Newbie q - can HDD recorders record from any AV source?

[David M. Williams]

I'm sure this question has a very obvious answer but I'm having trouble
actually finding anything explicit.

I'm interested in the Topfield PVR. I understand it has a digital tv tuner
(two even, I think). However, are you restricted to only recording FTA on
it?

Does it - or any PVR - have additional AV inputs so I can connect the Foxtel
decoder or a VCR into it, and then record from those sources too?

Thanks !

[Shaw Goh \(NetPlus Micro Computers\)]

"David M. Williams" <ap_dmw@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:qX0Kd.136482$K7.68953@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> I'm sure this question has a very obvious answer but I'm having trouble
> actually finding anything explicit.
>
> I'm interested in the Topfield PVR. I understand it has a digital tv tuner
> (two even, I think). However, are you restricted to only recording FTA on
> it?
>
> Does it - or any PVR - have additional AV inputs so I can connect the
Foxtel
> decoder or a VCR into it, and then record from those sources too?
>
> Thanks !
>
The Topfield doesn't have AV input. I doubt any Digital PVR would have AV
input. Simply because it is recording in Digital, and hence no additional
processing.

[David M. Williams]

Thanks for that.

So, ultimately, a PVR can only record FTA television?

Disappointing :(


"Shaw Goh (NetPlus Micro Computers)" <shaw@netplus.com.au> wrote in message
news:41f89ea5$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
>
> "David M. Williams" <ap_dmw@bigpond.com> wrote in message
> news:qX0Kd.136482$K7.68953@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> I'm sure this question has a very obvious answer but I'm having trouble
>> actually finding anything explicit.
>>
>> I'm interested in the Topfield PVR. I understand it has a digital tv
>> tuner
>> (two even, I think). However, are you restricted to only recording FTA on
>> it?
>>
>> Does it - or any PVR - have additional AV inputs so I can connect the
> Foxtel
>> decoder or a VCR into it, and then record from those sources too?
>>
>> Thanks !
>>
> The Topfield doesn't have AV input. I doubt any Digital PVR would have AV
> input. Simply because it is recording in Digital, and hence no additional
> processing.

[DFP]

I don't think its dissapointing at all.
The Topfield PVR is a device designed to watch FTA Digital and record the
digital stream as is. If it were to record from Analog it would require
additional ADC(Analogue to Digital) Circuitry therefore increasing the price
considerable. IMHO it is the best PVR avaialble for SD Recording.
There are DVD Hard Disk Recorders out there for recording from Analogue
sources if that is what you need. I don't really see the practical
application of putting analogue video into the toppy, to waste space for
digital recordings.
"David M. Williams" <ap_dmw@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:ep1Kd.136554$K7.28472@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Thanks for that.
>
> So, ultimately, a PVR can only record FTA television?
>
> Disappointing :(
>
>
> "Shaw Goh (NetPlus Micro Computers)" <shaw@netplus.com.au> wrote in
> message news:41f89ea5$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
>>
>> "David M. Williams" <ap_dmw@bigpond.com> wrote in message
>> news:qX0Kd.136482$K7.68953@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>> I'm sure this question has a very obvious answer but I'm having trouble
>>> actually finding anything explicit.
>>>
>>> I'm interested in the Topfield PVR. I understand it has a digital tv
>>> tuner
>>> (two even, I think). However, are you restricted to only recording FTA
>>> on
>>> it?
>>>
>>> Does it - or any PVR - have additional AV inputs so I can connect the
>> Foxtel
>>> decoder or a VCR into it, and then record from those sources too?
>>>
>>> Thanks !
>>>
>> The Topfield doesn't have AV input. I doubt any Digital PVR would have
>> AV
>> input. Simply because it is recording in Digital, and hence no
>> additional
>> processing.
>
>

[JandB]

I don't think its dissapointing at all.
The Topfield PVR is a device designed to watch FTA Digital and record the
digital stream as is. If it were to record from Analog it would require
additional ADC(Analogue to Digital) Circuitry therefore increasing the price
considerable. IMHO it is the best PVR avaialble for SD Recording.
There are DVD Hard Disk Recorders out there for recording from Analogue
sources if that is what you need. I don't really see the practical
application of putting analogue video into the toppy, to waste space for
digital recordings.
"David M. Williams" <ap_dmw@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:ep1Kd.136554$K7.28472@news-server.bigpond.net.au...[color=blue]
> Thanks for that.
>
> So, ultimately, a PVR can only record FTA television?
>
> Disappointing :(
>


I agree with David that it is disappointing that we can't yet buy a box that can record from both FTA and Foxtel and also transfer to a harddrive/PC. I don't really mind whether the format is analogue or digital.

