Whats the best option?

vectra

I need to get a sat syatem and am wondering should I buy a Maplins FTA system or get a used sky setup no longer being used and get a FTV card?

What are the benefits of each one?
as in what channells do they both offer?

cheers

byte

Well.

A FTA box will allow you full control over the channels. IE you can assign whatever numbers you want to each channel, and delete/add at will.

This isn't possible on Sky box.

However, a Skybox with FTVcard will give you the benefits of Channel4, five and Sky Three. Also, the interactive features on BBC, Sky News, etc will only work on a Sky box, not on a FTA box.

Personally, I'd go for the Sky box and FTV card. But that's because I like the interactive features, particularly BBCi.

vectra

byte wrote:

Well.

A FTA box will allow you full control over the channels. IE you can assign whatever numbers you want to each channel, and delete/add at will.

This isn't possible on Sky box.

However, a Skybox with FTVcard will give you the benefits of Channel4, five and Sky Three. Also, the interactive features on BBC, Sky News, etc will only work on a Sky box, not on a FTA box.

Personally, I'd go for the Sky box and FTV card. But that's because I like the interactive features, particularly BBCi.

And i guess the added bonus of Ch4 which the wife is stuck in at the minute for Big Bro. :rolleyes:

jeffred

I originally went for the Maplin FTA system with the Fortec Star receiver but bought a digibox and card off ebay and I’m now using that. While the Maplin system worked well the wife found the menu system a bit difficult and the programming guide wasn’t the best. The EPG on the Sky digiboxes is easier to navigate and has the bonus of C4, C5 with a uk card.

vectra

jeffred wrote:

I originally went for the Maplin FTA system with the Fortec Star receiver but bought a digibox and card off ebay and I’m now using that. While the Maplin system worked well the wife found the menu system a bit difficult and the programming guide wasn’t the best. The EPG on the Sky digiboxes is easier to navigate and has the bonus of C4, C5 with a uk card.

Ebay.co.uk or Ebay.ie?

jeffred

ebay.ie, picked up box for about €20 and same again for postage. Got card for €25 euro. Had to leave it in the box for 24hrs before it re-activated.