What Do You Record Your Television Programmes On?

[TessA]

I have the same problem, I find recorded programs are vanishing on my old Sky box.
I’ve had it years, I thought they would give me a new one when I moved but they didn’t and those Sky Q boxes are so expensive.
I have been with Sky for years, still paying £20+ for basic!

After reading all this I’m going to cancell in September when the contract ends.
I’ll have to change broadband suppliers too as it’s in with the tv package.

I really feel we’re going backwards, time was we could record things and keep them forever! Bring back VHS!

[Longdogs]

@JBR

I hadn’t heard of Roku, so I had to google it.

To be honest, it looks virtually the same thing as our Fire Stick, but one of the options is cheaper.

I’ll have a closer look when I have time, but I bet it will turn out to be very much the same thing.

You get a remote with it which is handy) not sure if you do with the firestick).

[basser]

Not recorded anything for over 20 years mainly because i can’t find anything worth recording

[JBR]

@Omah

There seems to have been no resolution to that problem so maybe it’s the fault of the broadcasters rather than the unit or even perhaps the fault of the users.

On my (old) Humax the only recordings which have failed (and there have only been a few) have been the fault of the broadcaster.

When I used to set recording times using the EPG, I found regular problems in receiving EPG details on both Panasonic and Humax units.

I can only assume from that, that it was the fault of the broadcasters who (I assume) populate the EPG information.

[TessA]

I lost all my “Third Rock from the Sun” recordings, which I watch to cheer me up, likewise an entire season of “The Moomins” and after watching “Strike” recordings they disappeared!
Bye bye Sky!

[JBR]

@Longdogs

You get a remote with it which is handy) not sure if you do with the firestick).

Yes, we got a remote with the Fire Stick.

To be honest, we have had some small problems and, when I couldn’t sort them out I had a chat with the support people on Amazon - that’s an online chat, not speech!

To be honest, the problems have been to do with correctly setting the thing up.

Each time (two or three now) they have been both knowledgeable and helpful and have quickly sorted out any problems.

The first time I called them, they agreed to send me a replacement remote control.

Although there have been some small problems since, we now have TWO working remotes!

To be honest, I think £40 for access to all of these channels, YouTube, Internet, etc. was well worth it.

We already used to pay for Amazon Prime for free delivery, which we do a lot now due to this coronavirus thing. Fortunately, it also pays for access to just about everything on the Prime channel on the Fire Stick too.

[Omah]

@basser

Not recorded anything for over 20 years mainly because i can’t find anything worth recording

There is, indeed, little worth watching (or recording) on the current multiplicity of media channels.

In the near future, SpaceX will complete it’s 12,000-satellite megaconstellation to provide internet access to everybody on Earth - there will be 1,000’s of channels streaming down from space - no need to record “programs” but none worth watching …

[JBR]

@Omah

There is, indeed, little worth watching (or recording) on the current multiplicity of media channels.

In the near future, SpaceX will complete it’s 12,000-satellite megaconstellation to provide internet access to everybody on Earth - there will be 1,000’s of channels streaming down from space - no need to record “programs” but none worth watching …

I look forward to that.
I’m fed up with Virgin Media and there are no alternative fibre connections around here.

Satellite internet might be just the job, assuming that it proves to be reliable.

[Judd]

@JBR

It depends.
Where will you access your signals? TV aerial, satellite, internet?

If TV aerial, I agree that a PVR like the Humax would be best. We still have one, but no longer use it. We also have a Panasonic unit which, in addition to recording programmes, can copy recordings to DVDs and BDs for permanent storage. I did that for many films I want to keep for ever. However, the Panasonic units are far more expensive: c.£400+

If satellite, I’m not sure as I don’t use one, but I imagine there would be similar recorders to the above which would work. Perhaps someone else with satellite could advise better than I.

If internet, I may have mentioned that we bought a FireStick which picks up signals from our broadband router (WiFi)*. It’s a small unit (about £40) which plugs into the back of the TV (an HDMI port) and provides programmes/films from many sources. The big advantage to us is we don’t need a TV licence for it. However, it doesn’t record programmes as such, probably because they are already there at all times for you to watch whenever you want!

*No. (Just seen your last post). It doesn’t need a wired connection to the router.

If viewing via a tablet however, you can download programmes to watch later, if you go on holiday for example. Granted, the recordings have a limited shelf life unless they’re re-verified by a Wi-Fi connection from time to time, but the facility is there if you need it.

[Judd]

@Artangel

I feel quite sad tonight as l have been with Sky since the early1980’s but these days, loyalty stands for nothing and they just increase their prices for damn all in return.

I cancelled mainly because they have put my subscription up by nearly double…but now things are easing re. lockdown, l am not watching so much television.

It’s the recording facility l want mostly.

Exactly the reason why I cancelled Virgin Media BB - they were taking the piss with their ever-increasing charges. I’d been a customer of theirs via NTL C&W and then Virgin for over 25 years, yet they still had the nerve to bill me for one last monthly payment. Thieving bastards.

[Judd]

@Longdogs

You get a remote with it which is handy) not sure if you do with the firestick).

