Hello all, 1st post

I was just wondering if anyone has had the same query as me that would be able to help.

If you enable auto recording on the Pioneer 433 hdd/dvd recorder via a regular Sky box does the Sky box have to be off or does it work if it's already on? (eg switches over from another channel)

If it doesn't work when it's on, would a phantom plus gadet work with the the pioneer/sky box?

Thanks for reading.

I am not familiar with Sky boxes, but it is the timer events on the external device (in your case the Sky box) which control the Pioneer coming out of standby, recording then going back into standby.

So it all depends on the behaviour of the Sky box and timer events whether it matters if it is on or off. If it is on it will trigger the Pioneer auto-recording, so I would guess, standby.

The best advice of all I can give you is to play around with it and find out how it works *before* that all-important programme starts.

Thanks for the reply.

I tried using the auto record function, but the box is grey-ed out it won't let me set it to on.

I tried the pioneers manual which advised me to set AV1 input on the pioneer to decoder and set the sky channel (ch7) to the decoder setting via the manual tuning option.

I've done both of these but it still won't let me set auto record, does anyone have any idea how to fix this?

Thanks

Do you have Power Saving mode turned ON? Not sure if this relevant but it does ring a faint bell at the back of my mind. Try turning it OFF.

Thanks gomezz for the reply.

I do have power save mode turned off. On page 49 of the manual it says 'If you want to use this recorder with the timer features of your satellite tuner see Language code list on page 108'.

Now on page 108 is just that a list of numbers with no instructions on what you are supposed to do with the numbers, does anyone have an idea what I am supposed to do with with the numbers?

Language code list:English (en) 0514
Country Area code list:United Knigdom 0702 gb

Or is it just not compatible with a regular Sky box?

Thanks again.

Right I've just had a good old read of this forum and think I've got a better handle on the problem. My Sky channel is showing up on channel 6 on the Pioneer 433 hdd/dvd recorder and not L1 to enable auto recording.

Also do I need to set my sky box and pioneer to RGB Output?

The problem could be the way that I've got the equipment connected I have:

TV - 2 Scarts (1 RGB 1 Non-RGB)
VCR - 2 Scarts
Sky Box - 2 Scarts
Pioneer 433 - 2 Scarts

How should I have the equipment connected if I want to record onto the pioneer and the vcr?

Here's how it's connected at the moment.

Sky box-Vcr output to Vcr-Vcr Input
Vcr-Vcr Output to Pioneer-AV2 Decoder Input

Sky box-Tv output to TV (Non-RGB)
Pioneer-AV1 output to TV (RGB)

Is this correct?

Sorry for being a pain in the a***, but if anyone could help I'd be very grateful
Last edited by mccstuff : 16-03-2006 at 11:24

I would try having a big loop:

Sky Box -> Pioneer -> TV -> VCR -> Sky Box

So you mean

Sky tv out -> Pioneer AV2 -> TV (RGB Connection)
Sky vcr out -> VCR Input -> TV (Non-RGB Connection)

Thanks Bluap, I will try this tonight.

I won't be able to record onto the Pioneer from the VCR, but this isn't important to me. I just want to be able to record Sky onto the Pioneer and VCR.

The only thing is that I've been reading on these forums that the pioneer won't turn itself on for automatic recordings if connected via RGB when using Sky Autoview. Is this true?

If so I've been looking at a phantom plus gadget:http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...ANTOM&doy=17m3

Are they any good?, all the reviews on the net give them top marks.
Last edited by mccstuff : 17-03-2006 at 09:44

I've now fixed the problem Thanks to the people who tried to help.

I'll post what I did wrong in case anyone else searches the forum with a similar query, I now have my conections as per Bluap's suggestion:

Sky TV out -> Pioneer AV2 -> TV (RGB Connection)
Sky VCR out -> VCR Input -> TV (Non-RGB Connection)

The setting that was incorrect was in the Video In/Out Settings, AV1/L2 In was set to decoder and should have been set to RGB. This now allows me to record on the Pioneer and the VCR.

The only problem I have I don't think can be fixed- I've enabled Auto Start Recording so that when it detects a signal from the Sky box it will auto record onto the HDD of the Pioneer but if Sky is switched on it just records continually and does not start and stop with Sky's Autoview function. Shame, this would have been a good imitation of Sky+ that would have been handy for me.

