Recording Digital TV

 

Looking to record digital TV? Chances are you either have a VHS video recorder, a DVD recorder, or a hard-disk recorder (known as a PVR).

 

PVRs: PVR's record onto a built-in hard disk, and most are digital-ready. Satellite viewers can use the Sky+ box , and Cable viewers can use the Virgin V+ box. Otherwise, there are PVRs with built-in Freeview receivers.

 

Video recorders: Most VHS video recorders don't have Freeview, so will only be able to record after the switchover if they're connected to a digital set-top box (Freeview, Sky, Cable, BT Vision) via a SCART lead.

 

DVD recorders: These will have either an analogue or a digital tuner built-in. Ones with a digital receiver can record Freeview when connected to a TV aerial (provided you're in a Freeview coverage area). Regardless of whether your recorder has anaologue or digital built-in, it will still be able to record from a connected digital set-top box (e.g. Freeview, Sky, Cable or BT Vision) via a SCART lead.

 

Connecting to a set-top box.

 

To record digital TV onto a video or DVD recorder, you can connect a Freeview, Sky, BT Vision or Cable digibox to your recorder, then record TV via the recorder's SCART. This can limit you to only being able to record whatever you're watching – not record one digital channel while recording another.

 

One other problem is that for timed recording, you have to make sure the set-top box is tuned to the right channel, so that when the recorder starts recording, it gets the right show. One option is to get a separate set-top box to connect to your recorder – so you can record a different channel to the one you're watching.

 

A better option is to consider getting a DVD recorder with a built-in Freeview receiver at some point before the analogue gets switched off, or to look at a hard-disk recorder that allows you to record one channel while watching another.

 

Hard-disk recorders (PVRs) are great, and with video tape now being phased out – they offer a great way of recording and watching telly.

 

For more on PVRs, see the FrequencyCast PVR page , or listen to Show 6 of FrequencyCast, the online radio show, for a audio rundown of what to look for.

 

For help on choosing a DVD Recorder suitable for the Digital Switch, see the FrequencyCast DVD Recorder page.

 

 

 

Recording from a Digital TV set

Most TV sets with a built-in Freeview tuner support sending the TV's Freeview output via SCART socket to a connected DVD or VHS recorder. You should check your digital TV's manual to see how to get the Freeview output connected to a recorder. There is a limitation though - you'll only be able to record whatever TV channel the TV is set to. To record one channel to VHS/DVD while watching another, you may want to consider getting a set-top box for connection to your recorder.

 

In the event that your TV doesn't support outputting Freeview to a SCART socket, the other option is to get a Freeview box just for use with your recorder.

 

 

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