Hi there just got a es15, the thing i want to know I have freeview built into the tv which is a sony 32"will the panny tune them in so I can record them or am I stuck with the analouge channels? I have sky+ so if I am recording to programmes off sky+ can I record something from the panny es15 on the freeview from the tv? If not would it be worth changing it for the panny es 20d?I guess its down to viewing habits but is the es 20 d worth the extra money?or should I stick with the es 15?
cheers Tom.

The easiest thing is to get the 20 if you can.

If not, you have to connect up the 10 to a scart on the TV which can output the signal being watched (freeview). you can watch Sky on an another TV AV but uou must set the T tuner to the correct channel for outputting to the DVDR. You can also use the TV to manage timed recordings to the DVDR BUT............all this is much more complicated to set up and manage.............go for the 20.

Rgds,
Scorp

cheers for that but can this record the freeview channels even though the tuner on the panny is analouge

Yes, the 10 can record via scart from the TV scart (it uses this as TV output). Mist IDTVs have this facility so that you can record digital to an external device VCR/DVDR.

But, as I said, it is a pain to set up an program - remember, if you want to record something while you are out you need to set up the TV AND the DVDR for the recording. There is a mode on the TV to allow the scarts to send out the correct signal/channel/time while turning the actual screen off.

Go for the 20. Much, much simpler.

Rgds,
SCorp

Ok Scorpio advice taken panny swapped for the es 20d
cheers .

Tom, good thinking. You can now set up your 20 to record from its own tuner (digital or analog) whilst channel hopping to your heart's delight on the Freeview TV - hassle free life!

Rgds,
scorp

Cheers thats tons better have avin a play with the old free view must say its a damn sight easier aint it Tried connecting the old video recorder up to tranfer some tapes to dvd useing one of those scart blocks you get with games consoles connected to the back of the vcr and the plugs into the front of the panny but avinno joy at the mo must need a fully wired scart cable with scart on one end and the video and audio plugs on the other I take it from not working I will need the fully wired one?The only other thing i noticed is today I copyed some programmes from my planner to the panny i finalized the disk and went to check to see if it worked on the dvd player upstairs well the picture is brill but there aint any sound unless i aint got the right sound setup properly in the pannys setup menu??

Firstly, to check the recordings you have made, does the sound come out when playing on the ES20?

for the VCR set up, try this:

VCR AV2 (or appropriate IN/OUT scart) ---> Sky+ VCR scart
Sky+ TV scart ---> DVDR AV2 (as now)
DVDR AV1 ---> TV AV1 (as now)

With the TV on AV1, Sky+ on or standby, and DVDR input set to AV2 (or in standby), you can watch videos just by pressing play. The picture will appear on the TV. When you press stop the picture will revert to Sky+ (is its on!).

Come back on the sound on the disks, and we'll have another check.

Rgds,
Scorp

Well found the problem of no sound,there was a dodgy scart connection on the tv and dvd player upstairs The way I have it set up at the moment is tv av 1 to av1 on dvdr,av 2 dvdr to sky tv scart on sky box,this leaves the av video scart on the sky box to tv av3 so i can still view sky if i am recording freeview on the dvdr what I would like to do is have the video going into the av3 on the front of the panny which i think i need a 21 pin fully wired scart lead with the 3 phono plugs on the other end. I have tried plugging the ps2 into the front of the panny and it works a treat just cant seem to get the video picture on it.Tried it with a scart adapter but they only have about 6 pins on it,

Dont know if your VCR has 3x phonos.....if it does just connect to AV4 (composite) at the rear of the panny (no need to see all the wires).

If not, then use a Scart to phono into AV4 - this should work fine.

To view picture on the TV you need to set the DVDR input to AV4 (or AV3) not AV" which is how it should be for passing through the Sky signal.

Rgds,
scorp

thx the video has 2 scarts one for tv the other ext1 so it will be scart to phone into the av3 on the front of the panny I take it this must be a fully wired scart?

hey scorpio what would you recommend ,scart to phono on panny av 3 at the front,or scart to s-video + audio to av 4 at the back of the panny
cheers matey.

scart being connected to the back of my video recorder.

On my E55 the AV4 socket has 2x phono for sound + either 1 x video or 1 x Svideo - is yours not the same ie choice of video or Svideo?

If not (only Svideo) you may need a small converter like this on from Maplin between the scart to phono cable and the Svideo socket.

Failing this, use a scart to phono like this one to the front AV3 socket.

Rgds,
Scorp

yeah tis the same have got 2 audio next to the s video so would that be the way to go then