Newbie, where to start with FTA?

augusta24

Hi all,

I'm looking for some info about what I need to do and where to start to get my TV set up with all the free to air channels etc. I've been looking through all the threads here and it's over whelming as there's so much!

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good thread or website that might be of use to a complete novice?

I have sky plus right now and my plan is to cancel this over the next six months or so an replace it with something that will give me every channel I can get free so I don't mind investing a little in the right equipment now.

I'm going to get hooked up to soar view so ill have the Irish channels that way and in hoping to wait until the better recordable boxes are available. I also know I can cancel my sky sub and ill get the bbcs etc but I'm wondering will that give me everything? Or Would I be better buying another box instead that might pick up even more channels than my sky box would?

Capt'n Midnight

The SKY box will give you most of what is FTA on Astra 2 including 7 day guide.
But you can't record or playback without a valid subscription.

Freesat box will give almost the same channel line up including a different 7 day guide.

FTA box may give you a few more channels - but without either of the non-standard 7 day guides of the above.


Saorview boxes will record to USB drives.

It depends on what you want.
Do you need HD ?

What channels / programs would you miss most ?

If your SKY box has two cables you can use the second one for a FTA receiver (it's only used for recording which you won't be able to do without a subscription) and keep your SKY box. TBH I'd keep the SKY box as a backup anyway. It's designed to be fairly idiot proof.
It's also got RF out so handy for a second room especially if you ahve the remote link thingy. One thing to be aware of SKY boxes is that they use electricity when plugged in , standby doesn't really save any power so switch off at the mains when not in use. (I use a master/slave so it's only on when the TV is) (if it looses channels just leave it on overnight to download latest EPG)

Do you have any interest in foreign television, many sporting events and music channels are FTA on other satellites if you add another LNB and diseqc switch to your dish. have a look here https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=622

TBH it's sometimes more fun setting up stuff than vegging in front of the box.


What channels / programs would you miss most or would like to see ?

At present the ferguson ariva 150/250 tick most of the boxes, and hopefully will get even better with new firmware updates. BUT like you said more boxes are on the way soon.

At present it's pick your poison , it might be easier to say which features you don't need.

augusta24

Wow thanks for all that info that's great!!

No I don't need hd but I do like the idea of the recordable feature so will hold out and invest when better boxes come out, ideally I like to be able to tape one thing and watch another.

Regarding the FTA I think I'll have to look into what channels are available because it sounds like the sky box will probably give me enough.
My main interest is the Irish channels really and being able to record them, but while I'm at it I guess I just want to get whatever's available in terms of the FTA channels but they aren't a deal breaker really!

t c

this might be helpful. Shows all Freesat stations available and also different types of boxes.

http://www.freesat.co.uk/

You will need an aerial and feed for Saorview and your dish,feed and box for Fresat. Also, if your tv is anyway newish it might be Saorview compatible.

As Capt'n Midnight said, half the enjoyment is setting it up, watching a good movie and thinking,"this is FREE".

Cheers.
TC

Capt'n Midnight

Option 0 €7 :pac:

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056469715
How to stream all channels - so guess you could just record the whole stream in parallel, all channels.
https://angrytechnician.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/how-to-stream-freeview-hd-dvb-t2-over-multicast-using-dvblast-you-idiots/


Option 1 €50 - €89

For build quality get a saorview approved box that isn't a Triax. they are made by Vestel so get the cheapest, ask if it records if paranoid
Sick a USB drive in the back and you can record or time shift Irish while watching satellite.
You could get a no-name non approved box but I'm looking forward to when series link becomes available, and I can play the .ts files ( must figure out how to merge half hour chunks / how the index works)


Option 2

Get a combo box like the Ferguson Ariva 150/250 (look up the threads) €100-130 Think of it as a good all round FTA box that also gets Saorview.
cheaper than getting a non approved saorview box and separate satellite receiver. Doesn't have all the saorview features, and there are limits on what combintaions of viewing and recording at the same time, but other than that they do everything except make coffee.


Option 3

Get a saorview approved combo box
Haven't really looked into this as already have a set top box and like UK EPG's




AFAIK getting two set top boxes is for now the cheapest way to record one Irish program while watching another ! Hopefully this will change when real PVR's become available.




Avoid any satellite box whose fine print says you can record another channel on the same transponder that you are watching, UK channels are all over the shop, so not that useful a feature.


Saorsat is only worth considering if you can't get saorview any other way