Best FTA Sat + Saorview Combi Box

deisedevil

Hi all.

I'm thinking of getting in Sky with free Sky+ box and free installation and just the variety pack. Don't have a satellite connected to the house so free install would be handy and also the cash back from fatcheese would be nice. So will just be €23 a month. But I can't get multi room because of not having a landline. So was thinking of swapping the LNB the Sky installation guy puts in for a Quad LNB and putting Sky+ box in sitting room and a FTA + Saorview box up in the bedroom. So will have two lines going to sitting room and two to the bedroom. That way I can swap the two boxes whenever the OH feels she needs to watch some of the sky channels in the bedroom or record anything etc. (I know, I put up with a lot)

I think this would be a good way to get around the fact that I can't just have multi room with Sky. But I'm not sure what would be the best Freesat + Saorview combi box to get. I'd like one with good menus but not too complicated and with HD.

Any ideas?

SparKing

In before watty.
I think you mean a combined freesat (satellite) and saorview (dtt) box

something more like this:
http://www.tvtrade.ie/edision-argus-mini-2in1-combo-receiver.html

deisedevil

SparKing wrote: »

In before watty.
I think you mean a combined freesat (satellite) and saorview (dtt) box

something more like this:
http://www.tvtrade.ie/edision-argus-...-receiver.html

Yep.

Was looking at that one and another like it on satellite.ie: http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Free_to_air_HD_Satellite_and_Terrestrial_Digital_Ferguson_HD_Ariva_Combo_Box.html

But not sure which is the better option or if there's better and cheaper out there.

Tony

The advantage of the ferguson over the Edision is that the Ferguson will allow you to record terrestrial while watching satellite and vice versa using an external hard drive. The Edison was supposed to get a firmware upgrade to allow this but it has not been provided yet unfortunately.

homelink

deisedevil wrote: »

Hi all.

So was thinking of swapping the LNB the Sky installation guy puts in for a Quad LNB and putting Sky+ box in sitting room and a FTA + Saorview box up in the bedroom.

Any ideas?

You will get a quad LNB from Sky, so you won't have to change it.:)

lucernarian

EPG, EPG, my kingdom for a box that handled the freesat EPG... Or at least something that could retune automatically and thereby make it granny-friendly.

randombar

Lads quick question, is there a list somewhere of the channels I'd get with that combo box??

Tony

GaryCocs wrote: »

Lads quick question, is there a list somewhere of the channels I'd get with that combo box??

Sure is http://lmgtfy.com/?q=freesat+channel+list or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_channels_on_Freesat

illingworth22

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

EPG, EPG, my kingdom for a box that handled the freesat EPG... Or at least something that could retune automatically and thereby make it granny-friendly.

Unfortunatly, only Freesat Boxes can utilise the Freesat EPG.

lucernarian

Aye, only freesat branded boxes so far (or those slightly tinkered boxes set to NI which were sold by Dunnes and a few other places). A combi box that could at least retune automatically would be a godsend!

Apogee

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

Aye, only freesat branded boxes so far (or those slightly tinkered boxes set to NI which were sold by Dunnes and a few other places). A combi box that could at least retune automatically would be a godsend!

Linux based boxes can read the Freesat EPG e.g. Dreambox, Vu+ Solo/Duo, QBox, Azbox.

As for a combi box that "could at least retune", that is harder to implement and it's unlikely we will see such a box anytime in the near or medium term.

damienoffaly

deisedevil wrote: »

Yep.

Was looking at that one and another like it on satellite.ie: http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Free_to_air_HD_Satellite_and_Terrestrial_Digital_Ferguson_HD_Ariva_Combo_Box.html

But not sure which is the better option or if there's better and cheaper out there.

Does anyone know if i need different aerials to receive both freeview and saorview on the Edision Argus Mini 2 in 1 Digital & Satellite Combo Receiver

bk

SparKing wrote: »

In before watty.
I think you mean a combined freesat (satellite) and saorview (dtt) box

MOD: I've edited the title to reflect this.

Carawaystick

damienoffaly wrote: »

Does anyone know if i need different aerials to receive both freeview and saorview on the Edision Argus Mini 2 in 1 Digital & Satellite Combo Receiver

It depends on where you get your existing tg4 and bbc from.

If the tg4 transmitter were aligned with the bc transmitter in norn iron then one aerial would do.

But I think in Offaly you won't get freeview, and you're probably getting bbc from a deflector now.

Unless you're mixing up saorview needing a uhf aerial and freeSAT coming from a dish?

nellocono

Guys,
Anyone know where I can get the Ferguson FTA combo receiver? http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Terrestrial_and_Satellite__Free_to_Air_Combo_Receivers_2.html

This crowd seems to be out of stock of them...

Cheers

PressTheButton

nellocono wrote: »

Guys,
Anyone know where I can get the Ferguson FTA combo receiver? http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Terrestrial_and_Satellite__Free_to_Air_Combo_Receivers_2.html
This crowd seems to be out of stock of them...

Not out of stock. Box (Ferguson Ariva 120 Combo) has a sync issue which purchasers hope to have resolved by way of firmware fix:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=72817414&postcount=478

Read full thread for latest info about this box .

nellocono

Ah cool thanks...Would you advise going for the Argus edison box?

Rippy

nellocono wrote: »

Ah cool thanks...Would you advise going for the Argus edison box?

Yes, I have fitted plenty and had no problems.

Taltos

Ordered the combo box from satellite.ie today, can't wait.

TheIrishGrover

SparKing wrote: »

In before watty.
I think you mean a combined freesat (satellite) and saorview (dtt) box

something more like this:
http://www.tvtrade.ie/edision-argus-mini-2in1-combo-receiver.html

Yep, that's a great box. I have one meself (Although I paid more for it online before this place had them. Grrr ) Just a tip. Connect a 500 USB powered drive for it if you want to use it as a PVR. I had a mains powered 1TB connected and the drive itself used to drive me nuts clicking on and off when it was idle. The pause live TV is brilliant and the recording quality is excellent. I recorded Dr. Who on BBC HD and not only did it record the video (obviously) but all the soundtrack options that went with it (Stereo, 5.1 and audio description). Can't wait to record Glasto over the weekend on it in the auld HD. Brilliant box. Recommended!

donutheadhomer

are there any combo boxes that have saorview and free channels with 7day EPG? don't care about recording

John mac

yes
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=71833489&postcount=11

AstralTV

bk wrote: »

MOD: I've edited the title to reflect this.

may i suggest you edit the title again as there is no such thing as a 'freesat' & 'saorview' combi box,

no freesat branded combi boxes exist and it is misleading to suggest this in the title of the thread,

also none of the combi boxes discussed in the thread are saorview approved

user1842

Does the Edision Argus Mini Satellite Combo play DIVX movies from an attached hard-drive?

If so does Tony have any deal for boardies?

STB

dmclean1842 wrote: »

Does the Edision Argus Mini Satellite Combo play DIVX movies from an attached hard-drive?

If so does Tony have any deal for boardies?

The Edision has problems displaying the epg for Saorview, like the Ferguson Ariva 120.

They are basically the same box (same chipset etc) with software differences. The key to all of these boxes is support and software writers.

Like everything with price goes functionality and support. The Linux boxes are probably the better boxes for media/7 day epg support etc. BUT (big but) they are not for NON enthuasiasts or people that are not technically proficient with Linux (they dont work off the shelf).