how to record from a digital TV

[pianotuner]

we have a samsung digital TV ( ie no separate digi box) and a toshiba DVD with hard drive. how can we record digital channels when the TV is off?

[Buenchico]

I try not to post negative answers but, unfortunately, I can't avoid it here.

You can't record digital signals unless you've got a tuner decoding them. If your TV is turned off then so is your (only) digital tuner. So, regrettably, you seem to be trying to do the impossible.

I'd love to see someone post to say that I've overlooked something but, unfortunately, I don't expect this to happen. Sorry!

Chris

[Loosehead]

Nope you are spot on Chris!

[CLOWN TICKLE]

Fraid so

[theprof]

I think I may be able to answer your prayers Chris!!

I have two Toshiba RD-XS34SB HDD/DVD recorders in different rooms at home. They have the ability to record on to various types of DVD discs and on to the installed hard disc drives. They also play DVD's! The machines do have tuners installed in them and consequently, it is possible to do timed recordings on them in the same way as a VHS recorder.

When pianotuner talks of "toshiba DVD with hard drive", I think that the odds are he is talking about a Toshiba HDD/DVD video recorder. If this is the case, there is no reason at all why he cannot do a timed recording with the machine whilst the TV is off - he only needs one tuner.

He does not need the tuner in the TV to do these recordings.

Can you get back to us on this one pianotuner and confirm that you are talking about a HDD/DVD video recorder?

If I am correct, you should be able to find out how to do a timed recording by checking the HDD/DVD instruction manual, pianotuner . If I remember correctly, I think the instruction manuals are also available in pdf format on the Toshiba UK website.

[theprof]

I forgot to add that pianotuner would have to make sure that the internal digibox was on the correct channel to be recorded before switching off the TV.

This is obviously no different from doing a VHS recording.

[pianotuner]

thanks for the answers so far. it's a dvd with hard drive only - no video. model RD-XS24SB. i can set it to record the regular channels ( bbc 1,2 itv and c4) but not the freeview ones. not sure if the prof's system is the same. i suspect that chris and others are right and it can't be done - we wanted to reduce the boxes and cables to a minimum hence buying a TV with built in freeview. obviously should have done a little more research! what do you reckon prof?

[theprof]

I�ve looked into this a bit further pianotuner using the information you supplied and the good news is that there is absolutely no reason why you cannot record any digital transmissions on your RD-XS24SB.

First of all, you said that your machine has �no video�. I think you may have misunderstood when I told you that my machines were �HDD/DVD Video Recorders�.

I�ve looked up your owner�s manual by entering your model number in Goggle. The front cover of your owner�s manual is shown as exactly the same as mine apart from the model number. Furthermore, the crucial information under �Some Differences� on Page 5 of your manual is exactly the same as the text in my manuals.

Now Toshiba (and other manufacturers) call these machines �HDD/DVD Video Recorders� which in no way implies that they are related to VHS recorders. In other words, your machine is exactly the same as mine apart from some differences in the front panel, the remote control, some features and I think, the size of the installed Hard Disk Drive (My recorders have 160Gb Hard Drives). The RD-XS24SB is simply an earlier model of the RD-XS34SB and the specifications of your machine on Page 136 of your manual are very similar to mine. Let me assure you that I can do both instant and timed recordings of digital and analogue channels on mine, and there is absolutely no reason why you cannot on yours.

If your SCART leads are connected up correctly, the freeview output from the TV should be available on AV2. You need to check the connections advice given in both the DVD Recorder owner�s manual and the TV Manual . I�m convinced this is a connections problem.

(Continued)

[theprof]

(Continued)

Let me assure you that you CAN record digital and analogue transmissions from a TV with an in-built freeview box even when the TV is off despite the suggestions of earlier posters. I know because I can do it myself.

If you think about this logically, if the freeview receiver was off and not functioning when the TV was off, you would be unable to do any timed recordings on any type of recorder, which seems to be what was being implied by earlier postings. This would mean you would be unable to record a program in the early hours of the morning when you were in bed unless your TV was on. Somehow, I don�t think this would be a great advertisement for your type of TV and I would imagine there would be very limited sales!

I accept that you do need a tuner, but in this case a tuner is present in the DVD Recorder as well as the freeview box. In your case, the freeview signals are simply fed through the internal freeview box into the recorder for recording. The TV does not have to be on for this signal route to be initiated or maintained, as the freeview box does not need to be powered. If you remain in doubt over this, I would suggest you phone a local TV retailer and whilst pretending that you are interested in buying a set such as yours, ask if it is possible to record off the internal digibox to an external DVD Recorder or other recorder whilst the TV is off. They will tell you the same.

Hope this helps. Check your connections and let me know the outcome.

[theprof]

Some further thoughts:

Have you checked where your freeview output is on the TV with the DVD recorder switched on?

Which channel is this?

Has the DVD recorder been set up correctly for all the channels including freeview?

Have a look at the "input select" choices button on the remote control. If the output is on AV2 has AV2 been selected on the remote control - you should be able to see it changing on the front panel of the DVD recorder as you push the button.

[pianotuner]

many thanks for that we'll have a play and let you know. :)