Combo box with all UK FTA and saorview channels?

livEwirE

Hi all,

Is it possible to ditch sky and get a combo box to pickup all the UK FTA channels and saorview channels, displayed in the same EPG - without an aerial! Does a box exist that can do this AND offer a 7 day EPG with series link? Am I asking for too much here? I'd get rid of sky tomorrow if I knew there was an alternative device that could offer the same functionality.

Would something like the Humax HDR-FOX T2 Freeview+ HD Twin Tuner with 1TB Recorder do everything I need?

PogMoThoin

Saorview needs an aerial and Irish channels are subscription only on the Astra 28.2e satellite.

That Humax is a Freesat box, it will not do Irish channels (it may do Irish channels from SaorSat but that would require a new 80cm dish and diseqc switch)

Check out the Amiko alien 2, it does most of what you require but you will have to get your hands dirty to customise it with Enigma2 software to get 7 day EPG and series link. You will need an aerial for terrestrial (or else go down a non legal route we can't discuss here)

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056707402&page=19

livEwirE

Cheers PogMoThoin,

A couple of the reviewers on amazon said they can get Saorview working fine with this box and they don't mention using an aerial

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/community-content-search/results/ref=cm_srch_q_rtr/?query=saorview&search-alias=community-reviews&Go.x=5&Go.y=16&idx.asin=B004NEKNEM

I wanted a PVR to use with the Irish saorview services and already had the Hunax freesat product which I liked.

The saorview service does not broadcast information for series link but part from that this is identical functionality to sky+ for Irish terrestrial tv with no subscription

My iny minor gripe is that the remote is sometimes slow to respond. Note for those looking to mimic my set up with 2 humax boxes you will need to change to remit channel on one of them to make it work. Lots of info online on how to do it.

I really like the Humax machine as it is now even easier to watch and record TV. We live in Ireland and the machine picked up all Irish Saorview channels without a problem in addition to the British Freeview channels which our previous machine couldn't do. Also, if you set up to tape a series, it auto-creats a folder and saves all episodes in order by date. The machine also suggests you to tape another program based on your interests, which is quite a nice addition. The price is perhaps a little hefty but for that you get huge storage space and after a couple of months you will start saving as you don't have to pay monthly fees to Sky or similar services. It is easy to set up.

PogMoThoin

Apologies, I had the wrong box in mind. That is a Freeview box, Freeview is the UK equivalent to Saorview, it needs an aerial as it has 2x terrestrial tuners, no satellite

Edit: I edited the wrong info in my first post

Gerry Wicklow

They are refering to FreeView which is the UK terrestrial service using an aerial. It is only available in border areas or parts of the east coast. FreeSat is the UK satellite service but that will NOT give you RTÉ. Have a look through the terrestrial forum for combo boxes which can get both services.

whomitconcerns

well saorview is only available via an aeriel, so they must be using one. And I presume they mean they are picking up the freesat channels as opposed to the freeview. Although I think if you were near the border you may get freeview also with the right receiver

EDIT:a bit late when i hit the submit button...already clarified

PogMoThoin

livEwirE wrote: »

So I would need an aerial attached to the box to pickup the Saorview channels? Bit of a pain if so, my OH wants to replace sky with an alternative but does not want to have to use an aerial

There are only 2 ways to get Irish channels (legally) without a sub, Saorview with an aerial and Saorsat with a second 80cm dish pointed at another satellite (9e)

livEwirE

Cheers for the info all, its VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!!