saorview box

johnnyb6

Hi I want to get rid of my sky and replace it with Saoriew box that records. I saw one in Harvey Norman,s today for 100 euro and I am wondering would anyone have any openion on this box. The official saorview box costs nearly 200. I am looking for something to replace my sky plus box , so the saorview box will have to record 2 stations at one time. 1 of those can be one I watching. Grateful for any help.

Thanking you

PyeContinental

A Saorview box will get you the Irish channels only, so it isn't a complete replacement for a Sky box. For that you'd need a satellite and digital terrestrial combo box. A Ferguson Ariva is a possible solution for you.

What's this box you saw in Harvey Norman? Based on nothing but a sixth sense, I'd guess it wouldn't be particularly good, but let us know what it is and maybe an opinion could be given on it.

Also, what model of TV do you have?

icdg

Moved to Terrestrial

johnnyb6

PyeContinental wrote: »

A Saorview box will get you the Irish channels only, so it isn't a complete replacement for a Sky box. For that you'd need a satellite and digital terrestrial combo box. A Ferguson Ariva is a possible solution for you.

What's this box you saw in Harvey Norman? Based on nothing but a sixth sense, I'd guess it wouldn't be particularly good, but let us know what it is and maybe an opinion could be given on it.
Also, what model of TV do you have?

Hi I didnt get name of box but its designed to get the saorview channels and the free to air ones as well. It records onto a usb stick or external drive. The assistant didnt know if it records two channels at a time or just 1

PyeContinental

That's one of the main things I dislike about Harvey Norman and other shops of its type (Currys/PC-World, Power City and the rest of them). It's very rare that you get anyone working in there who knows anything about anything they sell.

Anyway, based on nothing, I'm going to say that I'd be fairly confident that whatever they're selling can be bettered elsewhere.

For €100, you can buy The Ferguson Ariva 150 combo box from Tony at Satellite.ie here. You plug an external USB hard disk into it and you can record from DTT while watching another channel on satellite, or record one satellite channel while watching another channel on the same transponder.

I would advise spending €15 extra however, and buying the Ariva 250, which is the latest model. It's also the only combo box I have personal experience of. I know that it works well, allows live pause, and plays back almost all video media files. Think of how much you pay Sky per month and how quickly the purchase will pay for itself.

If your TV has a Saorview tuner, you could of course be recording one Saorview channel while watching another through your TV's built-in Saorview tuner.

If you don't already have a UHF aerial, you may need to have one installed. Depending on where you live, an indoor one might work, otherwise, one installed in the loft or on the roof might be needed. If you do, it's another one-off payment that pays for itself in a short time.

johnnyb6

PyeContinental wrote: »

That's one of the main things I dislike about Harvey Norman and other shops of its type (Currys/PC-World, Power City and the rest of them). It's very rare that you get anyone working in there who knows anything about anything they sell.

Anyway, based on nothing, I'm going to say that I'd be fairly confident that whatever they're selling can be bettered elsewhere.

For €100, you can buy The Ferguson Ariva 150 combo box from Tony at Satellite.ie here. You plug an external USB hard disk into it and you can record from DTT while watching another channel on satellite, or record one satellite channel while watching another channel on the same transponder.

I would advise spending €15 extra however, and buying the Ariva 250, which is the latest model. It's also the only combo box I have personal experience of. I know that it works well, allows live pause, and plays back almost all video media files. Think of how much you pay Sky per month and how quickly the purchase will pay for itself.

If your TV has a Saorview tuner, you could of course be recording one Saorview channel while watching another through your TV's built-in Saorview tuner.

If you don't already have a UHF aerial, you may need to have one installed. Depending on where you live, an indoor one might work, otherwise, one installed in the loft or on the roof might be needed. If you do, it's another one-off payment that pays for itself in a short time.

Hi thanks for your reply. I have an ordinary tv in sitting room with no saorview, but I have another tv in another room with saorview true an ariel. All my stations in sitting room come true on sky dish. I want a box that gets the irish channels as well as free to air ones. I would also want a box that will record two channels at once like the sky plus does, eg the one I watching and another one.

