Videoplus still work?

dave_windows · 22-09-2015, 08:17

My DVD Recorder packed in yesterday and bought a second one as standby a few months ago and noticed it has video plus on it. It hasent got a tape player or hard drive but just record straight to disk. Was wondering if videoplus still works now. Obviously I need to put it on the right sky channel but would save me alot of hassle if I didnt have to program the timer for everything I record.

Nigel Goodwin · 22-09-2015, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_windows

My DVD Recorder packed in yesterday and bought a second one as standby a few months ago and noticed it has video plus on it. It hasent got a tape player or hard drive but just record straight to disk. Was wondering if videoplus still works now. Obviously I need to put it on the right sky channel but would save me alot of hassle if I didnt have to program the timer for everything I record.

Obviously VideoPlus still works, as it's simply an automated way of manually setting the timer - however, are the VideoPlus numbers still published in the newspapers?.

Manually creating the VideoPlus numbers would be more work than manually setting the timer, although I seem to recall a computer program you could download load many years ago that did it for you?.

technologist · 22-09-2015, 10:25

Video plus is basically a slanted hash of the date time and button ( not channel) of the start time of the recording
... Slanted because popular slots are three number , unpopular slots can be 8 numbers

So nothing to stop you using it ..... If you can generate it,,,

gomezz · 22-09-2015, 11:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

are the VideoPlus numbers still published in the newspapers

Not in this week's Radio Times.

Nigel Goodwin · 22-09-2015, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by technologist

Video plus is basically a slanted hash of the date time and button ( not channel) of the start time of the recording
... Slanted because popular slots are three number , unpopular slots can be 8 numbers

So nothing to stop you using it ..... If you can generate it,,,

Like I said, there used to be a program you could download - I looked because I was interested at the time.

It's actually a VERY complicated system to do, as it uses complex techniques in a similar way to ZIP and MPEG compression.

chrisjr · 22-09-2015, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_windows

My DVD Recorder packed in yesterday and bought a second one as standby a few months ago and noticed it has video plus on it. It hasent got a tape player or hard drive but just record straight to disk. Was wondering if videoplus still works now. Obviously I need to put it on the right sky channel but would save me alot of hassle if I didnt have to program the timer for everything I record.

I'm sure there is a very good reason why you are faffing about trying to record onto a DVD recorder rather than the very much simpler option of using Sky + to do the job.

oilman · 22-09-2015, 12:44

According to this page, videoplus is not supported on FREEVIEW.

http://www.tvanswers.org.uk/answers/...t-working.html

Chasing Shadows · 22-09-2015, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

I'm sure there is a very good reason why you are faffing about trying to record onto a DVD recorder rather than the very much simpler option of using Sky + to do the job.

Probably the same reason that other people archive stuff to DVD - so that they can watch the programmes when they aren't sat in front of their own telly and their own Sky box when they want to watch it.

With a DVD you can take it with you on holiday, take it with you when you're on a train journey and you have your laptop with you, stick it into your mini DVD player in the car to keep the kids quiet while you drive to the other side of the country, lend a copy to anybody who hasn't seen it (and doesn't have Sky to be able to download it themselves) - or just to free up space on the Sky box's hard drive so you can record other stuff on it.

Nigel Goodwin · 22-09-2015, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by oilman

According to this page, videoplus is not supported on FREEVIEW.

As it's nothing to do with any kind of broadcast, Freeview or Analogue, it's never been 'supported' by broadcasters in any way (other than providing the numbers in the papers, and that was probably the papers doing it themselves anyway - no need for any input from the broadcasters).

chrisjr · 22-09-2015, 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasing Shadows

Probably the same reason that other people archive stuff to DVD - so that they can watch the programmes when they aren't sat in front of their own telly and their own Sky box when they want to watch it.

With a DVD you can take it with you on holiday, take it with you when you're on a train journey and you have your laptop with you, stick it into your mini DVD player in the car to keep the kids quiet while you drive to the other side of the country, lend a copy to anybody who hasn't seen it (and doesn't have Sky to be able to download it themselves) - or just to free up space on the Sky box's hard drive so you can record other stuff on it.

I know all that. But reading the OP it sounds like dave_windows is using the DVD to record live telly rather than archiving stuff. After all you wouldn't really need to set a timer to archive stuff off the Sky box would you?

Nigel Goodwin · 22-09-2015, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

I know all that. But reading the OP it sounds like dave_windows is using the DVD to record live telly rather than archiving stuff. After all you wouldn't really need to set a timer to archive stuff off the Sky box would you?

He never suggested he has a Sky+ box, nor that he's a subscriber - so most probably Sky+ recording isn't an option.

Soundbox · 24-09-2015, 10:30

Yes, Videoplus still works but the downer for me is no 'padding' at the end of the set recording unless your machine allows you to edit the start/stop times. TV broadcasts used to be on a very exact schedule but now over-runs are common and so the end can be missed. I usually add 10 minutes to be safe and do it manually.

The other system (before VideoPlus) was barcode with the special wand. You scanned the code next to the listing in the Radio Times, the LCD in the wand showed the start and stop time, aim the wand at the recorder, the start and stop times were momentarily displayed on the VFD to allow you to confirm they were correct.

I set all my recordings manually now as barcodes are no longer printed and no VideoPlus codes either...

