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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Alarms, Phones, Aerials, CCTV & Datacomms >> HDD recorder https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1287790849 Message started by plugwash on Oct 23^rd, 2010, 12:40am

Title: HDD recorder
Post by plugwash on Oct 23^rd, 2010, 12:40am

I'm after a box that can record from RGB scart (for copying from sky+) and allows easy copying of the recordings easilly to a computer (I don't want to have to burn DVDs for everything I want to copy).

Anyone got any suggestions for a good box?

Title: Re: HDD recorder
Post by woodsmith on Oct 23^rd, 2010, 9:25am

I can't help you specifically but I have a Panasonic which has half the TV listings page covered with advertising. Plus once it is recording you can't do anything else, its a bloody nuisance so I would avoid Panasonic HDD.

Title: Re: HDD recorder
Post by londonman on Oct 23^rd, 2010, 1:42pm

Allelujah....someone else who appreciates picture quality! I think your problem may lie in the fact that RGB and SCART seem to be being phased out as new-fangled network stuff comes in. I have a Sony HDD that will take in RGb Scart (also has built-in freeview) but not sure about the network connection. I'll have a check but not optimistic.

avforums.co.uk is a good place to post your question.

EDIT: Here you go ...quick Google... Sharp Freeview HD 320GB Digital TV Recorder.

Title: Re: HDD recorder
Post by CWatters on Oct 24^th, 2010, 9:16pm

Sky Box Office movies are copy protected but I think other stuff can be recorded on a PC with the right kit. See the post by "boosfuk" here. It's a bit dated (2007) but the basics will still apply...

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17795641

Quote:

I've use the s-video output from a basic Sky Digibox for years and have great quality. The SKY+ boxes with s-video output should be the same (I guess you can only record from the single tuner that is showing on the TV).

You have 3 options for connecting to a PC
1. Composite - via a SCART to composite adapter (3 phono)
2. S-video - via s-video output of Sky+ box.
3. S-video - via a RGB SCART to s-video powered converter (£30+) and SCART adapter.

(2) is the best quality and easiest choice.

You have 2 options to received into PC.
1. VIVO or a cheap TV card. Not great quality as all encoding is done via software
2. Hardware encoder PVR card (e.g Hauppauge PVR-150 @£40ish). Great quality, accepts s-video input and uses virtually no CPU.

(2) is best choice though costs.

This is for live TV, I assume it is clear that recorded programs cannot be copied directly from the drive but can be played via the COPY option and recorded on the PC using the above (I've not tested that the s-video works for this as only used to copy to VCR via SCART).

Most good PVR software supports the above setup and also provide functions to automatically change channel etc. (with right hardware) to allow full unattended recording. I use GB-PVR - great software, but then do you want to turn your PC into a HTPC PVR or just copy Sky recordings across?

Hope this is of some use and I've not missed your point entirely!