|
Vintage Television and Video Vintage television and video equipment, programmes, VCRs etc. |
|
Thread Tools |
29th Sep 2015, 8:40 pm | #1 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 77
|
Freeview box with satellite control
I have a Toshiba V852UK VCR that I used to use along with an Philips ITV Digital box, mainly because of the Satellite Control feature but due to the bitrate change it no longer works. I tried a random Philips Freeview box off ebay but the box doesn't respond to the Satellite Control signals, no matter what codes I try so I'm assuming not all boxes work with Satellit Control.
As I understand it, a signal is sent though the SCART cable that triggers the box to change chanel on account of when using the ITV Digital box the boxes were on 2 seperate shelves on the cabinet. But I am having doubts as everyone refers to the small black IR window on the top edge and the VCR sending IR signals though that IR port to change the channel on the box. Can anyone recommend a compatable Freeview box compatable with Satellite Control on the V852UK? Thanks |
3rd Oct 2015, 9:26 pm | #2 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 77
|
Re: Freeview box with satellite control
Well took the plunge and won an older Sony DTV box. Fingers crossed I was hoping that would work. Alas no.
As a trial I connected the Philips ITV Digital box and the Satellite control (channel change) worked just perfectly. It's grrrrrr annoying that the old digibox is working just fine and would still be in use if Freeview hadn't changed the bit rate |
4th Oct 2015, 6:54 pm | #3 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: High Wycombe, Bucks. UK.
Posts: 811
|
Re: Freeview box with satellite control
There may be another solution to your problem.
Many Freeview boxes have a built-in timer facility that can be used to switch the box on to a specific channel at a time of your choosing. Sometimes it's as easy as opening the electronic programme guide (EPG), then highlighting a programme in the future and pressing OK (or the red button on some boxes). On other Freeview boxes, there's a Timer option in the menu - you can then set the channel you wish to record, and the time. When the programme starts, the box will automatically change to the required channel. However, you will still need to set your video recorder's timer to start recording from your Freeview box at the same time. This means setting two timers, but it's not much more inconvenient. Some Freeview boxes allow you to set daily or weekly timers which makes it easier to record a series. But if you do a lot of recording from Freeview, consider a box with a hard disk inside, commonly called a PVR (Personal Video Recorder). In case you hadn't noticed, secondhand Freeview PVR boxes are ridiculously cheap these days, especially those which are not high-definition. £10 - £15 should get you an older model such as a Thomson DTI6300 or Humax PVR9200T or one of the many Vestel models (Alba / Bush / Goodmans / Grundig). When buying a secondhand box, always make sure you get the right remote control with it - a replacement remote will cost as much as another box - and be prepared to replace a few capacitors in the power supply if it's several years old. If you really like recording Freeview directly to VHS, there are a few VHS+DVD recorders with Freeview tuners built-in, though I would hesitate to recommend them. Some are complicated to use, and the VHS / DVD decks are often flimsy. |
4th Oct 2015, 9:37 pm | #4 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 77
|
Re: Freeview box with satellite control
Hi
Thanks for your message. I would like to keep the 852 going as its a cracking bit of kit and loved the Satellite Control feature. I have tried double timer-ing (DTV box and PVR) which is a real pain as I inevitably forget to set one or the other. The more I look into it, only "On Digital" and "ITV Digital" branded boxes that were fitted with the feature, however quite a few Satellite and some cable boxes seem S/C enabled. OEM DTV boxes seem to have not bothered to include it in the firmware. I have used Topfield and other PVRs however most the media and films we have are on VHS in great quality. Call me stubborn but seems such a waste to move over to PVR for the sake of it |