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poor quality of recording from Sky+ to VCR |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 77
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poor quality of recording from Sky+ to VCR
Can anyone offer any advice?
I have copied a programme that I recorded on Sky+ onto video tape (not having a DVD which records) and the quality is not very good. It keeps going from colour to black and white. |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,115
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It's probably a protected programme then using Macrovision, specifically to stop you doing what you are wanting to.
Try it with some other programme like Sky news or something and see if it's better What was the prog/film ??? |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mudslide
It's probably a protected programme then using Macrovision, specifically to stop you doing what you are wanting to.
Try it with some other programme like Sky news or something and see if it's better What was the prog/film ??? It is a BBC programme (Dawn French interviewing comediennes) that was on a few months ago. |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,115
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Must admit it doesnt sound like an immediate programme shouting to be protected so maybe it's something else. I'm sure a macrovision expert will pop along soon and tell us.
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mudslide
Must admit it doesnt sound like an immediate programme shouting to be protected so maybe it's something else. I'm sure a macrovision expert will pop along soon and tell us.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 14,718
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peppermintcream
Any experts there with any suggestions??
Without this information it's difficult to give advice, please give any other information you have such as VCR model etc. At the moment it's like sending a letter to the doctor and saying "my foot hurts, please post back the cause". |
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 77
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This is the first time I have recorded from Sky+.
Just to check the situation, I had tried the VCR recording from the TV and it works just fine. Tapes which have been recorded previously play back normally. I am using a scart lead. The VCR is Sony SLV-SE710G. |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Somerset
Posts: 3,048
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Hi there. Connection should be as follows:
VCR AV1 (in/out scart) ---> Sky+ VCR scart (probably the top one) Sky+ TV scart ---> TV AV1 (the TV's RGB scart) When recording to VCR, ensure the input is set to AV1. dont try and use the RF 'tuned' signal from Sky. Set the Sky+ picture options video output type to be RGB. This will get you a really good picture on the TV. When you play a VCR tape it will override the Sky picure on the TV. Similarly, when you press stop on the VCR the TV picture will revert to the one from Sky. Give this a try and come back if you have any more problems. Rgds, Scorp |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 77
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Thanks Scorpio.
As far as I can see the connections are as you have said, but I'm not sure about the RF signal. On the VCR the RF is set to 'Off' - is that how it should be? However I will check the Sky+ picture options and see what happens. |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Somerset
Posts: 3,048
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just set up your RF like this.......
Ext aerial ---> VCR RF in VCR RF out ---> TV RF in You dont need the Sky box in the RF loop unless you are sending the RF signal for Sky to a 2nd TV which is controlled using the RF cable with a 'magic eye' sender/channel changer. Rgds, Scorp |
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#11 |
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Banned User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 429
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The colour/B&W problem sounds like Macro is activated but apart from Sky Box Office ,no other channels are protected,at least they shouldn't be.
But other posts around the forum also seem to be having similar problems with C4 and C5 so it looks like Sky+ may have a Macro problem somewhere in a software update. Connections of any kind ,no matter how bad should give this problem,although if using RF you could be receving RF interference. Using Scart it should be fine |
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 77
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I checked the Sky+ video output and it is set to RGB, so that's not the problem.
The RF external aerial is in the Sky box (as recommended somewhere) but we have no other TV in the loop, so I will move that and see how we get on. Thanks for you help folks. |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,597
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peppermintcream
I checked the Sky+ video output and it is set to RGB, so that's not the problem.
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 14,718
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gomezz
That sounds like it could be exactly the problem. VCRs do not accept RGB video input. Try Composite or (if your VCR supports it) S-Video.
Also even in RGB mode composite is still available on the TV scart. |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,597
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobcar
If he's connected to the VCR port of Sky+ that's always composite only (outwards).
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gomezz
TBH I found the earlier connection advice confusing (and not necessarily what I would have suggested nor have explained it). And I am doubting that the OP even has it all connected up as per that advice,
What would your recommendation be for connecting everything up. I followed advice given elsewhere on this forum to ensure that I had the connections correct, but I am prepared to accept that I may have got something wrong.... I have a Sky+ box, a VCR, a DVD player and a TV. The TV has 3 scart sockets, the VCR has 2, the Sky+ box has 2 and the DVD player (not recorder) has 1. At the moment I have 2 Scart leads - a flat black one, and a chunky silver coloured one. I also have a TV aerial lead, which I would like to connect somewhere. Is there any more information you need to help you advise me on the correct set-up? Please bear in mind that you are dealing with a person who has limited technical know-how!
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#17 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,597
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I would suggest connecting the SCART leads (looks like you need another couple) as follows:-
Sky (TV SCART) --> (RGB Capable SCART- usually AV1) TV Sky (VCR SCART) --> (AV2) VCR (AV1) --> (AV2) TV DVD (AV1) --> (AV3) TV You may wish to swap the SCART cables for the Sky box and the DVD player over so that the DVD player is in the RGB capable socket on the TV as this should give the best picture of all. OTOH I watch my DVD player using S-Video which gives me pretty good results. I am suspicious of the black flat SCART cable you say you have. If this is the free one that came in the box then it may well be only partially wired and may only work if connected in one direction. You need not pay a fortune on SCART leads but look for ones which are fully wired and which are individually screened (the chunky silver sounds like it is). Pay no more than a tenner a lead. You need to daisy chain the terrestial aerial into the VCR and from there (using a patch co-ax cable) to the TV. Last edited by gomezz : 10-12-2006 at 12:40. |
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#18 |
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Somerset
Posts: 3,048
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gomezz
I would suggest connecting the SCART leads (looks like you need another couple) as follows:-
Sky (TV SCART) --> (RGB Capable SCART- usually AV1) TV Sky (VCR SCART) --> (AV2) VCR (AV1) --> (AV2) TV DVD (AV1) --> (AV3) TV . Rgds, Scorp |
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#19 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,597
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scorpio
....which was what I suggested earlier. The 2nd scart connection from the VCR to the TV AV2 is superfluous. The VCR will loop through the Sky+ VCR scart and the TV scart to give the VCR picture on the TV.
I find it easier to understand these things with a diagram and the way I use text to describe it is the nearest to a diagram I have seen. Last edited by gomezz : 10-12-2006 at 17:56. |
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#20 |
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Somerset
Posts: 3,048
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In my post I did specify in/out scart. On the lat two VCRs I have had (both getting on a bit now, tho) AV1 and AV2 have both been in/out capable.
Some VCRs actually cant do what I suggested as AV2 is sometimes in only with AV1 being out only. In this case, the VCR must sit upstream of the Sky box (between it and the TV) but can then sometimes suffer the effects of Macrovision when watching Sky as the signal has to pass through the VCR. Rgds, Scorp |
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 88
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my VCR (sony) did this with Supernova rockstar - I thought my AV out on sky box or AV in on video might be dodgy, since the video records terrestrial just fine.
Could it be this protection thing? cheers Chris |
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Somerset
Posts: 3,048
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Quite possible, the symptom is a wobbly (unwatchable) recording.
Scorp |
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