Page 1 of Will a DVD Recorder pick up the VideoPlus code from a Freeview box?

If I were to buy a Panny E55 recorder how do I program it using Videoplus. If I use the timer on the Freeview box to switch to the correct channel will the code be be detected at the SCART input and trigger recording?

a dvd recorder will only do that if it has express programming and a built in videoplus what you should do is check the box of the one you wish to by and see if these features are listed. if it has these and it can use the terrestial signals of an ordinary tv channel it will pick up from any other sorce for example sky,freeview ect...

it would work in the same way a vhs recorder works

Freeview receivers do not use VideoPlus codes. So it will not work.

You will need to set the Timers on both the DVD recorder and the Freeview Box seperately.

Best option is to buy a Freeview PVR, such as the Humax PVR8000T.

Best option is to buy a Freeview PVR, such as the Humax PVR8000T.

Probably the best of the Freeview PVRs but you can`t archive on that. I believe there is a Sony DVD Recorder comming shortly with freeview tuner & it wouldn`t surprise me if others also came up very shortly with the same.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 3rd November 2004, 08:29

The E55 does PDC as well, I set my freeview timer and when it came on I then hit the record button on the E55 ( it gives you 30 min segments if you use the record button on the machine) then I went bed,it would be easy to set the timer on both and overlap and edit using a RAM disc, Tell what to watch out for though, I was watching a film the other night and it finished about 3.20 am at about 3.00 am I got a automatic pop up telling me that ithe freeview box was looking to see if there was a new firmware update ,it then blanked out the film and spent about 5 mins searching and updating the firmware for the freeview box,this is of course recorded so you lose a chunk of your film.

I have since been to the menu section on my freeview box and disabled the automatic firmware upgrade and do it myself every month along with the new channel search as well.

By the way E55 great piece of kit,apart from the remote. :)

This item was edited on Wednesday, 3rd November 2004, 10:22

Thanks for the info. I`ve been doing some research of my own and found the Sony unit mentioned...£375 + :o I also spoke to Panasonic who say they do not have plans for a similar unit in the near future.
However comma the E55 has QLINK (I think that`s the version) and Sony freeview boxes have SMARTLINK (forgive me if I get the terms wrong). Other manufactures have their own varieties of ...LINK and they "talk" to each other. Apparently if you program the STB it will kick off the recorder as long as you have a fully wired (21 pin) SCART lead.
To that end, today I managed to source a refurb Sony box at Dabs for £67. Still not ordered my Panny though.