LCD TV And DVD Recorder Connections?

[neenaw]

I've just bought a Panasonic 32LXD85 32" LCD TV along with a Panasonic EX78EB HDD/DVD Recorder but I'm having some problems connecting them up!

Our flat has poor TV reception and changing the aerial won't help according to the aerial guy we had out.

When I connect up the aerial to the TV, I get all of the Freeview channels without any problems but when I connect up the DVD Recorder, the problems start! Basically the DVD Recorder seems to only want to record programmes through it's own built-in Freeview tuner, but the tuner in the DVD Recorder doesn't seem to be as good as the one in the TV so I can only get a few Freeview channels.

I've tried to play around with the different connections between the two units but with no success so far. I can use the Viera link system between the two units with a Scart and HDMI cable connected up but don't seem to be able to get the units to work the way I want.

Would there be any way possible to get the DVD recorder to record the signal from the TV's Freeview tuner rather than recording the signal from the DVD players tuner?

[OldSkoolRS]

It should be possible to record from your TV onto your DVD recorder, but this will probably mean you need to watch whatever it is recording (or possibly an analogue channel) and you'll need the TV to be on as well as being tuned to the correct channel at the right time. My Sony TVs allow this feature (I use it to change channels automatically when something starts on another channel that I don't want to miss), so maybe your TV has this feature too?

Another possibility is to try adding a small aerial booster. You can get one from places like Argos or B&Q. Don't go mad getting massive gain ones as they will also boost interferance which can cause blocking and freezing. It sounds like your TV has a more sensitive tuner than the recorder, so adding a booster will make up the signal so your recorder can pick up the weaker Freeview channels.

EDIT: Does it work any better if the aerial goes to the recorder first, then daisy chain it to your TV? If so then buy a booster/splitter and feed both devices directly from it.

Edited by OldSkoolRS on Tuesday 7th July 23:41

[headcase]

Sounds to me like the tuner in the DVD is faulty, we have had a few back with similar problems. Basically if the tv can pick up the channels then the dvd sould be able to tune in the same channels.

Edited by headcase on Wednesday 8th July 18:07

[OldSkoolRS]

headcase said:

Sounds to me like the tuner in the DVD is faulty, we have had a few back with similar problems. Basically if the tv can pick up the channels then the dvd sould be able to tune in the same channels.

Edited by headcase on Wednesday 8th July 18:07

I'd tend to agree if the info in my previous post regarding how the aerial is connected doesn't help, though different makes or older models of tuners can be more or less sensitive, which means they won't pickup the same channels if the signal is marginal. My Dad's Sony STB can pick up more channels than the old Panasonic 32" 'ITV Digital' CRT TV I gave him for example.

[headcase]

Very true, it is worth trying out your dvd recorder on a known good aerial just to make sure, like i say we have had 1 or 2 back with tuner problems so it is worth while crossing that off the list. Freeview is a right PITA when the signal is marginal. You can also go into the manual tuning on the TV and view the signal strength and quality, if both are good (>75%) then its not the signal at fault, but if the strength is low (<50%) then you may find the quality starts to drop off causing picture break up and of course missing channels, in wich case it is possible that you can get one tuner picking up things that another may not be able to.

Edited by headcase on Wednesday 8th July 19:38

[headcase]

To answer your other question, look at page 38 of the user manual of the TV, it shows you how to connect up so that the TV Guide timer in the TV can control a connected recording device. It may sound weird (and look weird too) but with some panasonic equiptment you need to connect a scart AND a hdmi lead for all of the q-link functionality to be available even if it isnt using the scart for sound and pictures.