Thinking of cutting the cord

nedd

I currently have Sky but of late I have been using Netflix and downloading for 90% of the TV we watch.

I am thinking of getting rid of Sky but I am a little afraid of getting a "crap" freeview box. I hate the cheap, clunky feel of the freeview boxes I have used before (that said they have been the cheapest models)

I am willing to pay for a good box, preferably HD with record/live pause functionality.

Can anyone recommend the best freeview/soarview combo box?

Thanks

Atlantic Dawn

Get a Humax Freesat box for the UK channels and a Walker PVR for the Saorview channels.

nedd

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Get a Humax Freesat box for the UK channels and a Walker PVR for the Saorview channels.

2 boxes? Really? Is the not a combo box that will do both?

tallaghtfornia

If I was you I would go for a freesat/saorview box - I got a walker combo box in powercity and have not looked back - I have a netflix and now tv for when I want my sports fix - I didn't want to ditch my sky but it's like I never had it and I've more cash in my pocket every month

Technofobe

nedd wrote: »

I currently have Sky but of late I have been using Netflix and downloading for 90% of the TV we watch.

I am thinking of getting rid of Sky but I am a little afraid of getting a "crap" freeview box. I hate the cheap, clunky feel of the freeview boxes I have used before (that said they have been the cheapest models)

I am willing to pay for a good box, preferably HD with record/live pause functionality.

Can anyone recommend the best freeview/soarview combo box?

Thanks

Go for it

Amiko alien 2 combi with 3 tuners 2 sat 1 terrestial
add a usb hard drive and you can pause and record
dual boot spark or enigma 2
around €140
main spark thread is here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057246284

Main enigma 2 thread is here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057246289

NIMAN

Cut it !!

I did over 4yrs ago and don't miss it.

Technofobe

NIMAN wrote: »

Cut it !!

I did over 4yrs ago and don't miss it.

I would agree
We cut it out a year ago got the AA2 and have not looked back at all

nedd

Thanks for the recommendation. That looks great, and the fact that I get my nerd on using Linux is a bonus.

I will have a proper look at getting that plus hdd.

hawkwind23

Get rid of sky
only thing you will miss is the EPG
thats why Humax is worth looking into as they have a good EPG esp on youview

Batesy

tallaghtfornia wrote: »

If I was you I would go for a freesat/saorview box - I got a walker combo box in powercity and have not looked back - I have a netflix and now tv for when I want my sports fix - I didn't want to ditch my sky but it's like I never had it and I've more cash in my pocket every month

Does the Now TV work in Ireland now?!?

THE ALM

nedd, like you we have recently decided to cut the cord and I spent a bit of time looking at the options and reading the various threads on here. In the end a I took the plunge and went for the Optimus OS3+. It was a bit more than I was looking to spend but the better specs and ability to add an internal hard drive swung it for me, I figure the better specs will give a better running machine and future proof it to a degree. With what we had been paying every month the box will be paid for in no time.

We have it about a week now and delighted with it. Takes a bit of tinkering to get it set up the way you like and there are various plugins for pretty much anything you will need. No problems pausing and recording and doing the various things that I thought we would miss.

Thumbs up from me

Technofobe

nedd wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendation. That looks great, and the fact that I get my nerd on using Linux is a bonus.

I will have a proper look at getting that plus hdd.

Also bear in mind that there is no rf out on most combi boxes
so if you have a tv in the kitchen running from the same sky box
you will most likley require some extra hardware to get tv when and if you ditch sky
What you can do is
Get a raspberry pi or cubieboard ( android ) or odroid ( android )
and an app called dreamdroid if you use enigma 2 or theres a spark app if using spark
and then stream to the remote tv

I used a cubieboard ( mini pc ) for a while and it works fine
recently got a odroid c1
http://www.hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php

Cigarette pack sized quad core mini pc with micro HD out
works well

Technofobe

THE ALM wrote: »

nedd, like you we have recently decided to cut the cord and I spent a bit of time looking at the options and reading the various threads on here. In the end a I took the plunge and went for the Optimus OS3+. It was a bit more than I was looking to spend but the better specs and ability to add an internal hard drive swung it for me, I figure the better specs will give a better running machine and future proof it to a degree. With what we had been paying every month the box will be paid for in no time.

We have it about a week now and delighted with it. Takes a bit of tinkering to get it set up the way you like and there are various plugins for pretty much anything you will need. No problems pausing and recording and doing the various things that I thought we would miss.

Thumbs up from me

Yep looks like a great machine with a bit more welly
1300 mhz chip vs 450 mhz and 1 gig ram vs 256 should make a big difference on enigma 2

googled eyes

I have the walker wp645ts-hd. Its not a high end box.

It is saorview and fta sat and you can put an update on the box so that it can use the freesat EPG. (All legal)

You need to press a button to switch between saorview and freesat but I'd rather have the EPG than have channels all in a row like my cheaper boxes

Cut the cord.

s8n

Interesting thread - where are you all buying the boxes ?

NIMAN

Could tell you, but would then have to kill ya!

