FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Can a cat5e cable carry a tv signal lads? e.g. dvb-s, dvb-t.

Whats the most compact freesat box on the market?

I'm not looking for HD.

Recording wouldnt even be essential.

Have a small flat screen on bedroom wall but dont want box sticking out a mile.

Is freesat and free to air different?

Would this box do the job?

http://www.tvtrade.ie/xoro-3000-satellite-receiver.html

Jerry Seinfeld wrote: »

Whats the most compact freesat box on the market?

I'm not looking for HD.

Recording wouldnt even be essential.

Have a small flat screen on bedroom wall but dont want box sticking out a mile.

Is freesat and free to air different?

Would this box do the job?

http://www.tvtrade.ie/xoro-3000-satellite-receiver.html

This one is tiny...And cheap too...

http://www.satboxes.com/shop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=49
.

donglen wrote: »

I've cancelled Sky Sports but must wait for 31 days before it kicks in (I know, don't get me started!). I'm also cancelling my home phone. Apart from ordering box office does the lack of a phone line affect anything else? Can they still process the cancellation or even up-grade in the future without a home phone line?

A phone line is only needed for multiroom or pay per view events and movies you purchase through the box. You can still purchase films etc over the phone.

donglen wrote: »

OK, I have multiroom also. So is there a requirement that you must have a landline to subscribe to multiroom? I can do without the landline but there could be murder in our house if it affects the multiroom.

Yes you need a landline so they can check that the second card is being used in the house. You might get away with it for sometime but they will eventually charge you the full rate for the second card if it's not connected to the phone line.

hi i think your friend who went to oz has reduced her subscription to the basic package as she was possibly in a contract for 1 year ... as i am aware having your sky box connected to your telephone is only for the box office ppv etc ...or if you have two sky boxs /multiroom and both are connected to your telephone line sky can detect this at there end and if there computer/// servers ping your receivers and only get a reply from one receiver then they charge you full price for second multiroom box ... the telephone line connection to your sky box does not interfere with any sky pay channels or free to view channels at all.

krustydoyle wrote: »

Just a quick question for anyone on here that can help me.

I currently have the HD pack with all sports and no movies.
If I drop sky sports 3 and 4 off my pack, what change to my price
of €83 a month will it make? And do I lose ESPN for free if I drop
the sports 3 and 4?

Thanks

I think ESPN is only free with the full sports pack. Im not sure what the HD price is but by dropping sport 3 and 4 the SD price only drops from €70 to €62. The other option is if you tell them you're dropping sports you'll be almost certainly be offered a 20% discount for 6 months to keep it on.

jasonb wrote: »

I'm thinking of leaving Sky and moving to UPC. I've lots a questions (of course!) but the one that's in my head right now is this: If I leave Sky, I'm guessing the Sky GO app on my iPad won't work anymore (as I won't have any Sky Packages to watch). Do UPC have a similar kind of app?
.

You can sign up for Sky go without being a Sky customer:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056542085

UPC don't have a similar product at the moment. In some areas they do have "on demand" which only works on your TV using their box. Lineup and content is very different to Sky. With UPCs good internet (if it is available where you live) you could try Netflix although the content is very different to Sky.

UPC may launch a new box in the next year, but it's all unconfirmed, some staff are trialling it at the moment.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056579482&page=12

That box would do the same as Sky go, also allowing live TV to be sent to the iPad, however prices, availablility are unknown. You would probably need to be in an area enabled with 120Mb internet to possibly get the new service. But if you sign up with UPC you would probably be locked into a 12 month contract with the old box.

Some advice if considering moving, Sky need 30 days notice. In that 30 days they may offer you incentives not to leave such as half price for 6 months.

UPCs channels are different to Sky. Be very careful comparing one package to another, no two packages are the same and losing certain channels (and shows) can be an issue. Sky will block all your recordings meaning after you leave you cannot watch old stuff recorded on the box. UPC also have a downgrade charge if you remove packages.

Just do your research carefully. If you are moving due to costs, Sky will do a deal but it might take 3 or 4 phone calls.

For some people the UPC digital plus box is annoying. Have you ever used it? Have you also confirmed UPC offer internet and phone where you live (you can ring them for free unlike Sky)

UPC may be cheaper for a reason...

I phoned sky about 10 months ago to cancel my subscription for good but i was persuaded (damn them!) to renew for an additional 12 months and they would install a free HD box and upgrade to sky+ for no additional charge.
I had the standard family pack and i think it costs about 28 a month.

I had the new HD+ installed in another room in the house and we stopped watching television in the old room.

I know it worked for a few days in both rooms because i remember being able to watch the free to air stuff on the old box.

