Easy to use Free Sat

Senna

The analogue deflector with gives my mums house her signal is about to be turned off so i'm looking at getting her a freesat (free view, free sky whatever its called). She's fairly elderly so the normal sky channel navigation will be very hard for her to use.
But i heard of a system that is a lot easier to use, basically the remote will work like a TV remote, i.e channel 1 on the remote is BBC1, 2 is BBC2 etc.
Can anyone dirrect me to these boxes?
There's a sky dish on the house already, so just need the box and card.

TheDriver

to be honest, you won't get much simpler than a freesat box where you can delete most of the channels and there would only be 10-15 left that she can scroll up and down through,. Only thing is Irish would not be included

The Cush

Senna wrote: »

The analogue deflector with gives my mums house her signal is about to be turned off so i'm looking at getting her a freesat (free view, free sky whatever its called). She's fairly elderly so the normal sky channel navigation will be very hard for her to use.

There is a discussion going on over in the terrestrial forum - End of the line for analouge deflectors ? - regarding the 31st Dec licence expiry date for deflectors.

denat and Mike 1972 posted that a new regulation S.I. No. 445 of 2009 has been issued recently (not available online yet) and without seeing the text we can assume at least a one year extension has been granted.

Where is your mum located? If an extension has been granted would the local operators continue with the deflector?

Trevord

I'm wondering if a good FTA receiver would be better than a basic freesat box. If its an older person will they use/manage the EPG functionality? If not then the flexibility with channel line up with an FTA box might be an advantage.

A good universal remote would also be a must.

Apogee

Trevord wrote: »

I'm wondering if a good FTA receiver would be better than a basic freesat box. If its an older person will they use/manage the EPG functionality? If not then the flexibility with channel line up with an FTA box might be an advantage.

No because a FTA receiver will invariably require retuning at some point. And there is no requirement to use the EPG in a Freesat receiver - they can just move up/down through the channels.

Tony

+1

Apogee wrote: »

No because a FTA receiver will invariably require retuning at some point. And there is no requirement to use the EPG in a Freesat receiver - they can just move up/down through the channels.

givecredit

A freesat box is your best bet. You can pick one up for £45 in Northern Ireland in currys or argos. Or if you live near a tescos or Power city in ROI you can pick up a Sat4free box for €79. The sat4free box is the same as Freesat box, except the region is tied to Northern Ireland. (Chs on position 101-103 are tied to BBC1ni, BBC2ni and UTV) this would probably suit your needs.

Senna

Thanks for all the replies,
first off; the analogue deflector was a community scheme set up in the mid 80's, each house (about 25 houses) paid a one off amount and the deflector was placed on the hill opposite our area (NE Donegal). The deflector broadcasts the Irish channels and BBC1,2 UTV, C4. The guy i was talking to about it, said it will continue to broadcast the Irish channels but not the UK ones after 2009. There is no maintenance of the defector so some of the channels have been getting worse over the last 2-3 years. I think freesat would just be best (so she can watch Countdown in a descent picture:D)

I looked at some of the freesat systems on the net and they seem to be all around/over £100, could anyone link to a cheaper one?
This is the cheapest on currys; Currys Freesat

I'll take a look at some "in store" but i still feel they might be complicated for her, i know the channel up and down buttons are simple, but unless it Press 1 for RTE/BBC she gets confused.

I will ask the fella again about the "simple to use freesat" and post it here, as it might benefit someone else.

sesswhat

Senna wrote: »

I looked at some of the freesat systems on the net and they seem to be all around/over £100, could anyone link to a cheaper one?
This is the cheapest on currys; Currys Freesat

They had one of the Grundig boxes in stock in Argos in Strabane today for £49.99.

I was in a similar situation, needing something for older relatives which would be easy for them to use.