I have a Humax Foxsat, which I had for maybe 3yrs after ditching Sky, but also got a Dreambox in the last yr or so.

chuky_r_law

s8n wrote: »

Interesting thread - where are you all buying the boxes ?

i was just thinking the same thing

kooga

I have a humax frees at box for UK and a humax free view box for saorview. Both bought in richer sounds Belfast

Technofobe

s8n wrote: »

Interesting thread - where are you all buying the boxes ?

chuky_r_law wrote: »

i was just thinking the same thing

I bought mine from tv trade ( no connection just liked the service & free post )
they have a few good videos on their site

http://www.freetv.ie/amiko-alien-2.html

livEwirE

kooga wrote: »

I have a humax frees at box for UK and a humax free view box for saorview. Both bought in richer sounds Belfast

What model is that mate and does it offer series link and a full 7 day EPG?

kooga

humax hdr 2000T 500gb. it has a full 7 day epg but no series link.

livEwirE

Thanks for the answers Kooga

The Cush

livEwirE wrote: »

What model is that mate and does it offer series link and a full 7 day EPG?

I have a Panasonic DMR-PWT635 (HDD/Blu-Ray combi), also has 7 day guide/no series link but channels can be reordered unlike the Humax I believe. There are other non-combi models in the range.

Gerry Wicklow

I know this is the satellite forum but this thread has me wondering. Does anyone have anything other than a Walker box that NOW supports series linking on Saorview? I have a Saorview approved TV that used to work until 2RN "fixed" Saorview. Maybe someone can put my suspicious mind at ease

Joeface

Only word of warning is on the cancellation side ..........35min+ sky don't let go with out a fight.
Did it yesterday. Actually considering logging a complaint with ComReg over it (if that's whom I am suppose to log) The Customer service person you will be dealing with will offer you loads to stay. Think I said " I would still like to Proceed with the cancellation" 15 times. And my ear was burning from the Phone .


And as the others have said , Triple tuner Box , and if your willing to learn Stick Enigma2 on to it .I have not been that brave yet . Still working with Default Spark

nxbyveromdwjpg

I'm in the same boat, been looking and calculating prices and it seems a no-brainer to switch from UPC.

I've no idea where to start though, just did some googling - would it be better to get an all in one installation with someone that supplies the lot (i found these guys - http://www.tvsolutions.ie/combo-box-tv ), or would it be more cost-effective to pick up the box, dish etc separately and try and find an independent installer?

Sorry I'm a real novice here, basically I want what I have with UPC's package, but cheaper over the year. Is this possible?

Sports not important but looking for decent selection of channels in two rooms. PM if necessary.

thanks for any assistance

nxbyveromdwjpg

nm wrote: »

I'm in the same boat, been looking and calculating prices and it seems a no-brainer to switch from UPC.

I've no idea where to start though, just did some googling - would it be better to get an all in one installation with someone that supplies the lot (i found these guys - http://www.tvsolutions.ie/combo-box-tv ), or would it be more cost-effective to pick up the box, dish etc separately and try and find an independent installer?

Sorry I'm a real novice here, basically I want what I have with UPC's package, but cheaper over the year. Is this possible?

Sports not important but looking for decent selection of channels in two rooms. PM if necessary.

thanks for any assistance

Help a brother out here lads, is the site linked there reputable or where else would be a good place to start?

cheers

odckdo

nm wrote: »

Help a brother out here lads, is the site linked there reputable or where else would be a good place to start?

cheers

This site www.freetv.ie has good videos explaining all the products and options. (They used to be called tvtrade.ie and also supply to installers.)

This site www.isaa.tv is the offical site for The Irish Satellite & Aerial Association and has a list of installers.

Hope that gets you started anyway.

Technofobe

nm wrote: »

Help a brother out here lads, is the site linked there reputable or where else would be a good place to start?

cheers

Delt with tvsolutions before
No complaints
On time and did a really neat job installing a dish and saorview for my father in law


I would go with a supply & install if I were you as last thing you want to hear is that there is something wrong with the dish or the box that you bought or any anything like that

ronan45

Why is there no imitation sky box available with same style menus etc .... its not rocket science

UrbanFret

ronan45 wrote: »

Why is there no imitation sky box available with same style menus etc .... its not rocket science

Any enigma 2 box will take a sky skin if that's what you really want . Believe me you only think you'll miss the sky menus etc. there's a wee bit more user input needed but they will do everything a sky box will and more.

ronan45

UrbanFret wrote: »

Any enigma 2 box will take a sky skin if that's what you really want . Believe me you only think you'll miss the sky menus etc. there's a wee bit more user input needed but they will do everything a sky box will and more.

Cheers mate i just want something that has the same channels all the time and not 100s of repeats and missing channels lol my mate has an ariva box and its a maze of duplicate channels and then the channel is there and few months later its gone lol

UrbanFret

This is my set up !

Brainz

if one was to cut the cord from sky can you use the existing cables and fish to hook up to the boxes mentioned

UrbanFret

Brainz wrote: »

if one was to cut the cord from sky can you use the existing cables and fish to hook up to the boxes mentioned

Absolutely. The only snag as I think someone else mentioned is there is no rf output so you need an rf modulator to send the signal to the other tvs in the house.

Brainz

great in thinking of getting rid of sky and this is helping alot..

ronan45

Brainz wrote: »

if one was to cut the cord from sky can you use the existing cables and fish to hook up to the boxes mentioned

lol why not just unscrew the threaded connection........and rethread it to the new box... i thought cutting the cord was just a metaphor here:rolleyes:

UrbanFret

Sky don't offer this either.