[monkeyboy69]

Hi
sorry if this sounds like a really basic question but ive never owned a PVR but can the humax 9300 and the like record the feed from virgin or do they only record the freesat channels. Apart from applying for somethig like virgin + I just wanted an easy solution for recording programmes

thanks

[JayCee]

No, a PVR cannot record from an external input from a cable or any other set-top box.

[Gavtech]

Originally Posted by monkeyboy69

Apart from applying for somethig like virgin + I just wanted an easy solution for recording programmes

Other than virgin+ your other option is a DVDR.

[avkidmaster]

Originally Posted by JayCee

No, a PVR cannot record from an external input from a cable or any other set-top box.

Hey, I think you can but not sure just check out at the local computer store. By that i mean an actual computer store not a appliance store with a computer section

I will the info and keep you posted.

bye, Avkidmaster

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by avkidmaster

Hey, I think you can but not sure just check out at the local computer store. By that i mean an actual computer store not a appliance store with a computer section

I will the info and keep you posted.

bye, Avkidmaster

A true pvr can't record from an external analogue (or any other source). To record video and audio onto a hdd it has to be in a digital and compressed format. To get this from an analogue source you first need to digitise the analogue video and audio using an analogue to digital converter (adc) and then compress it into mpeg2 using a real time mpeg2 encoder. Pvr's dont need either of these as the programme stream is already mpeg2 digital, all they need to do is store this data on the internal hdd, as a result it can only record from it's internal digital tuners. A DVD recorder does have these so can record an external source but these have ony one digital tuner so can only record one thing at once. Because the pvr copies the broadcast data digitally, replaying the recording is exactly the same as watching the original transmission. A DVD recorder degrades the signal due to the multiple conversions and the performance of a real time mpeg encoder.

There is one hybrid device called a tivo which can record externally

[Gavtech]

Originally Posted by avkidmaster

Hey, I think you can but not sure just check out at the local computer store. By that i mean an actual computer store not a appliance store with a computer section

I will the info and keep you posted.

bye, Avkidmaster

JayCee is absolutely correct.

By definition of the product type, if it was a PC based recording system it would not be a so called PVR.

Virtually anything and everything can be done on a PC ... just never as well or conveniently as on a piece of dedicated hardware.

[Geofbob]

Originally Posted by monkeyboy69

Hi
sorry if this sounds like a really basic question but ive never owned a PVR but can the humax 9300 and the like record the feed from virgin or do they only record the freesat channels. Apart from applying for somethig like virgin + I just wanted an easy solution for recording programmes

thanks

At present the only Freesat PVR is the Humax Foxsat recorder; all other PVRs including the Humax 9300T are Freeview. (In case you're not aware, Freesat receives its signal via a satellite dish; Freeview via a terrestrial aerial.)