MySky hdd recorder

Prometheus · Post by **Prometheus** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 5:14 pm

OK, it's coming out next month. Sky rang me on Friday to say expect a visit on Dec 12th for installation.

So perhaps this means goodbye to my old vhs/dvd machine, and that has got me thinking.

Ideally, I'd like to use MySky to get Sky, route that thru a dvd recorder and then it hits the tv set. That way, I could dump down to dvd programmes that I want to keep, while using the hdd heaps to record lots and lots of stuff. And the vhs machine goes to the garage to sit in dust, waiting for a time it is needed (or when the kids want to watch some old vhs's and I'll dump them to dvd too).

Is there a flaw to my cunning plan ? Is it too simple ?
MySky -> DVD recorder -> TV set

Currently I have :
Sky -> VHS -> TV set

I saw in DSE dvd recorders for under $300, they don't have a hdd in them (don't want one anyway).

Waddayareckonthen ?

Major Havoc · Post by **Major Havoc** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:01 pm

Dunno much about the new DVD Recorders, but I think that you won't get the best quality going straight to DVD. Whereas going directly to HDD, you will get better quality.

Purely because of the speed at which you are writing to the two different types of media.

Anyone else shed any light.

Cheers

Prometheus · Post by **Prometheus** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:28 am

Well after spending a bit of time last night, and diggin thru the Sky FAQ's, it seems yes, I can add a dvd recorder to the output of MySky and then go to the tv.

What I would do is record shows to hdd when I want to, and then burn off to DVD when I need to clear up space, join series together, etc. Problem is of course, is that it can only be done in real time

Viking · Post by **Viking** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:29 pm

If ya dont wanna do it in realtime, build a PVR from an old computer.
That way ya dont have to stuff around with the Skybox, except to change channels.
I've built my own, and have all the bells and whistles that the new sky box will have, and then some. Plus its all completely customisable. And I already have it. Just gotta work out the best way to burn a DVD with Linux. I'm currently using Mythtv.
Let me know if this interests ya and I'll post some more details.

P.S. ya could also use it to capture the Nascar Videos if your graphics card on your gaming PC has TV-out. No more Fraps, realtime capture, instant mpeg.

Skuzzlebutt · Post by **Skuzzlebutt** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 1:33 pm

So Mr Prom. You get your MySky yet?

Prometheus · Post by **Prometheus** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 2:53 pm

Ahh, no, not yet.

Had a slight water problem last month which required a new pipe to be laid from the roadside into the house.

So that basically blew the budget. Tried tagging one onto my new work contract that I have just signed, but then decided I'd rather check out Hawaii TV regularly.

And now that I'm not single anymore, I have to think twice about spending all my money on just me

Skuzzlebutt · Post by **Skuzzlebutt** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:03 pm

Lol. Yes, fairy nuff.

I've scored a free one through work and after a few weeks delay (so much for priority media installs...) they reckon it'll be installed in the next couple of days. Like you, I'm curious to see about backing up unwatched programmes and the like.

And when you say "Hawaii TV'...wot eggsactly does that mean? Hmmm?

Prometheus · Post by **Prometheus** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:34 pm

cough . . . research, seeing how other tv networks implement equipment use and policy on ummm . . . the day to day err . . . needs of the viewer. Yeah that's it

Skuzzlebutt · Post by **Skuzzlebutt** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:44 pm

Ah, a jolly. Nice work son.

Skuzzlebutt · Post by **Skuzzlebutt** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:46 am

So I've had MySky for a week now and it rocks. Twin tuners mean I can record two programs at once while watching something I recorded earlier...it's TV heaven (if only there was anything decent on...).

Best of though is it's so much faster to change channels than an standard Sky Digital box.

Haven't tried to get any of the video off the thing yet...but that USB port looks promising.

Prometheus · Post by **Prometheus** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:55 am

Interesting..... I wonder if you can drop in an external usb hdd and dump something down ? Or maybe just throw the output into a dvd burner.

How's the stack of recorded and unwatched tv shows ?

Skuzzlebutt · Post by **Skuzzlebutt** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 9:27 am

Prometheus wrote:
How's the stack of recorded and unwatched tv shows ?

Getting bigger by the minute. Still at 80% free space though

Plenty of room left to record 3 News...

Prometheus · Post by **Prometheus** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:19 pm

Good man, my children will have food on their table thanks to you watching 3News.

Typhoon · Post by **Typhoon** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 4:20 pm

What does it cost to upgrade to mysky?

I would probably have a hard time to justify it as I very seldom watch TV, only reason I even have sky is for Discovery and History Channels, and if I miss something, I can download it off the Internet in a few minutes anyway.

Viking · Post by **Viking** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 7:04 pm

Typhoon wrote:What does it cost to upgrade to mysky?

I would probably have a hard time to justify it as I very seldom watch TV, only reason I even have sky is for Discovery and History Channels, and if I miss something, I can download it off the Internet in a few minutes anyway.

I believe its in the order of several hundred dollars to "Hire" the recorder, plus a monthly fee.