Newbie Question

Zascar

Hey guys, I hope you don’t mind what is probably a really silly question but being an NTL user I know nothing about Satellite.

My parents live in the stix near Gorey in Wexford, where the ariel receptionis awful. A couple of years ago they got a guy up who fitted a satellite dish and put two sky boxes in each of the rooms to pick up the free to air channels. (Parents will not pay a Sky subscription). Thing is the system is awful. You need to use the TV for the Irish channels, and then switch over to the Sky box for the UK channels, but they are ridiculously spread apart so you have to know each of the numbers and type them in to see whats on TV.

So, I’m told there are some new systems that make thins easier. My parents are totally and utterly technologically retarded, I need the absoluitely simplyest solution possible. My mum records stuff via VHS all the time – but often has problems. What I want for them is one simply box that gets all the Irish and normal UK Channels, BBC etc – any others is fine but they are not interested in many of the non standard ones. I just want One remote so they can flick through the channels, and hopefully have an easy setup for video recording. If there was a Very easy to use menu to show what’s on TV then that would be good but not essential/.

Can anyone advise what I should be looking at, and ideally I’d need someone local that can come in and set it all up for them.
Advice appreciated
Thanks

Ronnie Raygun

You could at least make a favourites list on the Sky boxes, use the blue button to flick between channels.

I wonder where the "installer" got the old boxes (from someone else's "upgrade" perhaps?).

Riskymove

why are they not watching the Irish channels on the sky box?

The Cush

There are combi digital satellite/terrestrial receivers available such as these that combine both the satellite and Irish channels

http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/HD_Ariva_120_Combo_Box.html#aFerguson120Combo
http://www.tvtrade.ie/satellite-receivers/combined-digital-receivers.html

I don't own one but there are various discussions on them here on the boards, do a search for the product name or combi/combo. Not sure how they handle recording etc.

One downside with them is if any of the satellite channel move frequency the receiver has to be manually tuned to restore the channel(s).

A Freesat satellite receiver would be a good option for them, no manual retuning just like a Sky receiver and there are versions with built in recorder (2 cables from the dish required). The Irish channels are not available this way though.

For the Irish digital channels, in conjunction with the Freesat receiver, a new Saorview TV or receiver will be required from Oct 24th next, a separate Saorview recorder is not available yet. The VHS recorder will not be able to receive a signal after that date.

The Cush

Riskymove wrote: »

why are they not watching the Irish channels on the sky box?

This would explain it

Zascar wrote: »

(Parents will not pay a Sky subscription)

Zascar

THanks guys. Yes I think one of those combo boxes are what we are after. However, will they be able to record programs on their VHS using this system? Do any of these act as a DVR? I don't think its necessary as it might complicate things and from what I read if it says you can 'watch an irish channel and record a UK channel at the same time' which presumably means you cannot watch an irish channel and record on an irish channel

FRIENDO

Hi Zascar,

Lots of good info on the combo on this thread.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056284276

And The Cush mentioned two good shops above.

kacaksireland

this is a good box. But if you want record and watch you need vu duo + which is over 420eur

This guy has good deals on the combo boxes lower then in Internet shops
http://www.adverts.ie/home-services/professional-all-satellite-installation-30-euro/823575
Bought my self x703p for 125eur
Box records i has program guide for saorview and pause function!
And very easy to use!
Hope this helps.;)

Riskymove

The Cush wrote: »

This would explain it

? they put up two sky boxes without subscription?

instead of some FTA box? odd

The Cush

Riskymove wrote: »

? they put up two sky boxes without subscription?

instead of some FTA box? odd

Blame the installer, many people; elderly or otherwise wouldn't know the difference.

Zascar wrote: »

A couple of years ago they got a guy up who fitted a satellite dish and put two sky boxes in each of the rooms to pick up the free to air channels. (Parents will not pay a Sky subscription).

Finne1993

Riskymove wrote: »

? they put up two sky boxes without subscription?

instead of some FTA box? odd

Many people I speak to prefer Sky boxes over FTA boxes, its a personal thing I suppose but for me there are many reasons to use a sky box rather than FTA.

A Sky box can be easily distributed around a house via RF and magic eyes run off it.
It auto updates so no lost channels when there are frequency changes.
All red button and interactive features are available so easily.
Remote can be programmed to control TV including text and volume.
A Video or DVD player can be looped through via scart. (I know there are some FTA boxes that can do this also but not many)

Set up the FTA channels on favourites and no flicking through a load of channels with "insert sky viewing card" on it!

Its the best way to watch FTA satellite for me (And I include official Freesat boxes when I say that) but as I said earlier it is a personal thing and it may not be everybodys choice

Zascar

Finne1993 wrote: »

Set up the favourites on it and no flicking through a load of channels with "insert sky viewing card" on it!

Actually can you tell me how to do this as all I was ab le to do is get a few that I can scroll through using the blue button. The way the favourites works on ntl is great, it should be like that

Finne1993

Firstly have you the UK EPG on your box? You'll know you have if BBC1 London is on channel 101