[JordyD]

Hi, I'm looking at ditching Sky. I've got a Samsung Smart TV - F8000 46". What I'm looking to do is setup the Freesat on the TV, but I need to know what's the best options for recording. A memory card would be best - are there any available that support these TVs?

Thanks in advance.

[grahamlthompson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JordyD

Hi, I'm looking at ditching Sky. I've got a Samsung Smart TV - F8000 46". What I'm looking to do is setup the Freesat on the TV, but I need to know what's the best options for recording. A memory card would be best - are there any available that support these TVs?

Thanks in advance.

You need a proper usb hard disk and there will be a minimum size required (possibly 160GB) . Flash memory wears out very quickly if constantly deleted and re-written and the time shift buffer is constantly written all the time the TV is on.

Replacing the Sky box with a Freesat+ pvr wil be a lot more versatile than the TV.

[tealady]

A PVR is your best option.
The HDD means you can time shift and record while you are out but you can only watch what you are recording.
The HDD option on my Samsung is flakey and the TV did not always recognise the HDD meaning you could not view any recordings.

[Sue_C]

My hdd died within a few weeks of being connected to our tv. The recording wasn't very reliable, I probably wouldn't risk connecting a new hdd.

[JordyD]

Ok thanks everyone. I'll guess I just not bother with recording then.

I don't want a PVR as that is part of the idea of using the TV for as much as I can, so I don't needed connected boxes using more electric and taking up more room, if you know what I mean.

Thanks again for your help everyone!

[Roush]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue_C

My hdd died within a few weeks of being connected to our tv. The recording wasn't very reliable, I probably wouldn't risk connecting a new hdd.

BIB - this suggests your HDD was on its last legs anyway. Not the TV's fault.

[Sue_C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roush

BIB - this suggests your HDD was on its last legs anyway. Not the TV's fault.

It was new!

[Roush]

It was probably faulty from new then.

Smart TVs are essentially a form of computer. Most run a custom-configured OS based on the Linux kernel.

Plugging a USB device into a smart TV is no different to plugging it into a computer at the end of the day.

[tealady]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue_C

It was new!

I've had a HDD fail from new, using it on a tv would not make it fail anymore than using it as a backup drive.

[David (2)]

I don't know the exact specs of said tv, but my money is on it not being able to record one channel while you view a different tv channel.
If so, for me, I wouldn't even consider it as an option (video tape was superior to that and I don't beleive in going backwards with new technology for the sake of it being "new").

Hence, a freesat PVR machine (humax?) would be my only option (we don't get all the freeview chs here so this fact & previous poor user experience of freeview PVRs in the past puts me off the whole freeview route).

Another option (compromise option) is to downgrade Sky to a minimum package which retains the record ability feature of the sky+ box.

[evil c]

Well I've been using my 320GB Hitachi portable USB drive as a HDD to record TV programmes on my Samsung Smart TV since July 2011 and not a single problem. I'm not that bothered about having a PVR because if I miss a TV programme on at the same time as the one I'm watching, so what, it'll probably be repeated. If not well it's only a TV programme.

It's also very useful to be able to pause live TV for up to 1½ hours, and I use this facility much more than recording.

[nvingo]

The Samsung smart TV we have, can record to a USB flash drive (I tried with a 16Gb one), in HD from Freeview, even a different programme (on the same Mux) as the one being viewed.
Though just before decommissioning the USB drive from use there, I reformated it in the TV after which it wanted to run a performance test which the drive failed. After another reformat it passed the performance test. I then gave the USB drive to a colleague to play music in his car.

[JordyD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by evil c

Well I've been using my 320GB Hitachi portable USB drive as a HDD to record TV programmes on my Samsung Smart TV since July 2011 and not a single problem. I'm not that bothered about having a PVR because if I miss a TV programme on at the same time as the one I'm watching, so what, it'll probably be repeated. If not well it's only a TV programme.

It's also very useful to be able to pause live TV for up to 1½ hours, and I use this facility much more than recording.

Thanks for that.

The TV does have two satellite tuners and a Freeview one. I have no aerial though - so that's out.

