Sat box recording

hawthorn

Hi!
Trying to help out friends buying tv etc for new house.... They were considering a nice shiny Samsung tv with freesat built in. Cost E799. However I'm thinking they shud get cheaper tv and a pvr + box with epg etc. am I correct? What box? Humax 500gig? How much etc!
Should they buy it from local dealer who wud install it etc?
What features needed in tv? Don't need 3d, wifi, etc.

Thanks!
H

zg3409

Benefits of Smasung TV with FreeSAT
1) One remote solution
2) The picture on the TV is top class, it's a premium TV
3) Possibly simple on screen recording (with an extra hard drive)
4) FreeSAT channels will automatically retune when channels on satellite move.

Downsides
1) Very expensive solution
2) Seperate hard drive needed to enable recording
3) Possibly no series link on Irish channels in the future (not known yet)
4) Possibly not able to record one channel while watching another (you may be able to watch selected channels but not all)
5) You need to select country of UK OR Ireland. If you select UK then the UK channels work perfectly, but I think the 7 day guide does not work for the Irish channels. If you select Ireland you get 7 day guide for Irish channels but the FreeSat 7 day UK guide does not work. I do not own one but you would need to research this problem carefully. Some people say selecting country as UK is best.
6) Changing from Saorview to FreeSAT requires a mode button press. All channels are not numbered 1, 2, 3 etc
7) An ordinary TV connected to a FreeSAT + HD box and a Saorview box would give better recording options and work out far cheaper. However this is a 2 box solution without a new TV.

Regarding installation, whoever installs the dish could install the TV. Ideally you would need to buy it where your guarantee would be valid and provide some support.

It would be an ideal type TV for a bedroom where recording is not needed and you want to wall mount it without any additional boxes.

If they currently have Sky and drop Sky then it won't give the dual tuner and series link on the Irish channels. It also won't allow access to premium sports and movies if they are used to that.

What do others think?

hawthorn

Thanks for that! They have nothing at all yet! Havent even moved into the house. But I do think option 7 is good, one box if they buy a Saorview ready TV.....but will not have the option to record saorview channels, am I right?

Will there be a combined saorview/freesat box (sky+ type!!) by the end of the year....?? that would appear to be a better again solution.

thanks

h

zg3409

hawthorn wrote: »

But I do think option 7 is good, one box if they buy a Saorview ready TV.....but will not have the option to record saorview channels, am I right?

Some Saorview TVs have the option of recording if you connect a hard drive to the rear. However then you can only either watch UK channels or possibly watch nothing at all but the recording depending on the features of the TV.

Will there be a combined saorview/freesat box (sky+ type!!) by the end of the year....?? that would appear to be a better again solution.
h

No. None is ever expected to appear. There is not enough demand and FreeSAT is run by the BBC so I can't see them releasing a box that uses their 8 day guide and has a Saorview approved tuner in it.

Some people have hodge podged a working system using a linux based box but you would need to be good at computers and willing to fix it from time to time.

hawthorn

No I think option 7 is the one! I thought I read of availability of Saorview and Recording Sat+ type box, and all in 1 solution, but maybe its a freeview box.

Option 7; if you buy a Humax+ box eg, will it use the Irish epg?

thanks for all you help!

h

zg3409

Saorview and Sat box is called a combo. 99% of them only have one tuner for each service and do not show 7 day guide on Satellite nor series link.

A Humax box uses a dish and gives the UK EPG. A seperate Saorview box will give the Irish EPG. A combo box generally gives the Irish EPG but not the UK one.

For realistic regular recording you need an EPG and dual tuners.

hawthorn

Yes I think you are right there! Perhaps they could do without the saorview recording facility. It does make Sky look very convenient, apart from the cost!!

h