Is the Humax HDR-1000S/1TB-G a plug-in replacement for a Sky box?

JungleMartin

Hi All. I'm moving over from England to join my girlfriend in Mayo. She currently has an old Sky box (and no subscription) with which she watches BBC, Channel 4, etc. She also has an old DVD recorder. This set up is well due for an update.

She does have Saorview on the TV itself.

I'm currently in a furnished flat in Yorkshire where the landlord kindly provided a Humax YouView box (Freeview HD and Internet connection for on demand players such as BBC iPlayer). I've been a bit spoiled but it's a good bit of kit and I'd like to get us a similar setup. So I'm looking at the Humax HDR-1000S/1TB-G which I'm hoping will just take the place of the old Sky box.

She is currently receiving BBC, Channel 4, etc, on the existing Sky box so does that mean the dish must be pointing at the correct satellite for the new Humax to just work?

If maybe not, what do I need to check and how do I do that?

Regarding the 'Freetime' Internet/on demand player features of the Humax, I'm hoping to get them working using a VPN. I'm already a paid user of HMA VPN.

Thanks folks.

rurs

The dish itself will certainly work with the Humax for Freesat. If it's an old setup, there might be only one cable coming from LNB into the house. Ideally you'd want two, to enable watch one, record another on the Humax.

If you do need to to upgrade the LNB, get a quad output, this way you have two spare, and could use one of these with the current Sky box, in another room for example.

Not sure about the VPN stuff, what's the broadband service like where you'll be based?

brinks_18476

I have the box you refer to. Great bit of kit. I have. Unblock us VPN and can access BBC and ITV on demand no problem. Can't use 4OD or Channel 5 for some reason.
Don't use catch up much anyways. Bit of careful planning to record eliminates this. Thus avoiding notorious Irish BB speeds and associated buffering etc.
In the arsehole of Mayo you may not experience the BB speeds you are used to

JungleMartin

Thanks for the replies guys.

rurs, good suggestion to go for a quad LNB. I'm not sure what it's got at the moment but I'd guess a single. I'll check it out.

brinks, I'm sure you're right about broadband speeds! I'm spoiled at the moment and I know it, as I'm about a mile from the exchange and getting a 100% reliable 14Mbps. I'm sure I'll miss it, sniff.

My girlfriend current uses a '3' 3G dongle for her laptop but it's painfully slow and drops out a lot. That'll be one of the next things on the list - research broadband options. I think it's still a good idea to buy this Humax at this stage though, as it's a good PVR and the Internet connectivity gives me some future-proofing, i.e. features I'll be able to make use of at some later stage.

Out of interest, how do you have your VPN set up? Is it configured on your router so that all connected devices, including the Humax, end up going via the VPN? (Sorry if we're going a bit off topic here folks.)

I wonder if 4od and Channel 5 have blocked the VPN server you're connecting to. You could try connecting to a different VPN server, if there's another one you can choose. If you can tell, I'd suggest the newest one, as that's the least likely to have been blocked yet.

brinks_18476

Yeh VPN set up on router. Mainly used for neflix region access. Your right I think this VPN service don't currently support 4OD or Channel 5. Could change VPN but like I said I tend to record in advance rather than usr on demand. That way I can record Channel 4 in HD instead of watching it buffer on internet via 4OD. As for channel 5 does anybody watch that channel

But yea you will be future proof with this box. As you might know we are rolling out fibre network over here so majority should have decent BB speeds over next few years. We hope!

Puggy

Dont have that one myself, but I did set it up for two other people. As said, make sure you have two cables for recording etc. On demand works fine, but you will need a vpn. I dont set up the vpn on the router, I do it on the box in network settings. You need to try setting up the network without a cable connected, and it will bring you to the manual set up page, where you can enter the details. 4OD works fine in Ireland, you dont need a vpn.

the whole year inn

Puggy wrote: »

Dont have that one myself, but I did set it up for two other people. As said, make sure you have two cables for recording etc. On demand works fine, but you will need a vpn. I dont set up the vpn on the router, I do it on the box in network settings. You need to try setting up the network without a cable connected, and it will bring you to the manual set up page, where you can enter the details. 4OD works fine in Ireland, you dont need a vpn.

What's the best place to buy one of these

brinks_18476

Amazon with free super saver delivery to Ireland. Or eBay from a trusted seller. Irish suppliers include Tvtrade.ie or satellite.ie

JungleMartin

I ordered a 1TB 'Grade A' one from Humax Direct last night for £189 sterling plus £6 delivery. Boxed, complete and with 12 month warranty.

I don't know if they list 'overseas' delivery options on their website but it has to be worth a look.

Puggy

Any of the ones mentioned above. Be sure if your paying new box prices that your not getting a refurbished box, this has happened to me with one ebay seller, did get a full refund though. I got one of mine in Currys in Derry. The other was from a cousin in England. TvTrade and Satellite are also excellent, I've bought from both.

Kristopherus

JungleMartin wrote: »

I ordered a 1TB 'Grade A' one from Humax Direct last night for £189 sterling plus £6 delivery. Boxed, complete and with 12 month warranty.

I don't know if they list 'overseas' delivery options on their website but it has to be worth a look.

Any harm to ask what area of Mayo you are moving to? Is it one of the urban areas or is gf out in the sticks?

JungleMartin

Kristopherus wrote: »

Any harm to ask what area of Mayo you are moving to? Is it one of the urban areas or is gf out in the sticks?

Urbanish part of Crossmolina, which is unfortunately outside the area that Eircom are showing for fibre optics on their coverage checker. Oh well.

On that subject, can anyone point me to where I can find out where the nearest phone exchange is?

kooga

the whole year inn wrote: »

What's the best place to buy one of these

contact richer sounds in belfast, got one from them in 2011.

Kristopherus

JungleMartin wrote: »

Urbanish part of Crossmolina, which is unfortunately outside the area that Eircom are showing for fibre optics on their coverage checker. Oh well.

On that subject, can anyone point me to where I can find out where the nearest phone exchange is?

Thanks, thats why I asked. Now don't pay too much heed to Eircom's coverage checker. There has been quite a number of complaints about it on the Broadband Forum. If your gf or another family member in that locality has a landline, they should check online what the max rate their phoneline will take.You can check online on the Eircom & Vodafone websites. Then lastly ring Sky and ask them to do a line check. All three are close enough pricewise, but Eircom & Sky will insist on you having a phone as well. With Vodafone you can get broadband without the phone.

EDIT: There's an exchange in Lahardane, would you believe !!! So there must be one in Crossmilina.