[DFP]

In fact also to mention it would need MPEG2 encoding ability. That is where
the real expense would be.
Foxtel are about to release a recording device though you may be interested
in details at:
http://www.primetimeanytime.tv/

"DFP" <parish@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:Oz1Kd.136580$K7.52228@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>I don't think its dissapointing at all.
> The Topfield PVR is a device designed to watch FTA Digital and record the
> digital stream as is. If it were to record from Analog it would require
> additional ADC(Analogue to Digital) Circuitry therefore increasing the
> price considerable. IMHO it is the best PVR avaialble for SD Recording.
> There are DVD Hard Disk Recorders out there for recording from Analogue
> sources if that is what you need. I don't really see the practical
> application of putting analogue video into the toppy, to waste space for
> digital recordings.
> "David M. Williams" <ap_dmw@bigpond.com> wrote in message
> news:ep1Kd.136554$K7.28472@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> Thanks for that.
>>
>> So, ultimately, a PVR can only record FTA television?
>>
>> Disappointing :(
>>
>>
>> "Shaw Goh (NetPlus Micro Computers)" <shaw@netplus.com.au> wrote in
>> message news:41f89ea5$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
>>>
>>> "David M. Williams" <ap_dmw@bigpond.com> wrote in message
>>> news:qX0Kd.136482$K7.68953@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>>> I'm sure this question has a very obvious answer but I'm having trouble
>>>> actually finding anything explicit.
>>>>
>>>> I'm interested in the Topfield PVR. I understand it has a digital tv
>>>> tuner
>>>> (two even, I think). However, are you restricted to only recording FTA
>>>> on
>>>> it?
>>>>
>>>> Does it - or any PVR - have additional AV inputs so I can connect the
>>> Foxtel
>>>> decoder or a VCR into it, and then record from those sources too?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks !
>>>>
>>> The Topfield doesn't have AV input. I doubt any Digital PVR would have
>>> AV
>>> input. Simply because it is recording in Digital, and hence no
>>> additional
>>> processing.
>>
>>
>
>

[David Angelovich]

JandB wrote:
> DFP Wrote:
>
>>I don't think its dissapointing at all.
>>The Topfield PVR is a device designed to watch FTA Digital and record
>>the
>>digital stream as is. If it were to record from Analog it would
>>require
>>additional ADC(Analogue to Digital) Circuitry therefore increasing the
>>price
>>considerable. IMHO it is the best PVR avaialble for SD Recording.
>>There are DVD Hard Disk Recorders out there for recording from
>>Analogue
>>sources if that is what you need. I don't really see the practical
>>application of putting analogue video into the toppy, to waste space
>>for
>>digital recordings.
>>"David M. Williams" <ap_dmw@bigpond.com> wrote in message
>>news:ep1Kd.136554$K7.28472@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>[color=darkred]
>>>Thanks for that.
>>>
>>>So, ultimately, a PVR can only record FTA television?
>>>
>>>Disappointing :(
>>>
>>
>
> I agree with David that it is disappointing that we can't yet buy a box
> that can record from both FTA and Foxtel and also transfer to a
> harddrive/PC. I don't really mind whether the format is analogue or
> digital.


What's really needed is a device that does for video devices what an
amplifier does for all your audio devices - takes all inputs and sends
them to a common output... Plus have some kind of recording functionality...
That's what I want anyway...
So far, it's some kind of media centre pc, which doesn't so much combine
other devices as much as it replaces them...

[David M. Williams]

>> I agree with David that it is disappointing that we can't yet buy a box
>> that can record from both FTA and Foxtel and also transfer to a
>> harddrive/PC. I don't really mind whether the format is analogue or
>> digital.

> What's really needed is a device that does for video devices what an
> amplifier does for all your audio devices - takes all inputs and sends
> them to a common output... Plus have some kind of recording
> functionality...
> That's what I want anyway...

Thanks to both of you; that's what I'd like.

I must confess to not really knowing the complexities of recording digital
vs analogue but what I'd love is just a single hard-disk based device that
will record whatever I am capable of watching on my tv, without needing
different equipment or settings for the input device.

[David Angelovich]

David M. Williams wrote:
>>>I agree with David that it is disappointing that we can't yet buy a box
>>>that can record from both FTA and Foxtel and also transfer to a
>>>harddrive/PC. I don't really mind whether the format is analogue or
>>>digital.
>
>
>>What's really needed is a device that does for video devices what an
>>amplifier does for all your audio devices - takes all inputs and sends
>>them to a common output... Plus have some kind of recording
>>functionality...
>>That's what I want anyway...
>
>
> Thanks to both of you; that's what I'd like.
>
> I must confess to not really knowing the complexities of recording digital
> vs analogue but what I'd love is just a single hard-disk based device that
> will record whatever I am capable of watching on my tv, without needing
> different equipment or settings for the input device.


