TV/Amp/HDD cabling question

[AC43]

Hi all, looking for advice as to how to cable up new TV set up as simply as possible.

I've bought a Panasonic TX50EX750B;
https://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/televisions/...

I'm going to pair it with a Yamaha RXV673; https://www.whathifi.com/yamaha/rx-v673/review

On terrestial TV I'm going to watch the BBC Channels and the odd bit of ITV/C4. I'll stream some Netflix & Amazon. And do some catchup. HD is fine.

If the Panasonic EPG is OK I might just use that and therefore just have just one place to go for all the content. If so I guess I can have;

1 Coax from aerial into TV for regular TV
2 Ethernet into TV (connected back to router) for streaming
3 HDMI out from TV to an HDD for recording stuff
4 Optical out from TV to amp for sounds

Two questions;

(A) will the above work? Or should I be using ARC between the amp & TV (and if so why?)
(B) in terms of choosing an HDD are then any suggestions/guidelines?

Thanks

[B17NNS]

Use ARC instead of optical.

Can you not record Freebiew play to a USB HDD attached to the TV?

[AC43]

B17NNS said:

Use ARC instead of optical.

OK ta.

B17NNS said:

Can you not record Freebiew play to a USB HDD attached to the TV?

Yes I can. Sorry, meant USB out not HDMI out.

Can it literally be any HDD? Can't see much into out there to tell me what I should be looking for.

[B17NNS]

I’ve got one of these pluggged into my LG. Just needs to be formatted correctly for the TV.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WD-Elements-Portable-Exte...

[AC43]

B17NNS said:

I’ve got one of these pluggged into my LG. Just needs to be formatted correctly for the TV.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WD-Elements-Portable-Exte...

Thanks Mr B. Just the sort of steer I was looking for.

[Mr Pointy]

What are you going to use to control the recording onto the HDD? The TV user interface? What happens when there are two (or more) programs you want to record at the same time?

I'd want a dedicated recorder like a Humax.

[hornmeister]

Good amp that, have one myself

AC43 said:

1 Coax from aerial into TV for regular TV -YES
2 Ethernet into TV (connected back to router) for streaming - YES
3 HDMI out from TV to an HDD for recording stuff - I would think that HDD will connect to TV via USB, would recommend a big memory stick rather than a HDD.
4 Optical out from TV to amp for sounds - NOPE as previously recommended use HDMI ARC

as above but:

AC43 said:

(A) will the above work? Or should I be using ARC between the amp & TV (and if so why?)

Deffo ARC, Eliminates any variances lipsync and stops you having to bugger about with switching video and audio sources separatly. Arc when set-up correcty will handle it all automatically.

AC43 said:

(B) in terms of choosing an HDD are then any suggestions/guidelines?

See the panasonic reomendations but HDD surely usually connects to a USB port. not HDMI. Unless you plan on storing a lot I would use a usb stick instead of HD

Edited by hornmeister on Wednesday 22 August 16:37

[AC43]

Mr Pointy said:

What are you going to use to control the recording onto the HDD? The TV user interface? What happens when there are two (or more) programs you want to record at the same time?

I'd want a dedicated recorder like a Humax.

I presume I'd use the TV interface but haven't been able to look yet.

One recording at a time might occasionally be a bit limiting as I've been used to Virgin and Humax.

But then again there will be two other Tv's with Humax's in other rooms.

I could use one of those if there's a clash.

[AC43]

hornmeister said:

Good amp that, have one myself

AC43 said:

1 Coax from aerial into TV for regular TV -YES
2 Ethernet into TV (connected back to router) for streaming - YES
3 HDMI out from TV to an HDD for recording stuff - I would think that HDD will connect to TV via USB, would recommend a big memory stick rather than a HDD.
4 Optical out from TV to amp for sounds - NOPE as previously recommended use HDMI ARC

as above but:

AC43 said:

(A) will the above work? Or should I be using ARC between the amp & TV (and if so why?)

Deffo ARC, Eliminates any variances lipsync and stops you having to bugger about with switching video and audio sources separatly. Arc when set-up correcty will handle it all automatically.

AC43 said:

(B) in terms of choosing an HDD are then any suggestions/guidelines?

See the panasonic reomendations but HDD surely usually connects to a USB port. not HDMI. Unless you plan on storing a lot I would use a usb stick instead of HD

Edited by hornmeister on Wednesday 22 August 16:37

Yes meant USB.

Was aiming for 1tb+.

[JimbobVFR]

hornmeister said:

See the panasonic reomendations but HDD surely usually connects to a USB port. not HDMI. Unless you plan on storing a lot I would use a usb stick instead of HD

Edited by hornmeister on Wednesday 22 August 16:37

It varies between TVs but my slightly older LG Plasma insists on having a hard drive for recording (and also insists on reformatting it) and will only recognise USB sticks for playback of media. Makes sense TBH as USB sticks aren't really made for constant rewriting.

[AC43]

JimbobVFR said:

hornmeister said:

See the panasonic reomendations but HDD surely usually connects to a USB port. not HDMI. Unless you plan on storing a lot I would use a usb stick instead of HD

Edited by hornmeister on Wednesday 22 August 16:37

It varies between TVs but my slightly older LG Plasma insists on having a hard drive for recording (and also insists on reformatting it) and will only recognise USB sticks for playback of media. Makes sense TBH as USB sticks aren't really made for constant rewriting.

Given all the variables I think I'll go for B17NN's suggestion of this 2Tb WD HDD. At £70 you can't really argue.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WD-Elements-Portable-Exte...