[jacwat]

Hi can anyone help (simple language, not too technical please!)

I am trying to tune the freesat channels into my VCR (bush video plus)

I have successfully tuned in the normal 1-5 programmes so I know this part works ok, the channel I use for the VCR is 7.

The TV is quite modern and has two scart sockets. The VCR is housed in a cupboard and I only use it for recording and watching videos etc...I’m just saying this so that you know I don't use it to watch TV as I think some people do. Also we don't watch normal TV programmes through the freesat box as my partner likes to flip to teletext to get the footy results. The freesat box is just for when there's nothing on normal TV (quite often lately!)

I didn't have to switch to AV or whatever that means to tune the normal programmes in, but I notice it is there on the TV remote. Should I do anything with that? If I do, will it alter anything.... like the normal TV viewing?

The connections I have are as follows:

TV= scart to freesat box
cable to VCR

FREESAT BOX= ariel to satellite dish
scart to TV
scart to VCR

VCR= normal house ariel
cable to TV
scart to freesat


Supposing by some miracle these connections are correct- what am I looking for when I try to tune the freesat channels in? Are they all individual programmes such as film four, true movies etc...? Do I use the sky remote when I try to tune in? Should the freesat box be on or off? (Stupid questions I know but I seem to be trying anything at the moment)

I would be most grateful for any help with this, I am so fed up of crawling underneath and behind all the equipment, not really knowing what I'm looking for and ending back at square one!

Many thanks
Jackie

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by jacwat

Hi can anyone help (simple language, not too technical please!)

I am trying to tune the freesat channels into my VCR (bush video plus)

I have successfully tuned in the normal 1-5 programmes so I know this part works ok, the channel I use for the VCR is 7.

The TV is quite modern and has two scart sockets. The VCR is housed in a cupboard and I only use it for recording and watching videos etc...I’m just saying this so that you know I don't use it to watch TV as I think some people do. Also we don't watch normal TV programmes through the freesat box as my partner likes to flip to teletext to get the footy results. The freesat box is just for when there's nothing on normal TV (quite often lately!)

I didn't have to switch to AV or whatever that means to tune the normal programmes in, but I notice it is there on the TV remote. Should I do anything with that? If I do, will it alter anything.... like the normal TV viewing?

The connections I have are as follows:

TV= scart to freesat box
cable to VCR

FREESAT BOX= ariel to satellite dish
scart to TV
scart to VCR

VCR= normal house ariel
cable to TV
scart to freesat


Supposing by some miracle these connections are correct- what am I looking for when I try to tune the freesat channels in? Are they all individual programmes such as film four, true movies etc...? Do I use the sky remote when I try to tune in? Should the freesat box be on or off? (Stupid questions I know but I seem to be trying anything at the moment)

I would be most grateful for any help with this, I am so fed up of crawling underneath and behind all the equipment, not really knowing what I'm looking for and ending back at square one!

Many thanks
Jackie

You don't have to tune anything on the vcr (that's only needed to record from it' own tuners). All you have to do is select the scart that the freesat box is connected to as the recording source on the vcr. How to do this will be in the vcr instructions

[Geofbob]

Just to add to the above, your VCR only has an analogue tuner, so can only record the 5 analogue channels with its own tuner, not the dozens of digital channels you get on your Freesat box. By the way, I suppose you know that analogue is being phased out by 2012, and has already been switched off in some areas of the UK. So, depending where you live, you may wish to get your partner used to the idea of not having analogue-type teletext - some Freesat channels have teletext or something similar.

[jacwat]

Thankyou both for your help, I will have another go tomorrow, it's making more sense to me now you have stated the obvious that I can only record the five analogue channels!
We are in the Bridgnorth (Shropshire) area and I think we are one of the last to change over and I'm glad (or rather he is) to know that there may be a similar channel on freesat..maybe we'll have sky or something by then. Oh that's just made me realise the horror of never ending football on sky sports in which case I will need another telly in another room!!
Thanks again
Jackie

[Sonic67]

Connect the freesat to the SCART on the back of the VHS and then have the VHS record from AV1 or L1 or whatever it thinks of it has. Alternatively connect to the phonos on the front if your VHS has them.

[jacwat]

Ok will try that too.......thankyou very much
Jackie

[Paul Shirley]

Some more stating the bleedin' obvious...

For timer recording you have to set the timers on the Freesat/Freeview box. You may need to also set a matching timer on the VCR unless it supports Ext Link control (on my Panasonic, may be called something else on other brands of VCR).

Check your VCR manual, if you have ext link all you need is to connect to the correct SCART AV input and switch to 'ext link' mode, the VCR will go to standby and the Freesat box wake it for recordings automagically. Did this successfully for several years on my iPlayer/Panasonic VCR combo. For many months it was more reliable than my Humax PVR

[jacwat]

Thank you everybody.......yeh SUCCESS!! It’s a bit of rigmarole with all the remotes. This is what seems to work which is basically what you have all said one way or another;
TV on using TV remote
FREESAT BOX on- find channel using Freesat remote
Press 7 on TV remote (video channel)
Press AV on VCR remote
Press REC/OTR on VCR remote
Select teletext to continue watching stupid football results using TV remote
I can also do the timed thingy and go to bed!!
It all makes sense really, I just couldn’t work out the sequence of actions at the time (and yes I am blond!)
Regards Jackie