Freeview HD

Langer

Hey guys, have a 32" Full HD tv mostly used with the PS3 - also have an old panny sky box with UK FTV card for BBC C4 ITV etc - my question is if i buy a new HD freeview box will i get BBC HD channel 4 HD etc. also will my Sky minidish be ok to connect to it, anyone recommend makes/models , ta in advance:)

evilivor

Langer wrote: »

Hey guys, have a 32" Full HD tv mostly used with the PS3 - also have an old panny sky box with UK FTV card for BBC C4 ITV etc - my question is if i buy a new HD freeview box will i get BBC HD channel 4 HD etc. also will my Sky minidish be ok to connect to it, anyone recommend makes/models , ta in advance:)

A Freesat not Freeview box, will give you BBCHD, ITV HD (when they broadcast stuff) and, next weekend, a Freesat exclusive, BET HD for the BET Entertainment Awards. You won't get Channel 4 HD on it for the moment 'cos it's exclusive to Sky at the moment.

The Humax Foxsat HD box seems to be the popular winner, you can just plug and play from your existing minidish afaik.

peneau

Langer wrote: »

Hey guys, have a 32" Full HD tv mostly used with the PS3 - also have an old panny sky box with UK FTV card for BBC C4 ITV etc - my question is if i buy a new HD freeview box will i get BBC HD channel 4 HD etc. also will my Sky minidish be ok to connect to it, anyone recommend makes/models , ta in advance:)

I think you mean a Freesat box (DVB-S) as I don't think in general, UK Freeview (DVB-T) channels are available in the ROI although depending on your location it may be possible. A HUMAX HD Freesat Box connected to your minidish will pick up the BBC HD and ITV HD transmissions.

Hope that helps.

fat-tony

I'm assuming you mean "Freesat" not "Freeview"? Freeview is the UK terrestrial service.
I can certainly endorse the Humax Foxsat HDR, for the full Freesat 7 day guide, excellent PVR service - never missed an episode of a series-linked programme. BBC HD service is excellent (ITV have a limited HD service, but it's improving). The ability to record BBC3/4 and ITV means it's much more usable than the SKY box for me. I cancelled my SKY HD sub and haven't watched SKY since and don't miss it, although I've kept a basic SKY sub for the kids to watch in another room.
CH4 HD is not available on Freesat, though. It's an encrypted service on SKY, but there has been some talk in forums that it will go FTA at some stage.

Langer

thanks everyone, great help:)

celtictigermrk2

fat-tony wrote: »

I can certainly endorse the Humax Foxsat HDR

Hi guys,

I'm moving house soon and have been thinking of going down the Freesat route. Having checked around, the Humax Foxsat HDR seems to be the most widely recommended box, but I'm just wondering what else would I need to buy to go with it (i.e. dish, outside cables, interior cables etc etc.). And also is there much to actually installing the whole package yourself or are you better off getting a technician to do it?

Would appreciate any advice.

Many thanks

fat-tony

for the ancillary equipment - dish, LNB, cabling etc., I suggest you have a look at www.satellite.ie Tony (no relation!) is helpful and posts here regularly. Videos on installation are available.

Sam Russell

You will need an aerial for RTE and two cables from the sat dish. This will give you the full function of the Freesat HD recorder. You can record one programmme and watch another. With only one cable you are resticted - they both must be the same polarity.

tomslick

If I was you I'd subscribe to sky for 12 months on the smallest package. With the use of recommend a friend it'll only cost you about E100 for the year. They'll install everything and you'll have alot more channels for 12months. After 12 months cancel and you'll still get the FTA stuff. Cheaper and quicker than installing it yourself. IMO.

Liam Byrne

tomslick wrote: »

If I was you I'd subscribe to sky for 12 months on the smallest package. With the use of recommend a friend it'll only cost you about E100 for the year. They'll install everything and you'll have alot more channels for 12months. After 12 months cancel and you'll still get the FTA stuff. Cheaper and quicker than installing it yourself. IMO.

I went this route in order to get the Sky Eye to work too.

Only problem is that the EPG is crap : no "delete" options for channels you don't have / want and no way of getting the channels from "other channels" into the EPG.

Have asked a few times to see if there's another box with RF our that would do the same thing via the Sky Eye, but no-one's come up with one.

Any suggestions this time round ? Can the Humax do this ?

tomslick

I've yet to find a box that works with the magic eye other than skys box. The Humax has a good epg but some channels have to be added manually eg. sky news. Any of the non-freesat boxes have problems with epg. Most only give you now & next and channels keep moving freq. and you must rescan them.

If you do the region change (change it to an english box) all the channels available on other channels become part of the epg including Channel 4. This can be done handy if you have an older sky box.