Recording HD channels from Zinwell

[groovy]

Hi all. We have recently purchased a samsung 6 series 46inch LCD TV and the zinwell 620HD decoder. Also have the UHF antenna.

This is probably lame or already been asked, but i couldnt find it in the forum.

My current setup is simple. Watching all HD channels on LCD TV through the zinwell decoder via HDMI cable. We also have a Sony DVD/VCR combo.

The issue i have is, when my parents are watching a program on TV via zinwell, i would like to record some other program so i can watch it later on.

I used to be able to do this before when i was watching TV through the sony dvd/vcr. That is record one program and watch another program on the TV.

So is it possible to record the HD channels on the Sony DVD/VCR combo when viewing through the zinwell decoder?
IF yes, please explain how?

Thanks all in advance.

[butlerboy]

the short answer is no. you can only 'watch' hd channels through the hdmi cable which has built in copy protection to stop recording in hd.
you'll probably also find that your vcr/dvd player will only have s-video or composite inputs, both of which don't carry an hd signal.:(

[groovy]

the short answer is no. you can only 'watch' hd channels through the hdmi cable which has built in copy protection to stop recording in hd.
you'll probably also find that your vcr/dvd player will only have s-video or composite inputs, both of which don't carry an hd signal.:(

Thanks. Thats pretty crap :) Well for me recorded program does not have to be in HD. As long as it is a watchable quality is more than enough.

I am not trying to make copies and sell it or something :). Just trying make the most of it and not miss the programs i watch thats all.

I guess as you said, becos of copyright issues, i dont think it will be possible in any quality. Is that correct?

Thanks.

[butlerboy]

You can record in SD (576i, HD is classed as 720p and above) using s-video or composite cables connected to your vcr/dvd player. However, because your stb only has 1 tuner you can't watch 1 freeview channel and record another. You'll either have to watch freeview and record using the analogue tuner built into your vcr or watch tv using the built in analogue tuner in you tv and record freeview in SD.

[butlerboy]

fyi, 576i is the picture quality you get from sky sattelite.

[groovy]

You can record in SD (576i, HD is classed as 720p and above) using s-video or composite cables connected to your vcr/dvd player. However, because your stb only has 1 tuner you can't watch 1 freeview channel and record another. You'll either have to watch freeview and record using the analogue tuner built into your vcr or watch tv using the built in analogue tuner in you tv and record freeview in SD.

Cool thanks. So it is possible to record somehow :_applauso:. So i use the cable from the antenna and using a splitter, one cable goes to Zinwell and another cable goes to the DVD/VCR and then i should b able to watch HD channels thru HDMI and normal channels through DVD/VCR. Is that correct?

Thanks.

[Injuised]

Cool thanks. So it is possible to record somehow :_applauso:. So i use the cable from the antenna and using a splitter, one cable goes to Zinwell and another cable goes to the DVD/VCR and then i should b able to watch HD channels thru HDMI and normal channels through DVD/VCR. Is that correct?

Thanks.

thats right , but why didnt you just buy a pvr then you can record one HD channel while watching another

http://www.dtvs.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=22&products_id=64

[danger]

You're better off waiting a few months than buying any of the DTT PVR's available today. The Vantage only has a single tuner meaning you can only record or watch a second channel if it is on the same mux (i.e. 1 & 2 or 3 & 4) and it does not properly support recording from the epg.

[Apsattv]

I think you will find some of these boxes the chipset can support recording multiple streams from the same mux they just need to activate it in the software.

The Zinwell Hong Kong firmware supports it.

e.g watch one channel record another.

[coolvibe]

Cool thanks. So it is possible to record somehow :_applauso:. So i use the cable from the antenna and using a splitter, one cable goes to Zinwell and another cable goes to the DVD/VCR and then i should b able to watch HD channels thru HDMI and normal channels through DVD/VCR. Is that correct?

Thanks.
Take note.
All stbs appart from zinwell have a really bad Standard Definition output. It is a firmware issue and can be fixed. The mysky hdi had a really bad Standard definition output. This was fixed with the latest firmware.
So If you want to watch Standard def through vcr / hdd recorder, be prepared to wait for the firmware fix.
Vantage HD6000 is the only PVR that currently works out of the box with no hdcp. Its files are not easily portable to an htpc. Work in progress.

[kiwisteve]

Even worse if the source material is SD and upscaled at the studio to 1080i / 720p
it means its munched twice !! :D:D

[groovy]

thats right , but why didnt you just buy a pvr then you can record one HD channel while watching another

http://www.dtvs.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=22&products_id=64

Thanks for all the info people. This is just a temporary solution to watch 1 channel and record another. As im planning to build a HTPC soon, when i save up enough money :)