[pale rider]

I bought my mum and sister a PVR last year so they can record freeview programmes to hard disc (Obviously). They currently have an analogue tv. Now I want to get them an LCD tv with built in freeview. The question is how can they watch the PVR on the tv? i mean will the two freeview signals clash? And how can you tell the tv freeview signal from the PVR freeview signal? I can foresee gnashing of teeth wondering whether i'm watching one or t'other. It may all become clear when i buy the telly but i'd like to know upfront.

[r_mitchell85]

no problems at all.

the PVR will just plug into the scart socket on the TV. I assume that when you switch the PVR on, your TV will automatically select the correct AV channel...

you can either view freeview directly through your TV, or watch freeview through your PVR - which means you will be able to live pause / rewind (if your PVR actually does this)

[eddiewood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pale rider

I bought my mum and sister a PVR last year so they can record freeview programmes to hard disc (Obviously). They currently have an analogue tv. Now I want to get them an LCD tv with built in freeview. The question is how can they watch the PVR on the tv? i mean will the two freeview signals clash? And how can you tell the tv freeview signal from the PVR freeview signal? I can foresee gnashing of teeth wondering whether i'm watching one or t'other. It may all become clear when i buy the telly but i'd like to know upfront.

If you are never going to watch the integrated tuner then don't plug an aerial into it, problem solved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pale rider

I bought my mum and sister a PVR last year so they can record freeview programmes to hard disc (Obviously). They currently have an analogue tv. Now I want to get them an LCD tv with built in freeview. The question is how can they watch the PVR on the tv? i mean will the two freeview signals clash? And how can you tell the tv freeview signal from the PVR freeview signal? I can foresee gnashing of teeth wondering whether i'm watching one or t'other. It may all become clear when i buy the telly but i'd like to know upfront.

You will be able to toggle between the two via the remote by using the 'TV' and 'AV' buttons. You will also have an onscreen icon that informs you which tuner is being used, TV or PVR. Don't worry the signals won't clash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddiewood

If you are never going to watch the integrated tuner then don't plug an aerial into it, problem solved.

...and a problem gained as they will not be able to watch the TV when recording.

[eddiewood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyW

...and a problem gained as they will not be able to watch the TV when recording.

A PVR that doesn't let you record one and watch another channel?

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddiewood

A PVR that doesn't let you record one and watch another channel?

Not all freeview PVR's have twin tuners, if it only has a single tuner you would need to loop the RF to the TV to be able to view the TV (analogue/digital) when recording.

[eddiewood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyW

Not all freeview PVR's have twin tuners, if it only has a single tuner you would need to loop the RF to the TV to be able to view the TV (analogue/digital) when recording.

If it's an old single tuner, bin it!

[broadz]

Ignore what Eddie says - of course you want to connect an aerial to the TV, else why buy them a TV with an integrated Freeview tuner.

That way, if all they want to do is watch Freeview, the external PVR does not even need to be switched on. If they want to pause or rewind the programme that they are watching, watch via the PVR (so via the AV1 input on the TV). If they want to record two digital programmes simultaneously, use the PVR to do this, and if they want to watch a third programme at the same time they can do that via the integrated digital tuner on the TV.

They are unlikely to be confused about whether they are watching the integrated tuner or the PVR because in all honesty - what does it matter? Both tuners will pick up the same channels. But it is not difficult to know that if you have selected AV1 on the TV you are watching whichever Freeview channel your PVR is switced to - and if you are watching programme number X on the TV, you are watching whichever Freeview channel your TV is switched to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddiewood

If it's an old single tuner, bin it!

Single tuner PVR's aren't necessarily old, plenty of current models only feature a single tuner.

A second tuner is not required if you have a IDTV, unless you do a lot of timeshifting then a second tuner would be beneficial. In either case you would still connect the RF to the TV.

[bobcar]

In addition to what Broadz said I would just add that if SCART control is enabled as well then the TV should switch to the PVR automatically so that unless they specifically switch to the TV tuner they will be watching the PVR whenever it is switched on.

[eddiewood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyW

Single tuner PVR's aren't necessarily old, plenty of current models only feature a single tuner.

A second tuner is not required if you have a IDTV, unless you do a lot of timeshifting then a second tuner would be beneficial. In either case you would still connect the RF to the TV.

If you are happy to recommend single tuner PVRs then, erm, fine.

[eddiewood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadz

Ignore what Eddie says - of course you want to connect an aerial to the TV, else why buy them a TV with an integrated Freeview tuner.

The suggestion was that there WOULD be confusion. Not plugging an aerial in removes that confusion. If that suggestion doesn't work for you, fine, but the OP may be happy to accept that idea as being perfectly valid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddiewood

If you are happy to recommend single tuner PVRs then, erm, fine.