So it looks like I would only be able to use Auto Record if the Sky box is in standby (ie not in use).

This leads me back to the Phantom Plus Gadet (above), has anyone used one and what are your experiences like?

Cheers

I've been using the Phantom PVR (http://www.bluedelta.co.uk/phantom_plus.htm) and it's worked perfectly every time. Very simple to set up and use, and cheap.

I've been using it with a VCR, but an concidering buying a Pioneer 433 as they seem pretty good value at the moment.

Ian

I bought a Phantom plus at the weekend for use with my Pioneer 433 hdd/dvd recorder.

Unfortunately I can't get the thing to work with my Pioneer box at all.

I've programmed the device as per the instructions and the led on the front has flashed in all the places that it should when I program the Phantom.

When an Autoview program comes on Sky, the Phantom does 'wake up' and the led on the front flashes as if it's sending the signals out to tell the Pioneer to record but unfortunately nothing happens.

I've tried it with the Phantom pointing directly at the Pioneer and I've turned the Sky box on and off as per the instructions, but nothing. I've set the thing into VCR and DVD mode as well.

I've e-mailed their technicial support with the problem but they haven't got back to me.

Can anyone help me with this problem? If I get a soultion I'll post the answer back on here.

Thanks in advance people.

I did exactly the same thing last week - got myself a DVR-433, plugged in my PhantomPVR and nothing works

Haven't had a chance to have a good play yet, but I have noticed the following:

1. PhantomPVR worked perfectly with my old Sony VCR, so I know it's the interface with the Pioneer that is the issue.

2. If the Pioneer is already on, it does start recording via the Phantom, so I assume it is the on/standby command that is not working (and as the Pioneer isn't turning on in the 1st place, it looks as though it isn't receiving any commands from the Phantom)

3. When the Phanton sends a 'stop recording' signal, the Pioneer pops up a message asking if you are sure you want to stop recording. If you don't select 'yes', it continues recording. Therefore, a two-command 'stop' will have to be sent by the Phanton - from a brief look over the instructions this is possible.

I'll have a proper look over the weekend and post back here again if I have any luck - let he know if you get anywhere with the Phantom customer support.

Cheers, Ian

Ian,

Spoke to BlueDelta on the telephone, they are helpful people and they advised me to do the following:

1) Insert a stop recording command into the start-up sequence at the very beginning before the standby command.

2) Duplicate the standby command in the start-up sequence (ie: put it in twice)

3) Leave the Pioneer switched on while the phantom tries to record a program.

Unfortunately none of these seem to work for me, he then suggested trying it with a VCR which I will do tonight and if it doesn't work I know I've got a faulty Phantom. I will try this tonight.

Your point (3) about having an extra command to stop recording, as far as I'm aware you can program in the extra step without a problem.

Mark

Ian,

Got a little further with this last night. I can now record (as you can) while the Pioneer is switched on, but while it's switched off it won't record.

It stopped recording ok, there are seperate stop buttons for play and to stop recording on the remote. I used the stop recording one and it stopped after the program was recorded ok with no problems. It did not require me to confirm if I wanted to stop recording, it just stopped.

This leaves me stuck where you are, ie the Pioneer won't turn itself on automatically and then record.

If I get any further I'll let you know.

Mark

Good stuff Mark - I'll have a go over the weekend and see if I get any further.

I haven't got a clue why the 'on' command is not working - my Harmony remote has no problem switching the Pioneer on so it must be a fairly standard IR signal. Actually, I'll try using the Harmony to program the Phantom and see if that changes anything...

Cheers, Ian

I still can't get this to work and might have to give it up as a bad job and return it to Maplins for a refund.

I've done everything that I can think of to get the Phantom to work properly, but it just refuses to do so. Very fustrating.

Ian, if you got yours working could you post back here and tell me how you did it?

Thanks

Mark

Still haven't got mine working either. I rang the BlueDelta and they are on the case to sort out this issue, but it may require a new version of the hardware.

Apparently the Pioneer has to be woken up by an IR command first before it will actually accept the "on" command to bring it out of standby - the current Phantom won't do this.

He's going to get back to me when they've sorted the problem, so until then I'll be using the built-in feature to record from external sources.

Cheers, Ian

Thanks for your help Ian

Think I'll just return it for a refund as it's not much use to me at the moment.

Mark