weird vcr recording from ntl/virgin 'pick of the week'

Can anyone explain/suggest fix for the fact that when I try to record
from
the limited range of progs ntl/virgin put in their 'pick of the week'
section, turning on the vcr makes the picture cycle regularly from
dark to
light. Viewing through the recorder's 'tuner' is fine, but as soon as
I
press record - or even when the motor is running when it is not
recording -, the picture goes dull and the cycling starts.

I have tried various swappings of cables, and removing the attenuator
on the
input cable to the stb, and with and without going via the tv. None
make
any difference: yet recording from the normal (what's left of them)
cable
channels is fine.

Is this a deliberate ntl/virgin ploy to make sure we record the
adverts and
can only record from 'live' streams or what?

Useful explanation would be most appreciated.

Cheers,
S

"spamlet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ps.com...
> Can anyone explain/suggest fix for the fact that when I try to record
> from
> the limited range of progs ntl/virgin put in their 'pick of the week'
> section, turning on the vcr makes the picture cycle regularly from
> dark to
> light. Viewing through the recorder's 'tuner' is fine, but as soon as
> I
> press record - or even when the motor is running when it is not
> recording -, the picture goes dull and the cycling starts.
>
> I have tried various swappings of cables, and removing the attenuator
> on the
> input cable to the stb, and with and without going via the tv. None
> make
> any difference: yet recording from the normal (what's left of them)
> cable
> channels is fine.
>
> Is this a deliberate ntl/virgin ploy to make sure we record the
> adverts and
> can only record from 'live' streams or what?
>
> Useful explanation would be most appreciated.

MacroVision(R) copy protection.

(kim)

spamlet wrote:
> Can anyone explain/suggest fix for the fact that when I try to record
> from
> the limited range of progs ntl/virgin put in their 'pick of the week'
> section, turning on the vcr makes the picture cycle regularly from
> dark to
> light. Viewing through the recorder's 'tuner' is fine, but as soon as
> I
> press record - or even when the motor is running when it is not
> recording -, the picture goes dull and the cycling starts.
>
> I have tried various swappings of cables, and removing the attenuator
> on the
> input cable to the stb, and with and without going via the tv. None
> make
> any difference: yet recording from the normal (what's left of them)
> cable
> channels is fine.
>
> Is this a deliberate ntl/virgin ploy to make sure we record the
> adverts and
> can only record from 'live' streams or what?
>
> Useful explanation would be most appreciated.
>
> Cheers,
> S


What you are experiencing is Macrovision copy protection, the type which
you see on PPV, DVDs and VHS tapes.

Sonel.com sell leads to remove macrovision.

I have macrovision protection de-activated on my HDD/DVD recorder, so
don't have any of the problems.

Thanks {{{ etc and Kim,

Don't know how I've managed to escape this phenomenon before. I used to
think it was something to do with the cable/isp connection, as it seemed to
go away if I unplugged the stb and then tried again. This was the first time
I have been unable to clear the problem in this way.

If I need to do much more recording I will have to look at some filtering
leads or a DVD recorder with the necessary filtering as recommended by
yourselves and others in the now also pulled ntl.discussion groups: but as
the whole medium seems to be going downhill fast (there seems to be
virtually no new programs on our package at least since Sky was pulled -
thank heavens for Heroes!) I think I will probably be going back to being in
a no tv household again before long!

Cheers,

S


"{{{{{Welcome}}}}}" <bhx___spam@trapped___hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:BMiJh.3845$(E-Mail Removed) k...
> spamlet wrote:
>> Can anyone explain/suggest fix for the fact that when I try to record
>> from
>> the limited range of progs ntl/virgin put in their 'pick of the week'
>> section, turning on the vcr makes the picture cycle regularly from
>> dark to
>> light. Viewing through the recorder's 'tuner' is fine, but as soon as
>> I
>> press record - or even when the motor is running when it is not
>> recording -, the picture goes dull and the cycling starts.
>>
>> I have tried various swappings of cables, and removing the attenuator
>> on the
>> input cable to the stb, and with and without going via the tv. None
>> make
>> any difference: yet recording from the normal (what's left of them)
>> cable
>> channels is fine.
>>
>> Is this a deliberate ntl/virgin ploy to make sure we record the
>> adverts and
>> can only record from 'live' streams or what?
>>
>> Useful explanation would be most appreciated.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> S
>
>
> What you are experiencing is Macrovision copy protection, the type which
> you see on PPV, DVDs and VHS tapes.
>
> Sonel.com sell leads to remove macrovision.
>
> I have macrovision protection de-activated on my HDD/DVD recorder, so
> don't have any of the problems.