I went for the HD version of the Bush box for £67.39 as they already have a new HD Ready TV. I found the picture quality to be excellent, especially through the HDMI lead. It also works through Scart of course (but no HD) and this may be the only option in your case. Using Scart also means the TV will switch to the correct input when the box is switched on, unlike with HDMI which has to be selected manually. This would make it a bit of a pain when switching from RTE to the Freesat channels. I connected it both ways to the TV and they will probably view through Scart most of the time. The box includes a HDMI lead but no Scart lead. The non-HD boxes usually come with a Scart lead.

I explained and demonstrated everything as best I could but I must go back soon and see how they are getting on .

You can search the Argos site for 'Freesat' to see other options but basically the Grundig, Goodmans and Bush boxes are different versions of the same box. Use BT82 8AA for local postcode to check stock.

Martin_F

sesswhat wrote: »

Using Scart also means the TV will switch to the correct input when the box is switched on, unlike with HDMI which has to be selected manually.

Automatic switching is dependent on the equipment connected. My panny auto Switches to HDMI 1 (Freesat), but ignores HDMI 2 (HD DVDR/HDD). I've other TV's in the house which ignore appearance of SCART signals if watching analogue.

sesswhat

Martin_F wrote: »

Automatic switching is dependent on the equipment connected. My panny auto Switches to HDMI 1 (Freesat), but ignores HDMI 2 (HD DVDR/HDD). I've other TV's in the house which ignore appearance of SCART signals if watching analogue.

I think Panasonic did go out of their way to enable this but they seem to be in the minority. Other systems may let you set up something with their remote, or a Sky remote.

On the other hand, Scart should auto-switch by default if you use the correct socket. A box may have two Scart outputs but will only auto-switch with the one marked TV SCART.

In any case, the whole business of switching back and forth, using EPGs etc. can be a bit of a handful for older or non-technically minded people who are used to a few analogue channels. But it can be surprising how well they can get used to it.

babaloushka

Just a suggestion - maybe create a laminated step-by-step card that has all the moves for each station required. Pictures too if that helps. I find this works best if you start from the 'TV OFF' position every time. It's easy to get lost otherwise. It seems like a lot of work, but believe me it's a lot easier than taking 'help' calls and going through it in person a hundred times.
I'm building a help sheet at the moment for my OH We have a freesat PVR (with a complicated non-freesat option), a DVD recorder (for analogue) and a new HD TV all hooked up together, so I might be consulting the chart myself for a while yet.

STB

I know that generation. You cannot change anything! It stresses em out.

Your mother like pressing numbers or the up and down P buttons for each station. Like wise for the Volume button. RTE is probably a serious requirement too. Infact RTE1 is on 1, RTe 2 on 2, Tv3 on 3 Tg4 on 4 BBC1 on 5 etc.

Do not get a freesat box.

Do not get a fta sat box from curry's etc.

As well as getting lost in menus you will also have the added complication of going to 1 on the TV from the AV channels to watch terrestrial TV. I.E. They will not receive RTE as well as the SAT Channels.

Get a Combo Box (thats what your friend was talking about) - That will do ALL..... RTE Channels & SAT on one remote - one channel for the TV to be on.

You can reorder the channels as you wish which will leave you in the P+ P- nicely and there will be little change or no confusion. If something does happen pressing exit and 1 will bring you back to RTE!

Only thing is they are Apx €200 - (MVision HD200 Combo or HD300 being the cheapest)

Theres a guy who posts (slegs) here who sells them and will preprogram the channels for you.... SaorTV.com is the name of his company - based in Kildare - has an Ebay shop.

They work for the older generation, trust me.

John mac

+1

I got one for my parents (over 75) they find it easy to use.

sesswhat

STB wrote: »

Your mother like pressing numbers or the up and down P buttons for each station. Like wise for the Volume button. RTE is probably a serious requirement too. Infact RTE1 is on 1, RTe 2 on 2, Tv3 on 3 Tg4 on 4 BBC1 on 5 etc.

Do not get a freesat box.

Do not get a fta sat box from curry's etc.

As well as getting lost in menus you will also have the added complication of going to 1 on the TV from the AV channels to watch terrestrial TV. I.E. They will not receive RTE as well as the SAT Channels.

