Tv Drive

IRONICA · 25-01-2007, 00:29

I had TV drive installed a few weeks ago, as an NTL customer here in Bedfordshire. I was going to switch to sky until i found that NTL had a similar HD box available. However, i have got a problem with my TVDRIVE that i have yet to get resolved. I have it attached to my TV via HDML lead, no problems there. I have a Panasonic DVD recorder and have used a scart connection through AV2. I can only obtain sound through the TV DRIVE, no picture. When i try to copy programmes from TVDRIVE hard disc to my DVD recorder nothing happens. The red bar that states how long is left to record on the TVDRIVE screen does not count down. Despite leaving a 2hour programme "recording" for 3 hours, the screen does not alter. All i get is a blank screen on my DVD too. I called NTL who sent an engineer out and all he could do was scratch his head and make a few phone calls. Apparently it is a known fault but so far they dont know what the fix is. Has anyone else expereinced any problems with TVDRIVE? Would be interested to know if the red bar is supposed to "count down" during recording.

IRONICA

Jacquesb · 25-01-2007, 10:26

Hello Ironica

Like the name.

My red countdown box is doing fine, but I also had some probs with sound/picture at first but when I disconnected the SCART from the TVD to the TV and left just the HDMI in place it was fine. I also have a DVD recorder attached and have successfully copied off a couple of films for my better half. This failed at first but once I checked the scart cable from the TVD to the DVD and ensured the DVD recorder was picking up from the right input, it was OK, although my wife was a little disconcerted when the "film" started with a golf commentary without any picture - before I pressed all the buttons, I suppose.

I am delighted with the TV Drive - it is excellent so far and I particularly enjoy fast forwarding through the )%^&& adverts !

Good lick
JB

rdhw · 25-01-2007, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRONICA

I have a Panasonic DVD recorder and have used a scart connection through AV2. I can only obtain sound through the TV DRIVE, no picture.

Correct. When you connect to the TV using HDMI, the video outputs on the SCART sockets are disabled. The only exception to this is when you use the special "Copy to DVD/VHS" function on the TVDrive menus, when the lower SCART socket only on the rear of the TVDrive will carry a composite video signal (no RGB). So, make sure:

1. you have connected the SCART input of your DVD recorder to the lower SCART output of the TVDrive;

2. you have configured your DVD recorder to use the Composite video signal on the SCART input, not RGB.

mrm1 · 25-01-2007, 13:21

The scart socket to your recorder is only enabled for audio until you actually start the program playing from the Copy to VCR/DVD function. I was caught out by this at first, but as soon as I started the program playing, both an audio and video signal was present.

IRONICA · 26-01-2007, 02:03

thanks for all the tips, ill be looking at it later today. With my current set up, should i be able to get a picture and sound through my Panasonic DVD/Video combi? No matter how i try i cannot watch live TV through the player. My other problem remains with TVDRIVE, once i have the programmes set up to record it doesnt seem to want to play - but i will be checking to see if the countdown on the box is working, something i had not considered.

Once again, thanks very much for your advice

IRONICA

rdhw · 26-01-2007, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRONICA

With my current set up, should i be able to get a picture and sound through my Panasonic DVD/Video combi? No matter how i try i cannot watch live TV through the player.

As I said before, this is not possible. If you have the TVDrive configured to output via HDMI, then you cannot watch live TV through the DVD/Video. The DVD/Video will only receive a video signal if: (a) you use the special "Copy to DVD/VHS" option on the TVDrive menus; (b) you have the DVD/VHS connected via the lower SCART output of the TVDrive; (c) you have your DVD/VHS unit configured to record from the Composite video signal on the SCART, not RGB.

IRONICA · 27-01-2007, 02:00

well i have finally got the bottom of the problem i thought i had. Your advice on here ahs been tremendous and has helped me work through what i needed to do. The programme i wanted to copy to disc was "24", as i want to keep the entire series and watch the episodes close together. We have in the past got through an entire series in 2 days. So i deliberatly didnt want to watch the first episode. Little did i know the reason it didnt copy was it was corrupt! After checking all my settings were correct i finally decided to try another programme, and bingo! it worked. I relented and thought id have to watch "24", only to see this message come up telling me there was something wrong with the recording. Im gutted it wont play but relieved to have this problem sorted. What amazes me is that the NTL engineer who came out didnt know half what you good people on here have told me.

So, has anyone else had problems with corrupt recordings? I noticed i had another yesterday, The Bill from Thursday night. I have rebooted my TVD a number of times and it hasnt helped.

many thanks all

IRONICA

**Stephen** · 27-01-2007, 06:53

I used to get failed recordings quite often but that was when I was trialing the box back in October. The last few updates have sorted that problem out for me. The first firmware used to cause the box to randomly reboot! Now that was annoying.

erikbloodaxe · 27-01-2007, 19:11

Hi all,
Does NTL supply a user manual with the TV Drive ( now called V+ HD ).

Ta

Vic

EssDee · 27-01-2007, 20:40

Hi Vic

A manual is supplied. You can find it (albeit Telewest branded) here

http://www.telewest.co.uk/pdfs/tv_drive_userguide.pdf

Cheers

oscar1 · 07-02-2007, 20:10

a question for Rdhw,

Quote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by IRONICA
I have a Panasonic DVD recorder and have used a scart connection through AV2. I can only obtain sound through the TV DRIVE, no picture.

Correct. When you connect to the TV using HDMI, the video outputs on the SCART sockets are disabled. The only exception to this is when you use the special "Copy to DVD/VHS" function on the TVDrive menus, when the lower SCART socket only on the rear of the TVDrive will carry a composite video signal (no RGB). So, make sure:

1. you have connected the SCART input of your DVD recorder to the lower SCART output of the TVDrive;

2. you have configured your DVD recorder to use the Composite video signal on the SCART input, not RGB.

my Panasonic dmr-ez25eb has these options for AV2 input
RGB/Video
RGB
Video
S.Video

Which one do I choose for copying from my tvdrive? They do not mention composite.

thanks

**Stephen** · 07-02-2007, 20:24

I would suggest the video option.

oscar1 · 07-02-2007, 22:01

thanks darthYoda I will try that.