best value for money HD freesat box?

justsomebloke

hey I'm getting sky installed at the end of the week however due to a lack of a phone line I can't get multiroom. So I'm looking at getting freesat in a couple of rooms so I'm just wondering what are my best options for cost effective HD boxes?

are there any disadvantages to using sky HD boxes off adverts or are there better alternatives?

Also where has the best value satellite cabling may I ask? sorry new to all this so not sure what to be looking for

Russian Spy

I got the Eddison from TVTRADE.ie its very good but the EPG (electronic program guide) is good but has a few faults e.g the programme guide does not update automatically until you flick through the channels and you have to record using time, date and channel. But it is a great box otherwise

Apogee

Russian Spy wrote: »

I got the Eddison from TVTRADE.ie its very good but the EPG (electronic program guide) is good but has a few faults e.g the programme guide does not update automatically until you flick through the channels and you have to record using time, date and channel.

That's not a 'fault' in the box - it's a result of the way the EPG is transmitted. All free-to-air boxes behave in the same way.

John mac

disadvantages to using sky HD boxes

You cannot use the record /pause function on them. (only works with a sky sub)

St Senan

Russian Spy wrote: »

I got the Eddison from TVTRADE.ie its very good but the EPG (electronic program guide) is good but has a few faults e.g the programme guide does not update automatically until you flick through the channels and you have to record using time, date and channel. But it is a great box otherwise

The Eddison is not a Freesat box. It is a free to air satellite receiver/DTT combo box with no satellite EPG or automatic updating.

NIMAN

Here's a list of Freesat HD receivers at Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_19?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=freesat+hd+receiver&x=0&y=0&sprefix=freesat+hd+receiver

I own the Sagem DSI86, and its an excellent box from my experience.

montgolfiere

I think a Grade 'A' Humax Freesat HD box for around £90.00 from the Humax Direct website is good value for money.
i would be VERY WARY of buying any Bush HD receiver from the likes of ebay as they have had software issues over the last couple of years and many of those being sold off cheap on ebay can have problems...
the Skyman

NIMAN

From reading various forums and reviews I would tend to agree with this.

If possible, try to buy a brand such as Humax, TechniSat or Sagem. Much better reputation.

Only buy Bush or Goodmans if you are tight for money.

Badgermonkey

In terms of value for money the Technisat Freesat HD has dropped to £99.00 on Amazon and allows you to record to a USB or external hard drive which could be a useful feature.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Technisat-HDFS-Freesat-HD-Receiver/dp/B002DPVMXO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1303761635&sr=8-1

The Sagem DSI86 is also a decent box for the price

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sagemcom-Satellite-Digital-Receiver-freesat/dp/B002XSKSHM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303761748&sr=1-1

25m of PF100 Sat cable for £14.65 (choose Amazon option on the right)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philex-27636R25-Black-Digital-Satellite/dp/B0026IAP04/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1303761785&sr=1-2

Martin_F

I've a Sagem DSI86 - it's ok - better than the Bush boxes I've had - not as good as the Humax.

I'd buy Humax / Technisat in preference if the price is close to the Sagem - The Technisat is only 10 more... bought my Sagem a month too soon.

In the old days

Martin_F wrote: »

I've a Sagem DSI86 - it's ok - better than the Bush boxes I've had - not as good as the Humax.

I'd buy Humax / Technisat in preference if the price is close to the Sagem - The Technisat is only 10 more... bought my Sagem a month too soon.

Have the Technisat HDFS a few days now and warming to it. PVR with external USB drive, mp3,jpegs, mpeg player nice extras. No series link for recording and single tuner are main downsides but minor enough. Hard to argue with £99 on amazon + free postage + good sterling rate at the moment. OP-you realise you wont get RTE,TV3,TG4 outside your main sky box??

justsomebloke

cool thanks for the replies people

lucernarian

I have the Sagem DSI86 and I have to say, I find the EPG and channel lists to be rather awkward in comparison to the Sky HD boxes. I can't find any way to see what's on other channels without having to enter the guide (which means I have to leave whatever I'm watching) and I have to use the program guide even just to see what's on next! The guide also doesn't allow for quick navigation by typing in the number like a sky box would. Also, sometimes the return button has to be used for navigation while the exit button has to be used for other parts of navigation which is not very intuitive

My family find the generic Silvercrest box from Lidl easier to use even without the freesat EPG. Though using that would have meant they'd lose channels when transponders changed until I got a chance to retune the box.

Are there freesat boxes which have a more user-friendly EPG to navigate? It's hard to find this out when you can't walk into a bricks-and-mortar shop to try the different boxes out!

evilivor

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

Are there freesat boxes which have a more user-friendly EPG to navigate? It's hard to find this out when you can't walk into a bricks-and-mortar shop to try the different boxes out!

The new Samsung Freesat+ box seems to be getting good reviews.

Chuck Stone

You can't get RTE, TV3, TG4, 3e through freesat alone OP. You will need a combi box (converts and organises digital terestrial channels and Freesat channels on one menu AFAIK). There's a good discussion below on a cost effective combi box.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2055792912

cjt156

I have the Technisat HDFS too and find it excellent. Rarely record TV so don't really miss the double tuner but the single tuner record facility makes it handy to pause and rewind. EPG is nice and intuitive too. Great quality for the price.