PyeContinental

Well, like I say, the Ferguson Ariva combo box is the simplest solution for an all-in-one replacement for your Skybox. Plug a feed from your aerial and a feed from the satellite dish into it and connect a USB HDD. The watching of another channel while recording one is as I described already.

watty

However it's nothing like a Sky box for satellite and not a real PVR. You actually need two boxes to really replace a Sky Subscription that had recording. Ferguson Ariva combo only appears to be simplest because it's one box.

No box using external USB is a real PVR. The convenience and reliability of a Freesat+ HDR beats the convenience of a combo box (which is comparably awkward for satellite). Of course you get what you pay for, a USB recording feature "combo" box is 1/4 price of a proper comparable to Sky solution.

The Cush

johnnyb6 wrote: »

I want a box that gets the irish channels as well as free to air ones. I would also want a box that will record two channels at once like the sky plus does, eg the one I watching and another one.

There is no direct non-sub one box replacement for Sky+.

A 2 box solution, Saorview+ (Irish channels) and Freesat+ (UK channels) PVRs get closest with series link, 7 day programme guide, built in HDD, digital text, watch one/record one or record two/playback one etc.

Generally non-approved boxes will require an external drive of some sort, no series link, no 7 day guide, record terrestrial channel/watch sat channel or vice versa

PyeContinental

watty wrote: »

However it's nothing like a Sky box for satellite

Nothing like it? I suppose this is going to depend on the importance you place on certain features such as series link and a fixed EPG with 7 day guide, but to say that it's nothing like a Sky box for satellite is surely hyperbole.

No box using external USB is a real PVR.

Maybe you could explain your reasoning and define what a constitues a real PVR, but I suspect that this may be over complicating the issue for the OP and many others who just want a box that will give them the Irish channels and most of the UK channels that they currently get through their Sky box.

The convenience and reliability of a Freesat+ HDR beats the convenience of a combo box

Will he need to buy a second box for the Irish channels? If so, it all depends on your definition and interpretation of what convenience is.

zg3409

OP If you regularly record on Sky and you use series link a lot, then to replace it you would need a box(es) that allow series linking.

The best setup that allows series linking is a two box setup. A combo box does not give 7 day guide on the UK channels and does not allow series link.

You seem to want to record. If series link is very important you need to get a solution that allows this.

Capt'n Midnight

To replace SKY get a FreeSat box that records. (list of channels at the bottom of that page )
http://www.freesat.co.uk/products/freesat-hd-tv-recorder/

It'll give you full series link and all the goodies.
A lot of the stuff on Irish channels is also on the UK channels so I wouldn't go mad investing in a Saorview PVR just yet, wait till you see if you need it or not.

Also check if your TV can support Saorview / recording , many newer ones do. A saorview TV means you can watch one program while recording another on an external saorview box (but no series link)

the only way to get saorview and UK satellite TV on one box seamlessly and recordable and all the goodies is if you get a linux box and spend a good bit of time setting it up

johnnyb6

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

To replace SKY get a FreeSat box that records. (list of channels at the bottom of that page )
http://www.freesat.co.uk/products/freesat-hd-tv-recorder/

It'll give you full series link and all the goodies.
A lot of the stuff on Irish channels is also on the UK channels so I wouldn't go mad investing in a Saorview PVR just yet, wait till you see if you need it or not.

