replacing Chorus with saorview- cost vs saving?

dinneenp

Hi,
I have UPC and UPC recording box & extra box (basic) in a 2nd room.
so our monthly bill is €41, €492 a year.

I'm happy with it but would prefer not to be paying that amount.So I'm looking at changing to Saorviw.

I'd want/need a dish (for the free to air channels) and a recordable box (so I can record and pause live tv).
My questions are:
1. Can I get an 'all-in-one-box' that'll effectively replace my Chorus box? So that I can record easily and not have to switch settings?
2. What are rough costs of buying all the equiptment I need (dish, boxes, set up etc).
3. How good are the 'recrodable/pause/playback boxes compared to UPC/Sky. Not as 'seamless' I'd imagine but are they straightforward and easy to use?
4. Anything else to note?

I'd like to get all the info clear and then just make a decision.
Cheers,
Pa.

watty

You need Satellite Receiver (ideally Freesat HD) and dish for all the UK channels. over 45 decent TV and over 20 decent radio (larger number actually free).

You need Aerial and EITHER a Irish Compatible Digital TV, or a Setbox.


The only totally seamless compatible solutions for recording are :
1) Separate "Freesat HD" PVR for UK, and "Freeview HD" PVR for aerial
OR
2) Wait till June/ July 2011 and use a "Freesat HD" PVR for UK Freesat that has "diseqc and a dual feed dish to get Saorsat (Irish Satellite, which has not started yet). Till we try this we don't know how well it works. Current Diseqc enabled "Freesat HD" PVR are not 100% friendly for non-Freesat channels, though Humax may change this and there is a early version 3rd party channel editor. This is a somewhat unknown option till later in the year.
OR
3) PC with XP, Windows 7 or Linux with dual DVB-S2 PCI cards for Freesat and single USB stick with Dual DTT tuner for Saorview, feeding HDTV via HDMI. XP needs 3rd party DVB viewer which will have MHEG5 as a purchase at modest price plug in soon. Windows 7 Media Center does do MHEG5, but not entirely Freesat compatible.

There are "combo boxes" that have DTT (aerial) and Dish(Freesat HD) feeds, but they are not fully compatible with Irish TV or UK satellite and cheaper ones are not full "PVRs"

All solutions except PC will feed non-HD LCd or CRT via SCART, even HD channels, down-scaled and allow use of HDTV later.

If your TV is HDTV that is Irish Compatible a Terrestrial recorder doesn't need two tuners.

See www.saortv.info

There is no ongoing cost at all. You save €492 a year, likely more as with time UPC will raise prices.

Cost can be €250 to €1,500 depending on what solution you go for, if you need a Dish or Aerial installed and if you DIY install.

The €1,500 would include a 42" HDTV compatible directly with Irish digital via aerial, professional install of Freesat HD PVR box, cables, dish and aerial. For now you would get Irish Digital on TV via aerial and later record it on "Freesat HD" box (via 2nd feed and Diseqc switch feature).

Feeding 8 to 16 rooms is possible from one Dish and Aerial. That adds €500 to €2000 depending on what the house is like and what wiring exists.

All just a rough idea.

See also http://www.techtir.ie/howto/hdmi-via-cat5-cable
and http://www.techtir.ie/reviews/mobidtv-dual-usb-dtt
and http://www.techtir.ie/tv-radio/satellite-distribution

it's likely by June/July more is clearer about Saorsat and more options foro Saorview equipment.

But for UK free Tv, the best solution is a "Freesat HD" PVR (that has Diseqc option), even if you don't have HDTV set today.

dinneenp

Thanks for the detailed reply.
We're looking at buying a new tv anyway so what should I look for, 'mpeg4'- is that enough?

steveq

I made a similar leap some time ago.

1. There are 'combo' boxes that will receive the Irish Saorview from an aerial and the free satellite channels (there are many including all the main ones -- BBC, UTV, Channel 4, etc.). There is a separate thread with lists of boxes available. The boxes aren't as slick as the UPC ones. The one I bought was around €200.
2. You will need a dish, LNB, mounting bracket, cable, connectors, etc. If you are any way OK at DIY then mounting it shouldn't pose a problem. Look at you neighbours to see where their SKY dish is pointing as that uses the same satellite. You will need a satellite meter (€15 or so) to fine tune reception. You will also need a UHF aerial (less than €50) for Saorview. Point the aerial towards your nearest transmitter. External aerials are better but you may get away with an attic one or even cheapo 'rabbits ears'. I would advise you to get better quality items rather than going for the cheapest possible -- it is all exposed to the elements and you want it to last. I would estimate that lot to be €200 - €250.
3. The boxes aren't as slick as the UPC boxes. Series recordings, etc. aren't as good. That said you can add you own external disk and have massive capacity very cheaply.
4. Don't put the disk on the chimney. Actually it doesn't need to be high just generally clear towards the satellite (no massive buildings or trees in the way). You won't get some channels that are available on UPC, on the satellite (Sky News, Nat. Geog, etc.).
I find the quality of reception of Saorview and satellite to be far better than UPC.

Overall you could cover the cost of the entire with just one year of UPC and from then on it is free. In terms of investment returns, that is as good as it gets.:)

steveq

Hi,

Watty answered your query faster and better than me.

If you get an MPEG4 TV it will remove the need for one STB but you won't have recording capabilities. You can put the aerial cable directly into the back of the TV. It may not have MHEG5 though.
A Humax Freesat HD box will cover the need for the satellite STB and will have recording capabilities.

watty

dinneenp wrote: »

Thanks for the detailed reply.
We're looking at buying a new tv anyway so what should I look for, 'mpeg4'- is that enough?

no.
see www.saorview.ie
Go for a certified one.

Failing that pick one here that has MHEG5 also. No cost penalty.

I recommend the LG 42LD450 (€450 to €550), not certified, but seems very compatible. Superb picture.

42" is a good size in a typical semi-d living room. Not much bigger than a 28" 4:3 CRT or 32" 16:9 CRT and about minimum for HD in that size space.

We have the 42" and people were sceptical. But now we can see that a 48" would have been fine.

42" is a good value size also. Larger tend to shoot up in price to be more than projectors.

LED backlight is of no viewing advantage. simply to make skinny for wall mount, which often is not the best angle. The super skinny ones have poor audio.

Mr McBoatface

It's worth mentioning the Sony KDL32V5810 being sold in powercity. It works with FreesatHD and Saorview as it has both Satellite and DTT tuners on it. It's expensive for a 32" but the integrated solution is attractive. I don't have one but I believe it can record to a USB hard drive. I've read on various forums and threads there may be a number of FreesatHD/FreeviewHD combo TV's coming to market in the UK, these should also work for FreesatHD/Saorview.

The switch to Free to air Sat/DTT TV can be initially expensive depending on your demands. My parents switched recently using a sub 200 euro Triax combo, it gives just now and next epg on sat and full epg on DTT but no MHEG5, they are happy with it. Personally I went the HTPC route and integrated a Blu-Ray into the set-up, it also plays HD MKV and various audio files so it replaced my hard drive media player... it's and expensive option but was best for my needs (many other posters here have done the same).

If you can wait a little longer to see if the previous mentioned FreesatHD/FreeviewHD combo TV come along I would advise you to do so.

fat-tony

No USB recording on that Sony set. I have one myself. USB for JPEG viewing and (weirdly) MPEG-1 file viewing! It has an ethernet connection so you can use it as a DLNA renderer, so playback from WMP12 or other DLNA servers is possible in SD or HD.