-VHS)?

I am not qualified to say.
TV connected to Funai TB3-N by scart .
I would guess that TV outputs nothing to Funai Recorder.
Funai Recorder recieves input from Aerial and Freesat (By scart)
TV connected to VHS by scart .
TV outputs to VHS Recorder.
VHS Recorder recieves input from Aerial

For anyone interested, I attach a plan which I prepared for the Panasonic Helpdesk.

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by Bellboy21

I am not qualified to say.
TV connected to Funai TB3-N by scart .
I would guess that TV outputs nothing to Funai Recorder.
Funai Recorder recieves input from Aerial and Freesat (By scart)
TV connected to VHS by scart .
TV outputs to VHS Recorder.
VHS Recorder recieves input from Aerial

For anyone interested, I attach a plan which I prepared for the Panasonic Helpdesk.

A diagram makes it so much easier.

If you have a cheap freeview box heres how to connect it to be able to record independently

Take Aerial In out of Funai and put it in Aerial In on new Freeview box. Connect Freeview Aerial (RF) out to the Funai aerial in. (Male to female coax)

If your funai HDD can record using RGB then the connection you are using is severely restricting the quality of the recording as the Foxsat vcr scart only has composite and s video. To get RGB you need to use the foxsat TV scart.
If you however use the scart switching facility to get the Foxsat to automatically start the funai recording you may lose this by using the Foxsat TV scart)

Assuming this capability the audio/video connections of the freeview box would be Foxsat TV scart to Freeview VCR scart. Freeview TV scart to Funai scart (not labelled on your diagram) funai scart to TV AV3 (check av3 on the tv has rgb capability some don't so if only scart 1 is rgb swap AV1 with AV3 (If AV2 is rgb compliant move the freeview box to av2). In any case you need to make sure that your highest quality analogue source (Freeview/Freesat) has a RGB connection.

Assuming the dvd recorder will record from RGB then one word of warning it won't work on BBC HD as the scart RGB SD outputs are disabled by the broadcaster so you will only be able to record composite (which is your current arrangement anyway)

If you dont want the extra freeview box simply move the foxsat connection from the vcr scart to the tv scart (subject to the above restriction) and ensure that the funai is connected to a rgb capable scart on the TV

[Bellboy21]

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

Assuming the dvd recorder will record from RGB then one word of warning it won't work on BBC HD as the scart RGB SD outputs are disabled by the broadcaster so you will only be able to record composite (which is your current arrangement anyway)

Thanks for your thoughtful reply Graham.
For The Record;
TV AV3 has RGB capability.
I tried the Humax to Funai cable in TV scart. No discernable difference in picture quality, but forced Funai permanently into AV channel, (There may be setting to prohibit this,) so changed back.

One thing still puzzles me.
Best quality recording is Humax to Funai on AV channel.
Recording HD is close to the real thing.
Are you saying that this is not allowed, or that if I had real HD recording capability,that this would not be allowed?

Regards David

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by Bellboy21

Thanks for your thoughtful reply Graham.
For The Record;
TV AV3 has RGB capability.
I tried the Humax to Funai cable in TV scart. No discernable difference in picture quality, but forced Funai permanently into AV channel, (There may be setting to prohibit this,) so changed back.

One thing still puzzles me.
Best quality recording is Humax to Funai on AV channel.
Recording HD is close to the real thing.
Are you saying that this is not allowed, or that if I had real HD recording capability,that this would not be allowed?

Regards David

The best quality SD output from Foxsat is RGB. Many but not all DVD recorders can record from RGB and this always gives the best quality. The next best is from S-VHS but this normally only works with S-VHS vcrs. It might be that your funai can record S-VHS (you will have to check the manual). The worst posible video connection is composite (CVBS) so called because it combines the colour TV luminance and chroma signals. Since your DVD recorder is connected to the foxsat vcr scart you can't be using rgb.
If your recorder can be switched into RGB recording mode (check the manual) then you should see a marked improvement in recordings but to get RGB you have to use the foxsat TV scart. The BBC when transmitting HD send a signal to the Foxsat that turns off component (which can be HD), and also SD RGB leaving only composite (Not sure about whar happens to S-VHS on the vcr scart). So if you are recording HD then it's likely that you are using composite or if you are lucky S-VHS

[aekostas]

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

The BBC when transmitting HD send a signal to the Foxsat that turns off component (which can be HD), and also SD RGB leaving only composite

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by aekostas

It's very annoying especially to people with older HD sets that only have High Def component inputs. HD is of course always available over HDMI.

Complaints to the BBC please