Why ext2 for pvr output??

abergele · 09-03-2009, 2:51 PM

Can anyone say why I have to tune to EXT2 to receive pvr output when on video recorder it was on button 5 (on remote) and thus a lot easier to tune in.
Thanks.

**LV426** · 09-03-2009, 3:13 PM

Since you have kept the exact nature of your equipment a secret, this can at best be a general response.

VCRs came along when TVs didn't have any kind of input except for the aerial socket. So they were fitted with an "RF modulator", which takes the signal coming off the tape and converts it back into an "aerial" type of signal (this is known as RF). The TV tuner then "receives" this RF signal exactly as it does with regular broadcasts. Hence, you use a "channel number" just as for any other broadcast.

But, using this method degrades the picture quality. VHS is so poor, really, that it doesn't matter and, in any case, at the time, most TVs gave you no option.

Nowadays, TVs come with separate "AV" inputs (of various types - video, SVideo, RGB, Component, SCART, and more recently, HDMI). All of these offer potentially far better quality than the old tuner method above. So much so, that modern devices (such as DVD players, PVRs, etc) are no longer equipped with an "RF modulator". Therefore, you can no longer use the TV's tuner (and hence a "channel number") to receive their output. You have to use an AV input of some type; these are often labelled as "EXT" (to signify external to the set).

If using SCART, then most equipment will auto-switch; when you turn (in your case) the PVR on, it calls the TV's attention to itself by means of one of the many pins in a SCART cable. If not, then you have to manually choose whichever "EXT" your device is connected to.

And some TVs allow you to assign an AV (or EXT) input to a channel number. This feature is fairly rare, though.

abergele · 09-03-2009, 3:42 PM

Thanks Nigel. The VCR went last week so went out and bought the Humax foxsat HDR.
It was convenient when wanting to switch from Free Sky digibox channels to terrestrial channels to just press button 5 on the remote.
Now, if I'm watching terrestrial and want to switch to Humax Pvr, I have to keep pressing remote buttons until I get to EXT2. Just wondered if it was avoidable.
Thanks.

Geofbob · 09-03-2009, 6:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abergele

Thanks Nigel. The VCR went last week so went out and bought the Humax foxsat HDR.
It was convenient when wanting to switch from Free Sky digibox channels to terrestrial channels to just press button 5 on the remote.
Now, if I'm watching terrestrial and want to switch to Humax Pvr, I have to keep pressing remote buttons until I get to EXT2. Just wondered if it was avoidable.
Thanks.

A little off-topic, but I wonder why you want to bother with terrestrial at all, especially if you mean the 5 analogue channels. Is there much there that isn't on Freesat?