[garyf]

Hi, can anybody give me some clues about PVR's and using one with NTL analogue? I bought a Goodmans cheapo from Sainsbury that had a Freeview tuner. On set up it wouldn't recognise the output from my NTL analogue box. Spoke with Goodmans who confirmed it needs an aerial that I do not have, so its gone back to J Sainsbury. So ,is there a PVR on the market that will recognise and record NTL analogue or are they all aimed at freeview / didgital users?

[LV426]

All the regular PVRs you'll find are Freeview boxes and will only record Freeview from an aerial. Whatever you do end up with, you have to recognise that the thing that's receiving your signal is your NTL box; anything you use to record is external to this and isn't receiving anything; it's just copying something being fed to it (eg via a SCART cable).

What this means is that, assuming your NTL box can only receive one programme at a time, you will only be able to use any kind of setup with this limitation; you can record OR watch OR both - just ONE programme from your NTL service at any given time. You have no means to receive two programmes, say, so you can record one and watch another.

With that limitation, then, you need a recorder that will accept a regular analogue AV signal via Video and Audio (or SCART) connections. Currently available gear is pretty much limited to HDD-DVD recorders. Someone is also bound to mention TiVo, which has not been sold here for a number of years, but can be obtained used - and requires a subscription to its proprietary programme guide for it to work fully.

[garyf]

Thanks LV.

I've been doing some research and think I might go with this option: http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/pages/pro...a_pvrusb2.html and plug it into my laptop. I will then get a splitter to send the signal from ntlbox to both laptop and tv. That will enable me to watch one channel while recording another wether it be a cable channel or regular terrestrial 1-5 as I get these via the rf loop on the ntl box. So, I can record 1 terrestrial channel while watching anything else, or record 1 cable channel while watching terrestrial.

[essjay]

You will only be able to watch or record 1-5 as the rst of the cable channels will be encrypted.

[garyf]

Originally Posted by essjay

You will only be able to watch or record 1-5 as the rst of the cable channels will be encrypted.

Surely not if I am splitting the output FROM the cable tuner? That will be the unencrypted version surely? The laptop and hauppauge device are merely replacing my old broken vcr where I was able to do exactly as described above.

[essjay]

sorry got my wires crossed (no pun intended).

Yes you will be able to achieve this depending that NTL broadcast 1-5 seperatly which I know for a fact they do in some area's for MATV purposes

Originally Posted by LV426

What this means is that, assuming your NTL box can only receive one programme at a time, you will only be able to use any kind of setup with this limitation; you can record OR watch OR both - just ONE programme from your NTL service at any given time. You have no means to receive two programmes, say, so you can record one and watch another.
.

NTL have said to me that by the end of the year everybody will be upgraded to digital and a PVR will be availble form them which will allow you to record 2 programmes and watch a third!
However they have been promising my area an upgrade to digital for at least 4 years and we are still waiting

[essjay]

Originally Posted by bigphil

NTL have said to me that by the end of the year everybody will be upgraded to digital and a PVR will be availble form them which will allow you to record 2 programmes and watch a third!
However they have been promising my area an upgrade to digital for at least 4 years and we are still waiting

Ah I see you are in Bolton, one of my projects many moons ago was to complete a cost analysis and physability study to upgrade all the Bolton network.

Not shortly after we were taken over by NTL !!!!!!