Sky + and Digital audio help

[Mikey G]

Ok being new to Sky plus i have a couple of questions
1. Leave on or switch off? i dont like the idea of the hard drive running all the time.
2. If i do switch it off will it power up to record a previously planned recording? (doubting this one)
3. How do i view my favorite channels? i have selected them but cant seem to access them quickly or at all...

And does anybody know if i can get a digital (Toslink) Y-lead or dual switch so i can connect both my Sky plus box and DVD recorder together and/or to my surround system?

Cheers

[Parrot of doom]

Leave it on. A HD running continuously will probably last longer than a HD being turned off and on all the time. My Tivo has been running permanently on for over 6 years.

[polus]

Yep, i'd leave it on. Thats how the boxes were designed to be used. Having said that when I worked at PACE the orignal Maxtor drives were dropping like flies!

>> Edited by polus on Tuesday 13th December 01:28

[Graham.J]

I have my DVD recorder connected to the TV, only downside is that I have to watch what I'm recording, which isn't really a downside because I can pause the recording for adverts.

[Mikey G]

As i understand it the HD is constantly recording and deleting for pause and rewind features of live TV, can this really be any good for it?

[RobDickinson]

dunno mate,

What audio inputs does your Av system have, most have more than one optical/electrical digital in.

[adqt]

I leave mine switched on all the time and never had any problems. If you are concerned though switch it to standby. It doesnt constantly record for pause/rewind but it still records any preset programmes.

[Cotty]

Mikey G said:

Ok being new to Sky plus i have a couple of questions 1. Leave on or switch off? i dont like the idea of the hard drive running all the time.

I leave mine on all the time

Mikey G said:

3. How do i view my favorite channels? i have selected them but cant seem to access them quickly or at all...

Your favorites are viewed by pressing the blue button repeatedly. It cycles through them

[telecat]

Most Server Drives are on 24/7/365. They tend to have a better duty cycle than PC drives switched on and off.

[Mikey G]

Cotty said:

Mikey G said: 3. How do i view my favorite channels? i have selected them but cant seem to access them quickly or at all... Your favorites are viewed by pressing the blue button repeatedly. It cycles through them

Cheers for that, now seems that i have not saved them somehow

RobDickinson said:

dunno mate, What audio inputs does your Av system have, most have more than one optical/electrical digital in.

I have 3 devices that all have the Optical connection but not the co-axial the sky plus box also has. I'm basicaly thinking i need to connect the Sky box to the DVD recorder (unless scart transmits 5.1 & DTS?) and both units need to connect to the HiFi via this lead to get surround? I also have a PS2 that would sound nice through this aswell. Any sugestions or is it pointless connecting the Sky box via the optical output?

[Cotty]

Mikey G said:

Cotty said: Your favorites are viewed by pressing the blue button repeatedly. It cycles through them Cheers for that, now seems that i have not saved them somehow

Did that to me when I did mine. Read the instructions again your probably just pressing the wrong button to select them. Make sure they have a tick next to them

[benyeats]

Mikey G said:

Cotty said: Mikey G said: 3. How do i view my favorite channels? i have selected them but cant seem to access them quickly or at all... Your favorites are viewed by pressing the blue button repeatedly. It cycles through them Cheers for that, now seems that i have not saved them somehow RobDickinson said: dunno mate, What audio inputs does your Av system have, most have more than one optical/electrical digital in. I have 3 devices that all have the Optical connection but not the co-axial the sky plus box also has. I'm basicaly thinking i need to connect the Sky box to the DVD recorder (unless scart transmits 5.1 & DTS?) and both units need to connect to the HiFi via this lead to get surround? I also have a PS2 that would sound nice through this aswell. Any sugestions or is it pointless connecting the Sky box via the optical output?

You need to connect each individual component to the Amp, unless your DVD recorder records DTS/5.1 which I doubt. Scart does not transmit anything beyond stereo audio. Sky + only does 5.1 on some of the movie channels (maybe sport, don't know don't care)

Ben