I'm sure I can't be the only person who's asked this before, but I can't 
find a group FAQ so...

My VCR has finally died. I've got an analog sat dish that I use to get 
Eurosport plus a analog TV. It's time to go digital.

I don't want to pay Murdoch and I must have Eurosport. So the option 
seems to be keep the old analog dish, plus get Freeview. In an ideal 
world I would replace the VCR with a twin-freeview tuner with recording 
facilities. However I can't one that will record both Freeview plus from 
a external video source.

Does anyone make a single box that will act as a Freeview tuner, digital 
and analog recorder? I hate clutter and want one box that'll do it all, 
but so far this seems futile?

Bonge Boo wrote:
> Does anyone make a single box that will act as a Freeview tuner, digital 
> and analog recorder? I hate clutter and want one box that'll do it all, 
> but so far this seems futile?
futile seems to sum it up (without spending mega-bucks)

"Bonge Boo"  wrote in message 
news:T_udnSVUuoR-tu_anZ2dnUVZ8uydnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
> I'm sure I can't be the only person who's asked this before, but I can't 
> find a group FAQ so...
>
> My VCR has finally died. I've got an analog sat dish that I use to get 
> Eurosport plus a analog TV. It's time to go digital.
>
> I don't want to pay Murdoch and I must have Eurosport. So the option seems 
> to be keep the old analog dish, plus get Freeview. In an ideal world I 
> would replace the VCR with a twin-freeview tuner with recording 
> facilities. However I can't one that will record both Freeview plus from a 
> external video source.
>
> Does anyone make a single box that will act as a Freeview tuner, digital 
> and analog recorder? I hate clutter and want one box that'll do it all, 
> but so far this seems futile?


it is futile.
freeview recorders capture the bitstream intact as broadcast - so there's no 
need for extra hardware to digitise external sources.
what you need is a dvd recorder - but they will only have a single tuner 
rather than the 2 you will find in a digital terrestrial recorder.
i'm sure someone will say you can get an old tivo too - which is true - but 
they have no freeview decoders at all - you'd need a seperate one plumbed 
in.




-- 
Gareth.

That fly... is your magic wand.
http://www.last.fm/user/dsbmusic/

In article ,
Bonge Boo   wrote:

>Does anyone make a single box that will act as a Freeview tuner, digital 
>and analog recorder? I hate clutter and want one box that'll do it all, 
>but so far this seems futile?

The Panasonic hard-disk DVD recorders (such as DMR-EX75, probably
superseded) do this, but it doesn't have two digital tuners, and it
won't let you watch anything while recording except another recording,
though it *could* presumably let you watch digital TV while recording
analogue TV or vice versa.

-- Richard
-- 
:wq

On Jan 3, 3:56 pm, rich...@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) wrote:
> In article ,
> Bonge Boo   wrote:
>
> >Does anyone make a single box that will act as a Freeview tuner, digital
> >and analog recorder? I hate clutter and want one box that'll do it all,
> >but so far this seems futile?
>
> The Panasonic hard-disk DVD recorders (such as DMR-EX75, probably
> superseded) do this, but it doesn't have two digital tuners, and it
> won't let you watch anything while recording except another recording,
> though it *could* presumably let you watch digital TV while recording
> analogue TV or vice versa.
>
> -- Richard
> --
> :wq

The nearest I can think of to the OP's requriement is the Sony RDR-
HXD970, which has analogue inputs, but again, only a single Freeview
tuner alongside its analogue tuner.

I know that this is probably not what you really want, but:

My Humax LP32TDR1 32" TV with built-in hard drive has two digital
tuners, an analogue tuner and the ability to record from Scart to the
HDD. (It wont record two things at once, though) but it will record
from my international satellite receiver or from an external Sky box,
VCR or anything else and obviously from the digital tuner. You can
watch another source at the same time.

Beware, though, some of this model seem to record from the scart
sockets and some dont, it seems, depending on the software.

In article ,
   Ian  wrote:
> Bonge Boo wrote:
> > Does anyone make a single box that will act as a Freeview tuner, digital 
> > and analog recorder? I hate clutter and want one box that'll do it all, 
> > but so far this seems futile?
> futile seems to sum it up (without spending mega-bucks)

Possibly the Samsung SH853M HDD-DVDR 160GB with HDMI (up 
to 1080i), AV1/AV2 SCARTS, CVBS and Progessive Scan et al 
might be useful for your purpose.

It benefits from both onboard Freeview (DTT) with EPG as 
well as a second analogue tuner, (latter without EPG?)!

It can record, or archive, to a multiformat of DVDRs 
including '-R/RW' and '+R/RW', DVD-RAM and dual-layer 
'-R/RW' as well as piccie and audio sources, including 
MP3.  It can playback a small variety of other sources.

It supports high-speed archiving, seemingly batching 
at around a 3x speed increase over real-time whilst 
downloading HDD recordings at a four hour LP quality.
(Philips 1-16x '-R').

DVD recorded quality from the HDD seems very acceptable, 
output stream to DVDR is sharp and clear at XP 1 hour 
and SP 2hrs, being also acceptable at an LP 4hrs although 
visually begins to drop off significantly at an archiving 
EP 6hrs/8hrs.

There are the usual HDD editing facilities, including 
direct (and noiseless) partial deleting of the main 
record stream - useful for permanently getting rid of 
distracting elements such as adverts.  

It also has the benefit of using 'Playlists', which will 
enable the User to re-construct a source including a 
differing order of 'scenes' et al, whilst still leaving 
the original, (partially deleted or otherwise), recording 
intact.  

Operation of either the HDD or the DVD is, depending 
on the age of the listening 'ears'. virtually noiseless!
The fan is neither intrusive nor even noticeable when 
operating.

Alongside HDMI it also sports the usual twin scarts, 
(with SCART AV-1 unusually seeming to be the main RGB 
scart which works well enough in both directions!) as 
well as  S-VHS, CVBS and Progressive output.  It has 
the usual small variety of audio links.

Don't know whether or not this should be revealed 
publically, but a quick net-search will reveal that, 
together with it's regular onboard NTSC, it is also 
immediately capable of a multi-region playback for 
all those personally imported discs.

One thing that it does not do is to record the title of 
a DTT proggie onto it's HDD-DVD devices - preferring to 
utilise a number, time and date identifier similar to 
the old style VHS recorders.  However, there is a simple 
titling facility should that be wanted - any re-titling 
then carrying over in any transfer from/to HDD-DVD.

Hand-controller is a little 'fiddly' with rather small 
soft 'buttons' - although nonetheless is very comprehensive 
with many facilities.  May be marginally slow in response 
..although that might just be an individual one-off.

Presently selling at John Lewis for around 229.00gbp, or 
less depending on sale items...

For what it is it seems to be fairly glitch free and 
capable of riding ham-fisted prodding.  The EPG compared 
to the latest round of Freeview Playback PVRs slower and 
visually 'compressed' but nevertheless is effective and 
the analogue tuner may be programmed, of course, by 
manually transfering visually from the DTT's EPG.

Basic overview ..not bad (!) and perhaps better than 
most in the same price bracket or slightly higher.    

Presently selling at John Lewis for around 229.00gbp, or 
less depending on sale.  I think may be had from upwards 
of around 170.00gbp at some of the usual competitive net 
sources normally available.

hh :))

Bill ZFC
e&oe...!!

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