Freesat with good FTA menu integration?

Anziox33

Could anyone recommend a locally available Freesat receiver with good menu integration of FTA (Free to Air) channels.

I have a crude FTA for a number of years and want the simplicity of Freesat, but still have the option of scanning and saving a few channels from the wide open spaces of FTA.
I only need basic functions and can do without recording, (though I'd take it if it's not too pricey as part of a reliable quality box.)

So far the two Manhattan boxes (HD-S2 & HDR-S) seem to fit the niche or if anyone can recommend similar.

mike65

The Manhattan boxes do the fta/freesat integration very well. The latest "dumb" box is very well priced

kooga

Anziox33 wrote: »

Could anyone recommend a locally available Freesat receiver with good menu integration of FTA (Free to Air) channels.

I have a crude FTA for a number of years and want the simplicity of Freesat, but still have the option of scanning and saving a few channels from the wide open spaces of FTA.
I only need basic functions and can do without recording, (though I'd take it if it's not too pricey as part of a reliable quality box.)

So far the two Manhattan boxes (HD-S2 & HDR-S) seem to fit the niche or if anyone can recommend similar.

Heading up to Belfast tomorrow to richer sounds to buy the manhattan hd s2, hard to knock for £50 and this is box is for the spare room.........will post an update on Saturday evening when I set it up ( going to the ulster munster match hence the diversion to Richer sounds).

kooga

mike65 wrote: »

The Manhattan boxes do the fta/freesat integration very well. The latest "dumb" box is very well priced

guys just a quick update. I bought the manhattan box last friday and i have to say a little gem for £50 very easy to set up, if you need a box for a second room you cannot go wrong with this box.

Anziox33

Thanks folks. I've taken the plunge and ordered base level box.
Should be mine by the weekend. Then I'll need to re-align my wind battered dish and write up the report.

Ta.

Anziox33

A long delayed follow-up...
(I didn't get the dish set up for weeks due to bitter or drenching weather and forgot the update.)

Anyhow it's all done now. Setup was straightforward. Only real decision point was entering my "UK" postcode, (Belfast).
This causes the Freesat channel search to put BBC/ITV Norn Iron in the main menu. It also adds all the many BBC/ITV regional variations in a block in the 900's, if you ever want a regional perspective. Loads all the free UK channels incl Channel 4, E4, BBC 1/2/4 variants, +1s and others at the top of the menu.

No RTE on Freesat so I get that directly into the Telly on a Saorview ariel. That's as much Telly as I want so I'm very happy and bill free.

fixXxer

Powercity have a couple of the Manhattan boxes for sale, are these similar to yours?

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-24-340183

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-24-340022

My sky subscription has expired and I'm looking for something to hook up to the sky dish so we can still get the Freeview channels.

winston_1

fixxxer wrote: »

Powercity have a couple of the Manhattan boxes for sale, are these similar to yours?

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-24-340183

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-24-340022

My sky subscription has expired and I'm looking for something to hook up to the sky dish so we can still get the Freeview channels.

You can't get Freeview from a sky dish but you can get the free to air channels with your existing sky box without a subscription.

FRIENDO

fixxxer wrote:

My sky subscription has expired and I'm looking for something to hook up to the sky dish so we can still get the Freeview channels.

Yes either of those Freesat set to boxes will be good for Free to air channels on your old Sky dish.

I would stay away from the ex display model freesat recorder box myself.

You could also try a number of other local suppliers.

A very good Freesat recorder box is now available, it's called Freesat Humax 1100 hdr box.

You could try:
Freetv.ie
Freesat.ie (shop in Fairview)
Satellite.ie

All three are excellent shops/suppliers.

Powercity are very good, however they have a limited range on freesat.

givecredit

fixxxer wrote: »

Powercity have a couple of the Manhattan boxes for sale, are these similar to yours?

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-24-340183

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-24-340022

My sky subscription has expired and I'm looking for something to hook up to the sky dish so we can still get the Freeview channels.

You can get it cheaper here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Manhattan-HD-S2-Digital-Satellite-Receiver/dp/B00EAOZTCG/ref=pd_vtph_504_tr_t_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3QVHVVPJBH6MQ6XA9M4T

It will work fine with the "Freesat" channels.

http://www.freesat.co.uk/channels

kooga

fixxxer wrote: »

Powercity have a couple of the Manhattan boxes for sale, are these similar to yours?

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-24-340183

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-24-340022

My sky subscription has expired and I'm looking for something to hook up to the sky dish so we can still get the Freeview channels.

I have the box for €79.95 do note it has no hard drive so it cannot record. If you can stretch to the more expensive one do

fixXxer

Thanks for the replies everyone, given me a few things to think about

fryup

so you get 7 day epg with the manhatton box??

kooga

fryup wrote: »

so you get 7 day epg with the manhatton box??

yes. all freesat branded boxes give 7 day epg

fixXxer

A friend mentioned this one

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5423448/Trail/searchtext%3EBUSH+TV.htm

Seems pretty expensive though. Has anyone seen this model before?

kooga

that's a freeview box to be used with an aerial not a freesat box which connects to a satellite dish

its a new box that retails for £150 in the uk it has a 1tb hard drive so the price of €219 would be on par with buying either a Panasonic or humax hdr to record the irish saorview channels. Most posters here would either have the humax or panansonic

fryup

fryup wrote: »

so you get 7 day epg with the manhatton box??

kooga wrote: »

yes. all freesat branded boxes give 7 day epg

is there any way of combining saorview channels with it?? i.e. having them all on one list

kooga

fryup wrote: »

is there any way of combining saorview channels with it?? i.e. having them all on one list

In the boxes you have mentioned the answer is no.

However there are many enthusiasts on this forum who have boxes with 7 day epgs with saorview and freesat. But for 99% of the population a saorview tv with a freesat box connected by hdmi is sufficient. I am in that category.