Also, I'm not looking to record lots of shows, just the odd one now and then - as most of viewing will be live or on demand.

I could get the chepest package from Sky - but I want to eliminate any subscription of TV.

So from you said, it can work. Any chance you could post a link to the USB drive you have please?

[evil c]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JordyD

Any chance you could post a link to the USB drive you have please?

Hi Jordy,

Here's the link although the price has skyrocketed since I bought it in July 2010. (I originally used it as a backup drive for my laptop before pressing it into service for the TV). You can see my 5 star review there too! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitachi-SDM-...sb+drive+320gb

Due to the outrageous price of the drive now I'd strongly recommend that you buy a different one, and from a look on Amazon this Sonnics seems to be the best if you want a 320GB, only 3 x 1 star reviews and they're suspect: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sonnics-Exte...sb+drive+320gb

For info - you're left with about 298GB available space after the TV has formatted the drive. Recording HD Freeview that translates as about 32 hours and for SD Freeview roughly double so 64 hours. It'll be somewhere in the middle though if like me you record both types.

I only keep a few programmes on the drive permanently and have never come anywhere near to filling up the whole space. In use the drive contents are easy to access via the TV remote Source button and to pause live TV just press the pause on the remote, play to stop pause, and of course you can also use fast forward/rewind/slow mo at variable speeds.

To record a programme you can just press record and then select for how long you want the recording to continue, although you can stop recording at any time, or you can set up future recordings via the Info button or via the EPG, and you can do series recordings too. Remember to keep the TV switched on standby for recordings in the future. Once the TV is switched off at the mains the drive loses its memory.

With my TV when I switch it on from the mains (I only have it in standby if there is a recording set), the drive is not operating, but if I pause live TV this will of course wake the drive up. Once I have finished the pause/play sequence the drive doesn't automatically go back to sleep so I have to press Stop on the remote and then it asks me if I want to stop monitoring live TV and I say yes. I only mention this because it's one of those things you find out by accident.

Depending on how much stuff you want to store permanently on the HDD, you could buy a 160GB, 250GB, 500GB, 640GB or 750GB instead.

[JordyD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by evil c

Hi Jordy,

Here's the link although the price has skyrocketed since I bought it in July 2010. (I originally used it as a backup drive for my laptop before pressing it into service for the TV). You can see my 5 star review there too! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitachi-SDM-...sb+drive+320gb

Due to the outrageous price of the drive now I'd strongly recommend that you buy a different one, and from a look on Amazon this Sonnics seems to be the best if you want a 320GB, only 3 x 1 star reviews and they're suspect: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sonnics-Exte...sb+drive+320gb

For info - you're left with about 298GB available space after the TV has formatted the drive. Recording HD Freeview that translates as about 32 hours and for SD Freeview roughly double so 64 hours. It'll be somewhere in the middle though if like me you record both types.

I only keep a few programmes on the drive permanently and have never come anywhere near to filling up the whole space. In use the drive contents are easy to access via the TV remote Source button and to pause live TV just press the pause on the remote, play to stop pause, and of course you can also use fast forward/rewind/slow mo at variable speeds.

To record a programme you can just press record and then select for how long you want the recording to continue, although you can stop recording at any time, or you can set up future recordings via the Info button or via the EPG, and you can do series recordings too. Remember to keep the TV switched on standby for recordings in the future. Once the TV is switched off at the mains the drive loses its memory.

With my TV when I switch it on from the mains (I only have it in standby if there is a recording set), the drive is not operating, but if I pause live TV this will of course wake the drive up. Once I have finished the pause/play sequence the drive doesn't automatically go back to sleep so I have to press Stop on the remote and then it asks me if I want to stop monitoring live TV and I say yes. I only mention this because it's one of those things you find out by accident.

Depending on how much stuff you want to store permanently on the HDD, you could buy a 160GB, 250GB, 500GB, 640GB or 750GB instead.

Hey, that's brilliant Evil C. Thanks for you in depth reply. Really helped. This will really help me save spending on Sky and Sammys Smart TV interface is great!

