Sky+ subscription ending. Want to get FTA and Saorview. What should I do?

blsw

My sky+ subscription is due to end soon. I would like to get FTA and Saorview so I can see the Irish stations.

What is the cheapest/best way of setting everything up

What do I need to do to set up my Sky dish/Sky+ box to receive FTA
Would I need to connect extra cables or use a different card.
Will I have to re-tune the dish for FTA stations?

Is there a set top box that I could use that would allow me to have Saorview and FTA. It would work out cheaper as getting a Saorview compatible tv is expensive.

John mac

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056284276&page=121
combo box will do you . just need to add an aerial for rte stations (20ish euro)
for the sky box just remove the viewing card, and reboot the box,

no retune required.

blsw

Thanks, thats what I was after. If you can help I have some Qs regarding the info from Satelite.ie website below

**Please be aware that this box has no RF coax out as RF out does not carry a HD signal**

Please be aware that the future digital Teletext service system used by RTE is not compatible with this box.

Receiver has PVR function (manual recording, recording from timer, recording from EPG, time shift) when you connect an external hard drive via USB port.

With an external hard drive you can;
Record Satellite , watch Terrestrial
Record Terrestrial, watch Satellite

This receiver box will allow you to watch free to air High definition satellite TV via a dish and Irish MPEG 4 terrestrial digital TV via an aerial .


Q1 Is it possible to record satelite and watch satelite or can you only record what you are watching. is it possible to watch saorview and record satelite and vice versa.

Q2 Can I pause satelite and saorview stations

Q3 Can you explain RF coax out. What are the drawbacks of not having it.
What is PVR and EPG

Q4 If I have file formats other than Mpeg4 (MkV,Divx,Avi) on my external hard drive will they display on my tv if connected to the set top box. if i connect my laptop to tv will my media files display or would i need a specially file formatted tv

Q5 Will a normal cats ears aerial do for Saorview or must i have a digital aerial

Q6 is there anyway of getting teletext set up on it

Q7 Are there other combo boxes with more features available. What company/website is best to buy from

Sorry for all the Qs but Im not tech savy at all.
Thanks for the help

Gerry Wicklow

1. it is possible to watch saorview and record satelite and vice versa. once you have an external HDD connected.

2. It is possible to pause and rewind, once you have an external HDD connected.

3. Old VCRs and sat boxes could send a signal through the aerial coax so that you tuned them in just like any other station. Some people used this as a cheap way to watch the satellite or video in another room. Since it cant carry HD or stereo sound most boxes dont do this any more.

4. There are so many "flavours" of video files it is hard to predict which will and wont work.

4.A. If your laptop has a suitable TV connection you can watch what you like it on it. It has nothing to do with the combo box.

5. There is no such thing as a "digital aerial". An aerial is an aerial. If you live near a transmitter and get a strong signal, an indoor aerial might do for SaorView. As a rough guide, if you can get a half decent TV3 on such an aerial it should suffice. If you dont have one yet, buy a cheapo €2 one from a Euro store to test it first rather than spending 40-50 on some fancy gimmick that doesn't work.

6. No. The existing teletext system is changing to MHEG5 which this box doesn't support.

blsw

Thanks Gerry

Is it possible to transfer recorded programs from my sky+ box to the external drive or will I have to use the sky+box to view them

John mac

you need to use sky+ box to view (with a valid sub)

blsw

Thanks John. I presume Satellite.ie are the people to buy from

Can i transfer Sky+ programs to a laptop or dvd recorder with hard drive

John mac

blsw wrote: »

Thanks John. I presume Satellite.ie are the people to buy from

there are others too.
but I think there is a deal on with Satellite.ie at the mo.

Gerry Wicklow

blsw wrote: »

... Can i transfer Sky+ programs to a laptop or dvd recorder with hard drive

AFAIK the only way to get at Sky+ recordings is to play them and record them onto another device via a SCART lead. I think you also loose access to them once the sub runs out, but I'm open to correction on that.