Cancelling sky and buying a combi box?

Tinie

Hello, im considering cancelling sky+ and buying a combi box instead for saorview and the UK sat channels, since all we watch is the Irish and english channels like BBC, channel 4 etc. It will have to be a PVR box also. What im wondering is, do all I have to do is replace the sky+ box with the combi box, and connect the old sky sat dish to my combi box and the indoor ariel for saorview and im sorted?
Like is the sky dish compatible with picking up the UK sat channels? Or do I need to buy a new different dish/move the dish to get signal? Im in waterford if it matters.

If so, what box do you recommend? I was looking at something like this: http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-23-TSC114&pages=&prod=TSC114&brands=TRIAX&image=2-webbannermiddle2

Also would it be possible to pick up the uk channels in HD?

Apogee

There is no direct, single box free-to-air replacement for a Sky+ box which has all the same features.

There are, however, various options ranging in features based on your budget.

The combi box you link to will display all the Saorview and UK sat channels with your existing dish and a suitable aerial. While it will have a full EPG for the Saorview channels, it will only display 'now and next' for the sat channels.

Additionally, when recording a sat channel, you will be restricted in your ability to watch other sat channels - this is because the combi box has one satellite tuner, whereas the Sky+ has 2 satellite tuners.

You won't have series link on satellite either.

If you want something similar in function to a Sky+ box on satellite, you should consider a Freesat+ box in combination with a Saorview box. If you're more techically minded, some of the Linux based combi box also give a good approximation of a Sky+ box.

Tinie

Apogee wrote: »

There is no direct, single box free-to-air replacement for a Sky+ box which has all the same features.

There are, however, various options ranging in features based on your budget.

The combi box you link to will display all the Saorview and UK sat channels with your existing dish and a suitable aerial. While it will have a full EPG for the Saorview channels, it will only display 'now and next' for the sat channels.

Additionally, when recording a sat channel, you will be restricted in your ability to watch other sat channels - this is because the combi box has one satellite tuner, whereas the Sky+ has 2 satellite tuners.

You won't have series link on satellite either.

If you want something similar in function to a Sky+ box on satellite, you should consider a Freesat+ box in combination with a Saorview box. If you're more techically minded, some of the Linux based combi box also give a good approximation of a Sky+ box.

Cheers for the info.

Have you got any links or info on a decent Freesat + box and on a linux based combi box as wouldnt mind having a read up on them.

Is there any combi boxes that will have 7day EPG for uk freeview along with 7day epg for saorview or is it just not possible?

paultf

www.freesat.co.uk
www.humaxdirect.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=freesat

Amazon is a good place to check out freesat+ boxes. Good price + service.

Humax would be the most popular:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Humax-500GB-Recorder-Requires-Satellite/dp/B0039J42LM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1350731491&sr=8-2

But note: the next generation of freesat is coming out (or is out?) so there will probably be new boxes out soon. On the plus side some freesat boxes could be reduced or you could pick up a 2nd hand one. (A first generation box might have all the features you need.)

I saw a post a while ago where someone said it won't be possible to have a 7 day EPG on the satiellte side of a combi box.

Also if you want recording on your Saorview box, at the moment you would have to use a USB stick or an external hard drive. I have this and it is not very reliable. But I saw on www.tvtrade.ie that they have a Triax TR212 with a dual tuner which means you can record one channel while watching another. (Don't know how good the box is.)

Tinie

Im considering getting 2 boxes. A saorview PVR box for the odd recording with a hard drive, and a freesat + box like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003HJVJSS/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=home-theater

Would that freesat box on amazon work here? I have sky+ currently so have 2 connections going into the one port in my living room. Would it work in ireland also?

Edit: just saw that its SD only box

paultf

Tinie wrote: »

Im considering getting 2 boxes. A saorview PVR box for the odd recording with a hard drive, and a freesat + box like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003HJVJSS/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=home-theater

That box is freeview. You need freesat+.

Humax would probably be the best, probably more reliable and better support/advice as they have more customers compared to other freesat boxes. The extra money spent might work out better in the long run.

A cheaper alternative would be a Manhatton. They have a new freesat box out with 320GB storage.

£169 here:-

http://www.satbuyer.co.uk/manhattan-plaza-hdr-s-freesat+hd-320gb-digital-box-p146.html

A couple of posters on here have said they are OK.

I have a freesat box a few months with 500GB - it is only half full - I am recording less compared to when I was with Sky.

Check out these forums for alternative freesat advice:
www.avforums.co.uk
www.digitalspy.co.uk

Apogee

Tinie wrote: »

Cheers for the info.

Have you got any links or info on a decent Freesat + box and on a linux based combi box as wouldnt mind having a read up on them.

Is there any combi boxes that will have 7day EPG for uk freeview along with 7day epg for saorview or is it just not possible?

The Vu+ linux-based combi boxes are fairly popular on these forums - I use one myself and have second one setup at parents house.




Additional photos here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056757150&page=2


Ongoing thread in Foreign Satellite forum here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055816677