I sometimes get some friends to record a BBC Wales programme on their Sky PVR, I then copy it across my Panasonic PVR using a SCART lead and can then save to a DVD.

I wanted to do the same with something recorded on the BT YouView box but I get a copy-protected message. I thought SCART was free of that. I have tried on a couple of Panasonic PVRs and both the same. I had hoped to try with a Triax PVR but can't find a way to record from the SCART even though I was sure I have done so in the past but must be mistaken.

The problem seems to be the SCART inputs to my Panasonic PVRs being copy-protected but I know I have recorded using them previously!

Google "macrovision"

That might give you some clues

It must be added to the output from the BT YouView box, strange that Sky do not use it on their PVRs.

I can't see any way around it unfortunately.

I can record successfully from BT Vision to Panasonic DVD Recorder. Setup is:

SCART lead output from Humax DTR-T2100 to AV2 SCART input on Panasonic DMR-EZ47V. Panasonic AV2 input set to RGB.

What are your equipment model numbers, and how are they connected?
What are your "SCART inputs to my Panasonic PVRs"? PVRs do not usually allow recording in from SCART inputs, only from the aerial or satellite signal.

I have a Panasonic DMR-EX773EBK and a Panasonic DMR-BWT800EB.

I have recorded from a Sky box to the Panasonic DMR-EX773EBK many times using the SCART connection, can't remember which one.

When I first got the Panasonic DMR-EX773EBK I transferred some old VHS tapes to it, again using the SCART.

I was sure I had recorded off the SCART on the T2-HD 217 PVR but can't even see how to select different inputs so think I must be mistaken.

When I tried the other day I tried bothe SCART inputs on the Panasonic DMR-EX773EBK. I will have another try tomorrow or later in the week as might be out tomorrow. It's easier during the day because things tend to be in use in the evening.

I've also got a TRIAX T2-HD 217. Lots of good options in the menus like padding the start and end of programs. Like most PVR's it cannot record in from SCART. The TV SCART output is composite video or RGB. The VCR SCART output is composite video. In addition, composite video or RGB fed into the VCR SCART can be passed through to the TV SCART output. Signals fed through this way cannot be recorded onto the TRIAX.

It was my first PVR when we had digital changeover and I just thought I had copied some VHS tapes to it but must be mistaken.

I am on my third Triax, had to be replaced twice. I still don't trust it as it will forget to record programmes or hang-up so just use as a spare for recording things that are not important.

Everything on YouView appears to be copy protected.

I had assumed, wrongly, that it would only be HD content that was copy protected, but no, everything is.

The lack of the ability to archive anything to DVD is a major limitation to the YouView service, as is the inability to edit recordings - I must have hours of ads recorded that I do not want to see again!

Well you could argue that YouView are merely preventing you breaking the law. Legally the only use for the hard drive in a YouView box (or any other PVR for that matter) is to timeshift programmes. Technically once you've watched them once that is it. You should never watch them again nor copy them to some other medium to keep in a library of recordings.

Not that such legal niceties prevent shed loads of people doing that. And of course the chances of the rozzers smashing down your front door and hauling you off to some deep dark dungeon and leaving you to rot for eternity are about the same as winning the Lotto jackpot every week without ever buying a ticket

And it's probably as much a case of YouView keeping the rights holders to the programmes sweet as anything else.

If they are adding copy protection to an SD output of a programme broadcast on Freeview, it's probably a mistake.

(I'd swear I've posted this comment before, but apparently I didn't.)

Cheers,
David.

I would have thought so, too!

However, I have tried copying from numerous Freeview SD channels and they are ALL copy-protected.

I've got the original BT YouView box, which I've had for about a year now.

When you watch some copy-protected content (e.g. anything on 4OD) the box asserts the copy protect flag in the line 22 WSS signal. That seems to be all it does - it doesn't encode Macrovision or anything similar. I would expect most modern DVD recorders honour this flag and refuse to record the output. My Sony certainly does.

Unfortunately, after that, the copy protect flag remains asserted forever for all content including freeview, until the box is fully restarted (i.e. a full shutdown and restart, not eco mode).

It's a bug.

On my box, there is the choice in Eco-Mode of low or high. I'm not sure what you mean by not Eco-Mode.

Apologies, my use of the term was wrong and confusing.

You need to set the Eco-Mode setting to High - this should make the the box fully shut down when put into standby, but will cause it to take longer to start up.

Note that it takes several minutes for the box to actually shutdown even after it is apparently off - listen for the hard drive to spin down.

This all applies to the older, larger YouView box - I have no experience of the newer, smaller box.

I tried doing as you suggested, Fingerbobs, Eco-Mode on high, full shutdown (several hours), then tried copying from a non-HD channel recording. However, the same old copy-protected message appeared instantly.