Free to Air

newmills

Hi Lads,

Quick one.... can't be arsed forking out 25 quid a month for NTL's basic 17 channel package.
Are the Free to Air satellite packages worth considering?
I have seen them advertised at €250 fully fitted - would be happy enough to get something that would give me a good few channels.
Are they in any way dodgy (not interested if they are) - or has anyone any better ideas?
Thanks.

P.S - Would a set top box bought in the north work?? I'm living in dublin.

Apogee

newmills wrote: »

Hi Lads,

Quick one.... can't be arsed forking out 25 quid a month for NTL's basic 17 channel package.
Are the Free to Air satellite packages worth considering?

Yes. Channel line-up.

I have seen them advertised at €250 fully fitted - would be happy enough to get something that would give me a good few channels.
Are they in any way dodgy (not interested if they are) - or has anyone any better ideas?

No, they're perfectly legal. You would be better getting a Freesat system, rather than a free-to-air one. The Freesat receivers are more user friendly and have a better EPG. You can also get a Freesat PVR that will work like a Sky+ box.

P.S - Would a set top box bought in the north work?? I'm living in dublin.

Yes, Argos/Curries etc.

Bozacke

Hi Newmills,

The FTA Satellite kits are easy enough to install on your own and every few months go on sale in Lidls and Aldi for €80 for the complete kit. The kit typically includes an 80cm dish, a set top box, mounting bracket, cabling and a sat-finder. With that you'll be able to get all of the channels on Astra 28 that Apogee linked (including a few more) for free with no monthly fees and additional channels will probably be added in the future. You can find better equipment then the Lidls & Aldi stuff, but obviously you'll pay more. B&Q, Maplins and a plethora of online shops also sell Satellite equipment, see the sticky. There are other satellites in addition to Astra 28 with additional channels, but you'll need a bigger dish and pay more money, but Astra 28 by far gives you the most FTA channels for your money.

I've recently added to my setup a FreeSat PVR which is equivalent to a sky+ box, without all of the sky channels, but without the monthly fees.

polyfusion

Apogee wrote: »

Yes. Channel line-up.

Just noticed the RTE radio channels on the line-up there. How is that working out? Are RTE paying to be on the Freesat EPG?

evilivor

polyfusion wrote: »

Just noticed the RTE radio channels on the line-up there. How is that working out? Are RTE paying to be on the Freesat EPG?

They joined September last year and are paying to be on the EPG.

waster81

id look at buying equipment yourself somewhere like powercity , lidl ( some say the dishes aren;t the best), or try adverts.ie pick up some equipment there say for €100 plus €100 to get it installed (probably people doing it for less).

Your looking at between €160-€200 every bit helps

newmills

Thanks lads....looks like NTL will be getting the bullet in the new year!!

WHL

Remember also that you will not get the Irish channels on a FTA satellite. You will have to add an aerial which is not too big a deal. If you do buy in the north, make sure that you get a Free To Air box and not a Freeview box