Also check if your TV can support Saorview / recording , many newer ones do. A saorview TV means you can watch one program while recording another on an external saorview box (but no series link)

the only way to get saorview and UK satellite TV on one box seamlessly and recordable and all the goodies is if you get a linux box and spend a good bit of time setting it up

Hi thanks alot for your comments on my problem with sky box. I dont know alot about this subject. What i want is to be able to record 2 saorview stations at once and be able to record 1 saorview and satelite together also. it would be grate to have 7 day tv guide and pause /fastforward facility

The Cush

johnnyb6 wrote: »

What i want is to be able to record 2 saorview stations at once and be able to record 1 saorview and satelite together also. it would be grate to have 7 day tv guide and pause /fastforward facility

The Saorview approved Walker PVR will record 2 Saorview channels at the same time with 7 day guide, series link etc. - http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-23-WP6500&pages=1&prod=WP6500&brands=WALKER&image=

Not sure which receiver will allow you to record 1 Saorview channel and 1 satellite channel at the same time, there is no combi receiver that I know of with a built-in HDD and series link. The Walker WP645TS-HD combi come close but requires an external HDD and no series link. Not even sure you can record a Saorview channel and satellite channel at the same time to the external HDD.

A separate Saorview PVR and Freesat PVR will do what you require.

johnnyb6

The Cush wrote: »

The Saorview approved Walker PVR will record 2 Saorview channels at the same time with 7 day guide, series link etc. - http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-23-WP6500&pages=1&prod=WP6500&brands=WALKER&image=

Not sure which receiver will allow you to record 1 Saorview channel and 1 satellite channel at the same time, there is no combi receiver that I know of with a built-in HDD and series link. The Walker WP645TS-HD combi come close but requires an external HDD and no series link. Not even sure you can record a Saorview channel and satellite channel at the same time to the external HDD.

A separate Saorview PVR and Freesat PVR will do what you require.

Hi thanks alot for your reply. I was talking to a guy at satelite.ie and he said his combi unit can record a saorview station and satelite station at same time., or two saorview stations at once. when you say for me to get two pvr units , will this be very complicated to work and do i connect one to another or what

Capt'n Midnight

This is the joy of us using a different terrestrial TV system to the UK
and the UK having two different 7 day guides on satellite which can only be read by buying SKY or Freeview hardware or getting a linux box which can read the guide off the interweb.

As a general rule any box that can read our guide can't read theirs and visa versa, (unless you get a contract with SKY or UPC but that means paying for free to air stuff, or you go down the linux route, which is self authenticating knowledge in that if you haven't thought of it by now you probably won't manage it)

Another option is to use a second satellite dish to get Saorsat, more expensive for one TV, cheaper for many , irrelevant if for Saorview TV's though. And no TV3 or 3e but some would consider that an advantage.

johnnyb6

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

This is the joy of us using a different terrestrial TV system to the UK
and the UK having two different 7 day guides on satellite which can only be read by buying SKY or Freeview hardware or getting a linux box which can read the guide off the interweb.

As a general rule any box that can read our guide can't read theirs and visa versa, (unless you get a contract with SKY or UPC but that means paying for free to air stuff, or you go down the linux route, which is self authenticating knowledge in that if you haven't thought of it by now you probably won't manage it)

Another option is to use a second satellite dish to get Saorsat, more expensive for one TV, cheaper for many , irrelevant if for Saorview TV's though. And no TV3 or 3e but some would consider that an advantage.

My god this is getting more complicated by the min. If I get one of these combi units which receive soarview and the free to air channels can i record 2 saorview channels at once even though my tv hasnt saorview

The Cush

johnnyb6 wrote: »

I was talking to a guy at satelite.ie and he said his combi unit can record a saorview station and satelite station at same time., or two saorview stations at once. when you say for me to get two pvr units , will this be very complicated to work and do i connect one to another or what

I have no experience using these combi units so I can't offer any concrete advice. The combi units on satellite.ie mention the following below, nothing about recording 2 Saorview channels or 1 Saorview/1 satellite channel at the same time, so you'll have confirm 100% that they'll do what you want

With an external hard drive which plugs into the USB port you can;
Record Satellite , watch Terrestrial
Record Terrestrial, watch Satellite

http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Ariva-250-combo.html#SID=1
http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Ariva-150-combo.html#SID=1

Regarding the 2 PVR solution I mentioned earlier (Saorview+ and Freesat+) these 2 receivers connect to the TV separately via HDMI and you choose which box you want to watch via the TV r/c. The Saorview PVR is connected to an aerial via a co-ax cable, the Freesat PVR is connected to a satellite dish via 2 co-ax cables. Each PVR has its own r/c for channel changing, recording etc.

