How do you record Sky with the Sony RDRHXD870B?

Answer 1

Here goes.

Analogue ITV as host channel

1. Ensure your dvdr has a good analogue signal and the analogue tuner is tuned in. You need to be able to receive analogue ITV teletext. If you can receive digital terrestrial signals tune the digital tuner in as well. The method of connection is Ariel coax to digital input, then a short coax from digital output to analogue input then analogue output to TV. Not connecting the analogue connection is a common reason for guideplus not to work as the dvdr works fine in digital so everything works apart from the guideplus downloads.

2. Connect the sky box via scart from TV out on the sky box to AV2/L1 (or line 1 on sony) scart on the dvdr and connect the dvdr to the TV via the AV1 (line 3 sony) scart HDMI might work as well, I don't have it so don't know. Plug the g-link transmitter into the dvdr and place it so it can signal the sky box.

3.press guide or epg on your remote to display the guideplus grid. If you havn't downloaded any data it will be empty. If you have never set up the system before it may ask for your country, postcode and language.

4. Move across the bar at the top of the grid with the cursor keys till you reach the set up menu then move down to the set up option. Select "external receiver" option. Input your external receiver as satellite and sky digital as the provider. Select AV2/L1 (line 1 on sony) as the connection. The g-link should then try and change channels on the sky box if you selected the correct type of box. Some pace boxes are not compatible with the g-link, check the guideplus website for more info. If the channels change correctly press enter.

5. Go back to the set up menu and go down "host channel". Set this as automatic which will default to analogue ITV.

6. Leave the unit in standby for 24 hours, epg will appear on the screen as it downloads the data.

7. Next day press the guide button and the grid should be populated. However you may not receive all the channels on it so you can turn off unwanted channels. You may also wish to change where the dvdr records each channel from e.g. you can get BBC1 on analogue, digital or sky, sky 3 on sky or on freeview. Move along the menu bar along the top till you reach the editor screen. All the channels will now appear. Move down through the channels turning them on and off as required and changing the source and channel number as required e.g BBC digital D001, sky1 ext.rec. 101. Generally the guideplus download will pick up the correct sources and channel numbers but not always.

8. Once you are happy press the blue button for home and you should see the grid populated with your selected channels. Use the red button to select programmes for recording etc.

9. If recording from sky be sure to leave the sky box on as the dvdr can change channels using the g-link, but can't turn it on and off.

Sky Eurosport as host channel

NB: Only use this if you cannot receive analogue ITV as it is a bit flakey sometimes and means you have to leave your sky box on 24/7 to allow downloads.

1. Connect the sky box via scart from TV out on the sky box to AV2/L1 (line 1 on sony) scart on the dvdr and connect the dvdr to the TV via the AV1 (line 3 sony) scart HDMI might work as well, I don't have it so don't know. Plug the g-link transmitter into the dvdr and place it so it can signal the sky box.

2. Tune the sky box to eurosport (channel 410). It does not matter if you have a subscription to eurosport or not. Put the dvdr into standby. Press the teletext button on your TV remote control and check you can see the eurosport teletext page. If not you have no chance of receiving guideplus data as it is carried along with the teletext data. You must put the dvdr into standby to see the teletext as the dvdr seem to swallow it up when it is powered on (probably looking for the guideplus data). If you don't see the teletext try powering the sky box down and up again (at the mains) as this restored it for me. Unfortunately this tended to be erratic and every so often the teletext would disappear and I would have to power the sky box back down again. I think the type of sky box matters here. If the teletext came through OK turn the dvdr back on.

3.press guide or epg on your remote to display the guideplus grid. If you havn't downloaded any data it will be empty. If you have never set up the system before it may ask for your country, postcode and language.

4. Move across the bar at the top of the grid with the cursor keys till you reach the set up menu then move down to the set up option. Select "external receiver" option. Input your external receiver as satellite and sky digital as the provider. Select AV2/L1 (line 1 sony) as the connection. The g-link should then try and change channels on the sky box if you selected the correct type of box. Some pace boxes are not compatible with the g-link, check the guideplus website for more info. If the channels change correctly press enter.

5. Go back to the set up menu and go down "host channel". Set this as manual, external receiver 1, channel 410.

6. Leave the unit in standby for 24 hours, with the sky box tuned to eurosport 410. Epg will appear on the screen as it downloads the data.

7. Next day press the guide button and the grid should be populated. However you may not receive all the channels on it so you can turn off unwanted channels. If you only receive sky then all channels have to be set to ext receiver 1 with the appropriate sky channel. Move along the menu bar along the top till you reach the editor screen. All the channels will now appear. Move down through the channels turning them on and off as required and changing the source to ext. rec. 1 and channel number as required.

8. Once you are happy press the blue button for home and you should see the grid populated with your selected channels. Use the red button to select programmes for recording etc.

9. Be sure to leave the sky box on all the time so it can do the data downloads overnight and can record off the sky box as required. If you find you are loosing the epg data check the teletext is still coming though ok with the dvdr in standby. If not you may need to reset the sky box.