How to escape Sky?

05637716

First time post, long time reader. I realise its a broad question but I'm hoping someone can give me some pointers. If I've posted in the wrong place, sorry, and please direct me to the right place

I'm currently on a Sky+ package, paying a diabolical amount of money. I've always had the ambition to move away from the establishment in everything, and TV is no exception. The only thing I really want to watch on television is the Spanish Football (which Sky have a monopoly on through conventional channels), and 1 or two pieces here and there. So I'm looking for help to find the best solution to get what I want (even with a high set up cost if necessary). Problem is I've never been the best when it comes to the whole digital tv lark, so I need some expert to sort me out, as I find I get too bogged down in things!

What I'm looking for:

PVR:

* The ability to record, rewind, pause and fast forward.
* In built hard drive a plus, ability to add additional hard drives a plus too.
* Twin tuner a necessity.
* EPG and Series link a neccessity also.
* High definition not a dealbreaker.

Channels:

The old reliables: RTE 1, RTE 2, TV3, TG4, BBC1, BBC2, UTV, Channel 4

Sports: GolTV, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes (which are American based)

My questions are:

What box should I get?
What do I need to do to get those channels on said box?

If anyone can help, I'd be unbelievably grateful, as would my bank balance!

Headshot

Im not sure are you in the right section. But ill try to help anyway

saorsat will give you rte stuff and your sky box will give free to air channels like ch4

Now for the foreign stuff. You wont get those American based channels over here in Ireland afaik.

Are you prepared to put up a big dish so receive channels? There's a great package on 19.2e, canal package. That gives La Liga and American football (which I presume is why you want American channels?)

You have to know that its expensive at first but once your up and going, the thing will save you so much money

Minstrel27

For La Liga you can't go wrong with an Al Jazeera sub. Cheap and cheerful too. Only downside is the picture quality can sometimes be a bit poor.

What is the package that gives NFL?

JHet

I think the VU DUO would probably be the closest thing on the market to what you are looking for. I don't have one but there is quite a long thread on here somewheres about them. Bear in mind here, any third party box, will never do all the pause, rewind, series link stuff as well as a sky box can. Sky have invested hundreds of millions into developing their technology and it would be unreasonable to expect the same. I think the series link stuff works on timers and program names which could be hit and miss in terms of how well it actually works. However if your willing to lower your expectations a little it could be the right solution for you. Totally agree with Headshot, has the potential to save you a good deal of money in the long run based on your requirements.

05637716

Thanks guys

Also, I have no interest in American football!

The reason I put in those American based channels is that they are the only channels outside of Sky Sports which would guarantee showing Barcelona La Liga matches and their Copa Del Rey matches. But I'm after realising 'What about the Champions League?'

I don't think there is any set of channels I could point a big dish at which would guarantee Barcelona's La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Supercopa and Champions League matches every week like Sky currently unfortunately does

If anyone knew anything different, you would be a living legend

Minstrel27

05637716 wrote: »

I don't think there is any set of channels I could point a big dish at which would guarantee Barcelona's La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Supercopa and Champions League matches every week like Sky currently unfortunately does

Al Jazeera would and the dish needed wouldn't be that big.

Finne1993

05637716 wrote: »

Thanks guys

Also, I have no interest in American football!

The reason I put in those American based channels is that they are the only channels outside of Sky Sports which would guarantee showing Barcelona La Liga matches and their Copa Del Rey matches. But I'm after realising 'What about the Champions League?'

I don't think there is any set of channels I could point a big dish at which would guarantee Barcelona's La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Supercopa and Champions League matches every week like Sky currently unfortunately does

If anyone knew anything different, you would be a living legend

Al Jazeera at 13 degrees east will have all the football you need apart from the Premier League. They show Champions League, Europa League, Spanish, Scottish, Italian, Brazilian, Japanese, all international matches, all on 10 sports channels.

Its pretty comprehensive and would'nt cost a fortune to set up, a 60-80cm dish will be fine, add an inexpensive receiver with viaccess and the subscription card wont cost any more than €140 per year.