Upgrading receiver to HD receiver /recorder cheapish

harney

Hi all

I have a sat pointed at 13 and 19 degrees. Would this refurbished HD recorder for £129 + delivery (I'm in the UK) that I spotted on the hotdeals uk site be worth it? I believe it is an older version, but considering I have been using a Silvercrest SL-65 for around 6 - 7 years it shouldn't be an issue.

I don't really feel like going above £150 for something. I would like to play avi/mkv files through it if possible, and though I spotted something about changing the software on it?

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

The model in the link is a Foxsat-HDR/500-G

druss

harney wrote: »

Hi all

I have a sat pointed at 13 and 19 degrees. Would this refurbished HD recorder for £129 + delivery (I'm in the UK) that I spotted on the hotdeals uk site be worth it? I believe it is an older version, but considering I have been using a Silvercrest SL-65 for around 6 - 7 years it shouldn't be an issue.

I don't really feel like going above £150 for something. I would like to play avi/mkv files through it if possible, and though I spotted something about changing the software on it?

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

The model in the link is a Foxsat-HDR/500-G

It's a good deal for that box, but it's designed for freesat, so it wouldn't be great for 13 east/19 east or as a multisat solution full stop.

If your primary interest is those satellites, i'd look elsewhere.

harney

Thanks deuss. So definitely too much hassle then, even if I programme in favourites? I will probably add in 28 degrees this year also.

druss

harney wrote: »

Thanks deuss. So definitely too much hassle then, even if I programme in favourites? I will probably add in 28 degrees this year also.

I don't own one. But i've heard that a) it provides a brilliant solution for freesat but that b) it's a bit of a pain for everything else..even other FTA channels on 28 (for example Sky News). So you need to change modes, via a few button clicks to get to these channels or to access other satellites.


While you may be able to sort something out for it via some sort of a hack, it would seem to me that the increased cost of this receiver relative to other HD equivalents is its freesat capabilities. If you are not using this now, then I would suggest saving some money and looking elsewhere.

STB

harney wrote: »

Hi all

I have a sat pointed at 13 and 19 degrees. Would this refurbished HD recorder for £129 + delivery (I'm in the UK) that I spotted on the hotdeals uk site be worth it? I believe it is an older version, but considering I have been using a Silvercrest SL-65 for around 6 - 7 years it shouldn't be an issue.

I don't really feel like going above £150 for something. I would like to play avi/mkv files through it if possible, and though I spotted something about changing the software on it?

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

The model in the link is a Foxsat-HDR/500-G

Ferguson Ariva 252.

HD on satellite.

Also has a DVB-T2 terrestrial tuner for Freeview HD.

Plays AVI/MKV/MP4.

Recording limited to a USB drive. Watch terrestrial/record and Vice Versa.

Less than €100.

harney

STB wrote: »

Ferguson Ariva 252.

HD on satellite.

Also has a DVB-T2 terrestrial tuner for Freeview HD.

Plays AVI/MKV/MP4.

Recording limited to a USB drive. Watch terrestrial/record and Vice Versa.

Less than €100.

Hi STB, thanks for the info, thank looks like it would do the job. I am finding it a little hard to find a shop selling it to the UK though.

harney

I just received my Ferguson Ariva 252 this afternoon (thanks everybody for your help), and have a quick question:

When tuning the terrestrial channels I do not have an option for tuning UK channels. I can choose Ireland but I get the feeling I will be missing out on some channels. I can't find a manual at the moment, but will keep searching.

It does pick up around 56 (I think) channels, but I have a feeling there should be a little more for some reason.

Any ideas? I will keep searching around, but it never hurts to throw the question out there

kooga

harney wrote: »

I just received my Ferguson Ariva 252 this afternoon (thanks everybody for your help), and have a quick question:

When tuning the terrestrial channels I do not have an option for tuning UK channels. I can choose Ireland but I get the feeling I will be missing out on some channels. I can't find a manual at the moment, but will keep searching.

It does pick up around 56 (I think) channels, but I have a feeling there should be a little more for some reason.

Any ideas? I will keep searching around, but it never hurts to throw the question out there

when you say 56 channels is that freeview only? have you connected it to your sat dish or just your aerial?

re freeview go to the freeview website and type in your postcode this well tell you the correct number of freeview trerrestial channels you should have at your location.

Peter Rhea

harney wrote: »

When tuning the terrestrial channels I do not have an option for tuning UK channels. I can choose Ireland but I get the feeling I will be missing out on some channels. I can't find a manual at the moment, but will keep searching.

It does pick up around 56 (I think) channels, but I have a feeling there should be a little more for some reason.

What part of the UK are you in? Can you see which UHF channels your Freeview services are on?

harney

kooga wrote: »

when you say 56 channels is that freeview only? have you connected it to your sat dish or just your aerial?

re freeview go to the freeview website and type in your postcode this well tell you the correct number of freeview trerrestial channels you should have at your location.

Hi kooga

Sorry, yes I meant for the freeview channels. The satellite part is fine, although I think it is going to be a mess sorting things into favourites

Peter Rhea wrote: »

What part of the UK are you in? Can you see which UHF channels your Freeview services are on?

Hi Peter

The transmitter is Crystal Palace, according to Freeview.

*Edit*

I just retuned another tv to see what it was picking up and it came back with 99 TV and 24 Radio (not a HD tuner, just the inbuilt one).

Looking again at the Ariva it is picking up 55 TV and 52 Radio (I have now noticed that some channels like the red button are appearing as Radio), but this is still slightly less than the smaller tv in the kitchen. It is probably nothing though?

harney

I tried selecting Germany without any change so I assume the country list is only a starting point and it actually scan everything.

Peter Rhea

harney wrote: »

The transmitter is Crystal Palace, according to Freeview.

Crystal Palace transmits all services, PSB & commercial, at the same power. The UHF channels in use are 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30. You should be able to find these nos. or the frequency in mHz, maybe by way of the 'info' button while viewing a programme.

There are also a lot of smaller relay sites within the CP service area, only 3 of which transmit the full Freeview service.

Are all your tvs fed from the same aerial?

harney

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Crystal Palace transmits all services, PSB & commercial, at the same power. The UHF channels in use are 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30. You should be able to find these nos. or the frequency in mHz, maybe by way of the 'info' button while viewing a programme.

There are also a lot of smaller relay sites within the CP service area, only 3 of which transmit the full Freeview service.

Are all your tvs fed from the same aerial?

Yes, the aerial is in the attic, and split there with a cable going to each room.

I will have a play around with those channels, thanks for the info.

Peter Rhea

One good thing is that Crystal Palace uses frequencies at the bottom of the UHF tv band, so a receiver will tend to find its transmissions before those of the fill-in sites or neighbouring main transmitters.