Freesat and/or Free to Air

07Lapierre

Hi All

I'll apologise now for asking what I'm sure is a pretty stupid question. Whats the difference between Freesat and Free to Air?

Am I correct in assuming "Freesat" is a TV provider just like SKY and Free to Air is simply a term used to describe non-subscrition, freely accessable Satellite TV?

Many thanks and please stop laughing at my stupidity!

slegs

07Lapierre wrote: »

Hi All

I'll apologise now for asking what I'm sure is a pretty stupid question. Whats the difference between Freesat and Free to Air?

Am I correct in assuming "Freesat" is a TV provider just like SKY and Free to Air is simply a term used to describe non-subscrition, freely accessable Satellite TV?

Many thanks and please stop laughing at my stupidity!

Not stupid at all and you are spot on the money. Freesat is a service with EPG and Red button etc much like Sky (execpt without the subscription) where FTA is just all the free channels that are posisble to receive on a satndard receiver.

Tony

07Lapierre wrote: »

Am I correct in assuming "Freesat" is a TV provider just like SKY and Free to Air is simply a term used to describe non-subscrition, freely accessable Satellite TV?

Pretty much correct. Free to air satellite means any satellite transmisson which can be viewed without a viewing card or subscription. Freesat is the name of a programme platform or provider from the UK who specify a specific box for their service obviouly enough called a freesat receiver. The main differences beween the two are

1. A freesat box will autmaticially update its software and channel list, a free to air receiver will usually need a manual update

2. A freesat receiver has a 7 day prgramme guide whereas a free to air receiver will usually have now and next information only. Having said that there are some FTA receivers that can do this.

3.. A freesat receiver has interactive content using the red button somewhat similar to sky.

4. Free to air receivers are generally cheaper than freesat units.

07Lapierre

Thanks Slegs!

I was 99% sure, just had a niggling feeling I could be wrong though, so thanks for clearing this up for me.

07Lapierre

Tony wrote: »

Pretty much correct. Free to air satellite means any satellite transmisson which can be viewed without a viewing card or subscription. Freesat is the name of a programme platform or provider from the UK who specify a specific box for their service obviouly enough called a freesat receiver. The main differences beween the two are

1. A freesat box will autmaticially update its software and channel list, a free to air receiver will usually need a manual update

2. A freesat receiver has a 7 day prgramme guide whereas a free to air receiver will usually have now and next information only. Having said that there are some FTA receivers that can do this.

3.. A freesat receiver has interactive content using the red button somewhat similar to sky.

4. Free to air receivers are generally cheaper than freesat units.

Thanks tony, I have a FTA reciever so from what your saying if I'm "Upgrading", I should upgrade to a Freesat reciever which would allow me to avail of EPG and possibly HD? Any recomme3ndations on recievers? cheers.

Tony

I would say the only reason to upgrade would be to get HD assuming you have a HD Tv. I'm afraid I cant give you a recommendation on a particular receiver as I'm a retailer and it might be read by some as advertising, there are plenty of helpful guys on here though that will help you should you decide to go the upgrade route.

07Lapierre wrote: »

Thanks tony, I have a FTA reciever so from what your saying if I'm "Upgrading", I should upgrade to a Freesat reciever which would allow me to avail of EPG and possibly HD? Any recomme3ndations on recievers? cheers.

07Lapierre

Spot On!..I've a HD TV, so i'm thinking of upgrading. thats what caused all the bother! I started looking up recievers and some are advertised as Freesat and other as FTA, hence my original post. Thanks again for your help.

Tony

No problem, only decision you really have is to whether to go for a HD box with or without recording feature. A Humax foxsat is well regarded but does need a second cable from the dish , I believe richer sounds are doing a boards.ie discount on this.

07Lapierre wrote: »

Spot On!..I've a HD TV, so i'm thinking of upgrading. thats what caused all the bother! I started looking up recievers and some are advertised as Freesat and other as FTA, hence my original post. Thanks again for your help.

TheDriver

To correct Tony, you should have 2 cables but it will work very well with one cable, there is a loop through system meaning you can record 2 channels at once oprovided they are in same polarisation group and most are. Humax Foxsat gets my vote the whole way, marvellous bit of kit.

Tony

I disagree it will work to some degree with one cable but to say it works "very well" is overstating, to work as it is intended to be used it needs two cables from the dish. I doubt if the average user knows much about transponders and polarities as they are surely more interested in the benefits and not the technology.

TheDriver wrote: »

To correct Tony, you should have 2 cables but it will work very well with one cable,

Martin_F

+1 on the Humax PVR. No boards discount at richersounds - possibly free delivery although you may need to ask nicely on the boards page.

The price is though as competitive as it gets without discount.

Tony also sells them on satellite.ie - he's just not allowed to say it

Tony

Martin_F wrote: »

Tony also sells them on satellite.ie - he's just not allowed to say it

Yep but i'm way overpriced on that product

Trevord

The Humax Foxsat comes into its own with two cables with the ability to watch and record multiple channels.

This capability together with the +1 channels and the Humax features that searches for programmes repeats on subseqeunt days, you've rarely find that you have the kind of programme clash that caused many an argument when watching tv in the old days.

Set your schedules with series link and you'll rarely if ever sit down to the TV to find that there isn't something you'd like to watch. If anything the problem is ending up with too much choice.