Which Freesat HD Receiver?

dkane

Hi,
Looking to get a Freesat HD box. Have a PVR on another box so not too pushed about PVR functionality.
I'm between the Sagem DS186HD and the Grundig GUFSAT01HD

Anyone using either of these receivers? Any comments or recommendations?

I see from tvtrade.ie that the Sagem handles non-freesat channels quite well. Are there any issues with non-freesat channels on the Grundig?

Thanks,
Daniel

watty

Ah but I don't think the Sagem does Diseqc at all. Which makes it useless for Saorsat or 19E or 13E etc.

I think Technisat and Humax both have true PVRs with Diseqc. There is a Software "addon" for Humax that makes "other channels" more integrated.

Grundig don't exist anymore. The Satellite boxes are Thomson, the Radio sets I think an Alba label of Chinese Radio Du Jour since 2004 in UK till 2007 when they sold the brand, in 2008 Alba along with Bush and Goodmans became Argos stickers for cheap Chinese gadgets Du Jour . Beko (Turkey) owns right to "Grundig" label outside UK and who knows who has the name for "Grundig" calculators and batteries.

Sad. A once great German company making some of the best radios from early 1950s to 1980s. A Grundig 1958 valve portable can realise €800+
I wouldn't really want a Thomson sat box.

stanley1

Bee using this one for a few weeks, no problems, you can mix freesat and non freesat channels in favourites lists.

http://www.satbuyer.co.uk/manhattan-plaza-hd-s-freesat-hd-digital-box-p144.html

dkane

Ah but I don't think the Sagem does Diseqc at all. Which makes it useless for Saorsat or 19E or 13E etc.

I think Technisat and Humax both have true PVRs with Diseqc. There is a Software "addon" for Humax that makes "other channels" more integrated.

I'm not looking for Diseqc, Saorsat or PVR on this receiver.

stanley1, thanks for the link to the Manhattan Plaza HD-S. Definitely another option at around the same price as the Sagem.

Grundig don't exist anymore.

I got an email this morning with the Grundig on sale at €67.50, which is almost half the price of the other two.

watty

You do get to an extent what you pay for. Going for cheapest isn't always the best value.

Grundig is badge for Thomson

I thought you might have wanted Diseqc as you mentioned "other channels". I'm curious as to what non-Freesat FTA channels other than Sky News are of interest on 28.2E?

dkane

You do get to an extent what you pay for. Going for cheapest isn't always the best value.

I agree, but are the Sagem or Manhattan higher quality than the Grundig? Are they worth twice the price?
I am willing to spend up to €150 on a receiver. I want to get the BBC and ITV HD channels and ideally the Freesat EPG and BBC red button functionality.

In terms of other channels, Sky News is the main one missing from the Freesat lineup but potentially there could be future worth while FTA channels on 28.2E.
Loosing the Freesat EPG and channel numbering for one or two channels would be a pain so I am interested in a box that handles these additional channels well.

excollier

watty wrote: »

You do get to an extent what you pay for. Going for cheapest isn't always the best value.

Grundig is badge for Thomson

I thought you might have wanted Diseqc as you mentioned "other channels". I'm curious as to what non-Freesat FTA channels other than Sky News are of interest on 28.2E?

Some might ask "what interest is Sky News to anyone?"

boomslang

We have had the Sagem DS186HD for about a month and so far have been very pleased. It does the job very wello. Adding not freesat channels was easy, there is a great youtube clip showing how to do it which was easy to follow.
It replaced a fta hd system with pvr which now lives in the bedroom and is still used for recording from when needed!

dharn

can anyone pick out differences between manhattan hd pvr machine and humax foxsat pvr the spec and usability seems similar but the manhattan is cheaper for the same storage

Badgermonkey

I had the Sagem DSI86 but it had a habit of mangling aspect ratios and no amount of tweaking would solve it.

I picked up the Humax HD (non-pvr) instead and it's been great.

OP, Manhattan Plaza HD has been very positively received and may be a decent buy, personally I wouldn't consider the Grundig.

watty

Any "good" channel will be on freesat EPG except Sky controlled FTA and Saorsat. RTE1, RTE2, TG4, RTE news now and RTEjr/RTE+1 will be on Saorsat but not TV3 or 3E.

You need dual feed or 2nd Dish and Diseqc or Multiswitch. While RTE is still the most watched channel and even TG4 gets more viewing time than Sky1, obviously not everyone wants a single sat box for all TV channels.

http://www.saortv.info/satellite-saorsat/saorsat-reception/

RTE's opinion is that Saorsat is ONLY for people that have made every effort to get Terrestrial and failed and not for convenience of people with Freesat. Note that no combo box with DTT is fully Freesat compatible and none are true PVRs.

PressTheButton

Sagemcom to launch next generation Freesat set-top box early 2012, Humax later in 2012. (Source: http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/sagemcom-confirmed-as-lead-manufacturer-for-next-generation-freesat-boxes)

Freesat's next-generation G2 spec will include features such as: DiSEqC 1.2 support; MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) support including single cable routing; core support for iPlayer-style hybrid TV services; HTML, JavaScript and CSS internet technologies for broadband-delivered interactive services; DRM for online content; and payment mechanisms for broadband services like LoveFilm. James Strickland, Freesat's director of product and technology development, explained that G2 is a hybrid between Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) and MHEG-5.

