Capture Foxtel with Digicrystal?

[uneek]

Does anyone know if it's possible to capture Foxtel with one of these PVR's? Im not too flash with all the different types of inputs etc so not sure if it'll work or not.

Thanks

[Colin 2905]

Does anyone know if it's possible to capture Foxtel with one of these PVR's? Im not too flash with all the different types of inputs etc so not sure if it'll work or not.

PVR's don't have inputs.

[uneek]

PVR's don't have inputs.

ahh cool, thanks for not telling me im a retard then

so Im assuming the best bet would be a dvd recorder then eh?

[Venus]

ahh cool, thanks for not telling me im a retard then

so Im assuming the best bet would be a dvd recorder then eh?

The iQ is much better that the usual STU plus DVD recorder, for ease of recording plus ability to watch and record, or record two different channels.

[plumgas]

The iQ is much better that the usual STU plus DVD recorder, for ease of recording plus ability to watch and record, or record two different channels.

depends if you want to rent it or own one

[uneek]

depends if you want to rent it or own one

definitely own. I dont like the whole extra CPM for the IQ box. And does IQ burn to DVD or is it just like a PVR?

[Colin 2905]

Your best bet might be a DVD recorder with a hard drive. I've got an MTV TS-2080 that I feed an SD STB into for FTA TV, and a satellite STB into for SelecTV.

There's a 20-page or so thread on the TS-2080, but the long and short is:

$349 from Coles

Fan is noisy but can be made quieter

HDD to DVD transfers require a workaround to ensure reliabilty

You may get a fairly unresponsive remote

You may get a dud unit

Otherwise there are other brands from around $400 upwards, but some of those aren't without issues either.

[uneek]

thanks for the info

[uneek]

Your best bet might be a DVD recorder with a hard drive. I've got an MTV TS-2080 that I feed an SD STB into for FTA TV, and a satellite STB into for SelecTV.

There's a 20-page or so thread on the TS-2080, but the long and short is:

$349 from Coles

Fan is noisy but can be made quieter

HDD to DVD transfers require a workaround to ensure reliabilty

You may get a fairly unresponsive remote

You may get a dud unit

Otherwise there are other brands from around $400 upwards, but some of those aren't without issues either.

BTW what is the advantage of getting a recorder that has a hdd in it?

[mddawson]

BTW what is the advantage of getting a recorder that has a hdd in it?

You can record your Foxtel to the HDD to timeshift it with the option of editing the recording and burning it to DVD if you want to keep it. A DVD only recorder is very limiting in that you can only record 3 hrs to DVD (in reasonable quality) where a HDD will give you 30 or more hrs in near broadcast quality. Once you have used a DVD/HDD recorder, you will never go back to a DVD only recorder.

[jokiin]

Once you have used a DVD/HDD recorder, you will never go back to a DVD only recorder.

Have to agree, I have a few of each and the hard drive version is much more versatile, I almost never use a regular recorder anymore

[Venus]

Have to agree, I have a few of each and the hard drive version is much more versatile, I almost never use a regular recorder anymore

I have a HDD/DVD recorder that I used to use to record foxtel before I got the iQ; only use it for archiving now. Setting up recording on the iQ is so much more user friendly. Go to the TV guide, press record to schedule recording. Couldn't be easier. As I've mentioned before, even my husband can do it.

[jokiin]

I have the IQ also, works quite well, not perfect but as close as we can get at the moment I guess.

[darwin_fish]

I have austar and of course they don't have a PVR for it, but I have just bought a HHD dvd recorder and it is fantastic, BUT remember you must have your foxtel box on the right channel and it cannot change channels by itself (eg if you go out and want to tape 2 different things on 2 different channels it cannot do this) If you want it for something like this think seriously about the IQ. Advantages of a HHD dvd recorder is of course the ability to record a marthon or series and burn the lot to a set of DVD's. Hope that helps a bit

[Colin 2905]

BUT remember you must have your foxtel box on the right channel and it cannot change channels by itself

I'd have the same problem with the box that I bought to use with SelecTV. A fancier box might have timers that can change channels; I don't know. But I'm finding that most things are repeated (and repeated, and repeated), so it'll be easy enough to record it at another time.

I wonder if any of these whizz-bang remotes can be programmed to change channels for you at the right time, if you leave it pointing in the right direction???

[mddawson]

I have austar and of course they don't have a PVR for it, but I have just bought a HHD dvd recorder and it is fantastic, BUT remember you must have your foxtel box on the right channel and it cannot change channels by itself (eg if you go out and want to tape 2 different things on 2 different channels it cannot do this) If you want it for something like this think seriously about the IQ. Advantages of a HHD dvd recorder is of course the ability to record a marthon or series and burn the lot to a set of DVD's. Hope that helps a bit

I think you are mistaken as I have a non-IQ Foxtel box and it automatically changes channels perfectly well. I select the programs I want to watch/record into the planner and push the red button for the Foxtel box to automatically change to that channel. I have been using it like this for a couple of years now.

EDIT: I just noticed that you are on Austar who are still using the Irdeto2 signal. The Foxtel "digital" service uses NDS videoguard in combination with other NDS products so you get an interactive 7 day program guide/planner as well as interactive TV services. The program guide allows you to place a program into the planner which can then be set to start/change channels automatically. The only thing the planner lacks compared to the IQ version is series link (although I have read numerous post the it is not always reliable).

[knifepoint]

I think you are mistaken as I have a non-IQ Foxtel box and it automatically changes channels perfectly well. I select the programs I want to watch/record into the planner and push the red button for the Foxtel box to automatically change to that channel. I have been using it like this for a couple of years now.

EDIT: I just noticed that you are on Austar who are still using the Irdeto2 signal. The Foxtel "digital" service uses NDS videoguard in combination with other NDS products so you get an interactive 7 day program guide/planner as well as interactive TV services. The program guide allows you to place a program into the planner which can then be set to start/change channels automatically. The only thing the planner lacks compared to the IQ version is series link (although I have read numerous post the it is not always reliable).

before you crap on anymore, Austar has been digital and interactive for bloody years and years and has also had a 7 day EPG which you could set notification timers on.

[mddawson]

before you crap on anymore, Austar has been digital and interactive for bloody years and years and has also had a 7 day EPG which you could set notification timers on.

Sorry, I thought Austar were still using the older system. How come darwin_fish who claims to have Austar doesn't know this or does Austar only notify and not change channels?