This topic

Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

CJ18 — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 13:00:37 GMT

I have a BT TV Box Mini in addition to my Pro box, and I would really like to be able to record from the mini box rather than just use streaming for anything not showing live. Is it possible to attach a recorder of any description (YouView Recorder?) to the mini box for this purpose?

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

DarrenDev — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 13:24:14 GMT

No - the video output is copy protected. If you have a TV aerial then you could buy another recordable box, and it would work as your second box.
(You could also buy a second Pro box which would work, but this isn't supported by BT as Pro boxes are not for sale)

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

Brucemeister5 — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 13:57:18 GMT

How do BT view the status of Pro tv boxes which have been purchased from elsewhere? According to the ts & cs they are subject to a late return fee of £115 but are still the property of BT. Asking for a friend 😉

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

Midnight_Voice — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 14:52:26 GMT

You can’t buy a BT Pro box and own it, as that would be receiving stolen goods.

But perhaps you can pay someone for the privilege of keeping it safe for the foreseeable future 😛

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

CJ18 — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 09:58:26 GMT

Thanks for the replies, I've worked around the problem by cancelling BT TV and going with Sky Q. I was mostly OK with the BT platform but the limits on recordings was a big issue for me.

I have to commend BT's customer service throughout my TV experience though, it was first class.

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

vitaminj — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 17:59:29 GMT

Just interested, did you want recordings local to the Mini box, or just the ability to set recordings?
Would it have suited your usecase if you could press record on the Mini box, and the request be "sent" to the main Pro box to actually do?

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

Midnight_Voice — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 18:49:45 GMT

@vitaminj

You mean like you can already do on the app, owner of the recognisable face? 😛

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

vitaminj — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 10:06:59 GMT

Well yes, true, just wondering if just being able to press record in the guide or on a live programme on the Mini box for example would have been a cool thing which might have not lost people like @CJ18.

Just wondering out loud, nothing should be read into my face

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

DarrenDev — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 10:24:29 GMT

It's a nice idea, but very niche. Without the ability to subsequently then watch it on the Mini, it would only cause more confusion.
The aim is to encourage more use of the catch up players, rather than rely on recordings.

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

Midnight_Voice — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 10:53:07 GMT

@vitaminj

Just that it’s familiar to me 😛

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

CJ18 — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 12:34:29 GMT

I don't mind where the recordings are actually "done", I just would have liked the ability to set recordings and be able to watch them on the Mini box, a la Sky Q.

Speaking of which, all of my BT TV kit has gone back and I had Sky Q installed yesterday so that's the future for at least the next 18 months. Still have broadband with BT though.

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

DarrenDev — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 13:16:54 GMT

@CJ18 wrote:

I don't mind where the recordings are actually "done", I just would have liked the ability to set recordings and be able to watch them on the Mini box, a la Sky Q.

Unfortunately this isn't likely to ever happen on BT TV. As it's a required feature for you, you've made the right choice going for Sky Q.

Re: Connecting a Recorder to BT TV Box Mini

Midnight_Voice — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 11:28:20 GMT

My effective, if slightly cumbersome, solution to this is to have two recording YouView boxes, one in the lounge and one in the bedroom, one paired with the BT TV App on my phone, and one paired with it on my iPad.

Then, if we don’t know where we are going to watch something, we just record it on both without me ever getting out of my armchair.

This works especially well for long-running series like Homes Under the Hammer and Countdown, both of which are essentially set and forget.

The solution was a little more streamlined in the old days, when we could have the YouView app and the TalkTalk app on the same device, each linked to one of the boxes, but not much.

There’s a little bit of manually keeping tables on where we got to with what, if we switch rooms mid-series, but it’s not insurmountable.