Yes you can. Not only that, it can be controlled via voice using the remote, or in my case, via an Echo device in my lounge. You can ask Alexa to find a particular programme, TV series and episode selection, fast-forward and rewind by a certain number of minutes and pause while I get up to make myself a cuppa. Ain’t technology great?

[Judd]

@JBR

Yes, we got a remote with the Fire Stick.

To be honest, we have had some small problems and, when I couldn’t sort them out I had a chat with the support people on Amazon - that’s an online chat, not speech!

To be honest, the problems have been to do with correctly setting the thing up.

Each time (two or three now) they have been both knowledgeable and helpful and have quickly sorted out any problems.

The first time I called them, they agreed to send me a replacement remote control.

Although there have been some small problems since, we now have TWO working remotes!

To be honest, I think £40 for access to all of these channels, YouTube, Internet, etc. was well worth it.

We already used to pay for Amazon Prime for free delivery, which we do a lot now due to this coronavirus thing. Fortunately, it also pays for access to just about everything on the Prime channel on the Fire Stick too.

Another bonus is that you can install only the Apps you want so no reviled BBC in any shape or form, no Apps that allow you to watch live TV or mindless sports shows. ITV hub is also a waste of time (for me) - I’ve no interest in watching catch-ups of Coronation St. or Emmerdale.

[JBR]

@Judd

If viewing via a tablet however, you can download programmes to watch later, if you go on holiday for example. Granted, the recordings have a limited shelf life unless they’re re-verified by a Wi-Fi connection from time to time, but the facility is there if you need it.

I didn’t know that, but I don’t have a tablet.
Thanks.

[JBR]

@Judd

Exactly the reason why I cancelled Virgin Media BB - they were taking the piss with their ever-increasing charges. I’d been a customer of theirs via NTL C&W and then Virgin for over 25 years, yet they still had the nerve to bill me for one last monthly payment. Thieving bastards.

Yes. We’ve been a customer of theirs since there were called NYNEX. That was at our previous house.
I’m thinking of leaving them too, because they have become unreliable and also they are choosing not to answer my written communications.

We have quite a few things reliant on broadband, including some external security cameras. I’m not sure that a normal 10Mb connection would be adequate, so we can’t move at the moment.

I’m hoping that there will be an alternative fibre connection company around here eventually.

[JBR]

@Judd

Another bonus is that you can install only the Apps you want so no reviled BBC in any shape or form, no Apps that allow you to watch live TV or mindless sports shows. ITV hub is also a waste of time (for me) - I’ve no interest in watching catch-ups of Coronation St. or Emmerdale.

Oh, BBC iPlayer is on ours, but we never look at it as we don’t have a licence. More importantly, there’s nowt but rubbish on the BBC anyway.

I’d delete the app from Fire Stick if I knew how.

[Judd]

@JBR

I didn’t know that, but I don’t have a tablet.
Thanks.

You could do the same on a laptop or mobile phone (but who would want to watch something on a mobile phone?)

[Judd]

@JBR

Yes. We’ve been a customer of theirs since there were called NYNEX. That was at our previous house.
I’m thinking of leaving them too, because they have become unreliable and also they are choosing not to answer my written communications.

We have quite a few things reliant on broadband, including some external security cameras. I’m not sure that a normal 10Mb connection would be adequate, so we can’t move at the moment.

I’m hoping that there will be an alternative fibre connection company around here eventually.

I’ve migrated to PlusNet - 36mbit which is okay for me. I can stream Amazon Prime Video, watch YouTube online (which I do regularly). As I only had VM before, I had to have a new line installed (fibre), which only cost me £70 for the lot. They were in contact with me every bit of the way as, because of the pandemic, they had to postpone a couple of visits. Very happy with the service thus far.

Put your postcode into the PlusNet website to see if fibre is available in your area.

[Judd]

@JBR

Oh, BBC iPlayer is on ours, but we never look at it as we don’t have a licence. More importantly, there’s nowt but rubbish on the BBC anyway.

I’d delete the app from Fire Stick if I knew how.

Is the App physically installed or is there a small cloud icon on the App name? That means it’s still in the cloud and is available for installation. If it’s installed proper, to remove it, just go to the Apps setting section.

How to Remove an App from your Amazon Fire Stick

[JBR]

@Judd

I’ve migrated to PlusNet - 36mbit which is okay for me. I can stream Amazon Prime Video, watch YouTube online (which I do regularly). As I only had VM before, I had to have a new line installed (fibre), which only cost me £70 for the lot. They were in contact with me every bit of the way as, because of the pandemic, they had to postpone a couple of visits. Very happy with the service thus far.

Put your postcode into the PlusNet website to see if fibre is available in your area.

I have, along with several other suppliers.
No fibre connection here apart from VM, which is why they’re so slipshod and couldn’t care less.

[JBR]

@Judd

Is the App physically installed or is there a small cloud icon on the App name? That means it’s still in the cloud and is available for installation. If it’s installed proper, to remove it, just go to the Apps setting section.

How to Remove an App from your Amazon Fire Stick | Tom's Guide Forum

Thanks. I’ll have a go with that.

EDIT:
Now successfully removed BBC iPlayer completely.
If the BBC police come knocking, I shall gladly let them in and give them a big grin when they check to see if I might have been watching it!