johnnyb6 wrote: »

If I get one of these combi units which receive soarview and the free to air channels can i record 2 saorview channels at once even though my tv hasnt saorview

Any standalone terrestrial or satellite receiver will have its own tuner(s) which will connect to your TV via scart/hdmi etc. so it doesn't matter what tuner your TV has as the box does all the required processing and the TV only acts as a display for whatever the standalone receiver sends to your TV via scart or hdmi.

zg3409

johnnyb6 wrote: »

My god this is getting more complicated by the min. If I get one of these combi units which receive soarview and the free to air channels can i record 2 saorview channels at once even though my tv hasnt saorview

There are various combo boxes, so exact results depend on which box you are talking about.

The general benefits of combo boxes
Only 1 remote (although you may need to use the TV remote to turn on the TV and select an input)
Low cost
UK and Irish channels
Most have the ability to record
Nearly all have 7 day guide on Irish channels

The general downsides of combo boxes
Nearly all only have now and next for UK channels, so no 7 day guide for UK channels
Nearly all cannot series link on UK and Saorview channels
Possibly no MHEG5 meaning no new teletext for news etc.
Some can only record one thing at a time, others only 1 Irish and 1 UK, some multiple Irish and 1ÙK
To record a UK channel in advance you need to manually set a timer (start time, stop time and channel number) as no guide.

If you intend recording a lot, or want to series link then 2 boxes work much better. You can get one programmable remote. It's not quite a slick as a Sky subscription, but you save at least 350 per year, which would quickly pay back the cost of the equipment.

johnnyb6

zg3409 wrote: »

There are various combo boxes, so exact results depend on which box you are talking about.

The general benefits of combo boxes
Only 1 remote (although you may need to use the TV remote to turn on the TV and select an input)
Low cost
UK and Irish channels
Most have the ability to record
Nearly all have 7 day guide on Irish channels

The general downsides of combo boxes
Nearly all only have now and next for UK channels, so no 7 day guide for UK channels
Nearly all cannot series link on UK and Saorview channels
Possibly no MHEG5 meaning no new teletext for news etc.
Some can only record one thing at a time, others only 1 Irish and 1 UK, some multiple Irish and 1ÙK
To record a UK channel in advance you need to manually set a timer (start time, stop time and channel number) as no guide.

If you intend recording a lot, or want to series link then 2 boxes work much better. You can get one programmable remote. It's not quite a slick as a Sky subscription, but you save at least 350 per year, which would quickly pay back the cost of the equipment.

thanks alot for your help.could you recommend a box for me. If i get rid of sky i will still get free to air stations true sky box.So i need a box that recieves saorview and can record 2 saorview channels at once .or 1 saorview and i satelite station , can this be done

zg3409

It all depends if you want series link, 7 day guide on UK channels. If recording is important then a combo box is not really suitable.

johnnyb6

zg3409 wrote: »

It all depends if you want series link, 7 day guide on UK channels. If recording is important then a combo box is not really suitable.

I not interested in series link but i would like tv guide on uk channels. mostly my recording would be on the saorview channels (soaps ), and occasionally a movie on satellite.

Capt'n Midnight

If you want to record Irish soaps then get the Saorview PVR.

But a reminder that apart from Fair City and Ros Na Rún they are also on UK Satellite and a Freeview PVR will get you a lot more channels.




If you want to watch occasional movie on UK satellite then almost any satellite receiver will do. For 7 day EPG if you don't mind SD quality and don't need recording then a second hand SKY boy (NB. not SKY+) for €20-30 will do. There is also a Bush Freeview box for ~€40 that again doesn't record but has 7 day EPG.


There are lots of combo boxes, and HD satellite receivers that can "record" but they don't have a 7 day EPG (blame the UK vested interests of SKY and BBC/ITN) , all you get is "now and next". If it's only the occasional film then they are fine. But you'll need to look up the films on the interweb or TVtimes and then manually set the record channel, date, time and duration.


If you want to record and have 7 day EPG and series link on UK then you need a freeview recorder.

(again there are linux based receivers that will do everything but you'd need to be a little bit of a hobbiest as tweaks may be required every few months)

johnnyb6

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

If you want to record Irish soaps then get the Saorview PVR.

But a reminder that apart from Fair City and Ros Na Rún they are also on UK Satellite and a Freeview PVR will get you a lot more channels.




If you want to watch occasional movie on UK satellite then almost any satellite receiver will do. For 7 day EPG if you don't mind SD quality and don't need recording then a second hand SKY boy (NB. not SKY+) for €20-30 will do. There is also a Bush Freeview box for ~€40 that again doesn't record but has 7 day EPG.


There are lots of combo boxes, and HD satellite receivers that can "record" but they don't have a 7 day EPG (blame the UK vested interests of SKY and BBC/ITN) , all you get is "now and next". If it's only the occasional film then they are fine. But you'll need to look up the films on the interweb or TVtimes and then manually set the record channel, date, time and duration.


If you want to record and have 7 day EPG and series link on UK then you need a freeview recorder.

(again there are linux based receivers that will do everything but you'd need to be a little bit of a hobbiest as tweaks may be required every few months)

and would have ant idea of how much a Linux receiver will cost

Kristopherus

johnnyb6 wrote: »

and would have ant idea of how much a Linux receiver will cost

Anything from €150 to €250

watty

€40 to €1000

johnnyb6

could anyone recommend a linux combi box which i could use and who supplies them

zg3409

Any online satellite shop will supply them, however you need to investigate further into the differences in the types and options. If it only has one satellite tuner, then it will only be able to record one UK channel at a time.

You should know about FTP, serial cables and basic networking, IP addresses, file formats etc before considering such a box.

No site sells one fully set up for the Irish market, which is a shame.

Capt'n Midnight

johnnyb6 wrote: »

could anyone recommend a linux combi box which i could use and who supplies them

Like I've hinted before it's complicated by the fact that the UK lockout the EPG and the Irish market for PVR is dominated by SKY and UPC.

If you can get UK TV by aerial then get a UK HD box, search threads because some will happily switch between UK/ROI with the EPG and recording. (second set of channels will be numbered 800 though)

The simplest solution is the SaorView PVR (unless they have released a second one) and a FreeSat box for the UK, and one universal remote control to rule them all. The disadvantage is the cost and figuring out the best way to switch between boxes (standby / source / programming the remote to do the switching.)

have a read of this thread https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=81833585
esp the last post by zg3409
and the last line in that post


You don't even need a combo as many of the dual satellite tuner Linux boxes can use an $8 usb key for Saorview - setting up satellite systems can be more interesting than the programs you might not save any money (none if you value your time) but you will learn stuff. Not sure if you could use two dongles at the same time though..



Have a look through the Satellite and Foreign Satellite forums to see what you are letting yourself in for. search for combinations of Vu+ usb saorsat saorview ( Vu+ would be at the top end of the linux boxes, there are clones but YMMV , a lot to the extent at the lower end you might be better off playing with a low power PC with a satellite card and Saorview dongle on the basis that you will have a better chance of getting software. again YMMV)


On the plus side if you go down the Linux route you won't need a smart TV ( which are security nightmares just waiting to happen) just a good monitor/dumb TV possibly with external speakers (because flat screens are too thin for subwoffery stuff )

recyclebin

Simple solution:
Get both a saorview+ box and and a freesat+ box. These will do everything you need it to do and are simple to setup, watch and record TV.

Intermediate solution:
Get a combo box. Not as easy to setup. You will have to set timers manually to record most stuff. You may not be able to watch one channel and record another. Most combo boxes only have one saorview tuner and one satellite tuner.

Complicated solution:
Linux box. Need to have a very good knowledge of satellites and computers to set the box up.

johnnyb6

recyclebin wrote: »

Simple solution:
Get both a saorview+ box and and a freesat+ box. These will do everything you need it to do and are simple to setup, watch and record TV.

Intermediate solution:
Get a combo box. Not as easy to setup. You will have to set timers manually to record most stuff. You may not be able to watch one channel and record another. Most combo boxes only have one saorview tuner and one satellite tuner.

Complicated solution:
Linux box. Need to have a very good knowledge of satellites and computers to set the box up.

would anyone have any experience with Triax Tri Link

Peter Rhea

What do you think the Tri-link is going to do for you?

johnnyb6

Peter Rhea wrote: »

What do you think the Tri-link is going to do for you?

Hi my tv system is wired on a loop system, which means the signal comes from satelite into my sky box, and the sky box powers a unit in attic which activates all the other tv points in house. My problem is that if i replace my sky box with a AVIVA 250 combo box, this has no output. I was told that the TRI LINK will solve this for me.I also have SKY EYES and was told this will run these as well.

Thanking You

Peter Rhea

Yes, the Sky box has a UHF modulator & the output of this is available from the RF1 & RF2 sockets, with RF2 also providing power for the link equipment.

As you say, the Ariva doesn't have this feature & yes, the Tri-link should sort things for you.

johnnyb6

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Yes, the Sky box has a UHF modulator & the output of this is available from the RF1 & RF2 sockets, with RF2 also providing power for the link equipment.

As you say, the Ariva doesn't have this feature & yes, the Tri-link should sort things for you.

thanks alot for the help. I assume they straight forward to connect. would you recommend any tri link

Peter Rhea

There's only one Triax Tri-Link. There are other RF modulators available but I can't think of one that also handles the magic eyes etc.

johnnyb6

Peter Rhea wrote: »

There's only one Triax Tri-Link. There are other RF modulators available but I can't think of one that also handles the magic eyes etc.

Again thanks for your help. when i get it would it be possible to PM you if i have any problem setting it up

Des100

Hi I bought Walker Saorview Approved Receiver hoping to get RTE TV..1st I trie it with tv already with builtin freeview but no RTE received,so tried in standard TV with Terrestrial Ariel,got BBCs,ITVs etc but still no RTE,i'm running on ex sky freeview with multiple tvs(4) any help,thx

Capt'n Midnight

Des100 wrote: »

Hi I bought Walker Saorview Approved Receiver hoping to get RTE TV..1st I trie it with tv already with builtin freeview but no RTE received,so tried in standard TV with Terrestrial Ariel,got BBCs,ITVs etc but still no RTE,i'm running on ex sky freeview with multiple tvs(4) any help,thx

Location ?

Des100

Co Louth

Peter Rhea

Des100 wrote: »

Hi I bought Walker Saorview Approved Receiver hoping to get RTE TV..1st I trie it with tv already with builtin freeview but no RTE received,so tried in standard TV with Terrestrial Ariel,got BBCs,ITVs etc but still no RTE,i'm running on ex sky freeview with multiple tvs(4) any help,thx

I'm assuming you're correctly connecting the aerial lead to the Walker box, you're correctly connecting the Walker box to the TVs concerned & selecting the correct source on the TV before carrying out a scan on the Walker box. Also assuming that your terrestrial aerial signal is routed via the Sky box RF input/outputs.

If all the above is true, try removing the aerial feed from the Sky RF-in & just connect it directly to the Walker box. See what you get then.

Sean_1

Best advice I can give you is KEEP SKY...Nothing else is any good it have tried them all back to SKY

Sean_1

Best advice I can give you is KEEP SKY...Nothing else is any good it have tried them all back to SKY

kim.85

Hi sorry to hijack the thread but am trying work out something similar. i have just cancelled my sky subcription so am now looking for something as an alternative and am wondering - if but a saorview box and i connect the sky dish i already have in place to that box will i be able to get rte and the irish channels via the dish or do i need to have an aerial installed?

Sam Russell

You need an aerial. Saorview is a terrestrial service. Irish TV is encrypted on satellite (except Saorsat but that requires a special dish setup).

kim.85

ok thanks a mil