[fishcakes]

Hello there
I've recently bought a new hd 42" Panasonic tv (TX-P42X10B)with built in freeview. I also have a dvd/hdd recorder and an ordinary sky box used for free to air stuff. I thought I'd be able to record from sky and watch freeview on the tv or vice versa. When I try this all I get is audio recorded and a blank screen. I've swapped scarts about and tv antenna about to no avail. Does anyone know the correct sequence of connections for this if it can be done?
One other thing I'm actually thinking of chucking this lot out (not the telly!) and getting something like a humax foxsat hdr to get a bit of HD use from the TV. If I do, would my ordinary sky sat dish be ok and could I just plug in sat cable to humax to be able to record one freesat channel while watching another (I dont need to record two channels at once while watching another) or would i need new lnb and cable to get HD signal and the record one/watch another function.
Sorry sorry, one more question. Is humax foxsat a good choice, any other recommendations that would suit me?
Cheers folks

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by fishcakes

Hello there
I've recently bought a new hd 42" Panasonic tv (TX-P42X10B)with built in freeview. I also have a dvd/hdd recorder and an ordinary sky box used for free to air stuff. I thought I'd be able to record from sky and watch freeview on the tv or vice versa. When I try this all I get is audio recorded and a blank screen. I've swapped scarts about and tv antenna about to no avail. Does anyone know the correct sequence of connections for this if it can be done?
One other thing I'm actually thinking of chucking this lot out (not the telly!) and getting something like a humax foxsat hdr to get a bit of HD use from the TV. If I do, would my ordinary sky sat dish be ok and could I just plug in sat cable to humax to be able to record one freesat channel while watching another (I dont need to record two channels at once while watching another) or would i need new lnb and cable to get HD signal and the record one/watch another function.
Sorry sorry, one more question. Is humax foxsat a good choice, any other recommendations that would suit me?
Cheers folks

To record from the sky box connect connect the sky box vcr scart to a the dvd recorder vcr scart and select the vcr scart the dvd recorder as the recording source.

Yes you can connect a foxsat-hdr using only 1 cable and connect the second tuner using a short length of coax usin the tuner 1 out connection. Using this method you can still record 2 at once and even watch a 3rd channel but unlike using two connections the choice of 2nd recording/viewing is restricted by what the first tuner is recording. If you can change the lnb to a quad and get the second connection it's well worthwhile, for instance you can't record BBC HD and ITV HD at the same time on one cable. If you intend to use a single cable AFAIK the hdr's the only one with this capability. Wan't to know more read this thread

What can I record and watch ? - Hummy.org.uk Forums

[fishcakes]

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

To record from the sky box connect connect the sky box vcr scart to a the dvd recorder vcr scart and select the vcr scart the dvd recorder as the recording source.

Yes I've tried this and still get only audio and a blank screen. I have 2 scarts on tv 2 on hdr and 2 on sky box and have tried a few combinations????

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

Yes you can connect a foxsat-hdr using only 1 cable and connect the second tuner using a short length of coax usin the tuner 1 out connection.

Sorry for my ignorance but what do you mean by this. Is it just like a tv aerial extension cable from humax to tv?

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

If you can change the lnb to a quad and get the second connection it's well worthwhile.

I've seen these quad lnb on amazon for under £8, do you know if they are fairly straightforward to install by yourself?
By the way, thanks for the help

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by fishcakes

Yes I've tried this and still get only audio and a blank screen. I have 2 scarts on tv 2 on hdr and 2 on sky box and have tried a few combinations????

Sorry for my ignorance but what do you mean by this. Is it just like a tv aerial extension cable from humax to tv?

I've seen these quad lnb on amazon for under £8, do you know if they are fairly straightforward to install by yourself?
By the way, thanks for the help

Try this, connect the Sky box vcr scart to the dvd recorder vcr scart and the dvd recorder tv scart to the TV, make sure the scart cables are fully pushed in. Turn the TV to the dvd recorder scart you should see the dvd recorder. Select the vcr scart on the dvd recorder as the source you should see sky pictures and audio on te TV, if only audio there is a fault somewhere either a fault scart cable or a fault in either the sky box or dvd recorder.

