No Sky sub, want Sky+ functionality, is this what I need?

Rowley Birkin QC

Hi guys,

Had a search of the forum before I posted but just wanted to double check that this is what I needed.

http://www.richersounds.ie/asp/product.asp?ObjectID=938&Mode=0&CategoryID=6&SUB=101&ProductID=840

It's for my parents so want to make sure it is right. They had sky, got rid of the subscription. Currently using it to tune in the free channels but it's a bit messy navigating using the favourites button and having to always go to the "Other Channels" menu for some channels.

As I understand it this box will tune in all the free channels and will only display those along with an EPG similar to the Sky setup. Is this correct?

This box also offers the facility of Live Pause and recording of programmes, which is what they want.

Of the ones available is this the easiest to use? I'm not always around at home so this is a concern for my parents.

Thanks in advance.

watty

Yes, that's the baby.

That is probably the best choice for Freesat PVR.

Rowley Birkin QC

watty wrote: »

Yes, that's the baby.

That is probably the best choice for Freesat PVR.

Lovely stuff. Anywhere to buy it cheaper than that? Also, is there a full list of the channels we can receive? In Cork if that makes any odds.

Cheers.

STB

Rowley

Please note

That it wont pick up the RTEs Tg4 TV3 etc.

It will only give you the british channels. http://www.freesat.co.uk/what-you-get/our-channels

If you want a box that does both Irish and English then you need a combo box.

http://satellite.ie/acatalog/Free_to_air_HD_Satellite_and_Terrestrial_Digital_Ferguson_HD_Ariva_Combo_Box.html

However recording with that box is limited (so no Sky+ functionality), but does allow reception of both british and irish stations in one channel list. It will even work in cork!

Thats the trade off....

JDxtra

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Anywhere to buy it cheaper than that?

That's not a bad price for it. Sometimes Amazon UK have offers on it, but it is usually in demand so that can keep the price high.

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Also, is there a full list of the channels we can receive?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_channels_on_Freesat?wasRedirected=true

Enter a mainland UK post code when you receive the unit. Entering an NI post code means no ITV1HD.

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

*In Cork if that makes any odds.

It makes no odds.

Rowley Birkin QC

STB wrote: »

Rowley

Please note

That it wont pick up the RTEs Tg4 TV3 etc.

It will only give you the british channels. http://www.freesat.co.uk/what-you-get/our-channels

If you want a box that does both Irish and English then you need a combo box.

http://satellite.ie/acatalog/Free_to_air_HD_Satellite_and_Terrestrial_Digital_Ferguson_HD_Ariva_Combo_Box.html

However recording with that box is limited (so no Sky+ functionality), but does allow reception of both british and irish stations in one channel list. It will even work in cork!

Thats the trade off....

Hmm, complications. I thought that the Freeview one would pick up the Saorstát channels too. That is definitely an issue as the majority of stuff they watch is on the Irish channels.

When you say the recording is limited what do you mean?

Cheers for all the replies. This is one area of technology that confuses me no end.

STB

Okay.

Firstly.

Freeview = UK terretrial service through an aerial. It is only available in UK.

Freesat/FTA satellite = Equivalent of Freeview except with a satellite dish and receivable in Ireland.

Saorview (aka DTT) = Irish Digital Terrestrial service via an aerial - ie RTE 1, 2, TV3, 3e, Tg4 RTE news now and a few more soon.

Saorsat = Satellite version of Saorview - it doesnt exist yet and will require a second dish as its at a different satellite position.

The Freesat Box wont receive Irish stations.

The HD Combo box with recording is limited to watch Saorview and recording Satellite and vice versa. But you cannot watch Satellite and record another satellite station.

You also need to buy a little hard drive to plug into it via the USB port if you want to record. For watching TV its user friendly for old folks (as you can order the stations 1 to 50 etc). Recording, its not user friendly.

And a box that combines user friendly and irish + recording doesnt exist yet.

So you have a choice to make. Which is more important. Sky+ like Recording without UK stations or Irish stations and British Stations on one channel list/one remote. If they have given up Sky and get over the record facility for the moment then I would suggest the HD Combo as everything is one list including irish stations. Older people want something simple. I know I have installed them for relatives.

Butch Cassidy

STB wrote: »

And a box that combines user friendly and irish + recording doesnt exist yet.

Is it likely that one will eventually? ie. one box that will give you the British and Irish DTT channels with the bells & whistles of +r ecording in a user friendly menu?

How difficult is it for joe public with average technical ability of wiring stuff up to connect that Combo box to a Sky dish?

Rowley Birkin QC

Been doing a bit more reading on this.

Currently we have the Irish channels tuned in through the aerial on the roof. They are also looking at buying a new MPEG4 equipped tv. As I understand it this would allow them to receive the Saorview channels once they begin broadcasting. Correct?

watty

They are broadcasting. Some for nearly 2 years.
current status http://www.saortv.info/news/

There are 6 TV and 10 Radio today, if you compare with "realistic" Analogue coverage (i.e. a decent picture) the coverage is better already.

watty

Butch Cassidy wrote: »

Is it likely that one will eventually? ie. one box that will give you the British and Irish DTT channels with the bells & whistles of +r ecording in a user friendly menu?

How difficult is it for joe public with average technical ability of wiring stuff up to connect that Combo box to a Sky dish?

Just plug it in.