Who's recommending single tuner PVR's?

Just pointing out that not connecting the TV up so it can't receive any broadcast signal is not good advice, regardless of how many tuners the PVR has.

If you find it acceptable to switch the PVR on everytime you want to watch TV or have no access to any TV channel when you are recording two programmes on your twin tuner PVR that's your choice, but it certainly isn't the way to connect or recommended to get the best out of the equipment mentioned.

[broadz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddiewood

The suggestion was that there WOULD be confusion. Not plugging an aerial in removes that confusion. If that suggestion doesn't work for you, fine, but the OP may be happy to accept that idea as being perfectly valid.

No, the OP was asking whether confusion would arise because he had multiple pieces of kit being able to receive Freeview channels. The answer is no, confusion will not arise, so connect everything you can to the roof aerial.

You didn't tell people that they shouldn't connect their TV to the aerial in the olden days, before digital TV, just because they had a video recorder that had its own analogue tuner, even though they could watch TV through the VCR being connected to the TV by scart. So why now tell them that they shouldn't connect their TV to the aerial just because they have the means of watching digital TV via both their own television tuner and one in an external piece of kit?

[Fussy]

A little tip! is to read the manual unless you plan on buying second hand which i don't advise, of course if it has a long warranty still then cool.

[eddiewood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyW

Who's recommending single tuner PVR's?

Just pointing out that not connecting the TV up so it can't receive any broadcast signal is not good advice, regardless of how many tuners the PVR has.

If you find it acceptable to switch the PVR on everytime you want to watch TV or have no access to any TV channel when you are recording two programmes on your twin tuner PVR that's your choice, but it certainly isn't the way to connect or recommended to get the best out of the equipment mentioned.

Like I said elsewhere, the OP may find it perfectly acceptable not to plug in the integrated tuner and therefore save confusion. It is irrelevant what you think of that advice, pointing out that it is not good advice is presumptuous on your part.

The fact that I actually have two PVRs plus the integrated tuner and can record four channels is also irrelevant to the OP.

However, I tire of this, say what you will. Goodbye.

[eddiewood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadz

No, the OP was asking whether confusion would arise because he had multiple pieces of kit being able to receive Freeview channels. The answer is no, confusion will not arise, so connect everything you can to the roof aerial.

You didn't tell people that they shouldn't connect their TV to the aerial in the olden days, before digital TV, just because they had a video recorder that had its own analogue tuner, even though they could watch TV through the VCR being connected to the TV by scart. So why now tell them that they shouldn't connect their TV to the aerial just because they have the means of watching digital TV via both their own television tuner and one in an external piece of kit?

"I bought my mum and sister a PVR last year so they can record freeview programmes to hard disc (Obviously). They currently have an analogue tv. Now I want to get them an LCD tv with built in freeview."

"And how can you tell the tv freeview signal from the PVR freeview signal? I can foresee gnashing of teeth wondering whether i'm watching one or t'other."

There's the confusion. Unless the "mum and sister" know about this stuff they WILL get confused. They'll be trying to use the PVR functions when watching the integrated tuner.

The advice was to the OP based on what was in the post, not what you want to do with your telly, which is IRRELEVANT.

As per the other poster, have the last say, I've better things to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddiewood

Like I said elsewhere, the OP may find it perfectly acceptable not to plug in the integrated tuner and therefore save confusion. It is irrelevant what you think of that advice, pointing out that it is not good advice is presumptuous on your part.

The fact that I actually have two PVRs plus the integrated tuner and can record four channels is also irrelevant to the OP.

However, I tire of this, say what you will. Goodbye.

There would be no confusion, a simple explanation, which has been given more than once was all that was required to give peace of mind to the OP until they can get the equipment up and running, they have even stated all may become clear when they buy the TV.

Omitting the RF connection to the TV would result in restricting the user to certain functions and usability of their equipment and was not the best advice available to them, bringing this to the attention of the OP was relevant.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddiewood

Like I said elsewhere, the OP may find it perfectly acceptable not to plug in the integrated tuner and therefore save confusion.

How would it 'save confusion'?, it's EXACTLY the same as your old TV and VCR - to watch TV you use the tuner in the TV, and to record you use the tuner in the VCR (PVR) - it's no different with Freeview, it's only this set-top box updating that has confused people.

[pale rider]

Thanks for all your replies and I didn't mean to start a literary punch up. It IS a twin tuner but that's not important right now. I'll get the telly and see what transpires.

[niall campbell]

just to throw a spanner in the works does the old telly work fine ?