22-09-2015, 08:17	#1
dave_windows Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,385	Videoplus still work? My DVD Recorder packed in yesterday and bought a second one as standby a few months ago and noticed it has video plus on it. It hasent got a tape player or hard drive but just record straight to disk. Was wondering if videoplus still works now. Obviously I need to put it on the right sky channel but would save me alot of hassle if I didnt have to program the timer for everything I record.

22-09-2015, 09:54	#2
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by dave_windows My DVD Recorder packed in yesterday and bought a second one as standby a few months ago and noticed it has video plus on it. It hasent got a tape player or hard drive but just record straight to disk. Was wondering if videoplus still works now. Obviously I need to put it on the right sky channel but would save me alot of hassle if I didnt have to program the timer for everything I record. Obviously VideoPlus still works, as it's simply an automated way of manually setting the timer - however, are the VideoPlus numbers still published in the newspapers?. Manually creating the VideoPlus numbers would be more work than manually setting the timer, although I seem to recall a computer program you could download load many years ago that did it for you?.

22-09-2015, 10:25	#3
technologist Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: London Posts: 7,519	Video plus is basically a slanted hash of the date time and button ( not channel) of the start time of the recording ... Slanted because popular slots are three number , unpopular slots can be 8 numbers So nothing to stop you using it ..... If you can generate it,,,

22-09-2015, 11:15	#4
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin are the VideoPlus numbers still published in the newspapers Not in this week's Radio Times.

22-09-2015, 11:57	#5
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by technologist Video plus is basically a slanted hash of the date time and button ( not channel) of the start time of the recording ... Slanted because popular slots are three number , unpopular slots can be 8 numbers So nothing to stop you using it ..... If you can generate it,,, Like I said, there used to be a program you could download - I looked because I was interested at the time. It's actually a VERY complicated system to do, as it uses complex techniques in a similar way to ZIP and MPEG compression.

22-09-2015, 12:00	#6
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by dave_windows My DVD Recorder packed in yesterday and bought a second one as standby a few months ago and noticed it has video plus on it. It hasent got a tape player or hard drive but just record straight to disk. Was wondering if videoplus still works now. Obviously I need to put it on the right sky channel but would save me alot of hassle if I didnt have to program the timer for everything I record. I'm sure there is a very good reason why you are faffing about trying to record onto a DVD recorder rather than the very much simpler option of using Sky + to do the job.

22-09-2015, 12:44	#7
oilman Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,854	According to this page, videoplus is not supported on FREEVIEW. http://www.tvanswers.org.uk/answers/...t-working.html

22-09-2015, 12:58	#8
Chasing Shadows Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,536	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr I'm sure there is a very good reason why you are faffing about trying to record onto a DVD recorder rather than the very much simpler option of using Sky + to do the job. Probably the same reason that other people archive stuff to DVD - so that they can watch the programmes when they aren't sat in front of their own telly and their own Sky box when they want to watch it. With a DVD you can take it with you on holiday, take it with you when you're on a train journey and you have your laptop with you, stick it into your mini DVD player in the car to keep the kids quiet while you drive to the other side of the country, lend a copy to anybody who hasn't seen it (and doesn't have Sky to be able to download it themselves) - or just to free up space on the Sky box's hard drive so you can record other stuff on it.

22-09-2015, 13:13	#9
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by oilman According to this page, videoplus is not supported on FREEVIEW. As it's nothing to do with any kind of broadcast, Freeview or Analogue, it's never been 'supported' by broadcasters in any way (other than providing the numbers in the papers, and that was probably the papers doing it themselves anyway - no need for any input from the broadcasters).

22-09-2015, 15:33	#10
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by Chasing Shadows Probably the same reason that other people archive stuff to DVD - so that they can watch the programmes when they aren't sat in front of their own telly and their own Sky box when they want to watch it. With a DVD you can take it with you on holiday, take it with you when you're on a train journey and you have your laptop with you, stick it into your mini DVD player in the car to keep the kids quiet while you drive to the other side of the country, lend a copy to anybody who hasn't seen it (and doesn't have Sky to be able to download it themselves) - or just to free up space on the Sky box's hard drive so you can record other stuff on it. I know all that. But reading the OP it sounds like dave_windows is using the DVD to record live telly rather than archiving stuff. After all you wouldn't really need to set a timer to archive stuff off the Sky box would you?

22-09-2015, 19:28	#11
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr I know all that. But reading the OP it sounds like dave_windows is using the DVD to record live telly rather than archiving stuff. After all you wouldn't really need to set a timer to archive stuff off the Sky box would you? He never suggested he has a Sky+ box, nor that he's a subscriber - so most probably Sky+ recording isn't an option.

24-09-2015, 10:30	#12
Soundbox Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The garden of earthly delights Posts: 4,509	Yes, Videoplus still works but the downer for me is no 'padding' at the end of the set recording unless your machine allows you to edit the start/stop times. TV broadcasts used to be on a very exact schedule but now over-runs are common and so the end can be missed. I usually add 10 minutes to be safe and do it manually. The other system (before VideoPlus) was barcode with the special wand. You scanned the code next to the listing in the Radio Times, the LCD in the wand showed the start and stop time, aim the wand at the recorder, the start and stop times were momentarily displayed on the VFD to allow you to confirm they were correct. I set all my recordings manually now as barcodes are no longer printed and no VideoPlus codes either...

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Videoplus still work?