[myss]

...but I've always wondered is there was a way a person could set up their DVD HDD to record from some of the channels on their Sky or Virgin Media box?

I'm guessing the answer is no and you would have to either put the box to be on the channel you wish to record from at the time you set the DVD HDD, or just invest in a Sky/VM plus that might do the job???

[DNZ711]

Manualy set the times to record from EXT 'x' (Scart input from Sky / VM) then activate the 'Auto Vuew / Auto Tune' option on ur Set top box on the programme you want to record??

[Willie Wontie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by myss

I'm guessing the answer is no

The answer is yes.

On Sky and on every idTV I have ever seen (and I imagine on Virgin) you select the programmes using the EPG that you want to watch/record. One minute before the programme is about to start the digibox/TV switches to the correct digital channel. As long as your DVDR (or VCR) is set to start recording from AV in at the time that the programme is due to start, it will record these programmes regardless of which channel(s) they are on.

[chrisjr]

Except of course that won't work if you weant to watch a footie match on Sky Sports and record a film on a movie channel at the same time for example. Because the basic Sky box cannot tune into two different channels at the same time. Nor can it feed one to the TV and a second to the recorder.

Same goes for the basic Virgin cable box or a Freeview box hooked up to a recorder that does not have Freeview built in.

If all you want is the ability to record something while you are out then that is entirely possible with a recorder and basic Sky/Virgin/Freeview box. But if you want to be able to watch one channel and record an different one at the same time then you either need a + box for Sky or Virgin or a second basic Sky or Virgin box.

In the latter case you would dedicate one box to watching and one to recording. Possible to do with a multi output LNB on Sky and two lots of cable to the dish. Not so sure about Virgin.

[bobcar]

If you subscribe to Sky then getting a Sky+ is a no brainer really unless there are physical limitations such as a single feed in a flat. Anyone who can afford the monthly Sky payments can afford the installation costs of Sky+ (even going without Sky for a few months to pay for Sky+ would be worth it in the long run, it makes that much difference)