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Canceling MMDS but confused by Freesat/Soarview

  • 23-06-2014 3:13pm
    #1
    Josey Wales
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,449 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I am hoping to get some advice as I have been reading lots of threads about Freeview/Freesat/Soarview etc.. and I think I have some points confused.

    We currently only have the MMDS service from UPC which is costing us €39pm so we will be cancelling as soon as our contract is up. Originally I was thinking of switching to Sky but was then told to think of a service like Freesat. I do like the sound of Freesat and I also know that we will need a Soarview box for the Irish stations. We are also buying a new TV soon.

    Am I right in saying the following:

    1) You need a Freesat receiver with a HDD to record programs on Freesat.
    2) You need a Soarview receiver with a HDD to record programs on Soarview.
    3) There is no box out that will combine the two.

    But will newer TVs be able to receive Soarview and Freeview without the need for a box? And some TVs you can attach a storage device to record programs to so that would rule out the need for a set top box altogether?

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    iba
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭iba


    Josey Wales wrote: »
    Hi,

    I am hoping to get some advice as I have been reading lots of threads about Freeview/Freesat/Soarview etc.. and I think I have some points confused.

    We currently only have the MMDS service from UPC which is costing us €39pm so we will be cancelling as soon as our contract is up. Originally I was thinking of switching to Sky but was then told to think of a service like Freesat. I do like the sound of Freesat and I also know that we will need a Soarview box for the Irish stations. We are also buying a new TV soon.

    Am I right in saying the following:

    1) You need a Freesat receiver with a HDD to record programs on Freesat.
    2) You need a Soarview receiver with a HDD to record programs on Soarview.
    3) There is no box out that will combine the two.

    But will newer TVs be able to receive Soarview and Freeview without the need for a box? And some TVs you can attach a storage device to record programs to so that would rule out the need for a set top box altogether?

    Thanks.

    Hi,

    In the Republic of Ireland, Freeview is not generally available unless you live close to the border.

    To try and answer some of your questions:

    1) You need a Freesat receiver with a HDD to record programs on Freesat. - Not necessarily, there are other options
    2) You need a Soarview receiver with a HDD to record programs on Soarview. - No
    3) There is no box out that will combine the two. - Don't know

    Your also mention a new TV - this will most probably be Saorview compatible and therefore all you will have to do is connect it to an aerial to get the Saorview stations. Depending on the TV, you may be able to attach a portable Hard Drive to it to record.

    What you might want is a combo box that combines FTA and Saorview. For example:

    http://sat-planet.ie/index.php?route=product/category&path=20_26_62

    Or a Humax (for example) for just Freesat or FTA:

    http://sat-planet.ie/index.php?route=product/category&path=20_26_61

    Tell us what is it that you want to achieve after you leave UPC and then it will be easier to advise you what you want.

    A post by Zardoz on this thread gives really excellent info:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057231788&page=2

    Also good info on this site www.tvtrade.ie

    Regards


  • #3
    Josey Wales
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,449 ✭✭✭Josey Wales


    iba wrote: »

    Tell us what is it that you want to achieve after you leave UPC and then it will be easier to advise you what you want.

    Thanks I will check out those links.

    Basically I would just like the standard Irish channels and usual UK channels like BBC, ITV, Channel 4 etc... and hopefully some in HD. Would also want the ability to record each of these stations. And looking to find out how that is achievable with the handiest setup.

    I will make sure to research a good TV that can use an external HDD so I can have that option.


  • #4
    iba
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭iba


    Josey Wales wrote: »
    Thanks I will check out those links.

    Basically I would just like the standard Irish channels and usual UK channels like BBC, ITV, Channel 4 etc... and hopefully some in HD. Would also want the ability to record each of these stations. And looking to find out how that is achievable with the handiest setup.

    I will make sure to research a good TV that can use an external HDD so I can have that option.

    There are many options out there, but I will just give you a handy one which should at least point you in the right direction.Have a look at this page, it will give you an excellent idea of what you need. There are other options, but this is a cheap, uncomplicated and easy one.

    http://www.tvtrade.ie/satellite-tv/uk-irish-digital-satellite-combo.html

    Any questions just post back

    Regards


  • #5
    Josey Wales
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,449 ✭✭✭Josey Wales


    I've read in a few threads that a Freesat and Soarview combi box is the holy grail of receivers but will never happen. I see the same question was asked over on the www.tvtrade.ie site and they say it will not happen but then on the same page say they stock combi receivers.

    Link

    Am I missing something?


  • #6
    eStitch
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4 ✭eStitch


    Freesat is a brandname. It's basically a set of enhancements on the bare bones free-to-air (FTA) satellite service, to give a more 'Sky like' user experience. Most prominent among these is the 7-day EPG, where FTA just has now-&-next.

    The ability to receive terrestrial broadcasts does not figure for Freesat.


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  • #7
    GerardKeating
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,859 ✭✭✭GerardKeating


    Josey Wales wrote: »
    I've read in a few threads that a Freesat and Soarview combi box is the holy grail of receivers but will never happen. I see the same question was asked over on the www.tvtrade.ie site and they say it will not happen but then on the same page say they stock combi receivers.

    Link

    Am I missing something?

    Generally the "Combi" receivers will give Full 7 Day EPG for one "half" and Now/Next for the other half. So you might get Full 7 day EPG for SaorView and Now/Next for UK Sat TV.

    Some more expensive solutions do give full 7 day EPG for both SaorView and FreeSat, but they do require some "tech" skills to maintain/update on an ongoing Basis.

    At present, the easiest option would be either
    • SaorView Compatible TV with FreeSat STB
    • FreeSat Compatible TV with Saorview STB

    The Irish Market is not big enough perhaps for a Single Box to be economically viable to develop, and no one seems to be bother for one for the UK market, since it would be borderline pointless.


  • #8
    eStitch
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4 ✭eStitch


    GerardKeating wrote: »
    At present, the easiest option would be either
    • SaorView Compatible TV with FreeSat STB
    • FreeSat Compatible TV with Saorview STB

    All Freesat TVs would have a terrestrial tuner capable of receiving Saorview, some have Saorview approval, although would have to be set up with UK as country for Freesat features, so Saorview approval wouldn't really matter. Only Samsung & Panasonic make Freesat TVs.

    Satellite & terrestrial functions in these TVs wouldn't be integrated though, more either/or, with no integrated channel list, ponderous procedure for switching between satellite & terrestrial, & probably no ability to switch to satellite while recording terrestrial & vice-versa.


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