Thats good David. Anything on ITV channels and the Sky ones for that matter? thanks in advance

Yes, I spotted that last night, seems to cover all their Channels (C4, E4, More4 and even Film 4 I think). Still nothing for ITV, 5 or SKYs. Ah well, we can but wait.

ps. I've had my 860 for 10 days now, and I must say I'm pretty impressed so far. Picture Quality is very good, Series Link works a treat, Chasing playback is great.

Can't understand why I can't "high speed dub" to DVD+s, I'm sure there must be a good techie reason, but I can live with it, I'll just get some DVD-s.

Hi


These days just because it has a Sony badge doesn't mean it's been anywhere near a Sony factory. I thought all the current Sony models were made by LG?

I've used a Pioneer 540HX for a year and never had a single recording failure or lock up or any other issue. These are made in the UK in Yorkshire at a Pioneer factory!

Regards

Phil

Hi. After the Apprentice or whatever is finished and credits start you sometmes get the BBC person/voice saying something like "viewers with a digital recorder might like to press the series link button now to not miss any of the remaining episodes"

My question is does the Sony have some sort of button they can press when this option is given during a programme? I know Sony has the only Freeview EPG ased PVR to have series link at the moment (hope its working well now y the way) and I was reading the Freeview Playback spec and some associated notes but as far as I can tell the option for series link is only when selecting a programme to record in the TV guide/EPG

Hi

The announcement isn't for Freeview viewers but cable/satellite. Freeview will support this in the future and your DVD Recorder may (or may not) get an update to support the new data. It's part of the Freeview Playback spec but isn't due until after the first phase of things are done later this year.

I think for Freeview you will see a message come up on the screen and will press Green to set a recording.

Regards

Phil

Hi Phil. Thanks for your reply. I know its in phase two / group two as far as manufactuers are concerned. However series link is already in place on freeview by one or two broadcasters which is why owners of this model are already using freeview series link. Its Sony methodology that it was partly developed with in the first place which is why the 860 just happened to support it before the FV Playack specs were sorted out.

I think you are probably right that the press the button message re series link is meant for Sky+/V+ though. Series link on Freeview seems to be about when you set up a timer. Maybe its for the as yet unresolved group 3 section of the spec. Hopefully some of the owners will advise as to whats going on.

Hi

Yes series link from the EPG and setting a timer recording from an announcement are two separate pieces of functionality due to arrive at different times.

Regards

Phil

very informative thread - I hope you'll excuse my questions, I'm still a tad confused. We had Sky+ for a year but dropped the sub in January so now its a freesat box, no sky+ functionality. However, we're really starting to miss the sky+ functionality. Now that sky are offering sky+ functionality with their basic 2 mix pack at £15 a month we are being tempted back.

However I would rather spend a one off £200 on a Freeview PVR than keep paying sky £180 a year for the next few years.

What I'm trying to work out is what is the closest box to Sky+ at the moment? with 'proper' series link etc. I get the feeling proper series link (not timer setting) might be some time away so I'm considering signing up to sky for 12 month contract and see what Freeview Playback boxes are like in a years time.

Or are there any Freeview Playback PVRboxes I should be considering now?

silverfox there will probably be a few Freeview Playback compatible boxes with accurate recording (PDC style) and series link like the V+ and Sky+ released betweeen now and the next few weeks or between now and Christmas so keep an eye out. Having said that there are many twin tuner dual recording PVRs for freeview available now that are quite similar to Sky+. See www.pvrjunction.co.uk/compare for an idea of whats been available to buy.

Err... 'scuse me butting in but where did you see that?? What do you mean by sky+ "functionality"? Are you referring to Anytime? (which is costly pants actually)

Colin