Sony RDR-HXD860 DVD with Sky FreeSat

Lizzie1 · 13-11-2006, 08:54

Can anyone help? This is beyond my addled brain. I have the following kit that I would like to connect together in the best way:
TV - Hitachi 22LD4200UK (2 scarts)
SKY - Pace box (2 scarts)
DVD - Sony RDR-HXD860 (2 Scarts)
Hi Fi - Sony MHC-S7AV
VHS - Sanyo VHR-798E (2 scarts)

I have currently ignored the Hi-Fi and the VHS in an effort to get up and running with recording to the DVD's hard disk. I can do this but only on the station I am watching. When I do the chanel scan on the DVD setup it says to check my aerial as there is no signal. I don't have a standard analog aerial - only the Sky box. Could someone tell me what I'm doing wrong and the best way to connect all my kit (if that's possible).
Thanks
Regards
Liz

chrisjr · 13-11-2006, 10:59

You will never be able to record a different Sky channel to the one you are watching with your current set-up. Basically the DVD recorder does not have a built-in satellite tuning stage so is incapable of receiving any satellite services by itself. The DVD recorder neither knows nor cares that you have a satellite receiver in the same house, let alone whether or not the two are wired together in some way.

The only way you can record satellite programmes is by using the SCART connection from the Pace receiver to the DVD recorder. However the Pace box is incapable of feeding different channels to the two SCART sockets so you are restricted to only being able to record what you are watching.

In order to record and watch two different services you require two tuners. This applies whether you are watching conventional analogue TV via an aerial, digital terrestrial TV or satellite. In your set-up there is only ONE satellite tuner so you can only receive one satellite programme at a time.

If you do want to watch and record two different satellite programmes then you are going to have to either get Sky+, (or some equivalent to Sky+) or a second satellite receiver purely to feed the DVD recorder.

The only other way you can record something other than what you are watching is to hook up a TV aerial to the system. That way you can get the DVD recorder to tune into the analogue TV channels. And if you have digital terrestrial reception I believe this recorder also has a digital tuner so might be able to pick up the Freeview channels as well.

Lizzie1 · 13-11-2006, 11:17

Thanks so much for your speedy reply. At least I now know that I've set it up "correctly" given my limitations. I'll probably go down the aerial route at some point but my reception is too poor at the moment.
Thanks again
Regards
Liz

13-11-2006, 08:54	#1
Lizzie1 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4	Sony RDR-HXD860 DVD with Sky FreeSat Can anyone help? This is beyond my addled brain. I have the following kit that I would like to connect together in the best way: TV - Hitachi 22LD4200UK (2 scarts) SKY - Pace box (2 scarts) DVD - Sony RDR-HXD860 (2 Scarts) Hi Fi - Sony MHC-S7AV VHS - Sanyo VHR-798E (2 scarts) I have currently ignored the Hi-Fi and the VHS in an effort to get up and running with recording to the DVD's hard disk. I can do this but only on the station I am watching. When I do the chanel scan on the DVD setup it says to check my aerial as there is no signal. I don't have a standard analog aerial - only the Sky box. Could someone tell me what I'm doing wrong and the best way to connect all my kit (if that's possible). Thanks Regards Liz

13-11-2006, 10:59	#2
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	You will never be able to record a different Sky channel to the one you are watching with your current set-up. Basically the DVD recorder does not have a built-in satellite tuning stage so is incapable of receiving any satellite services by itself. The DVD recorder neither knows nor cares that you have a satellite receiver in the same house, let alone whether or not the two are wired together in some way. The only way you can record satellite programmes is by using the SCART connection from the Pace receiver to the DVD recorder. However the Pace box is incapable of feeding different channels to the two SCART sockets so you are restricted to only being able to record what you are watching. In order to record and watch two different services you require two tuners. This applies whether you are watching conventional analogue TV via an aerial, digital terrestrial TV or satellite. In your set-up there is only ONE satellite tuner so you can only receive one satellite programme at a time. If you do want to watch and record two different satellite programmes then you are going to have to either get Sky+, (or some equivalent to Sky+) or a second satellite receiver purely to feed the DVD recorder. The only other way you can record something other than what you are watching is to hook up a TV aerial to the system. That way you can get the DVD recorder to tune into the analogue TV channels. And if you have digital terrestrial reception I believe this recorder also has a digital tuner so might be able to pick up the Freeview channels as well.

13-11-2006, 11:17	#3
Lizzie1 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4	Thanks so much for your speedy reply. At least I now know that I've set it up "correctly" given my limitations. I'll probably go down the aerial route at some point but my reception is too poor at the moment. Thanks again Regards Liz

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Sony RDR-HXD860 DVD with Sky FreeSat