[evil c]

Forgot to say that don't try to access the EPG if you are playing back a paused programme because this will terminate the playback without any warning and then you will curse and swear like I did when I realised I had lost the remainder of what I had paused. Oh, and my Samsung calls pausing live TV 'Timeshift'.

More info is that on my TV with the HDD you have several sort options, Series, Title, Latest and Earliest Date, Weekly by day, and Channel, There is also an Edit mode, and there you can Edit Favourites, Lock, Unlock, and Delete. Finally you have Device Management, and there you can Format, Check, carry out a Performance Test, and Device Information where you can see at a glance how the space is being used and how much is left.

You might need a longer cable than the one supplied and if the one supplied has 2 full size USB plugs with the one mini USB plug for the HDD, use the full size one that terminates with the mini, not the fly lead.

[JordyD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by evil c

Forgot to say that don't try to access the EPG if you are playing back a paused programme because this will terminate the playback without any warning and then you will curse and swear like I did when I realised I had lost the remainder of what I had paused. Oh, and my Samsung calls pausing live TV 'Timeshift'.

More info is that on my TV with the HDD you have several sort options, Series, Title, Latest and Earliest Date, Weekly by day, and Channel, There is also an Edit mode, and there you can Edit Favourites, Lock, Unlock, and Delete. Finally you have Device Management, and there you can Format, Check, carry out a Performance Test, and Device Information where you can see at a glance how the space is being used and how much is left.

You might need a longer cable than the one supplied and if the one supplied has 2 full size USB plugs with the one mini USB plug for the HDD, use the full size one that terminates with the mini, not the fly lead.

Thanks. I'm deffinatley going to do this I think. Be great to save all that money from paying for Sky!

[eazzy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by evil c

Hi Jordy,

Here's the link although the price has skyrocketed since I bought it in July 2010. (I originally used it as a backup drive for my laptop before pressing it into service for the TV). You can see my 5 star review there too! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitachi-SDM-...sb+drive+320gb

Due to the outrageous price of the drive now I'd strongly recommend that you buy a different one, and from a look on Amazon this Sonnics seems to be the best if you want a 320GB, only 3 x 1 star reviews and they're suspect: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sonnics-Exte...sb+drive+320gb




For info - you're left with about 298GB available space after the TV has formatted the drive. Recording HD Freeview that translates as about 32 hours and for SD Freeview roughly double so 64 hours. It'll be somewhere in the middle though if like me you record both types.

I only keep a few programmes on the drive permanently and have never come anywhere near to filling up the whole space. In use the drive contents are easy to access via the TV remote Source button and to pause live TV just press the pause on the remote, play to stop pause, and of course you can also use fast forward/rewind/slow mo at variable speeds.

To record a programme you can just press record and then select for how long you want the recording to continue, although you can stop recording at any time, or you can set up future recordings via the Info button or via the EPG, and you can do series recordings too. Remember to keep the TV switched on standby for recordings in the future. Once the TV is switched off at the mains the drive loses its memory.

With my TV when I switch it on from the mains (I only have it in standby if there is a recording set), the drive is not operating, but if I pause live TV this will of course wake the drive up. Once I have finished the pause/play sequence the drive doesn't automatically go back to sleep so I have to press Stop on the remote and then it asks me if I want to stop monitoring live TV and I say yes. I only mention this because it's one of those things you find out by accident.

Depending on how much stuff you want to store permanently on the HDD, you could buy a 160GB, 250GB, 500GB, 640GB or 750GB instead.

Hi, I have a question for you... if I go this route, can I unplug the HDD from the TV on which programmes were recorded. Then plug the HDD into a second TV and playback the recorded programmes ?.

Many thanks
Eazzy

[Stig]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eazzy

Hi, I have a question for you... if I go this route, can I unplug the HDD from the TV on which programmes were recorded. Then plug the HDD into a second TV and playback the recorded programmes ?.

Many thanks
Eazzy

Probably not. If it's anything like the Panasonic system it's encrypted.

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eazzy

Hi, I have a question for you... if I go this route, can I unplug the HDD from the TV on which programmes were recorded. Then plug the HDD into a second TV and playback the recorded programmes ?.

