TV recording

monkeysnapper

Hi, I'm sorry if this question has been done, I can't see it .

I'm finishing up with sky at end of month, I'm happy with range of channels ill get but have no way of recording, can I buy a device I can plug in to record to harddrive or can I buy a box I can simply unplug sky box and plug it in and go. Don't really care to much for irish channels .

Thanks

Newonhere

Hi have a look at the Humax freesat box with freetime I have this box and all you need do is unplug your SKTY box and connect up your Humax box and you are up and running with exactly the same functionality you had with a SKY+ HD box. It's that easy.....

monkeysnapper

Newonhere wrote: »

Hi have a look at the Humax freesat box with freetime I have this box and all you need do is unplug your SKTY box and connect up your Humax box and you are up and running with exactly the same functionality you had with a SKY+ HD box. It's that easy.....

Mine isn't hd box, will I get exactly same channels? I dont have a ariel , just the dish Thanks for info

Newonhere

with the Humax box you will get all the channels on the Freesat EPG which is essentially most of the channels on the basic SKY package excluding the actual SKY channels (you will still get SKY News though). If you have a look at the Freesat website you will find a full list of channels. You won't get the Irish channels though so if you want these you will need Saorview.

monkeysnapper

I see tho I won't be able to use my magic eye I have installed to my upstairs tv . That's pretty much a game changer unless anyon knows any different. ..?

Peter Rhea

Freesat boxes, indeed the majority of non-Sky boxes, do not have RF outputs or any kind of 'magic eye' powering ability.

A standalone unit can supply the RF output & 'magic eye' functions: Triax Tri-Link gets a lot of mentions in these forums.

You might even find it a better value proposition to get the upstairs TV its own satellite receiver, allowing independent channel selection.

kooga

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Freesat boxes, indeed the majority of non-Sky boxes, do not have RF outputs or any kind of 'magic eye' powering ability.

A standalone unit can supply the RF output & 'magic eye' functions: Triax Tri-Link gets a lot of mentions in these forums.

You might even find it a better value proposition to get the upstairs TV its own satellite receiver, allowing independent channel selection.

as peter said a stand alone freesat box just as cheap if not chepaer. I have had the manhatten hd freesat box for the last three weeks, highly recommended at less than £50.

Bravobabe

Hi,

I had a Sky+ Box in the Living Room and a Sky Box in the "playroom".

I put a "combo" box in the Living room.

The Combo box is a Soarview & Freesat box combined.
Switch the Sky lead from the Sky box to the Combo box and that will give you (BBCs, ITVs, Channel 4s etc)
If you have or had a roof aerial, plug the lead into the Combo box and you will also receive all the home channels RTEs TV3s
If you do not have an external aerial, you can use an internal aerial. However quality will depend on location.

Combo boxes usually have a USB input, which will allow you to connect a USB memory stick or external disk. You can record programmes and play files via this USB (If someone gave you a copy of a program on a USB, you will be able to play the file via the USB input)
HD boxes will connect via a HDMI cable to a HD TV (most have scarts as well)

I put a freesat box in the playroom. I connected a "Video Sender" to this box which transmitted the picture to the upstairs bedroom. It had an internal eye which transmitted remote control functions.
This all worked very well until about 3 months ago, when we began to get a lot of interference for some device(s) in the neighbourhood.

Just at about that time, we suffered storm damage and I have to get a satellite installer to repair my dish. I got him to run another lead via the attic to my bedroom. I bought another combo box and installed it in the bedroom. So far so good. I used it to record a program on BBC for someone last night.

A Freesat/Saorview Combo box with USB recording will cost between €60 to €100. Depending on what you go for.
I have a Ferguson Ariva box for about 3 years and its very good. I also have a Dreambox freesat and a 4ife Combo. No problems with any of them.

So it all depends on what you:
already have (Dish with one lead to Sky box, do you have an aerial?)
& What you want? (Freesat in 2+rooms)
& what your prepared to spend (Upgrade you Dish LNB output to run 2 or more cables, 2 or more boxes)

You could also consider the Eircom option?

Peter Rhea

Bravobabe wrote: »

The Combo box is a Soarview & Freesat box combined.A Freesat/Saorview Combo box with USB recording will cost between €60 to €100.

. . . I have a Ferguson Ariva box for about 3 years and its very good. I also have a Dreambox freesat and a 4ife Combo.

There are NO Freesat combi receivers or Freesat Dreamboxes.

Freesat is the brand name for receivers that are licensed to access certain features via broadcast data. Features such as a proper EPG, whereas non-Freesat boxes have to make do with 'now & next' programme info on channels broadcast from 28 degrees east.

Bravobabe

Good Point from Peter Rhea,

I used the term "FreeSat" when I should have used the term "Free to Air"

All the boxes I mentioned are "Free to Air" (Ferguson Ariva HD Combo, 4ife HD Combo, Dreambox SD)

These work very well if you are looking to replace Sky and save money, but the EPG does only show the current and the next programme available to record.

However if you are going to record huge amounts of programs, then the FreeSat might be a better option for you (Although I don't currently have one).

Peter Rhea

Bravobabe wrote: »

These work very well if you are looking to replace Sky and save money, but the EPG does only show the current and the next programme available to record.

They don't 'work very well' as a replacement for Sky+, & not just because of the lack of EPG.

The basic combis, like the Arivas, 4life etc. only have a single satellite & single terrestrial tuner so, you are limited in what you can record & watch at the same time. I don't think they do simultaneous recordings either.