Free to air harddrive box

Anthonyk2010

Does anyone know if there is a harddrive box for free to air that works like the sky+ box.

Domscard

Humax Foxsat is your best bet here IMO - plenty of posts on Boards discussing the benefits if you do a search. I've never had a paid Sky subscription but I have both the Humax and a FTV Sky box. I have to say that I love the convenience of the Humax for recording

Anthonyk2010

Thanks domscard. Where would be the best place to buy one.

Domscard

I bought mine in Argos (NI). I live near the border, so it's handy and I like their returns/support policy. However, I think the Foxsat is sold online by companies/people who post on Boards and I'm sure someone connected to them will also reply here soon. Have you found any of the threads here on the Satellite forum about the Humax? I'm sure I've seen recommended sellers on those.

Domscard

Here is a long thread about the Humax, including places to purchase - there's also a new model coming this Autumn AFAIK.

Anthonyk2010

Ya found a few Threads. Found a few sites that sell them too. Just need to find a model that suits me.

Nowso

You will need 2 input cables from your lnb for the Pvr

snaps

I personally have swayed away from freesat now. I prefer a normal FTA HD PVR receiver (E.g Mvision 300hd), mainly due to chanels available and when paired with a UK FTV card you'll have ch4 hd as well. Plus you'll get the Irish DTT channels as well. No 7day epg for satellite but thats not the end of the world and not a dual tuner either. Working along side a cheap fta receiver you can quite easily record one and watch another!

linash

Nowso wrote: »

You will need 2 input cables from your lnb for the Pvr

Excuse my ignorance, but why do you need 2 input cables?

Domscard

linash wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance, but why do you need 2 input cables?

Because it's a twin tuner and to get maximum benefit you need 2 input cables, the same as the Sky + box. It is possible for the Humax to operate on only one but you're losing out on the ability to record 2 programmes and watch another.

Anthonyk2010

Should I take snaps advice and stay away from freesat is there a big differance.

Domscard

Anthonyk2010 wrote: »

Should I take snaps advice and stay away from freesat is there a big differance.

I have both freesat (via a Humax) and Sky free to view (the £20 card) in another room and I'm happy with the choices I have. I really like having the 7 day EPG on both and I love the PVR functionality for recording. Freesat does not have Sky 3, Fiver or Five USA but I get those on the Sky free to view so I feel I have the best of both worlds. However, if you have an old Sky box and a dish, the cheapest and most straightforward option is to just opt for the Sky free to view card and connect a DVD recorder - that's what I was doing before I got the Humax.
I don't really know enough about the snaps options to comment.

TheDriver

you don't NEED 2 inputs, the humax works like no other in that you can put a cable between output of one into the other input and can more or less record 2 things at same time but not as good as 2 inputs though.
I got mine through richersounds with a 5 year warranty, excellent value and you won't regret it
Nothing beats going in and having all your fav progs ready to watch and skip ads etc

P.S. I had the no epg before using a dvd recorder etc and it was the pits, nothing better than 7 day guide, series link etc so you never have to think about planning progs e.g. law and order UK always records automatically for me.

evilivor

TheDriver wrote: »

you don't NEED 2 inputs, the humax works like no other in that you can put a cable between output of one into the other input and can more or less record 2 things at same time but not as good as 2 inputs though.
I got mine through richersounds with a 5 year warranty, excellent value and you won't regret it
Nothing beats going in and having all your fav progs ready to watch and skip ads etc

P.S. I had the no epg before using a dvd recorder etc and it was the pits, nothing better than 7 day guide, series link etc so you never have to think about planning progs e.g. law and order UK always records automatically for me.

Seconded.

For ease of use and just old fashioned works-straight-out-of the-box-ability, the Humax Freesat+ box is the way to go. I love mine.

Series record - Yes;

7 day EPG - Yes;

Ability to watch and record BBC and ITV HD - which if you are sports fan is terrific - Champions League and FA Cup on ITV, tennis and winter olympics on the BBC and the World Cup on both over the summer - Yes;

Automatic scanning for channel changes - Yes;

Anthonyk2010

I want a direct replacement for sky+ and I think freesat and humax is my best option. I can use my old sky+ box in another room. But where can I get a free card.

Domscard

Anthonyk2010 wrote: »

I want a direct replacement for sky+ and I think freesat and humax is my best option. I can use my old sky+ box in another room. But where can I get a free card.

Check out this thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055800625

Trevord

The negative with the Foxsat is that you need a separate set up for RTE/TV3/TG4, but considering Freesat is free (when you have to pay for Sky), this is more than outweighed by the PRV EPG features. In particular if you are a fan of TV drama or documentary series, you'll love the series link feature.

Foxsat completely changes the way you watch TV.

seanin4711

which would you go for and why?
the mvision's only negative as far as i can see is the lack of 7 day epg.
price is also 100€ cheaper than foxsat.
any thoughts?
thanks
sean

recyclebin

You would need an external hard drive for the mvision so that will push the price up.

The mvision doesnt have the 7 day epg so you have to set recordings manually with a timer.

The mvision has a DTT tuner for when Saorview offically launches with RTE,TV3 and TG4.

The mvision gives you more freedom for arranging and adding channels not on Freesat.

seanin4711

have one lying around so the only issue is the 7 day epg,
i can live with that!
Just like to have saortv on the one box also,nice tidy unit!
on saortv(where i was planning to buy the unit) they want €20 to set the box up for a specific transmitter e.g. cairn hill €20 on top of the unit price.
I am wondering how hard it is to set the box up myself?
slan

John mac

seanin4711 wrote: »

have one lying around so the only issue is the 7 day epg,
i can live with that!
Just like to have saortv on the one box also,nice tidy unit!
on saortv(where i was planning to buy the unit) they want €20 to set the box up for a specific transmitter e.g. cairn hill €20 on top of the unit price.
I am wondering how hard it is to set the box up myself?
slan

very easy to set up yourself,
(once you know how to download programs etc on a pc.)

the forums on saor are very helpful,if you get stuck. and great a great service .