Many thanks
Eazzy

Very very unlikely. Most TVs lock the recordings to the specific TV that made them. So not even an identical make and model of TV can play the recordings back.

Essentially if the TV dies before you have had a chance to watch everything on the drive then tough. You are royally screwed and the only option is format the drive and forget about any unseen recordings.

[evil c]

Hi Eazzy,

Sorry I have only just seen your post and that was by chance. Stig & Chris are both experts about the tech side of things when it comes to TVs so I would bow to their knowledge on this.

Sadly the brands don't want us consumers to be able to transfer our recordings to other devices, so they encrypt them. I didn't realise that the recordings were locked to one TV only though, so thanks to Chris I have learned something new.

[eazzy]

Ok, thank you. Pretty much as I suspected. So using the HDD has very limited use really. I cannot record something on Freeview, while the source is turned to Sky ?. I guess the only other thing is to download lots of DVD movies to watch at a later date. Thanks all for your advice, I did actually order an HDD from Amazon yesterday, before I found out the limitations.

Eazzy

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eazzy

Ok, thank you. Pretty much as I suspected. So using the HDD has very limited use really. I cannot record something on Freeview, while the source is turned to Sky ?. I guess the only other thing is to download lots of DVD movies to watch at a later date. Thanks all for your advice, I did actually order an HDD from Amazon yesterday, before I found out the limitations.

Eazzy

It is possible that some TVs allow you to record from the internal Freeview tuner while you watch something coming in via HDMI but not sure about specific models.

But it is almost certain that you could not record and watch two different Freeview programmes at the same time.

To be honest it is far more versatile to use a separate PVR for recording duties. And of course you can always unplug the PVR from your telly and lug it over to a mates house and plug it into his TV (although technically that would be illegal, but I won't tell if you don't ).

[tealady]

I tried on a 4 or 5 year old samsung and recorded off the tuner whilst watching pointless on a humax via hdmi.
Proof of concept if not specific model.

[eazzy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by evil c

Hi Jordy,

Here's the link although the price has skyrocketed since I bought it in July 2010. (I originally used it as a backup drive for my laptop before pressing it into service for the TV). You can see my 5 star review there too! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitachi-SDM-...sb+drive+320gb

Due to the outrageous price of the drive now I'd strongly recommend that you buy a different one, and from a look on Amazon this Sonnics seems to be the best if you want a 320GB, only 3 x 1 star reviews and they're suspect: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sonnics-Exte...sb+drive+320gb

For info - you're left with about 298GB available space after the TV has formatted the drive. Recording HD Freeview that translates as about 32 hours and for SD Freeview roughly double so 64 hours. It'll be somewhere in the middle though if like me you record both types.

I only keep a few programmes on the drive permanently and have never come anywhere near to filling up the whole space. In use the drive contents are easy to access via the TV remote Source button and to pause live TV just press the pause on the remote, play to stop pause, and of course you can also use fast forward/rewind/slow mo at variable speeds.

To record a programme you can just press record and then select for how long you want the recording to continue, although you can stop recording at any time, or you can set up future recordings via the Info button or via the EPG, and you can do series recordings too. Remember to keep the TV switched on standby for recordings in the future. Once the TV is switched off at the mains the drive loses its memory.

With my TV when I switch it on from the mains (I only have it in standby if there is a recording set), the drive is not operating, but if I pause live TV this will of course wake the drive up. Once I have finished the pause/play sequence the drive doesn't automatically go back to sleep so I have to press Stop on the remote and then it asks me if I want to stop monitoring live TV and I say yes. I only mention this because it's one of those things you find out by accident.

Depending on how much stuff you want to store permanently on the HDD, you could buy a 160GB, 250GB, 500GB, 640GB or 750GB instead.

An update : I received my Sonnics HDD yesterday, and plugged it in. As stated comes with no instructions, and I had to reformat before it would work on my Samsung TV.tried a few experimental recordings to find out what it would do. And it is much as Evil C stated. I can record a Freeview channel while flicking over to watch something on Sky. I can record a future programme from the Freeview EPG, and it will record it even if the TV is in standby. In short, for £22 pounds a useful little tool. Thank you Evil C.

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