Get a Combo Box (thats what your friend was talking about) - That will do ALL..... RTE Channels & SAT on one remote - one channel for the TV to be on.

You can reorder the channels as you wish which will leave you in the P+ P- nicely and there will be little change or no confusion. If something does happen pressing exit and 1 will bring you back to RTE!

Only thing is they are Apx €200 - (MVision HD200 Combo or HD300 being the cheapest)

Theres a guy who posts (slegs) here who sells them and will preprogram the channels for you.... SaorTV.com is the name of his company - based in Kildare - has an Ebay shop.

They work for the older generation, trust me.

Are you assuming Irish DTT reception here?

John mac

sesswhat wrote: »

Are you assuming Irish DTT reception here?

yep.

sesswhat

John mac wrote: »

yep.

Well theres the problem with a combo box. In the unlikely event that this lady can receive Irish DTT, would you want to subject her to the uncertainties that go with it. It may be a good solution in the longer term but she may not want to live with channels coming and going on a regular basis in the meantime. For example, Truskmore has been reported to be off for over a week.

A combo box also costs nearly four times as much.

givecredit

If you are receiving RTE from a deflector system now, its highly unlikely you will be able to receive RTE dtt. The combo box also has the problem of having to retune satellite channels when they change transponders. Keep clear of mvision combo.

Stick to RTE through deflector and Freesat for BBC etc. My parents have this system. Ages 75 and 79 and have no trouble. My mother loves the red button feature for the snooker when available.

Apogee

STB wrote: »

Get a Combo Box (thats what your friend was talking about) - That will do ALL..... RTE Channels & SAT on one remote - one channel for the TV to be on.

And when The Apprentice is replaced with a testcard on TV3, STB will happily handle all the irate phonecalls from distressed grannies :P

Trevord

Apogee wrote: »

No because a FTA receiver will invariably require retuning at some point. And there is no requirement to use the EPG in a Freesat receiver - they can just move up/down through the channels.

My view is that so far these basic Freesat boxes require as much tender love and care as FTA boxes.

If the cheap Freesat boxes were truely maintenance free (and they are not) then I'd agree, no contest, that Freesat is better than FTA for an OAP.

However, I've had to do 4 so called "first time" installs on my parents Grundig Freesat box this year. EPG changes failed leaving them with blank channels on two occasions and the only way I could get FIVE on the EPG when they joined was to do yet another first time install. Also the non freesat channel search facility remains appalling on the Alba/Harvard boxes. Every time you do a first time install the non freesat channels have to be added again manually one by one using lyngsat info. Takes about 30 to 40 minutes to do.

Senna

STB wrote: »

Get a Combo Box (thats what your friend was talking about) - That will do ALL..... RTE Channels & SAT on one remote - one channel for the TV to be on.

You can reorder the channels as you wish which will leave you in the P+ P- nicely and there will be little change or no confusion. If something does happen pressing exit and 1 will bring you back to RTE!

Only thing is they are Apx €200 - (MVision HD200 Combo or HD300 being the cheapest)

This all sounded good until;

sesswhat wrote: »

Are you assuming Irish DTT reception here?

My home place is in Donegal, so if its new technology, Donegal gets it last.

I'll just have to get the fella i was talking too to show me what kind of box he's on about, or i could get a remote similar to this;

Sony-RM-VL710

It can be programed off original remotes and each button can have a macro, which can be a 3 digit channel number, so say button one transmits 1-0-1 (RTE1) on sky.

homer911

Trevord wrote: »

My view is that so far these basic Freesat boxes require as much tender love and care as FTA boxes.

If the cheap Freesat boxes were truely maintenance free (and they are not) then I'd agree, no contest, that Freesat is better than FTA for an OAP.

However, I've had to do 4 so called "first time" installs on my parents Grundig Freesat box this year. EPG changes failed leaving them with blank channels on two occasions and the only way I could get FIVE on the EPG when they joined was to do yet another first time install. Also the non freesat channel search facility remains appalling on the Alba/Harvard boxes. Every time you do a first time install the non freesat channels have to be added again manually one by one using lyngsat info. Takes about 30 to 40 minutes to do.

