videoing TV programmes

[Rillington]

I went away over Easter and wnatedf to record two programmes, one that night the other 48 hours later and both on different channels. I called ntl to ask them how top do it and was told I could not programme the box to change channel and should choose the programme I wanted to watch most. They also told me I couldn't do this with Sky which I know is wrong.

I then rang back and the CS operative transferred me to the faults department becuase they also told me I could not record off ntl. Faults told me to "set reminders." This I did despite it taking 40 minutes because the box kept crashing but was told that I could not set programmes more than 48 hours ahead so that the boix would not change for the overnight programme (mon/Tue) and was told to Set Reminder for the neartes programme to the transmission time I could and the box would remain on that channel and I would get my programme

I then set my video recorder to record AV between the times of the programmes.

So what happened? I sat down on Tuesday night to watch the 4 hours and 25 minutes programmes recorded. I first in-vision wound back and found the second programme had not appeared at all. As for the first programme, the first 40 minutes appeared and the final 20 minutes but blank screen in the middle.

Oh, and also I wanted to tape something off a terrestrial channel. I used my old OnDigital box and my other video recorder. Did the prohgramme appear? You betcha!

Did I do something wrong? How come the box did not work? And why is it impossible to record a programme from cable? Any help appreciated

This is not the first time the cable box did not allow me to record the programmes required and I don;'t fathom why a very old clunky DTT box five years old always gives me the right programme but the so-called future-proof cable box does not allow me to record programmes?

[Rob]

You can sucesfully record from the STB, but you need to ensure all your wiring is set correctly.

Ideally connect your TV, STB and VCR by SCART leads. One SCART goes from the STB to the TV. A second SCART goes from the STB to the VCR. Assuming your TV has two SCART sockets, a third SCART can connect the VCR to the TV.

Alternatively (but potentially a much poorer picture) connect the coaxial aerial from the STB to the VCR to the TV.

You program your VCR to record in the normal manner, timed to start stop etc, but ensuring it is tuned to the STB channel.

The biggest hassle is the STB's ability only to allow a maximum of 3 days programming using the reminder function. This is linked to the useless Electronic Program Guide. However simply set the reminder to the program you want, making sure that your user settings allow the STB to automatically change channels. Leave the STB on, not in standby, and it should switch over.

If you want more than one program, set the STB up with more than one reminder, but make sure the remnders don't overlap.

Note you can not successfully record the Front Row or similar encrypted pay per view type stuff.

If you want a program more than three days away, the only thing you can do is set a STB reminder for the appropriate channel for a program you don't want on the last available day. The STB will switch channels, and will stay on that channel until you manually alter it.

Of course it all falls over if there is a power cut

It is really a pant's system, the most annoying thing I find from ntl. When they brought out the Samsungs you'd think they could at least have allowed VCRs to change the STB channel or something. The 3 day EPG limit is I understand to alow the PACE boxes to cope.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by MovedGoalPosts

Note you can not successfully record the Front Row or similar encrypted pay per view type stuff.

Only selected movies cannot be recorded on Front Row (usually about one or two) - dunno about FilmFlex on VoD though

[Rillington]

Thank you for that MGP. I did exactly what you say in your post but still got nothing in return apart from blank screens apart from those two portions of the first programme.