PVR & Sky?

[bobbymax]

Sorry if this is a dumb question.

Can a my own PVR be used in junction with the Sky standard box?

Cheers

Bob.

[simon1]

Originally Posted by bobbymax

Sorry if this is a dumb question.

Can a my own PVR be used in junction with the Sky standard box?

Cheers

Bob.

Depends on the model. If it's a Freeview Pvr, chances are no.

[rajivkotecha]

Well yes the PVR will work with Sky not in true PVR fashion. It will work just like a VCR would, as in you have the digibox on the correct channel and use timers on the PVR.

[davemurgatroyd2]

Unless the PVR has an analogue input (scart or s-video) OR an analogue terrestrial TV tuner it will NOT record from Sky.

In general most DVD/HDD recorders will record but virtually all Freeview PVRs will not.

Make and model of PVR would actually help to answer this question otherwise everyone is just guessing.

[bobbymax]

Make and model of PVR would actually help to answer this question otherwise everyone is just guessing.

Thanks for the replys guys.

The PVR I'm talking about is the Topfield TF5800PVR.
I'm being a bit of a tight a**e , want to avoid paying the extra £10 mth for their set (Sky +).

[cerebros]

Originally Posted by bobbymax

The PVR I'm talking about is the Topfield TF5800PVR.
I'm being a bit of a tight a**e , want to avoid paying the extra £10 mth for their set (Sky +).

From July you no longer have to pay £10 a month if you don't have the necessary number of premium channels, so I'd say get yourself a Sky+ (naturally I'm assuming you do subscribe/plan to subscribe to some of the Sky mixes as I think if you don't subscribe to anything and just get the free to air stuff you still have to pay Sky the £10 a month)

[bobbymax]

Originally Posted by cerebros

From July you no longer have to pay £10 a month if you don't have the necessary number of premium channels, so I'd say get yourself a Sky+ (naturally I'm assuming you do subscribe/plan to subscribe to some of the Sky mixes as I think if you don't subscribe to anything and just get the free to air stuff you still have to pay Sky the £10 a month)

Thanks for reply, will wait and see what the next offers are.

[LV426]

Topfield TF5800 is a Freeview PVR and that's all you can use it for. It needs feeding with a proper UHF aerial suitable for reception conditions wherever you are.

[bobbymax]

Originally Posted by LV426

Topfield TF5800 is a Freeview PVR and that's all you can use it for. It needs feeding with a proper UHF aerial suitable for reception conditions wherever you are.

Ok, thanks.

So, does that mean I will be able to just record the Freeview channels with the Toppy/standard Sky box, or can't I use the Toppy at all? (Sorry, still getting my head around it all).

[LV426]

If you have a TF5800 and a suitable aerial then you can use the TF5800 to record Freeview only. If you have no, or an inadequate aerial, then the TF5800 is useless. If you have no, or a poor Freeview signal where you are, it is useless.

The Sky box plays no part in this. It is not used to provide signal for recordings. You can, of course, use a Sky box to watch satellite TV live, while the TF5800 is recording Freeview from your aerial.

[bobbymax]

Originally Posted by LV426

If you have a TF5800 and a suitable aerial then you can use the TF5800 to record Freeview only. If you have no, or an inadequate aerial, then the TF5800 is useless. If you have no, or a poor Freeview signal where you are, it is useless.

The Sky box plays no part in this. It is not used to provide signal for recordings. You can, of course, use a Sky box to watch satellite TV live, while the TF5800 is recording Freeview from your aerial.

Thanks again, learning all the time.

[foneman]

well the Topfield TF5800 does have 2 scarts(TV & VCR), have you tried recording a signal on it using the VCR one?? (using an old VCR, game or camera)

If this works, you can of course do the same with the output of a sky box, as long as it is not 'protected' ie a premium channel...

[simon1]

Originally Posted by foneman

well the Topfield TF5800 does have 2 scarts(TV & VCR), have you tried recording a signal on it using the VCR one?? (using an old VCR, game or camera)

If this works, you can of course do the same with the output of a sky box, as long as it is not 'protected' ie a premium channel...

NO NO NO NO NO

Several posters have already confirmed you can not record from any external sources. Full stop.

The Topfield (like many other freeview pvrs) does not contain the necessary encoders to covert any other inputs for recording onto the HDD.

[foneman]

relaaaaax, man....

a simple 'I have tried, does not work' would be ok.. instead of blindly believing..

and no, too many are saying 'it cant decode sky' and not 'the scart input does not record' .. no mention of scarts at all, actually...

[LV426]

OK For the absolute avoidance of any doubt......

No current Freeview PVR can record from external sources. And no models have been announced that will do so. And they cannot be modified to do so.

These machines do not contain any electronics to encode an external signal into the MPEG2 format used on their Hard Disc. They can only receive and record from a digital terrestrial broadcast.

Those that do have a second SCART (or other) socket as an input, have it for loopthrough purposes only; they will pass the signal through from one socket to the other when they are turned off.

Only DVD recorders (with or without Hard Disc) can record from external sources.