Can i record TV without a Sky+/V+ box?

SideWinder · 1 Sep 2010 at 20:24

It seems like it is quite expensive to get a V+ or Sky+ box so i'm just wondering if there is another way of recording TV?

I know there are HDD recorders around but would they work in tandem with Virgin Media, using cable?

lucid · 1 Sep 2010 at 20:29

Yes, you can record the output of a Virgin Media box. You just hook up the SCART connection.

SideWinder · 1 Sep 2010 at 20:32

lucid said:
Yes, you can record the output of a Virgin Media box. You just hook up the SCART connection.

What sort of kit would i need to do this?

Anything you can recommend?

Edit: And can it work using a schedule, just like Sky+/V+?

lucid · 1 Sep 2010 at 22:51

most normal DVD recorders... and DVD Recorders with hard drives too. Given the medium term reliability of DVD Recorders you might be as well choosing something cheap.

What won't work is Freeview PVRs and Freesat PVRs. They don't record from an external source; only from their own TV/Satellite tuner.

If you want to record from Virgin using a simple point & click from Virgin's schedule then you really need to bite the bullet and go for the V+ service. That sort of integration isn't available on a 3rd party recorder IFAIK. It's a similar story with Sky.

You can set reminders on Sky, and then set the DVD recorder to record it's AV input for an ovelapping time. It's not the best solution, but short of paying for the extra recording functionality as part of a step-up package (Sky+ recording now free with Sky, but chargeable on Virgin???) then I don't believe there are many alternatives.