I went to turn on the old box at the weekend an i cant get anything - nothing -

I called sky and they have told me its a €100 call out fee - Im just wondering is anyone else has had a similar issue and it can easily be resolved or do i need to get a sky installer to call out

Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks

the new box is perfect - im just after trying the old box in the room we havent used in a few months and getting error 29 up
I have 2 old boxes and ive rebooted, changed cables, unplugged, everything and still saying error 29
old box 1 is a very old standard sky box
and the other is about 3 yr old sky+ box.
they are both white and have a Pace logo on them

zg3409 wrote: »

Error 29 is probably no signal. Can you try the dodgy box, in the room with the working box? Sometimes no signal is a cabling problem between the box and the dish, sometimes it is a faulty box. The only way to determine is to connect it in place of a known working box and dish.

So move the dodgy box to where a known good box works, and see if it works there.

thanks - ill try and see what happens.
kids are watching Disney at the mo so it will have to wait.

Cheers

Deleted User wrote: »

1. FTA & FTV, do I need to get a card or something to get these? If so, is it a monthly cost or once off and is it worth bothering to get it or go with the one that doesnt need a card

FTV (free-to-view) was a term used for soft-encrypted channels that required a card to view them but no subscription. The UK channels such as the BBC, UTV, CH4 etc. required a FTV card previously but went FTA some years ago.

FTA (free-to-air) refers to non-encrypted channels available without a subscription or card that can be viewed with any FTA satellite receiver, also available thru the other channels option on a Sky receiver. List of free-to-air channels at 28°E that can be received with your Sky dish - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free-to-air_channels_at_28%C2%B0E

Unlike your Sky receiver if you use a FTA satellite receiver any changes to channels, frequencies etc. will not be automatically updated and you will have to enter the menu and maybe retune and reorder channels to suit your requirements. There is also no 7 day programme guide or red button services with a FTA receiver.

For viewers who like the user friendliness of a Sky receiver such as 7 day guide, red button, digital text, channel numbering and auto updates but with no subscription the BBC and ITV developed a standard called Freesat a few years ago. Any FTA channel that pays a fee can be included in the Freesat 7 day epg. Freesat channels - http://www.freesat.co.uk/what-you-get/our-channels

A Freesat spec receiver will be required. Standard single tuner zapper boxes and twin tuner pvr (freesat+) versions are available - http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/ (rh column). Plug and play with your Sky dish.

You can continue to view the FTA channels via your Sky receiver after you cancel your Sky sub but no recording or playback options are available. Remove the Sky card to see what channels are available.

Deleted User wrote: »

2. I see lists of channels supposedly available through my box after I cancel sky but I havent come across a list which includes irish channels (RTE, N2, TV3 etc). Am I missing something? Are these only available using a saorview box?

The Irish channels are encrypted via Sky and so require a Sky sub and receiver to view them. All the Irish channels are available with an aerial and Saorview TV and STB. A Saorview PVR is also available for recording the Irish channels.

Deleted User wrote: »

I am trying to reduce costs as much as possible so Id like to try and avoid having to buy more equipment / cards if possible, however if a once off purchase is necessary I could probably go for it depending on how much

Combi Saorview/FTA satellite receivers are available
http://www.saorview.ie/product/saorview-combi-options/
http://www.tvtrade.ie/saorview-digital-television/digital-satellite-combo.html

Do you get any HD channels with a HD box without having to pay the subscription?

muffler wrote: »

I take it you mean with a Sky sub? If so you can get RTE2, BBC1, BBC2, Channel 4 (I think) all on HD. ITV1 HD is available - see this thread on front page about how to get it. There are another one or two available but I just cant think of them now.

Yeah, I meant paying a regular subscription including sports and movies. Not the HD sub.

Is It only certain programmes that are in HD? I've never really noticed much of a difference between Rte 2 and Rte hd.

Nimrod 7 wrote: »

I was hoping someone could help me out..

I'm totally new to DTT and satelite. Thinking of cancelling my UPC TV service and buying a Saorview/Freesat combo box. I was hoping to keep the whole cost under €300.

So as I understand it, here are the things I need to buy:

• A Freesat/Sky satellite dish with LNB
• A roof top UHF aerial
• A combo box with PVR and HD
• Portable external hard drive(maybe 500GB to 1TB)

Okay so questions..

Can someone recommend any of these? Mainly the box.

Do I need a roof top UHF aerial? Could I use maybe an indoor aerial? I live in Dublin.

I know there are issues with the EPG on some boxes. Will I be able to get a 7 day EPG on both terrestrial and satellite?

I won't be able to install it myself, what are my options?

Well..how do I get the connection from the minidish and possibly the roof top aerial into the house?

Would all this stay under €300?

I was asking about something similar on behalf of a friend a few days ago. Have a look here and there are a couple of recommendations

The FTA channels are the same signals that Sky use. Sky's own HD channels tend to have higher bitrates.