FTV-FTA Help

arceye

Hi all,

Im new to all this really, so I could do with a few tips.

Im using a panasonic digibox without card for FTA BBC and others.
Is utv and others broadcasting on FTA-FTV over here.
If I got a Freeview card from London, will it work here.

Thanks
Derek

sceptre

Originally posted by arceye
If I got a Freeview card from London, will it work here.

Yes it would.

ITV/C4/C5 don't broadcast FTA (ie without a card) so you'll need a free to view (technically "Freeview" is a digital terrestrial service) card to watch these channels.

arceye

Sorry for being a bit stupid, but Im after looking through treads and sites to help get a card but im more confused than when i started.

Do i need a card to replace for the new one?
Can i order one over the net and sent to London address?
Does the address need a Licence?

sceptre

You don't need an old card to replace. Only holders of the old cards can order them over the web though - you'll have to phone 0870 054 1800 (or from here (blocking your own number) 141-00-44-870-054-1800) to get one. They cost £23.50 and you'll need to get it delivered to your London address. Don't even mention that you're in Ireland, live in Ireland or have ever heard of the country.

The old system, run on behalf of the BBC, was licence based. No-one seems to have had any problems ordering these new cards without a licence though - the BBC aren't involved so the people issuing the cards probably don't care.

This is the official site for the system.

walsheliz

Sceptre,

I had a look at the site you provided the link to.
Let me see if I have this right.
I can buy a system here in Dublin that will allow me to see fta BBC 1,2,3&4 for o one off payment to a satellite company who will fit the dish and box and I'll see a lot of channels that are on the Astra satellite that are FTA of course.

From your link it seems that if I lived in the UL and had an FTV card I'd get itv1, c4 and c5 as well.

If the above is correct and I had a mate in England who applied for a FTV card and he sent it to me would I be able to get them here as well. IF this is so why aren't a lot more people doing this?

I hope you can respond in detail.

Many thanks

walsheliz

Sceptre,

I made some typo's and decided to re-post in case my last one was difficult to understand.

Sorry for any confusion.

Sceptre,

I had a look at the site you provided the link to.
Let me see if I have this right.
I can buy a system here in Dublin that will allow me to see fta BBC 1,2,3&4 for A one off payment to a satellite company who will fit the dish and box and I'll see a lot of channels that are on the Astra satellite that are FTA of course.

From your link it seems that if I lived in the UK and had an FTV card I'd get itv1, c4 and c5 as well.

If the above is correct, and I had a mate in England who applied for a FTV card for me, and he sent it to me would I be able to get them here as well. IF this is so why aren't a lot more people doing this?

I hope you can respond in detail.

Many thanksA

sceptre

Let's see (let me know if there's anything I don't answer)

If you get an FTA box (like say this one) you'd be able to receive the 4 BBC (plus 4 more by the way - CBBC, Cbeebies, BBC Parliament and News 24) channels, radio channels and other FTA channels broadcasting on Astra. You would not be able to receive ITV, C4 or five as long as they continue to use Sky's conditional access system. For some people this is the ideal choice, especially if they don't have a Sky box already. The channels can be arranged in any order you like and there aren't any fees and so on.

Using the Sky box you already have you can receive the same 4 (8!) BBC channels, radio channels and (almost all of the) other FTA channels broadcasting on Astra (there are a small few that the Sky box won't pick up even through "Other Channels"). That's what you get without a card. If you're currently using the BBC channels thhrough "Other Channels" by putting a Sky card in upside down or putting in a Tesco clubcard or similar and turning your box off and on again you'll have the BBC channels on 101, 102, 115, 116 (and the other 4 on numbers I can't rememember). By getting the FTV card you'll get all the above, plus ITV, Channel 4 and five. Anyone with a UK address can get one of these cards (as long as they pay their £23.50).

Because you've already got a Sky system set up, I'd just get the card from a mate with a UK address and run with that. Cheapest option and you get pretty much everything you get with an FTA box (the very small amount of channels you won't get aren't ones you'll miss) - plus ITV/C4/five (which you won't get the other way for the forseeable future, if ever).

Why aren't more people doing this? Dunno really. I suppose there are plenty of people who don't know about it for a start. Some current Sky subscribers won't want the hassle of swapping cards when they want to watch channel 4 (doesn't bother me, won't affect you if it's the only card you'll be using)