The Humax Freesat box is much better than this, but it seems to have had its own problems recently (thankfully not on mine)

Macy

Trevord wrote: »

My view is that so far these basic Freesat boxes require as much tender love and care as FTA boxes.

If the cheap Freesat boxes were truely maintenance free (and they are not) then I'd agree, no contest, that Freesat is better than FTA for an OAP.

We've had a bush (it was the cheapest) freesat box since launch, with no problems. Five came in fine. We're currently using it as our main reciever whilst we await our replacement sky card. However, I've never bothered adding the non-freesat channels. Given what the op outlines, and if that is the cause of issues with the freesat recievers, I still think a freesat reciever is the way to go. I wouldn't think they'll need any non-freesat channels.

Satdog

homer911 wrote: »

The Humax Freesat box is much better than this, but it seems to have had its own problems recently (thankfully not on mine)

I have to agree. I had a generic FTA receiver before I got the Humax Freesat HD. Can't beat the auto retune and EPG not to mention the HD. I also got the latest OTA updates without any problems.

vince

what do you guys think of the humax hd + box and will sky news become available on freesat

slegs

Senna wrote: »

This all sounded good until;



My home place is in Donegal, so if its new technology, Donegal gets it last.

I'll just have to get the fella i was talking too to show me what kind of box he's on about, or i could get a remote similar to this;

Sony-RM-VL710

It can be programed off original remotes and each button can have a macro, which can be a 3 digit channel number, so say button one transmits 1-0-1 (RTE1) on sky.

Large parts of Donegal are covered by 2 transmitters (Truskmore in Sligo and HolywellHill). Not guaranteeing that you are covered but it is possible.

Satdog

vince wrote: »

what do you guys think of the humax hd + box and will sky news become available on freesat

I don't have the + box so can't comment. Unlikely that Sky News will be available on Freesat. It is available on non-Freesat mode but can't be added to the EPG. You have to switch between Freesat and non-Freesat mode to watch it.

vince

thanks for that i just found the thread all about this box of tricks migght get one in the new year

Senna

Just an update, i got the free sat box thats easy to use and i have to say it does a great job.

Freesat Digital Sat Reciever Triax SR110

The channels can be rearranged so that the most popular channels are 1,2,3,etc on the remote. Great job and very easy to use for my elderly mother.

p.s. Less than €100 on ebay, but i paid the local fella €150 for it, but i wouldn't have found it on my own, so worth it.

evilivor

Senna wrote: »

Just an update, i got the free sat box thats easy to use and i have to say it does a great job.

Freesat Digital Sat Reciever Triax SR110

The channels can be rearranged so that the most popular channels are 1,2,3,etc on the remote. Great job and very easy to use for my elderly mother.

p.s. Less than €100 on ebay, but i paid the local fella €150 for it, but i wouldn't have found it on my own, so worth it.

Not a Freesat box though is it. It's just a regular satellite receiver that's had its channel list set to match that on a Freesat box innit.

Senna

evilivor wrote: »

Not a Freesat box though is it. It's just a regular satellite receiver that's had its channel list set to match that on a Freesat box innit.

I dont know???
What would be the difference?

fat-tony

Senna wrote: »

I dont know???
What would be the difference?

A "Freesat" box is one which handles the BBC/ITV supported 7 day programme guide and doesn't need manual re-tuning when a transponder change occurs. such as when a channel is added, changed or deleted. Note that there are lots of free-to-air channels on this EPG along with BBC/ITV/CH4/CH5.
FTA receivers don't have the same EPG and require manual intervention from time to time to re-scan the channels. Have a google for Humax Foxsat HDR and see what you're missing - it's got the facilities of SKY+ for the channels that are free-to-air, without any monthly subscription.

Senna

Ok i understand now, but thats pretty irrelevant as its for an elderly person, so channel selection was the reason for buying this, TV guide or recording wont be needed, and i suspect the model you're on about doesn't have the facility to create a custom channel list. But good to know, thanks.