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Which One to Get?

  • 01-10-2011 10:22pm
    #1
    Neadine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 996 ✭✭✭


    Ok, I have never had any form of digital tv, etc., I know, totally deprived.
    Anyway, I'm moving house and decided I would get one, but which one? Any advice on which is good, better, best prices, etc.?
    I'm lost, so would appreciate advice/suggestions!


Comments

  • #2
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,073 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Think this is one for Broadcasting TBH.

    Anyway, what to get depends on what you want and your willingness to pay. And where and what type of dwelling you live in.

    If you don't want to pay an ongoing fee:

    *Digital Terrestrial (Saorview)* is the cheapest system to get if you already have a rooftop aerial installed. (You might also be able to get it with a set-top aerial but in my experience this depends on where you live). You only need to buy a set top box. However it has only 8 channels including the existing four, and three of the new four channels are composed largely of simulcasts and repeats. No UK channels.

    *Free-to-air digital satellite* will give you a wide range of channels including the UK terrestrials. Most people will get dishes aimed at Astra 2x i.e. the same satellites as Sky where you can pick up a wide range of English langague channels. If you're willing to invest more you can get a motorised dish which will allow you to pick up foreign channels too. However its not cheap to set up and your looking at a couple of hundred quid for a decent set-up. There is also no Irish channels on Astra - RTÉ are looking at starting a service called Saorsat which will be Saorview via satellite, but it will not be on Astra and you will need a motorised dish and two LNBs to pick up UK channels and Saorsat on the same dish. Alternatively you could get both Saorview and satellite - you may need two STBs or a combo box.

    If you're willing to pay a monthly fee:

    *Sky* is the only pay-TV satelltte service officially available in Ireland at present. A wide range of channels is available, but its more expensive than cable and if you also want phone and broadband you need to go to other providers. Also UK terrestrial channels are not at the top of the EPG.

    *Cable* (which means UPC except in a handful of towns) has a lot less channels than Sky. Against that it is cheaper than Sky and bundles with UPC's excellent broadband and phone are available. UK channels are at top of the EPG and Setanta and ESPN are included in most packages.

    *MMDS* is available in non-cabled areas from UPC. Offers a subset of the UPC cable service but without the "triple play" advantages.

    One thing to note: if you live in an apartment or a managed estate, you may have entered into a restrictive covenant which means that you may not be able to get a satellite dish. In this case satellite (and hence Sky) won't be an option.


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