Cheapest option for saorview pvr and freesat pvr?

glic83

Ok the parents in-law have upc currently and are looking to get rid.
Their tv will work on saorview but doesnt have the record function that they want.
In an ideal set up a combo box that could record saorview and freesat with full epg for both would be great but no such box offically is on the market (yes i know there are linux receivers that could do it but they dont have internet so a linux box is a non runner here)

Anyway they want to be able to do what they currently can with upc , record whatever shows they want watching another etc. full epg .
Im thinking an offical freesat receiver would be the way to go for the sat side as its been tried and tested and has the 7 day epg.
For the saorview side of thinks im unsure as to what box is best ive seen that walker have a new saorview pvr with internal hard drive and series link, other boxes you just connect a hard drive via the usb slot at the back of the receiver.

So looking for recommendations on the best boxes to do the just and hoing to keep the costs down if i can , they arent loaded and just want the best set up they can afford with no monthly bills, the dont have broadband so arent worried about any features via net from either receivers.
Cheers in advance

The Cush

For Saorview the Walker PVR is the only one on the market at the moment, down to €180, a drop of €50 since it launched in Jan - http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-23-WP6500&pages=1&prod=WP6500&brands=WALKER&image=. I have one, good box.

For Freesat+ see a list of available PVRs in the RH column - http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/. Hard to beat the Humax, depends on your budget. Google for best price. Irish site - http://www.tvtrade.ie/satellite-receivers/freesat.html

glic83

Yeah from what ive seen everything so far has point to humax for the freesat side of things.
For saorview the other box that can record via the usb port at the back can you watch 1 channel and record another via usb no problem? Also does your box do timeshift-pause live tv?

The Cush

glic83 wrote: »

For saorview the other box that can record via the usb port at the back can you watch 1 channel and record another via usb no problem? Also does your box do timeshift-pause live tv?

I can't confirm about the other non-PVR boxes I'm afraid. Triax have a twin-tuner Saorview receiver without a built-in HDD which should allow you to watch one, record one to external drive.

Regarding live pause etc. on the Walker PVR I havent used it but I believe it can do it. Unable to test it right now.

glic83

No panic cheers for the reply i suppose there are 2 advantages the walker has over the the triax 212 , the hard drive is internal and it can do series link which afaik the triax 212 doesnt do?

The Cush

glic83 wrote: »

i suppose there are 2 advantages the walker has over the the triax 212 , the hard drive is internal and it can do series link which afaik the triax 212 doesnt do?

That's correct I believe, series link only available on a proper PVR.

glic83

Right been doing a good bit of reading around and checking for the best price, the in laws aren't loaded and 350 euro on the latest humax its just too much so im looking towards this model from humax-direct its a grade A

http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10105

Shound come in just over 200 euro and ill use parcel motel for delivery, any thoughts on this selection?

Now for the saorview side of things 180 euro for a saorview pvr is just way too much were talking 7 digital channels here so what are people recommending for a saorview receiver that can record /pause live tv and is relatively problem free?
I was thinking the triax 212 but im reading mixed reviews any thoughts?

glic83

any thoughts , maybe the walker for 70 quid in powercity will do the job instead or going for the triax 212 or will the 212 be able to series link in the future?

zg3409

Regarding the Saorview PVR, a decent 500GB hard drive would set you back 80 Euro anyway. If you take a basic box with SINGLE tuner capable of only recording one show, and NOT SERIES LINKING that is say 60 Euro plus 80 for the drive, so that's 130.

So for the extra 50 Euro you get a second tuner (record 2 shows, watch a third), series link, and an all in one package.

I doubt any company is going to spend money upgrading their software to allow series link for free "in the future"

I think if you want recording, then series link is essential these days. Buying a box without it is a step backwards.

mydogjack

I'm definitelly no expert but I've been told you need four tuners to have a saorview/freesat combo pvr. Sureley there would be huge interest in Ireland for this product and maybe Triax or Walker should actually make this and let us all on basic packages from Sky/UPC get rid of monthly bills. :cool:

glic83

cant imagine an offical freesat and saorview box, would love it but just cant see it happening anytime soon anyway

zg3409

There are legal problems. Freesat will not allow a combined freesat and saorview box.

PogMoThoin

Check out the Amiko Alien 2, big thread here on it
http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056707402?page=1

glic83

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Check out the Amiko Alien 2, big thread here on it
http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056707402?page=1

No internet in the house so a linux receiver is a no go m8 as they wouldnt be able to get the epg just now and next.

Kristopherus

zg3409 wrote: »

There are legal problems. Freesat will not allow a combined freesat and saorview box.

