Difference between UK FTA channels and Freeview?

Joo0

What is the difference if any between getting channels from UK FTA signal and getting channels from Freeview?

I would be using a combi box to receive the Irish and UK channels.

Another quick question is can I select the number on the epg/box that I want the channels on? RTE 1 channel 1, BBC channel on channel 4 and so on?

Thanks!
J

Thurston?

Freeview is the UK terrestrial service. Are you in an area with Freeview reception?

Sam Russell

Freeview is a terrestrial broadcast (aerial) in two forms - full service from major transmitter and 'lite' from relays.

FTA satellite carries all variations on BBC, ITV, Ch4 and CH5. Freesat is broadcast, inc EPG as if from regions specified by you according to the post code entered when setting it up. So if you are from Newcastle Nuneaton, you can get your local programmes. Just FTA gets you all channels mixed up, and requires major effort to sort.

Some programmes are available on Freeview but not FTA (or Freesat) and some are available on satellite but not terrestrial. That is just the way it is.

Gerry Wicklow

Freesat channel list
Freeview channel list

Joo0

So you would only have the EPG for the Irish channels?
Is it possible to order the channels according to the preference you want?
Best part about it would be getting ITV HD and not UTV Ireland

Gerry Wicklow

If you are using a FreeSat branded box the ITV region you get is set by whatever UK postcode you enter during set-up, the channels are then in a fixed order with a 7 day EPG.
FTA satellite boxes allow you to re-arrange the channels to taste but do not automatically update tuning should a channel change transponder. This is fairly rare and easy to manually retune. Basic FTA boxes only have now/next EPG data.
If you opt for a combo box, you can mix FTA satellite and Saorview(terrestrial) in one list with a 7 day EPG for both on the more advanced boxes such as the Amiko Alien 2.

Joo0

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

If you are using a FreeSat branded box the ITV region you get is set by whatever UK postcode you enter during set-up, the channels are then in a fixed order with a 7 day EPG.
FTA satellite boxes allow you to re-arrange the channels to taste but do not automatically update tuning should a channel change transponder. This is fairly rare and easy to manually retune. Basic FTA boxes only have now/next EPG data.
If you opt for a combo box, you can mix FTA satellite and Saoview(terrestrial) in one list with a 7 day EPG for both on the more advanced boxes such as the Amiko Alien 2.

If I was changing over I was looking at the Amiko Alien 2. So the EPG would work for all channels? Could I opt to not have certain channels come up on the channel list at all?

Gerry Wicklow

The AA2 lets you build a favourites list of exactly what you want with full 7 day EPG.

Joo0

Good stuff! And once set up is it easy to use?

Joo0

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

The AA2 lets you build a favourites list of exactly what you want with full 7 day EPG.

Would this be better than a white Sky box?

Gerry Wicklow

Using any old Sky box will have all the channels you can't get still listed. You would have to skip through them to find what you want. AFAIK you can compile a favourites list using the blue button to scroll through them but with no overall EPG.
With the AA2 you can have RTÉ1 on 1, BBC2 HD on 2 or any possible combination you like, all with a full EPG.

BenEadir

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

The AA2 lets you build a favourites list of exactly what you want with full 7 day EPG.

Are there any boxes with 2 x DVB-S2's and 2 x DVB-T2's which would enable the Freesat (or similar) channels to be blended with Saorview channels onto a single 7 day EPG with "series" type recording functionality? (I don't mind if the HDD has to be external or retrofitted to facilitate PVR functionality)

Gerry Wicklow

I don't know for sure but they must be out there. I'd imagine they'd be quite expensive just for the extra DVB-T. Unless you need to watch/record both Saorview muxes at once (EG RTÉ1 and TV3) most people can manage without.

BenEadir

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

I don't know for sure but they must be out there. I'd imagine they'd be quite expensive just for the extra DVB-T. Unless you need to watch/record both Saorview muxes at once (EG RTÉ1 and TV3) most people can manage without.

I think you're right there Gerry. The AA2 triple at €250 inc a 500GB HDD would probably do the trick perfectly. It's not like anything you want to record couldn't be sourced elsewhere if needs be

I looked at quad boxes like the GigaBlue HD Quad Plus but they are at least €500 which seems a large premium to pay for that extra bit of PVR functionality. I think combined with an Android media box for streaming NAS and online content the AA2 would cover all the bases.

I've a few months left on my Sky contract. At the end of that I'll have two 2 x Sky+HD boxes with 2 cables going to each from the sat dish so I'll probably get 2 x AA2's then and I should be all set.

Would you mind answering this question. Do the AA2's receive the Freesat channels i.e. are they Freesat official or do they just receive free to air channels which are similar to Freesat channels and if so whats the big difference?

Gerry Wicklow

FreeSat is branded software that provides 7day EPG data and auto-retuning for FTA signals. It also provides MHEG5 Red Button functions, although I think these are quite limited nowadays due to BBC cutbacks.
The AA2 also has plugins that read the 7day EPG Data (crossEPG and cooltvguide) and software for auto-retuning (autobouquets) in the rare event of a channel changing transponder. Personally I've never seen the need to run autobouquets. If a channel moves, it's a simple matter to find and enter the new details.
The AA2 does not have MHEG5 Red Button functions at the moment, but I'm sure someone, somewhere is working on that;-)

EDIT: chances are if 2 programmes clash on Saorview, 1 is probably a soap the boss wants to see and is available on another satellite channel :