Recording tv programs onto portable usb hard drive

[frank]

I'm thinking of getting rid of my Virgin tv tivo box (but keeping broadband & landline) as all the channels I watch these days can be seen on Freeview which is already built into my tv set, I'm thinking of replacing Tivo box with a portable USB HDD of sorts.

I've never investigated going down this route before so please be gentle if my questions sound daft

1: Can I record one channel onto HDD while viewing another?

2: Does tv need to be switched on to record a channel?

3: I have a old Freesat 500 gb box, but no satellite dish, could I remove the hard drive from that or modify it anyway to to record only?

I've put new pc's together before rather than buy one off the shelf so I'm not to afraid to try, if the Freeview box fries then it doesn't really matter, It was lying at the bottom of my wardrobe unused anyway

Thanks

 

[gramps]

Why not just get a cheap Freeview recorder?
Fit it programme it and it'll do what you ask (within reason) even when switched off (but powered).

 

[frank]

Just had a look on Amazon, I didn't realise they were so cheap nowadays No need for sat dish and saves the hassle of breaking up old boxes. Thanks.

Any freeview box recommendations anyone? or ones to avoid.

 

[gramps]

We've had a Panasonic for several years and it's been brilliant, no recent experience of others though

 

[4wd]

You could record to your PC or external drive if you can get the aerial reasonably close to it.
This does work well if you want to edit and save a snippet permanently.
With all the catch up and iplayer type services we hardly ever use the hard drive recorder these days.
This looks like ours but there are some cheaper now.
www.amazon.co.uk/PCTV-Systems-DVB-T2-nanoStick-Tuner/dp/B004C1176E

 

[andyred]

I'm thinking of getting rid of my Virgin tv tivo box (but keeping broadband & landline) as all the channels I watch these days can be seen on Freeview which is already built into my tv set, I'm thinking of replacing Tivo box with a portable USB HDD of sorts.

I've never investigated going down this route before so please be gentle if my questions sound daft

1: Can I record one channel onto HDD while viewing another?

2: Does tv need to be switched on to record a channel?

3: I have a old Freesat 500 gb box, but no satellite dish, could I remove the hard drive from that or modify it anyway to to record only?

I've put new pc's together before rather than buy one off the shelf so I'm not to afraid to try, if the Freeview box fries then it doesn't really matter, It was lying at the bottom of my wardrobe unused anyway

Thanks

Does you're TV support recording to USB ? If it does, then it should be a simple case of plugging in, formatting and then on the guide choose record function and it should record to the USB - this is what I can do.

Ours doesn't need to be switched on, but does need to be on standby if that helps.

If your TV will support recording to USB - I suppose a quick check is to either read the manual or pop a USB memory stick in - then the old HD from the freesat box - if you're not going to utilise the box - pop it into a small USB HDD box, plug it in to the TV, format it and hopefully away you go...

I think the answer to can you record 1 and watch another is dependant on your TV have a twin tuner...