Sky+ and DVD Recorder

[Umanga]

If I was to get Sky+ installed and attached a DVD recorder to the STB would I in theory be able to Sky+ two channels at the same time plus one on my DVD recorder or is it Sky+ one channel and then record the other on my DVD recorder?

Many thanks

[NickS]

Your Sky+ box has 2 inputs, ie you can watch one channel and record another or record 2 channels at once, provided your box is in standby, tuned to one of the channels you are recording or you are watching an earlier recording. Your DVD recorder can only record the output from your Sky+ box, ie the channel (or recording) you are watching. A Sky+ box does not give you an extra output unlike twin satellite receivers such as the Pace Puma, which doesn't work on Sky anyway.

A short answer to your question is, therefore, no!

As an aside, there are PVR's on the market on the Continent which can record up to 4 programmes at once while watching a fifth. Are there any techies out ther who know if Sky could enable that here with a software upgrade or would you need 5 feeds?

[kevlong]

Well, the Sky+ box has two tuners, you can:

• Watch one whilst recording the other
• Record both channels, but then you can't watch a 3rd

In a sense if you have a DVD recorder attached to the Sky+ box then that is effectively watching one of the above channels. Watch out for Macrovision protection though!

Kevlong

[NickS]

Macrovision protection is only an issue with Sky Box Office and other pay per view events (PremPlus?) AFAIK

[Umanga]

Many thanks for your help.

Think I'll get Sky+ and Multi room and connect DVD Recorder to the upstairs STB!

Can I have Sky+ upstairs as well as downstairs? If so, do I pay extra for the upstairs Sky+ (apart from the extra STB cost) or just the £10 multiroom sub (free if I subscribe to 2 premium channels)?

[NickS]

You can have up to 4 normal Sky boxes or 2 Sky+ boxes (or 1 Sky+ box and 2normal boxes) connected to one minidish. You will pay a £10 multiroom sub for each extra box, irrespective of whether or not it is Sky+, assuming you subscribe to at least 2 premium channels.

[Umanga]

I meant the Sky+ sub is waived if you subscribe to two premium channels not the multi room sub!

[jennifer]

My Sony DVD recorder has refused to succesfully record a Channel 5 film from the Sky+ box today. It behaves as if Macrovision was present and surely on Ch5 it was not? The recorded output was a blank grey screen with only pictures appearing after the Sky+ recording finished.
I have recorded Sky+ to DVDR once before with no problems.

JH