Paul asked

12th October 2010

I have a Virgi Media V+ HD box. I can record my HD programmes onto the hard disk? I also have a standalone HD TV upstairs. Is there a method for recording HD programmes onto a portable media device, such that I could plug it in to my upstairs TV via an HDMI lead please?

In short the answer is not really, or easily at least. You'll need some kind of device that can capture an analogue or unprotected digital output from your Virgin Media box, and I'm not immediately aware of any mainstream device that will allow you to do this. That's not to say it doesn't exist but you'll have to do some searching among the lesser/no-name electronics manufacturers.

Lloyd asked

7th October 2010

Do I need an additionalfreeview box if its built into TV?

I have just bought a full HD TV with built in Freeview HD, no probs, however I would like to be able to record / pause live tv etc (as i did with old tv + old freeview box). So would i need a new HD Freeview recorder box type thing and if so why did i buy a TV with Freeview inbuilt if you can never record stuff from them? Am i missing something? others dont seem to be asking this question!

I also intend to refit surround sound, again this is causing probs as I already have this but now old (no HDMI outs), the speakers are attached to wall with wires running under new carpet, and I dont wish to disturb! So can one buy an amp/receiver without said speakers, would you advise cutting wire to attach new speakers? Hope speaker input at receiver end still 'clamps' ie: not wired directly (fixed). I also want to install a Blu-ray player, can this be incorporated into surround sound system (integrated with receiver/amp?)

You haven't done too badly, although you can't record the output of the inbuilt Freeview tuner I'm not sure in practice you would want to as you'd get a better integrated and more flexible expedience with a separate recorder. You could watch another programme while recording and your recorder could be used with other TVs/devices in the future. You may well also find that at this early stage there isn't enough HD content on Freeview to justify you buying a new HD recorder and that you could make do with your existing one for the time being.

If your speakers were connected direct to your old TV you are going to need some kind of amplifier/receiver to power them, but if you already have some kind of device like that you should investigate if it's possible to connect it to your TV via an appropriate adaptor/cable. I'd be surprised if you don't have at least one analogue output in one form or another you can use. If you do succeed in connecting your audio equipment to your new TV adding a Blu-ray player should be pretty straightforward as that will connect to the TV and hence to your audio system.

Richard asked

6th October 2010

I currently have a Sky system which works OK ish but doesn't give me HD for my 42" super telly.

The Sky receiver has seen better days and has a dodgy connector on the back which sometimes needs tweaking, so could do with replacing ideally with a HD+ box to allow recording. I begrudge paying Sky what I am paying them already and am absolutely not going to pay them any more, (but would like a HD+ type box).

The thought occurs that I might solve my problems with a FREESAT HD+ system. My question is:

If I went out and bought a Freesat HD+ box I assume that it would connect up with the wire from my existing Sky dish, but would the dish need moving to receive Freesat?

I assume that I wouldn't have to fit a 2nd dish to receive Freesat. If it doesn't need moving would there be a problem getting a "Y" adapter to split the dish cable to feed both the Sky and Freesat boxes?

You can indeed run a Freesat box together with a Sky decoder from the same satellite dish but you need connect both directly to the LNB (reciever) on the dish rather than splitting an existing connection in two.

If you don't already have a second connection to dish you can use, it should be just a case of adding a second cable as you're likely to already have a multi output LNB. I'll let you decide if you're able to do that work or get someone else to install it for you.

Lastly make sure there's going to be enough HD content available on Freesat that you want to watch to justify any investment you plan on making.

Sarah asked

2nd October 2010

I've just bought a Sony Bravia KDL-32HX503 which comes with Freeview HD. Having installed the television and scanned all channels (as you would with any TV setup) I do not notice any distinctive or flagged HD channels. Should I see separate HD channels or do they just appear as 'normal' channels ie: Channel 4, ITV, BBC etc and when a particular program is available in HD it is automatically and seamlessly transmitted in HD?

Assuming you're in a part of the country where digital switch-over is complete, and you can check here:

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch

the high-definition Freeview channels will appear as separate channels from the regular standard definition ones. Digital switch-over is important as this frees up broadcasting space so there's room for the Freeview HD channels.

These should appear on the following channel numbers where available:

50: BBC HD 51: ITV HD 52: Channel 4 HD

James asked

1st October 2010

I'm wondering, can you connect a Magic Eye to Virgin boxes like you can to Xky boxes. So you are able to control the box from another room?

Sadly this isn't quite as simple with a Virgin Media box as it is with the equivalent Sky box. You'll have to do some research around the particular model decoder box you have but as best I'm aware the faculty to remotely change channels has not been enabled on Virgin Media's set-top boxes.

If this is still the case you have to look in to either splitting you cable connection and using two separate decoder boxes (possibly at extra cost to you), or to use a video sender in conjunction with (or that includes) the ability to forward the infra-red remote signals too.

Tony asked

30th September 2010

I am trying to receive real HD TV signals. My present set-up consists of an HD Ready Panasonic TV & a Panasonic PVR DMR EX768 EBK. What is my best bet set-up improvement to receive & record Real HD TV services? Do I have to have a new HD recorder or can I get away with adding an HD set top box?

Before you do anything you should make sure you live in an area of the country where digital-switchover has taken place and the Freeview HD channels are now being broadcast. You can do that here:

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch

Once you've confirmed you are able to receive Freeview HD it really depends on whether you want to record the high-definition channels rather that just watch them live. If you don't you could get away with just a Freeview HD decoder/set-top box, but if you think there's enough HD content that you will want to record you will need a new Freeview recorder that able to both receive and recorder in high-definition.

Darren asked

26th September 2010

I have just brought an LG home cinema system, I can get the speakers to work through the DVD but not through my Virgin box, i have a scart lead running from the DVD to the virgin box and scart lead from the Virgin box to the TV, waht else do i need to do the get all the working through the speakers, DVD/TV and game consoles? Do i need to buy a lead(s) to connect from the DVD player to the TV ?.

This one's a little tricky to diagnose remotely, but in principle what you want to is to connect your speaker system to to a common point in your AV system where either everything flows or ends up. You don't mention any kind of AV receiver/processor so I would connect your speakers to your TV and disable it's internal speakers. If I've understood your set-up correctly this should allow you to keep the sound and video sources in sync as you swap between inputs on your television.

Anne asked

26th September 2010

However we are still only able to receive normal Freeview channels and not the HD channels which I believe are around channels 50,51, 52 something like that. Do we need to re-scan the channels and try again? The aerial is digital and around 3 years old.

As well has having an HDTV and receiving equipment you also need to live in an area of the country where digital switch-over has taken place as the switching off of the old analogue TV signals frees up broadcasting space for Freeview HD.

I suspect your problem is that this hasn't quite happened in your area (Yorkshire?) yet. You can find out when switch-over is happening and so when the high-definition Freeview broadcasts should begin here:

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch