Combo box recommendations

Headshot

Hey folks decided to get a present for the parents of a receiver that can do RTE and the UK stuff so what should I be looking at?

Basically I want a box that is easy to use for the older generation
PVR (but with no internal drive) Ill use a external hard drive (cheaper that way)

Im not sure how these boxes work? Can you have like channel 1 as RTE and maybe BBC as channel 2 or do you have to press a button to switch between them or somthing?

The Cush

Headshot wrote: »

Im not sure how these boxes work? Can you have like channel 1 as RTE and maybe BBC as channel 2 or do you have to press a button to switch between them or somthing?

I believe a couple of combi receivers do this, where they place the terrestrial and satellite channels together but normally combi receivers place the channels in different sections of the receiver.

I don't remember the exact models but either the Walker WP645TS-HD or Triax TSC114 do this, someone may be able to confirm. Also IIRC someone mentioned in a recent thread that one of the 4life combi receivers do this.

Dub12Dave

Headshot wrote: »

Hey folks decided to get a present for the parents of a receiver that can do RTE and the UK stuff so what should I be looking at?

Basically I want a box that is easy to use for the older generation
PVR (but with no internal drive) Ill use a external hard drive (cheaper that way)

Im not sure how these boxes work? Can you have like channel 1 as RTE and maybe BBC as channel 2 or do you have to press a button to switch between them or somthing?

I have been playing around with a Ferguson Ariva 250 HD Combo box and I would recommend that for your parents as you can attach an external drive or a usb type drive and you can also edit the channel lists and put the channels in whatever order you choose, plus there is a good phone app for it too, I have seen them on sale on Adverts.ie and they are cheaper than buying brand new.

Tony

Prices on adverts.ie not that great for the Ariva from what I can see

Dub12Dave wrote: »

I have seen them on sale on Adverts.ie and they are cheaper than buying brand new.

kooga

i have a triax combo box and an alma s2300 happy with both of them!

Headshot

Thanks for the recommendations folks

Tony can you recommend what I want from your site (if possible ) please

Tony

I'm sorry it is against forum rules for me to do that as commercial interaction is not allowed here.

Headshot wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendations folks

Tony can you recommend what I want from your site (if possible ) please

Headshot

sorry I forgot that.

As qualifed in the field, what box would you recommend then?

Im looking at the Triax TSC114 at the moment

STB

I would suggest the Ariva 250. It allows you to mix UK satellite and Saorview in the one channel list in whatever order you like. The remote control can also control other devices. ie pressing TV can switch on off TV etc. It has universal remote features. Its parent friendly - as distinct from some of the approved Saorview boxes which dont allow integrated satellite and terrestrial list and are downright clunky.

This box does not have MHEG5 style text, but there is an easy workaround that gives the old aertel text using Sky's version of RTE1 on 28.2 - just include it as a channel in your list and rename it TEXT.

Outside of the box itself. Do your parents have an existing satellite dish and aerial ?

Headshot

Thanks for the recommendation STB, that looks good

Yes they have satellite dish and aerial. I sorted that myself. Just need the box now

Tony

The Triax and walker are good Saorview approved boxes but as STB points out the terrestrial and satellite channels are not on the same list which is awkward to say the least . They do both have MHEG 5 teletext which non approved boxes do not . The 250 is a fine box but if you do not need a remote that controls other devices I'd lean towards the 150 which has a straight forward remote. As already pointed out you can have both terrestrial and satellite on the same list . A lot of dealers will preload the satellite list with the most popular channels at the start but because terrestrial channels use different freqs around the country its not possible to preload those, not that big a deal as its takes just a few minutes to scan them in . You can also set up favourite lists on the ferguson/ariva so its pretty flexible.

Edit: I stand corrected on the Triax as per Dave's post below

Headshot

Yap just looking up the box there, Ferguson 250 Ariva combo is the way to go I reckon

Digital Satellite TV

Just to clarify. The walker saorview combo uses the OPT button to switch between the satellite and terrestrial channels.

The Triax TSC114 Saoerview Combo DOES have all the channels in one channel list ie.. all your RTEs, TV3 etc from Saorview and the BBCs, ITVs, C4s etc from satellite.

Headshot

I presume you cant record one channel and then watch another?

captainzero

dont combo boxes recieve free to air rather than freesat where there might be a difficulty about gettin as many subtitles?

Tony

You can record a satellite channel whilst watching terrestrial and vice versa

Headshot wrote: »

I presume you cant record one channel and then watch another?

Digital Satellite TV

Headshot wrote: »

I presume you cant record one channel and then watch another?

Not sure which box you're on about but in general on a combo box you can record Irish channel and watch UK channel. This works in reverse.

You can also in general record a Uk channel and watch another UK channel on the same transponer, this is fairly limited though.

For true watch one, record another you need an official freesat+ box such as the humax hdr-1000s which has series link, 7 day EPG, dual tuner etc. This will only give the free Uk satellite channels though.

Digital Satellite TV

captainzero wrote: »

dont combo boxes recieve free to air rather than freesat where there might be a difficulty about gettin as many subtitles?

combo boxes get free to air rather than freesat, you are right there.

Not sure about the subtitles remark, subs should work fine on combos. Maybe you meant the EPG, and this is limited to now/next on UK channels on combos but full 7 day EPG on official freesat boxes.

The Cush

captainzero wrote: »

dont combo boxes recieve free to air rather than freesat where there might be a difficulty about gettin as many subtitles?

I've used FTA satellite boxes for may years and never had a subtitles problem with them.

captainzero

thank you.be going for that 250 myself then

kooga

STB wrote: »

I would suggest the Ariva 250. It allows you to mix UK satellite and Saorview in the one channel list in whatever order you like. The remote control can also control other devices. ie pressing TV can switch on off TV etc. It has universal remote features. Its parent friendly - as distinct from some of the approved Saorview boxes which dont allow integrated satellite and terrestrial list and are downright clunky.

This box does not have MHEG5 style text, but there is an easy workaround that gives the old aertel text using Sky's version of RTE1 on 28.2 - just include it as a channel in your list and rename it TEXT.

Outside of the box itself. Do your parents have an existing satellite dish and aerial ?

sorry STB forgive my ignorance, but could you explain how you can get the old aertel text using Sky's version of RTE1 on 28.2 -

Digital Satellite TV

not the same box but this will give you the jist of it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_l_UN45E5IU

STB

kooga wrote: »

sorry STB forgive my ignorance, but could you explain how you can get the old aertel text using Sky's version of RTE1 on 28.2 -

If you have scanned 28.2 for all channels rather than just FTA, you will notice a lot of channels with $ signs in the name. These are the encyrpted channels. There is one for RTE1. Add that to you favourites list. You can rename it text. Although it says scrambled when you select it, pressing the text button will pull up the aertel text.

If you had just scanned FTA originally you need to manually scan the RTE transponder on 28.2 and select all rather than FTA only. The frequency is 10744 H S/R 22000. It will then add the encrypted RTE to your main 28.2 list which you can then copy to your favourite list and rename etc.

kooga

STB wrote: »

If you have scanned 28.2 for all channels rather than just FTA, you will notice a lot of channels with $ signs in the name. These are the encyrpted channels. There is one for RTE1. Add that to you favourites list. You can rename it text. Although it says scrambled when you select it, pressing the text button will pull up the aertel text.

If you had just scanned FTA originally you need to manually scan the RTE transponder on 28.2 and select all rather than FTA only. The frequency is 10744 H S/R 22000. It will then add the encrypted RTE to your main 28.2 list which you can then copy to your favourite list and rename etc.

much obliged, task completed yesterday.Thank you