np1664 said:
I have a similar issue with wanting a PVR/HDD for connection to a Sky digibox. However I read that some recorders (HDD/DVDR) come with Guide+ which is a an EPG which is availble if you have access to Analogue ITV 3. You also get a cable or IR connection to the set top box (Sky or Ntl for eg) which then ties in with the digibox.
Would this then allow such recorders to give all the functions; pause, chase TV, advanced EPG recording etc whilst using a Sky box?
I have a Philips HDRW720 on a Sky box and it works very well. Pausing live TV and chase play work fine, the buffer is adjustable up to 6 hours and doesn't empty when you change channel, unlike Sky+. You can also retrospectively record things in the buffer that you have already watched, or begun watching. The EPG works very well, but only covers the major channels on Sky/FreeSat - you can remove channels from the EPG which you don't subscribe to.
You don't need access to terrestrial ITV3 to download the EPG, it can dowload it from Eurosport on satellite too - even if you don't subscribe to Sky, because it takes the data from the teletext stream which you have access to without subscribing. I've tried it, I download the EPG from Eurosport and it works fine without the card in.
There are two main drawbacks with this system. No 'series link' facility, but you can schedule daily/weekly from the EPG. Additionally, you are obviously only using one tuner, i.e. your digibox, so you can't record one channel and watch another, unless it's on terrestrial. I get round this by using this setup in tandem with a freeview PVR. You can, however, record one program and watch something from the HDD.
I probably wouldn't recommend a Philips as they seem to have a poor reputation for reliability, though I must say mine has been 100% reliable. There are quite a few other manufacturers offering Guideplus equipped machines now.
The other great thing is that if you want to keep something, you can dump it straight onto a disc!
Hope this helps!