dvd/hd recorder cable compatibility

namrejaf · 26-09-2007, 22:38

i have virgin cable tv and it works fine, but i also have a Thomson hard drive recorder which is not compatible with the cable. Thomson says they cant help, so I need to get a hard drive dvd recorder thing that is. any suggestions?

foreverwar · 27-09-2007, 09:42

In what way isn't it compatible - surely you should just connect it with the appropriate leads (HDMI or SCART), and away you go.

What is your exact problem? (it would probably help if you told us the model number of the HD recorder).

namrejaf · 28-09-2007, 15:16

I have a Thomson HD 4000. It only works off the aeriel. It does not work via scart connections. This is what I mean by incompatible. I want to be able to record stuff on my Hard drive recorder on the cable because aerial reception is rubbish where i live. Any suggestions?

bigboab5 · 28-09-2007, 15:26

Hi there,

I know this may sound complicated but it aint really. If you have a Video recorder (VCR), you can connect that to the virgin set top box via scart. then connect the DVD recorder to the VCR via the Aerial lead. You then have to put the onto the appropriate AV input, then tune the DVD recorder to the VCR aerial output. You then put the DVD recorder aerial output into the TV... Well mibae it is complicated..... it will work, basically you are using the VCR as an RF converter. Hope this helps.

foreverwar · 28-09-2007, 16:39

I'm confused - the Thomson DHD4000 has two SCART sockets - why can't you use one of those? Thomson or HomeCinema

**Matt D** · 28-09-2007, 17:51

It's a Freeview PVR - it can only record Freeview.

No recording from external sources...

Why not get a V+ box from Virgin? Then you can use that to record cable...

foreverwar · 28-09-2007, 18:02

Aaaah - thank you, kind sir.

namrejaf · 01-10-2007, 15:52

Thank you for your (very complicated) suggestion, but I got rid of the VCR as it was chewing tapes, and the man from virgin whom I asked to look did not know about this technique either. So am I to understand that there is no way to record on to a HD recorder from a cable set up? Yours in hope Namrejaf

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To Matt. I looked into the Virgin option. It has immense ongoing costs associated with it. Namrejaf

Ben B · 01-10-2007, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by namrejaf

I looked into the Virgin option. It has immense ongoing costs associated with it. Namrejaf

it doesn't have ongoing charges if you are on the xl package unless you decide to keep your old box to put in another room which is £5 extra a month. other than that it is a £150 one off charge. if you don't want one still they have dvd recorders with built in hard discs which are pretty cheap considering what you are getting. the cheapest one is £119.99 with an 80gb hard disc but it is also available in 160gb for £139.99 i think its pretty good because you can record on to the hard drive and then burn it to disc later if you need to. see for yourself http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/st...hTerms=5335811

namrejaf · 02-10-2007, 20:19

What is the xl package?

---------- Post added at 20:19 ---------- Previous post was at 20:17 ----------

Are you saying that these things from Argos will be able to do what I want?

Ben B · 03-10-2007, 17:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by namrejaf

What is the xl package?

---------- Post added at 20:19 ---------- Previous post was at 20:17 ----------

Are you saying that these things from Argos will be able to do what I want?

the xl package is the subscription which has practically all the channel apart from the premium ones (+ setanta) if you can get setanta on channel 538 and are not paying extra for it then you are on xl. yes the things from argos will record to a built in hard disk whilst also enabling you to burn things to dvd from the hard disk but you cant record one channel whilst watching another you have to be on the channel that you are recording