- Source.

More on next generation G2 spec: http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/freesat-g2-spec-diseqc-single-cable-pvr-on-demand

Should be worth waiting a little longer for Sagemcom announcement or until end of year if you must have a Humax.

Apogee

stanley1 wrote: »

Bee using this one for a few weeks, no problems, you can mix freesat and non freesat channels in favourites lists.

http://www.satbuyer.co.uk/manhattan-plaza-hd-s-freesat-hd-digital-box-p144.html

Do you have a Diseqc option in non-Freesat mode on the Manhattan? Can you see programme info when you mix Freesat and non-Freesat channels in the Favourites list?

dkane

watty, I'm not after anything other than 28.2E FTA channels on this box. I have an aerial and TV works with Saorview for Irish channels.
I think Sky News is enough of a reason to want a receiver that will handle other channels reasonably well.

PressTheButton, G2 Freesat sounds interesting. I guess any additional broadband-delivered content is likely to be geo-locked to UK IP addresses though. Still, might be a reason to go for a cheap FTA HD box for now and wait until G2 receivers and service launch.

Am I right in saying that the Humax Freesat receivers are generally considered the best?

NIMAN

I have a Humax Foxsat - its an excellent box.

Compton

NIMAN wrote: »

I have a Humax Foxsat - its an excellent box.

I dont have one but have used the Foxsat HDR and it is a great box. Very easy to use.

stanley1

Apogee wrote: »

Do you have a Diseqc option in non-Freesat mode on the Manhattan? Can you see programme info when you mix Freesat and non-Freesat channels in the Favourites list?

yes,program info is available when you mix Freesat and non-Freesat channels in the Favourites list., can't find any mention of diseqc anywhere in the menu both on freesat and non freesat.

dharn

I think Technisat and Humax both have true PVRs with Diseqc. There is a Software "addon" for Humax that makes "other channels" more integrated.

do the humax ship with this software addon nowadays or does it still have to be downloaded

excollier

you will have to download it, it's unofficial third party software.
Not sure if I am allowed to post it here, if I can, I will

Apogee

stanley1 wrote: »

yes,program info is available when you mix Freesat and non-Freesat channels in the Favourites list., can't find any mention of diseqc anywhere in the menu both on freesat and non freesat.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, it would appear that there is no Diseqc functionality.

What Satellite review:
http://f.cl.ly/items/10290G451s1w0D1m2Z2O/WST305.plazahds.pdf

Martin_F

I have a Sagem in the kitchen - it's ok. Sometimes powers off after switch to HD channel which can be annoying (maybe once a month). I have a Humax Foxsat in the bedroom - from just after launch - first rate box. I reckon the Humax & Technisat would be the better boxes - it all depends on how much you want to spend.

stanley1

Maybe avoid Technisat for the moment.

http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/technisat-hdfs-epg-issue-fix-underway

Scartbeg

Have a Humax Foxsat HD with PVR for a few years now - solid, rarely hangs or crashes.
Upgraded the HDD from 320GB to 2TB as we keep a lot of kiddies progs and films.

The two main downsides are:
It takes an age (1min +) to index the content when you go to look at saved files, that's always been the case even at only 40% disk capacity.

It takes several keystrokes to switch between Freesat and non-freesat mode, can't view both on the EPG simultaneously. Would be interested in the add-on software that excollier mentioned to integrate these.

Willby

.

(quote) It takes several keystrokes to switch between Freesat and non-freesat mode, can't view both on the EPG simultaneously. Would be interested in the add-on software that excollier mentioned to integrate these.[/QUOTE]

Hi ,
Lots of links to the software required on this dedicated site for Humax boxes.

http://hummy.tv/forum/

Scartbeg

Lots of links to the software required on this dedicated site for Humax boxes.

Gotta wonder why the company can't provide these type of upgrades themselves - they have the capability to do over-the-air updates, but not one for my box in the last 3 years. Surely many users have sent them feedback on these issues?

NewHillel

watty wrote: »

Any "good" channel will be on freesat EPG...

There are some among us who consider EWTN an extremely 'good' channel, yet it is not on the Freesat EPG.

watty

It's on 28.2E now?

It's certainly intended to be a good Channel

PressTheButton

For fans of the Manhattan Plaza have a look at the 320GB Manhattan Plaza HDR-S Freesat+HD Receiver due for launch in late April/early May:

http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/sneak-peak-at-manhattan-hdr-s

Note:

This isn’t a G2 spec device, that will follow a few months later ... in 500GB capacity.

NIMAN

That looks the part.

1maher1

Am thinking of purchasing a freesat/saorsat combo hd receiver. I am in the Kildare area and just wondering is the reception quality good and is the there a list of the channels available

NIMAN

1maher1 wrote: »

Am thinking of purchasing a freesat/saorsat combo hd receiver. I am in the Kildare area and just wondering is the reception quality good and is the there a list of the channels available

No such receiver;)

Perhaps you mean Freesat/Saorview?

1maher1

Sorry, yes I meant Freesat/Saorview.

NIMAN

Well your reception of Freesat should not be an issue if you can see the sky (for your satellite) and I think 99% of the country can get Saorview using a rooftop aerial.