The cable you need is just a short length of sat grade coax with a f connector on each end.

Assuming you have a sky dish swapping the lnb is just a matter of unscrewing the existing f connector removing the securing pin, slotting in the new one and replacing the pin. replace the existing connection and add any new ones. Sometimes the extra wight makes the lnb arm sag slightly more so the dish needs a very tiny nudge up in elevation. See

How to fit F Connectors to coaxial cable

[fishcakes]

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

Try this, connect the Sky box vcr scart to the dvd recorder vcr scart and the dvd recorder tv scart to the TV, make sure the scart cables are fully pushed in. Turn the TV to the dvd recorder scart you should see the dvd recorder. Select the vcr scart on the dvd recorder as the source you should see sky pictures and audio on te TV, if only audio there is a fault somewhere either a fault scart cable or a fault in either the sky box or dvd recorder.

Tried this and swapped scarts about so not a dodgy scart lead, still only blank screen but with audio. Then put scart from sky to tv back in as well and can switch between av on tv remote to view sky or tv freeview but when trying to view through hdd box scart in (record) setting its blank with audio. Think I'll give up with this.

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

The cable you need is just a short length of sat grade coax with a f connector on each end.

Assuming you have a sky dish swapping the lnb is just a matter of unscrewing the existing f connector removing the securing pin, slotting in the new one and replacing the pin. replace the existing connection and add any new ones. Sometimes the extra wight makes the lnb arm sag slightly more so the dish needs a very tiny nudge up in elevation.

Yes it's a sky dish, I'm fairly sure I can cope with that. I take it I also need another cable then to run into the second input on the foxsat

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by fishcakes

Tried this and swapped scarts about so not a dodgy scart lead, still only blank screen but with audio. Then put scart from sky to tv back in as well and can switch between av on tv remote to view sky or tv freeview but when trying to view through hdd box scart in (record) setting its blank with audio. Think I'll give up with this.


Yes it's a sky dish, I'm fairly sure I can cope with that. I take it I also need another cable then to run into the second input on the foxsat

Correct, once you get the hdr the dvd recorder will be pretty redundant anyway. . You can archive to a PC from the hdr using usb and make DVD's in better quality anyway.

[fishcakes]

Ok, my minds pretty well made up then, just one last thing as I'm still not sure. For the time being until i get a new lnb and cable, if i get the foxsat and use the current sky cable plugged into one socket on the foxsat (no other coaxial cables etc), will i be able to record on one channel and watch another?

cheers for your help man

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by fishcakes

Ok, my minds pretty well made up then, just one last thing as I'm still not sure. For the time being until i get a new lnb and cable, if i get the foxsat and use the current sky cable plugged into one socket on the foxsat (no other coaxial cables etc), will i be able to record on one channel and watch another?

cheers for your help man

Yes provided you connect the short tuner loop on the back - tuner 1 out tuner 2 in with a short piece of coax and 2 f connectors.

Download this webpage and open it with your browser

4shared.com - online file sharing and storage - download FoxsatStaticMK2_011.htm

Look at column 4 marked block. You can record any two channels in the same block. What you can also watch depends on which channels you record together. Look at the colours in cols 1-3.

If the colours of the two channels are recording are in the same colour you can watch any other channel in the same block. If they are different then you can watch any channel in the same colour as either recording.

Note

1 The table includes all the ITV 1 regions depending on the post code used in reallity you only get two ITV 1 regions your own at 103 and London ITV 1 at 977. A London postcode only gets the one at 103 and 977.

2 If one of the channels you are recording has regional variations you can change what 3rd channel viewing is available by switching regions.

Don't forget when you upgrade to two cables you need to do a factory reset to tell the hdr you now have 2 cables