Connecting up

Here we explain how to connect up a set top box (or digital TV recorder / PVR) to a recorder and a TV

• when the digital box has 2 SCART sockets, see digital box connecting with 2 SCART sockets
• when the digital box has just 1 SCART socket, see digital box connecting with 1 SCART socket
• when the TV has no SCART sockets, see digital box connecting with no TV SCART sockets

And, how to connect an integrated digital TV (iDTV) and recorder, see Connecting an iDTV and recorder.

Digital box connecting with 2 SCART sockets

Connecting a set top box or digital TV recorder to a recorder and a TV when the box or digital recorder has two SCART sockets.

This is the most logical and straightforward set up.
You can simply select what you want to watch – digital TV or recording – using the TV’s input selector button. And you can record straight from the on-screen TV guide on the set top box.

The only disadvantage of this set up is that the second SCART, connected to the recorder, usually does not provide a high quality RGB signal. This would not matter for recording on a VCR, but if you have a DVD recorder, you won’t be getting the best out of it. With a DVD recorder you are better using the single SCART solution, see digital box connecting with 1 SCART socket. That said, some second SCART sockets offer S-Video output AV connections, which can get good results from a DVD recorder.

In the drawing the aerial lead is looped to the recorder and TV. This is optional so you can record analogue channels – but the connection will be redundant when the analogue transmissions are switched off.

Digital box connecting with 1 SCART socket

Connecting a set top box (or digital TV recorder/PVR) to a recorder and a TV when the box has one SCART socket – or you want to get the best out of a DVD recorder.

As well as coping with a single SCART set top box – though all the ones we tested had two – this set up can also be used to make sure a DVD recorder gets the best quality RGB signal to record. To select between digital TV or the recorder, you use the TV/AV button on the set top box remote. This system only works when the recorder feeds the RGB video signals through to the TV signal. Some older VCRs may not do this. Some may require the recorder to be switched on for it to work.

In the drawing the aerial lead is looped to the recorder and TV. This is optional so you can record analogue channels – but the connection will be redundant when the analogue transmissions are switched off.

Digital box connecting with no TV SCART sockets

This arrangement can only be used if the set top box or digital TV recorder (PVR) has a built-in modulator. Most digital boxes do not provide this so your choice is limited. To see test reports on products that have a built-in modulator use our Product Search and select 'Modulator output' as a search criteria.

You will have to tune in the TV to the frequency being used by the digital box modulator. The box effectively appears as a new channel on the TV (eg preset number 6) in the same way as early VCRs used to. Note that picture quality will be reduced and the sound will be in mono.

Connecting an iDTV and recorder

For this to work you must check which SCART socket at the rear of the iDTV provides an output from its built-in digital tuner. Unfortunately few (if any) iDTVs provide the higher quality RGB or S-Video signals that get the best from a DVD recorder, so this is not an ideal solution. It would be OK for a VCR, but a separate set top box for the recorder would be needed to get best quality for a DVD recorder.