And it should make coffee in the morning for you as well.

;)

[Joan]

But you'd worry if it made the toast.

"David Angelovich" <fake@fake.com> wrote in message
news:qx2Kd.136702$K7.129808@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

: >
: >>What's really needed is a device that does for video devices what an
: >>amplifier does for all your audio devices - takes all inputs and sends
: >>them to a common output... Plus have some kind of recording
: >>functionality...
: >>That's what I want anyway...
: >
: >
: > Thanks to both of you; that's what I'd like.
: >
: > I must confess to not really knowing the complexities of recording
digital
: > vs analogue but what I'd love is just a single hard-disk based device
that
: > will record whatever I am capable of watching on my tv, without needing
: > different equipment or settings for the input device.
:
:
: And it should make coffee in the morning for you as well.
:
: ;)

[quietguy]

However one of the Samsung DVD recorders has a firewire connection, and ??? -
might be better to buy two separate units - a DVD recorder and a Digital STB

DAvid

"Shaw Goh (NetPlus Micro Computers)" wrote:

> >
> The Topfield doesn't have AV input. I doubt any Digital PVR would have AV
> input. Simply because it is recording in Digital, and hence no additional
> processing.

[Matt Atterbury]

"David M. Williams" <ap_dmw@bigpond.com> writes:

> Thanks to both of you; that's what I'd like.
>
> I must confess to not really knowing the complexities of recording digital
> vs analogue but what I'd love is just a single hard-disk based device that
> will record whatever I am capable of watching on my tv, without needing
> different equipment or settings for the input device.

So, would a TiVo do what you want?

[Wayne Reid]

"quietguy" <david1133@REMOVE-TO-REPLYoptusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:41F8DDD8.ECBDB9A2@REMOVE-TO-REPLYoptusnet.com.au...

> > The Topfield doesn't have AV input. I doubt any Digital PVR would have
AV
> > input. Simply because it is recording in Digital, and hence no
additional
> > processing.

> However one of the Samsung DVD recorders has a firewire connection, and
??? -
> might be better to buy two separate units - a DVD recorder and a Digital
STB
>
> DAvid

Top posting fixed.

What good is firwire to the OP? It isn't an analog AV input - it's a digital
source. The OP was also asking about PVRs, as opposed to DVD recorders.

There is a way to use firewire, but it is clunky - that is via a DV Camera.
Feed the AV into the camera and let it do the digital conversion. Feed this
in turn, out via firewire. Trouble is, the DVD recorder with firewire
probably already has analog AV inputs as well for all I know. This still
doesn't address the OPs question of how to get analog video onto a PVR.

That was helpful wasn't it?

WR

[Kristal]

We will have dual tuner SD PVR with USB and analogue Audio/Video input for
recording from other sources in March this year.
It will be on our web site once available
www.kristal.com.au

>> > The Topfield doesn't have AV input. I doubt any Digital PVR would have
> AV
>> > input. Simply because it is recording in Digital, and hence no
> additional
>> > processing.
>
>> However one of the Samsung DVD recorders has a firewire connection, and
> ??? -
>> might be better to buy two separate units - a DVD recorder and a Digital
> STB
>>
>> DAvid
>
> Top posting fixed.
>
> What good is firwire to the OP? It isn't an analog AV input - it's a
> digital
> source. The OP was also asking about PVRs, as opposed to DVD recorders.
>
> There is a way to use firewire, but it is clunky - that is via a DV
> Camera.
> Feed the AV into the camera and let it do the digital conversion. Feed
> this
> in turn, out via firewire. Trouble is, the DVD recorder with firewire
> probably already has analog AV inputs as well for all I know. This still
> doesn't address the OPs question of how to get analog video onto a PVR.
>
> That was helpful wasn't it?
>
> WR
>
>

[David M. Williams]

"Matt Atterbury" <matt@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:7fz0m71u8.fsf@lyra.i-did-not-set--mail-host-address--so-shoot-me...

> "David M. Williams" <ap_dmw@bigpond.com> writes:

>> I must confess to not really knowing the complexities of recording
>> digital
>> vs analogue but what I'd love is just a single hard-disk based device
>> that
>> will record whatever I am capable of watching on my tv, without needing
>> different equipment or settings for the input device.

> So, would a TiVo do what you want?

I don't know; what does TiVo offer? Does that allow you to plug in different
devices to record from?

[David M. Williams]

"DFP" <parish@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:aL1Kd.136604$K7.32494@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Foxtel are about to release a recording device though you may be
> interested in details at:
> http://www.primetimeanytime.tv/

Ironically, I asked for information on aus.tv.digital if a PVR could take
Foxtel inputs and I got poo-pooed for thinking it was disappointing the
Topfield couldn't.

