Free to Air options and alternatives to Sky Atlantic & Universal

clipper1981

I would like to get rid of my sky package and replace with a free to air system.Herself will not consider this unless I can get Sky Atlantic and Universal.

1. Can I get these channels online and with good quality? I could then hook up the laptop to my TV.

2. What free to air system would you recommend? Looking for box that can record and pause similar to Sky box.

Thanks

winston_1

clipper1981 wrote: »

I would like to get rid of my sky package and replace with a free to air system.Herself will not consider this unless I can get Sky Atlantic and Universal.

1. Can I get these channels online and with good quality? I could then hook up the laptop to my TV.

2. What free to air system would you recommend? Looking for box that can record and pause similar to Sky box.

Thanks

Those channels are only available with a sky subscription.

NIMAN

For a box that acts like a Sky+ box, you can buy a Freesat recorder.

005

If one was to bin the sky deal and hold onto the dish what is the best replacement that can be substituted for this? I have satellite internet also, combination of free to air and dongle combo maybe?

005

If one was to bin the sky deal and hold onto the dish what is the best replacement that can be substituted for this? I have satellite internet also, combination of free to air and dongle combo maybe?

NIMAN

If you have sky+ and get rid of it, the 2 leads will plug straight into a Freesat+ box, 2 min job

MiCr0

All replies to this had better stay 100% legal.

005

I'll look into it then, freesat def sound's an option can you get wifi enabled boxes also?

evilivor

005 wrote: »

I'll look into it then, freesat def sound's an option can you get wifi enabled boxes also?

Yes.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HDR-1010S-Freetime-1TB-Receiver-Built-In/dp/B00C2AASE4

Technofobe

005 wrote: »

I'll look into it then, freesat def sound's an option can you get wifi enabled boxes also?

On the positive side

Amiko Alien 2 HD TRIPLE tuner 2 sat 1 terrestial tuner €170
Bung up a saorview aeriel €14
Unscrew the 2 f connectors from your sky box plug in your Amiko scan for channels or pay extra €2 to have it pre programmed

Everything in 1 remote no messing around in hidden menus looking for UTV
Everything in 1 channel list ( Boquet )Sat and terrestial all in 1 list
Add a usb sata drive ( USB ) and you can pause live tv and record

Add a wif dongle or hardwire it to your network and you can turn your tv into a smart tv you can watch youtube videos or browse the interweb

All absolutly 100% legal

Only downside I have encountered in the 4 months or so of installing is that there is no RF out on this box so if you have a second tv connected to your sky box via ( RF )
Then the only way round is to stream the picture from the alien using say a raspberry pi ( mini pc ) I used a cubiboard and it works fine

Hardest part of the change over was the 30 + mins that sky will keep you on the phone trying to convince you to stay

Everything 100 % legal and above board using saorview and freeview
All RTE BBC UTV Channel 4 ITV all the usual stuff

Do a little reserch your self before parting with your money
Not a hard job to do a little techie bit installing the saorview aeriel but again not what you would call difficult if you can put a screw in the wall google where your local saorview transmitter is point the aeriel at it and scan for channels job done

Hope this helps

Technofobe

evilivor wrote: »

Yes.

That looks like a nice box and the built in 1tb drive would be an advantage over the usb drive in the alien
The specs dont give away much but i did not see any mention of saorview for RTE
So I would imagine you would have to buy a seprate saorview receiver to watch RTE
meaning 2 remote controls 1 for the sat box 1 for the saorview box
Not trying to get in the way but if you can get it all in 1 box it will cut down on expense
also the spagetti junction behind the tv :-)

evilivor

Technofobe wrote: »

That looks like a nice box and the built in 1tb drive would be an advantage over the usb drive in the alien
The specs dont give away much but i did not see any mention of saorview for RTE
So I would imagine you would have to buy a seprate saorview receiver to watch RTE
meaning 2 remote controls 1 for the sat box 1 for the saorview box
Not trying to get in the way but if you can get it all in 1 box it will cut down on expense
also the spagetti junction behind the tv :-)

You won't get the Saorview channels on any Freesat box.

005

So is there a box which is the complete solution

1 irish channel's
2 english / satellite channels ( non sky of course )
3 wifi enabled to stream content
4 record ability not important, I'll be using this box to replace a sky multi room
And depending on this a further decision will be mafe on replacing completely

Technofobe

evilivor wrote: »

You won't get the Saorview channels on any Freesat box.

Ah theres where the confusion could be on my part
What is Freesat vs freeview
On the amiko alien 2 triple tuner there are 2 sat tuners + 1 terrestial tuner
I am of course talking about ireland as this is an Irish forum
I can get all the saorview stations and all the sat stations in 1 box with 1 remote
All the BBC stations all the ITV Channel 4 UTV more movies movies 4 men film4
and all the usual stuff stacks of other stations like tiny pop and childrens bbc for the kids
various music stations
A lot of which are in HD
there is also Autoboquets and cool EPG a 7 day electronic guide when your box is connected to the internet
In all I would say around 50 - 60 usable stations with lots of others that I would not watch like gospel god and other stations ( no offence intended )
I do not watch any sports either so I dont know if freesat would suit sports lovers

what im calling freeview in my description ( could be wrong ) freeview is all the free to air stuff on satelite

And it is free and the box I have also has a built in terrestial receiver in the same box for saorview so only 1 remote

If the op lives in Ireland then I dont think any of the Uk boxes for sale on amazon are going to have saorview

I hope this does not confuse even more

there is a dedicated thread on boards for the amiko alien ( try google )
I cant post a link as i dont have enough posts maybe someone else will post the link
couple of really knowledgable guys on there could answer you questions

Technofobe

005 wrote: »

So is there a box which is the complete solution

1 irish channel's
2 english / satellite channels ( non sky of course )
3 wifi enabled to stream content
4 record ability not important, I'll be using this box to replace a sky multi room
And depending on this a further decision will be mafe on replacing completely

Short answer is yes
With the addtion of a saorview aeriel €14 and a bit of cable

If your not bothered about recording or streaming there is a cheaper box A ferguson ariva 150 which will do sat and saorview in same box also if its only for multi room
cheaper option

Gerry Wicklow

Technofobe wrote: »

....
what im calling freeview in my description ( could be wrong ) freeview is all the free to air stuff on satelite

FreeView is the UK equivalent of Saorview. It is a terrestrial service using a conventional aerial and can be received from the North if you are near the border or Wales in parts of the east coast.
FreeSat is actually a branded EPG system which uses the free-to-air (FTA) satellite signals broadcast by the same satellites as Sky. FTA boxes use the same satellite signals but may or may not have the fancy 7day EPG.

Technofobe

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

FreeView is the UK equivalent of Saorview. It is a terrestrial service using a conventional aerial and can be received from the North if you are near the border or Wales in parts of the east coast.
FreeSat is actually a branded EPG system which uses the free-to-air (FTA) satellite signals broadcast by the same satellites as Sky. FTA boxes use the same satellite signals but may or may not have the fancy 7day EPG.

So the amiko alien 2 is a free to air ( FTA ) + saorview combo box then
Would that be the right description ?

same ol sh1te

Technofobe wrote: »

So the amiko alien 2 is a free to air ( FTA ) + saorview combo box then
Would that be the right description ?

Yes, but it has the advantages of plugins including one that gives 7 day Epg on satellite making it an unofficial Freesat Saorview combo

Fresh Pots

+1 for the AA2

Loads of support here too.

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057246289/31/#post91563285