DVD recorders - can you advise please?

[Speicher]

something to bear in mind Speicher is if you use a single channel freeview or basic Sky you cannot record one thing and watch something different.

If you are recording anything you have to either watch the same thing all the time its recording or switch the Tv off

If you have sky+ you can record 2x channels simultaneously or watch Sky sports whilst recording ITV2 for instance
You can record one channel whilst pausing another channel you are watching (timeshift)

My Tv, video recorder and basic Sky is set up so that I can watch Sky for instance and record from terrestial TV or vice versa. I hasten to add that I did not set this up myself, but found a very helpful (yes, there are lots of helpful people in Worcestershrie, must be something in the air) who set it up properly for me, in return for a very modest fee, and showed me how to record etc, slowly explaining things, while I wrote it all down.

I am assuming the same will be true if I get a new recorder, but I could ring him and ask first. He makes a living apparently out of sorting out peoples problems like this, I wonder why. Noodles like me.

 

[marinyork]

Speicher, what we're getting at is there is there is a difference between a terrestrial loop through set up like you (and many other people) have at the moment and something that has 2 digital tuners. You can record both sky sports 1 and sky sports 2 at the same time. There is also the point that this set up will no longer work after 2012.

 

[Speicher]

Speicher, what we're getting at is there is there is a difference between a terrestrial loop through set up like you (and many other people) have at the moment and something that has 2 digital tuners. You can record both sky sports 1 and sky sports 2 at the same time. There is also the point that this set up will no longer work after 2012.

I see what you mean now, thinking ahead, always a good idea. So even with Sky you say that from 2012 I will need a freeview box as well, if I want to watch Terrestial tv and record from Sky or vice versa at the same time?

 

[marinyork]

You will need a freeview box, hence talk of PVRs as most of these recorders have one built in anyway. Precisely what set up you need will vary. Can I just ask whether you have a scart socket on your tv? Sky will be absolutely fine.

 

[Speicher]

A scart socket on my TV? Just when I thought I was beginning to understand all this, you go and ask a technical question.

In daylight tomorrow I will have a look, you do mean a scart socket not currently in use, or one that links to another part of the set up behind the TV/recorder/sky box etc?

 

[Cranky]

She also suggested I would be best using RAM disks, but cannot remember the reason for this. I know that RAM is random access memory, but how is that different from CDR or CDRW?

DVD RAM discs enable you to watch a recorded programme while recording another on the same disc, or watching the same programme you're recording but from the beginning (time lapse). This is similar to the functions of a PVR. I don't think you can do this with DVDR or DVDRW discs.

 

[peanut]

DVD RAM discs enable you to watch a recorded programme while recording another on the same disc, or watching the same programme you're recording but from the beginning (time lapse). This is similar to the functions of a PVR. I don't think you can do this with DVDR or DVDRW discs.

yes the RAM type disks act as a hard drive unlike other DVD disks but you need the right equipment to record on these disks .
I think maybe we are recommending a Rolls Royce solution for driving the kids to school if you'll excuse the odd metaphor.
Speicher re the watching TV whilst recording sky yes you can but that is very limiting because whilst you are recording sky you are unable to watch anything else on sky other than the program you are recording. If you have already seen the program you are recording then you are stuck with watching something on the tv programs .Visa versa obviously
With a dual channel solution you can watch and record 2x different sky programs simultaneously. It gives you more flexability.
Phew