Yet, on aus.tv.pay people who are interested in the Foxtel PDR are being
poo-pooed for not buying a stand-alone PVR instead.

So, I'm lost! What PVR can I use which will save digital FTA and Foxtel onto
a hard disk?

[Gilgamesh]

"David M. Williams" <ap_dmw@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:IUaUd.177034$K7.142727@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> "DFP" <parish@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> news:aL1Kd.136604$K7.32494@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> Foxtel are about to release a recording device though you may be
>> interested in details at:
>> http://www.primetimeanytime.tv/
>
> Ironically, I asked for information on aus.tv.digital if a PVR could take
> Foxtel inputs and I got poo-pooed for thinking it was disappointing the
> Topfield couldn't.
>
> Yet, on aus.tv.pay people who are interested in the Foxtel PDR are being
> poo-pooed for not buying a stand-alone PVR instead.
>
> So, I'm lost! What PVR can I use which will save digital FTA and Foxtel
> onto a hard disk?

I would like the same but unfortunately they don't exist.
To record Foxtel u need access to their decryption algorithim as well as
the card and there is no way they are going to release that.
The only one that will record foxtel digital is the one they release and it
won't do FTA. Plus the restrictions they put on it makes it (in my opinion)
a waste of money.

>
>

[The Captain]

"Gilgamesh" <gilgamesh@spam.me.not.com> wrote in message
news:42216c97$1_1@news.iprimus.com.au...
>
> I would like the same but unfortunately they don't exist.
> To record Foxtel u need access to their decryption algorithim as well as
> the card and there is no way they are going to release that.
> The only one that will record foxtel digital is the one they release and
> it won't do FTA. Plus the restrictions they put on it makes it (in my
> opinion) a waste of money.
>

Not quite true.

I currently have a Foxtel subscription with a standard Pace digital box, and
also a Pioneer DVD PDR. Although I cannot "record" the digital signal, I
have quite capably recorded Foxtel programs using a standard SCART to RCA
cable plugged into one of the inputs on the back of the Pioneer. Once the
program is one the hard disk, I am then free to do what I want with it,
including burning it to DVD if I so wish.

Most PDR's with input capability should be able to do the same for you.

Cheers
Cap

[Gilgamesh]

"The Captain" <me@home.under.the.water.au> wrote in message
news:42218e12$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
> "Gilgamesh" <gilgamesh@spam.me.not.com> wrote in message
> news:42216c97$1_1@news.iprimus.com.au...
>>
>> I would like the same but unfortunately they don't exist.
>> To record Foxtel u need access to their decryption algorithim as well as
>> the card and there is no way they are going to release that.
>> The only one that will record foxtel digital is the one they release and
>> it won't do FTA. Plus the restrictions they put on it makes it (in my
>> opinion) a waste of money.
>>
>
> Not quite true.
>
> I currently have a Foxtel subscription with a standard Pace digital box,
> and also a Pioneer DVD PDR. Although I cannot "record" the digital
> signal, I have quite capably recorded Foxtel programs using a standard
> SCART to RCA cable plugged into one of the inputs on the back of the
> Pioneer. Once the program is one the hard disk, I am then free to do what
> I want with it, including burning it to DVD if I so wish.
>
> Most PDR's with input capability should be able to do the same for you.

But that is not what the OP wanted, they wanted to record the digital
signal.
Your solution has the signal converted to analogue and then back to digital
to record it.

>
> Cheers
> Cap
>
>

[Wayne Reid]

"Gilgamesh" <gilgamesh@spam.me.not.com> wrote in message
news:4222d7d0_1@news.iprimus.com.au...
> "The Captain" <me@home.under.the.water.au> wrote in message
> news:42218e12$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
> > "Gilgamesh" <gilgamesh@spam.me.not.com> wrote in message
> > news:42216c97$1_1@news.iprimus.com.au...

> > I currently have a Foxtel subscription with a standard Pace digital box,
> > and also a Pioneer DVD PDR. Although I cannot "record" the digital
> > signal, I have quite capably recorded Foxtel programs using a standard
> > SCART to RCA cable plugged into one of the inputs on the back of the
> > Pioneer. Once the program is one the hard disk, I am then free to do
what
> > I want with it, including burning it to DVD if I so wish.
> >
> > Most PDR's with input capability should be able to do the same for you.
>
> But that is not what the OP wanted, they wanted to record the digital
> signal.
> Your solution has the signal converted to analogue and then back to
digital
> to record it.

Read the OP again. The solution proposed by the Captain fits totally with
what the OP was asking. The OP actually asked if the Toppy has AV inputs so
he could connect a Fox box or a VCR to. The Captain's only mistake is that
he's going on about a Pioneer DVD recorder as opposed to a Topfield PVR. The
principle in Caps post is fine though.

WR