Freesat Receiver Question

drunk_monk

Hi, I would like to get rid of my Sky+ box and get freesat.I would like to be able to record 2 channels and have Irish TV with EPG.
Am I correct in saying that if you want to go to freesat you basically have two choices. Either go with something like HUMAX FOXSAT HDR FREESAT+ PVR 320G and be able to record 2 channels but no Irish channels or get something like MVISION HD300 COMBO DIGITAL RECEIVER and have all the Irish channels with EPG but not be able to record 2 channels?
Or is there a combo box that combines the two things I need?

I hope this makes sense

Thanks

Mr McBoatface

Hi Drunk Monk,

Depending on your budget and pc experience a possible 3rd option would be to build a HTPC with a DVB-S, DVB-T quad tv tuner card. If you've a descent spec pc lying around you could make one fairly cheaply :- see my thread for cheap quad tuners " http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055886062 ". Add the TV card to your PC, install the HTPC software and after some configuration you can have Sky/Freesat channels and 8 day EPG, alongside the Irish TV DTT channels and thier EPG.

For the HTPC software you can use Windows 7 which I've been told can tune in freesat and Irish DTT, I've no experience of windows 7 I personally use windows XP and mediaportal which I bang on about a bit but only because I think it's the bee's knee's.

Mediaportal can pull the EPG direct from the DVB source so no internet connection is needed you can also watch TV from one tuner while recording from the other. Other than the initial set-up no user interaction is required to update the EPG. I've been told Windows 7 does the same.

HTPC's are not an option for every body but it could be one for you. From an ease of use point of view once set-up and if used with a Microsoft MCE remote control or similar the whole family will have no problems.

This is not the cheapest option unless you've got spare pc or pc parts, but a HTPC can be used to replace you tv receiver, hard drive media players, dvd/blu-ray player and it's easily upgradable.

drunk_monk

jobyrne30 wrote: »

Hi Drunk Monk,

Depending on your budget and pc experience a possible 3rd option would be to build a HTPC with a DVB-S, DVB-T quad tv tuner card. If you've a descent spec pc lying around you could make one fairly cheaply :- see my thread for cheap quad tuners " http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055886062 ". Add the TV card to your PC, install the HTPC software and after some configuration you can have Sky/Freesat channels and 8 day EPG, alongside the Irish TV DTT channels and thier EPG.

For the HTPC software you can use Windows 7 which I've been told can tune in freesat and Irish DTT, I've no experience of windows 7 I personally use windows XP and mediaportal which I bang on about a bit but only because I think it's the bee's knee's.

Mediaportal can pull the EPG direct from the DVB source so no internet connection is needed you can also watch TV from one tuner while recording from the other. Other than the initial set-up no user interaction is required to update the EPG. I've been told Windows 7 does the same.

HTPC's are not an option for every body but it could be one for you. From an ease of use point of view once set-up and if used with a Microsoft MCE remote control or similar the whole family will have no problems.

This is not the cheapest option unless you've got spare pc or pc parts, but a HTPC can be used to replace you tv receiver, hard drive media players, dvd/blu-ray player and it's easily upgradable.

Now that is an option I'm definitely going to look into, thanks very much for that

Glenagoolie

If you use Windows 7 you can use a Xbox 360 as an extender.
This will give you all the functionality(live tv, epg, recordings, etc) without having a PC sitting under your tv. You can pickup an arcade xbox for about €120.