I'm a little bit out of the loop in what boxes are currently available. Is there even a Freesat & Freeview HD pvr box available?

glic83

Update on this, re the foxsat pvr from humax-direct, they wont deliver to the rep of Ireland so ive had to get a friend up north to buy the box and hes going to send it down to me.
Re the saorview aspect they are not going to buy a box, im sorry but 180 quid for saorview pvr (so little channels) is just too much.
Maybe when there is other options on the pvr's and others start rolling them out the prices will get better but for now its a no go.
They can watch saorview via the tv as it has an mpeg 4 tunner and can get the full epg ( not mheg 5 so no teletext) but they wont be able to record, they are happy with this and they are 180 quid better off for now.They will have a freesat pvr so can series link, record etc from this and are happy with this.

Cheers for the replies and thanks for the help and advice guys.

glic83

Kristopherus wrote: »

I'm a little bit out of the loop in what boxes are currently available. Is there even a Freesat & Freeview HD pvr box available?

No i dont think there is an offical freesat and freeview receiver out there at present

PogMoThoin

glic83 wrote: »

No internet in the house so a linux receiver is a no go m8 as they wouldnt be able to get the epg just now and next.

The CrossEPG plugin linux boxes use reads the Epg from the satellite, not from the internet

The Cush

glic83 wrote: »

No i dont think there is an offical freesat and freeview receiver out there at present

No STBs but there are a few combi TVs such as the Samsung UXXU range

glic83

Forgot that was thinking of cool epg, either way m8 its just the easiest option for them, dont think they would fair well with a linux box, would the Irish channels get epg through that box?

Sam Russell

The Cush wrote: »

No STBs but there are a few combi TVs such as the Samsung UXXU range

This TV, while very good, is a bit clumsy when getting Saorview and Freesat. The Saorview channels (all 18 of them) are radomly arranged in the 800s and it requires a considerable effort to resort them. It only accepts one Country= for borh satellite and aerial, and Country=UK is needed for Freesat - otherwise all you get is FTA. Also changing from one to the other is also clumsy.

Verso

Hi all,

A quick question. In a suitable location such as the Wexford East coast can I assume that the Walker 6500 PVR will pick up UK Freeview (Terrestrial) stations. Also can it pick up the UK HD stations.

I currently use a Walker STB which does pick up UK Freeview Terrestrial although maybe not BBC HD.

Thanks for any replies.

Peter Rhea

The WP6500 will work with Freeview SD only: it can only handle DVB-T transmissions, no T2.

Verso

Thanks Peter for information. Noted the unit does not do T2 but I will probably go ahead and purchase one as the cost appears to be quite good for what the STB can do.

zg3409

Verso,

I own a 6500. For "border" areas I would recommend something else. The humax freeview HD + box, (Humax Fox HDR T2) seems to work much better in such cases and can handle HD channels from the UK. There may be some small issues, but overall it works better.

Verso

Thanks ZG3409 for the tip and I will certainly look into the Humax PVR.

I have Humax PVR satellite equipment and I am very pleased with them.

As a matter of interest does the Humax Fox HDR T2 record subtitles as this would be important to me. I do know the satellite versions do so.

zg3409

Verso wrote: »

As a matter of interest does the Humax Fox HDR T2 record subtitles as this would be important to me. I do know the satellite versions do so.

Not sure. Best to search boards.ie for humax fox t2 and subtitles

According to here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=81449386
it should work

and here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=72889197
says how to do it

have a look here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=76821252

however look at the downsides too. Someone suggested somewhere best to set a timer to record a 1 minute program around 5am every day on every mux (eg roi and uk1, uk2 etc) to ensure the EPG is updated daily. There may be other quirks. Also the HD channels are generally harder to pickup, meaning they should breakup more often during high pressure (good weather). The most reliable way to pickup UK channels is via sat, there are also more channels (no dave for free). You should assume it will break up for at least a week or two per year, normally at the most important point of the film/match!

Verso

Once again thanks zg3409 for your input and from the various discussions on Boards here I am about sold on the Humax. I did go onto the Humax site and as far as I can see subtitles are no problem.

Presently I receive UK Freeview in the Wexford area by means of a Sagemcom RT 190 T2 PVR receiver but this appears to have a very weak tuner which often shows a much weaker signal than a Technomate combo I have used at the same time and from the same aerial. In consequence I wish to replace the Sagemcom with the Walker or Humax as previously discussed.

zg3409

Verso wrote: »

Presently I receive UK Freeview in the Wexford area by means of a Sagemcom RT 190 T2 PVR receiver but this appears to have a very weak tuner which often shows a much weaker signal than a Technomate combo I have used at the same time and from the same aerial. In consequence I wish to replace the Sagemcom with the Walker or Humax as previously discussed.

I would not put any reliance on signal levels shown by receivers. 100% means different things on different receivers. The main issue is at what level breakup occurs and if this does not happen on one receiver.

In any case for across the sea reception a good masthead amplifier and a good aerial should be far more important than the quality of the receiver in the receiver. With a good aerial and masthead amp, there should be little or no difference between different makes of receiver.

Verso

Whilst I agree in general with your comments zg3409 I have to say that in my case I have found that breakup occurs in some receivers quicker than in others.

Of course this could be the way I have set the things up in the first place as I am no expert, just a keen amateur.:)