Newbie Question re: UK SKY box

[meekor]

OK.. I'm a total newbie to this.. can anyone tell me if I can still use the red button type features on a UK SKY box using the SKY remote if I have it connected through the WinTV PVR 250/350? Is there some fundemental way PVRs work(i.e. there is big lag) that stops this working OK? I was hoping to use it with a USBUIRT to change channels etc.

Thx

[bluesxman]

I can't see why this wouldn't work, after all you are just capturing the output from the box. The amount of lag may vary depending on if you are using live preview mode or are timeshifting or viewing on a mvp.

[sub]

I dont have SKY myself, but I'm guessing the red buttons stuff uses features of the Sky Digital decoder (interactive voting etc? as seen mentioned on the SKY News channel from time to time).

Obviously this will not work through GB-PVR. It knows nothing about your red button, and wont pass this on to the decoder. The only signals it'll send to the decoder are the channel numbers.

Of cause, you can always bypass GB-PVR and use your remote directly against you SKY decoder, but then this isn't really using GB-PVR, its just watching TV the old fashion way. The obviously wont work with the MVP etc.

[meekor]

Thx for your reply Does a PVR constantly record so you can rewind and pause the TV? Is that what time shifting is... what is live preview ?

Thx!

[sub]

Yes, timeshift mode is constantly recording.

Live preview is not recording so you cant pause/rewind etc, but does have very fast channel changing. This may not be relevent to you though, as having to control an external set top box negates any performance advantage.

[meekor]

Thx for your replies sub... the red button on SKY brings up more info. about a programme like the SKY digital version of teletext i.e. on a news channel with small video windows for news stories and weather etc. Maybe I could use girder http://www.promixis.com/ + a USBUIRT and programme the buttons from the Sky remote so I can access the red button functions with the mouse

[joshley]

You *could* do that... but If you ensure that set up your TV Guide correctly, GB-PVR would have pretty much the same information just as readily available when watching TV by pressing the Blue or Green buttons (on your Hauppauge remote)

[meekor]

Thx Joshley.... what do you mean by pretty much the same ? Do you mean it has functions of the red button but not all?