From Sky+ to Freesat + Saorview

dealgan

Hi folks,
I searched and expected to find loads of questions like mine, with all the answers, but I dont see them.

Currently I have what I expect is the "normal" sky setup.
Sky+HD box in living room, with RF out to 2/3 other TV's around the house, each with a magic eye to control the sky box. (I *think* these feeds had to go thorugh some sort of special splitter box to ensure the DC got to the magic eyes ? Not sure about this, long time ago it was fitted !)

I also have an analogue UHF antenna in the attic space which gives me saorview channels in good quality if I plug it directly into the TV. I think this feed used to go into the sky box & get passed through with the RF out to the other rooms.

I am planning to stop my Sky subscription and go for a freesat/saorview combo box that can use my existing sky dish and aerial.

Where I am getting a bit lost is :
1. I like my Live Pause & rewind live TV, etc, so I'd need this inbuilt.
2. 7 day EPG & Recording using series link ?
3. Possibly a common EPG across both inputs ? i.e. freesat & saorview on one guide ? Not a deal-breaker but would be easy to use.
4. Do any combo boxes have RF output for the other rooms, with magic eyes to control the box, or if not, how do I achieve this ? I;d like to be able to watch recorded programmes in any room, not just the room it was recorded in, so that sort of rules out having separate boxes in each room.

In effect, I'd like the same idea as my sky+HD, just different channels and no subscription. Is that asking too much ?

If I have missed the answer in my searches, feel free to point me in the right direction.

Thanks

Apogee

There is no direct receiver substitute for a Sky+ HD box which will accomodate both Freesat and Saorview/Saorsat fully.


The closest equivalent is a HTPC setup which will have combined EPGs and series link.

Otherwise, your options are a Freesat+ HDR and Saorview box (series link not operational on Saorview yet) with separate EPGs, remotes.

Or a Linux box with combined EPG, "series link" by name matching on EPG, but no auto-tuning.

RF out can be done via a modulator.

NIMAN

I went from Sky to Freesat+Saorview.

I use a Humax Foxsat for Freesat. Basically like Sky+, 7 day EPG and recording, pausing etc. Can thoroughly recommend it.

I get Saorview from an in-built tuner in a Sony TV.

evilivor

NIMAN wrote: »

I went from Sky to Freesat+Saorview.

I use a Humax Foxsat for Freesat. Basically like Sky+, 7 day EPG and recording, pausing etc. Can thoroughly recommend it.

I get Saorview from an in-built tuner in a Sony TV.

I'd echo that. Humax Foxsat worth every penny I paid for it and I was a very early adopter of it. Saorview on Sony's tuner.

Have an Elgato EyeTv on my computer for recording Saorview channels which automatically encodes recordings for iPhone and AppleTV. It also streams live tv to portable devices.

Not a one box solution but one that works for me.

NIMAN

I have been reading a lot about getting a one-box solution, and tbh I ain't taking the plunge yet as there isn't something out there that ticks all the boxes for me.

I'm sticking with my Humax for now. Owned it for approx 2yrs now and not a single failed recording, something that can't be said for my Sky+ box.

dealgan

Forgot to say thanks !

Thanks.

zg3409

Yes the best non pay solution for your current setup is

1) Humax FreeSAT + Hd box

2) Saorview box (unless it is built into TV) with external hard drive for recording. This will need to be upgraded to Saorview + HD box when one is launched on the market.

3) Somthing to create a Sky eye type setup like a triax tri-link. You need two tri-link kits. This is because if you have 2 boxes (FreeSAT and Saorview) then you need 2 modulators, however the triax tri-link is only one modulator so you would need two devices, one per set-top box with each capable of triggering it's own set top box via infra red. So you would need to combine the output of both modulators in such a way as power is still passed on and the return signal is still received. A diode combiner would do just this and there would be no need to install new cables.

You would need to change from say channel 1 to channel 2 on each TV to swap from Saorview to FreeSat and then use the Saorview/Freesat remote to chose the actual channel.

4) Extra spare remotes for the extra TVs

It's not the most beautiful setup but it will allow everything you currently are expecting.

SmithySeller

zg3409 wrote: »

3) Somthing to create a Sky eye type setup like a triax tri-link. You need two tri-link kits. This is because if you have 2 boxes (FreeSAT and Saorview) then you need 2 modulators, however the triax tri-link is only one modulator so you would need two devices, one per set-top box with each capable of triggering it's own set top box via infra red. So you would need to combine the output of both modulators in such a way as power is still passed on and the return signal is still received. A diode combiner would do just this and there would be no need to install new cables.

You would need to change from say channel 1 to channel 2 on each TV to swap from Saorview to FreeSat and then use the Saorview/Freesat remote to chose the actual channel.

This is exactly what I want to do, but I have been too dumb to communicate it effectively.

I have a couple of questions in relation to this, are two modulators entirely necessary? I thought the tri link could handle up to to three devices? Is it that it can handle three but you cannot then control three devices independently?

If two modulators are necessary, and if I only have the one coax cable going back to my T140 will this diode combiner still work?

When you talk about changing channels, 1 and 2 for example, I assume you are talking about the remote TV's? Could one universal remote do this?

Thanks in advance and for your reply to my thread too.

zg3409

SmithySeller wrote: »

I have a couple of questions in relation to this, are two modulators entirely necessary? I thought the tri link could handle up to to three devices? Is it that it can handle three but you cannot then control three devices independently?

The tri-link is only one modulator. It has two infra-red emitters which can control two boxes. In the manual:
http://www.hypex.co.uk/files/pdf/16890/trilink.pdf

the Sky box is not really using the tri-link.

If you are using one Sky box and one non Sky box the one tri-link is enough. However if you are using non Sky boxes then you could loop through scart but it would mean turning inputs on a box you cannot see. In theory it is possible, but in practice it would not be a good setup. Ideally a Saorview tuner on every TV would be best, next best is two tri-links, next best is one tri-link. Having two tri-links also allows one person in one room watch the Irish channels while someone in another room can get the UK channels.

If two modulators are necessary, and if I only have the one coax cable going back to my T140 will this diode combiner still work?

Not eactly sure what you mean. This setup will allow you as close to Sky+ as possible. You can re-use all existing cabling without changing existing eyes and splitters/boosters. The diode device combines the two tri-links into one cable to feed all TVs.

When you talk about changing channels, 1 and 2 for example, I assume you are talking about the remote TV's? Could one universal remote do this?

Yes that's what I mean. It may be possible to do this with the normal Freesat and Saorview remote. It depends on the model. With a Sky remote you press TV then channel up/down then press "Sky" and channel up/down. The first thing changes the TV channel on the TV, the second changes channels on the Sky box. Some boxes come with a type of universal remote. Sky's remote is one of them.

SmithySeller

Excellent, thanks for the reply. Would you mind posting a link to an example of a diode combiner?
Thanks again..

zg3409

SmithySeller wrote: »

Excellent, thanks for the reply. Would you mind posting a link to an example of a diode combiner?
Thanks again..

One like this:
http://www.aceonline.co.uk/indext.asp?cg=7&InBox=Splitters%20up%20to%202400MHz%20&cct=7&prodref=FS2

They should be available at any retailer. They key is the TWO red arrows. This allows the power from both tri-link to be combined so the Sky eyes get power. So feed each of the tri-links RF2 into one of the "outs" and the "in" connects to where you currently have the RF2 connected at the back of the Sky box.

You can buy them on eBay etc.