Best way to pause and record tv on a Sony Bravia?

[JRC1]

I don't buy new tech very often and clearly didn't do enough research on my new Sony Bravia.

I was surprised to find out that in 2021 on a brand new Smart TV, pausing live tv or recording tv isn't a standard feature. I wrongly assumed that there would be some in built storage to allow this functionality.

I've been told that my options are to either purchase an external HDD or a separate freeview box?!

Was leaning towards the HDD (as I really don't need another remote!) but then read that Youview needs to be disabled to record/pause when a HDD is added? How does this even work?

Can't believe it's this complex. Anyone with a Bravia who's gone through the same pain able to offer advice/the best solution? I don't record much but it would just be nice to be able to pause and rewind/fast forward live tv.

Cheers!

[JRC1]

Ah damn only just noticed the home cinema and hi-fi section, which is probably more accurate. Could a mod please move this? Thanks

[camel_landy]

I simply use USB memory sticks in mine... Plug it in, format it up and off you go.

M

[Yabu]

camel_landy said:

I simply use USB memory sticks in mine... Plug it in, format it up and off you go.

M

On a Sony Bravia? Didn’t want to play with a usb drive when I tried it, google suggested it has to be a hdd

[JRC1]

camel_landy said:

I simply use USB memory sticks in mine... Plug it in, format it up and off you go.

M

Did you have to disable YouView or change any settings or literally as soon as it's plugged in you can just hit pause or record and it starts working?

[mmm-five]

Firstly, did you buy a YouView model (not a Freeview Play model)?

Secondly, is your software up to date, as the original version on Sony TVs with Youview didn't support recording.

If both answers are yes, then it should be a simple matter of putting a USB stick into the correct port on the TV and formatting it to whatever format the TV requires. The amount/quality you want to record may inform the size/speed of USB stick you'll need.

However, if you're not using YouView, the USB HDD/SSD should be able to record/pause live programming - but if you decide to use a HDD, make sure it doesn't draw too much power as the ports are limited to 500ma for the USB2 port (grey) and 900ma for the USB3 port (blue).

[parabolica]

I was able to do what Camel says but I have a Samsung; didn't require anything other than plugging in an external hard drive and telling the TV that it should record to that device. Not sure if Sony is that simply; they use an android-based OS I think? If it's a brand new TV, the manual will be stored on the TV itself and it'll likely have a how-to in there somewhere.

[camel_landy]

JRC1 said:

camel_landy said:

I simply use USB memory sticks in mine... Plug it in, format it up and off you go.

M

Did you have to disable YouView or change any settings or literally as soon as it's plugged in you can just hit pause or record and it starts working?

You can't just plug it in and use it. At very least, you need to format the device.

IIRC - You also need to disable YouView, if enabled

M

[JRC1]

mmm-five said:

Firstly, did you buy a YouView model (not a Freeview Play model)?

Secondly, is your software up to date, as the original version on Sony TVs with Youview didn't support recording.

If both answers are yes, then it should be a simple matter of putting a USB stick into the correct port on the TV and formatting it to whatever format the TV requires. The amount/quality you want to record may inform the size/speed of USB stick you'll need.

However, if you're not using YouView, the USB HDD/SSD should be able to record/pause live programming - but if you decide to use a HDD, make sure it doesn't draw too much power as the ports are limited to 500ma for the USB2 port (grey) and 900ma for the USB3 port (blue).

Yes I bought the exact model in my OP which has YouView. I double checked again and it doesn't mention Freeview Play anywhere. Software is definitely up to date. It's the 2020 model and I ran a software update as soon as I started it up for the first time.

parabolica said:

I was able to do what Camel says but I have a Samsung; didn't require anything other than plugging in an external hard drive and telling the TV that it should record to that device. Not sure if Sony is that simply; they use an android-based OS I think? If it's a brand new TV, the manual will be stored on the TV itself and it'll likely have a how-to in there somewhere.

Thanks, will have a look for the manual on the tv.

camel_landy said:

You can't just plug it in and use it. At very least, you need to format the device.

IIRC - You also need to disable YouView, if enabled

M

This is the bit I'm struggling with and do forgive me if I'm being an idiot but YouView is the built in TV service is it not? So if, for example, I want to watch BBC1 HD, I go to channel 101 and there it is. How can I then record or pause this channel if I disable YouView?

[mmm-five]

Youview is the catch-up and on-demand service when it's on a TV. I think the recording feature of Youview is only available on the set-top boxes you can buy (which have built in HDDs).

https://support.youview.com/youview-on-sony/record...

You should also have an aerial to provide terrestrial/cable TV channels (freeview, freeview HD, freesat, etc.).

You cannot record from the Youview catch-up/on-demand service - only from the live free-to-air channels - but it sounds like the Youview service needs to be disabled to do so.

[JRC1]

mmm-five said:

Youview is the catch-up and on-demand service when it's on a TV. I think the recording feature of Youview is only available on the set-top boxes you can buy (which have built in HDDs).

https://support.youview.com/youview-on-sony/record...

You should also have an aerial to provide terrestrial/cable TV channels (freeview, freeview HD, freesat, etc.).

You cannot record from the Youview catch-up/on-demand service - only from the live free-to-air channels - but it sounds like the Youview service needs to be disabled to do so.

Ah ok now it makes sense - this is where I was getting confused or being slow... it seems that on my TV at least YouView can also be used as an application to watch live TV. I was using it for catch up but also using it to navigate to live TV. I needed to change the source from "Digital - Live TV & Catch Up" (which uses the YouView app) to "Digital - TV" - which now presents me with the same channels but with a different GUI ultimately. Sounds as though this is the GUI I will need to record/pause from, ensuring I disable YouView beforehand... bit of a faff! But thanks for your patience and for explaining!