Freeview +

[Nadeac]

Hi looking to purchase a freeview+ box with twin tuners {not to sure which make yet } ,but is it possible to record 2 channels whilst watching a 3rd or will it only record 2 at the same time if u are watching one { or out the house with with the tv turned off ,if u get my drift!}

From what i can make out with SKY+ u can only record 2 channels whilst watching one its not possible to be watching a 3rd

Thanks Mark

 

[Diamond Joe]

Hi, I've got a Humax 9300T PVR, this will record 2 channels at once and you can watch some of the other channels whilst it does so, I've never checked but I suspect the available channels are on the same mux as the ones you're recording - in fact, at the next opportunity I'll double check that!

Alternatively you can record 2 channels and watch a previously recorded programme at the same time.

 

[Nadeac]

How come its only some channels and what do u mean by mux

thanks

 

[Diamond Joe]

TV is transmitted within certain narrow frequency bands, or carriers, commonly known as channels. In the original analogue system only one station was broadcast per carrier, but with the newer DVB-T system (Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial) several stations are transmitted on one carrier. To combine these stations onto one carrier they are mixed together in a piece of equipment called a multiplexer - or mux - before transmission.

I have to emphasise that I used the term channel very loosely in my first post where, perhaps, I should have used station, sorry for any confusion.

Now this is where I have to start guessing; Why does the PVR only allow you to only watch some channels whilst recording? My thoughts on this are that it only has two tuners, so can only be locked into two carriers from the transmitter, as I said above these will contain several stations each, so the PVR will only be able to decode the stations available to it from these 2 tuners. Therefore anything on any of the other carriers cannot be decoded by the PVR, and so are unavailable for you to view.

But as I said before, I'm only guessing and I'll double check this when I next get the opportunity.

Hope that helps m8.

 

[Diamond Joe]

When I got home this evening I donned my white lab coat, got out my clip board, put on my best pair of NHS specs and carried out some extensive testing on my Humax, here's what I found:

It appears what I wrote before is mostly correct; Firstly I set it to record 2 stations on different channels (42 & 43) and proved that only the other stations on channels 42 & 43 are available to watch. Next I set it to record 2 stations on channel 42 (and this produced an interesting result) this time every other station was available, it's obvious the PVR is only using one tuner to provide the information for recording, which I didn't previously realise, the other is available to tune into any of the other channels. So that's better than I thought initially.

I have to make clear that if you're recording one station then you can view all of the other stations regardless of what the recorder is doing. These things are great, they make VHS look like a wind up gramophone.

 

[duncansbby]

You could record 2 channels on the Humax, and watch a third on your previous Freeview eg the one on your current TV, presuming you already have Freeview. However, you would be indeed be blessed to find three TV programmes on at the same time which you wanted to watch/record

 

[Diamond Joe]

duncansbby: However, you would be indeed be blessed to find three TV programmes on at the same time which you wanted to watch/record

LOL, a very good point my friend.