Getting rid of Sky..options now?

Cee-Jay-Cee

Sick to death of Sky and their lack of anything worthwhile watching and paying through the nose for it so I'm going to cancel my subscription. I live in donegal and have a direct line of sight to the TV mast in strabane (tyrone) so I know I can get freeview (already have it on a portable in the bedroom) but what are my options for the main TV. Ideally i'd like a box that would allow me to watch freeview/saorview (dont even know If i can get saorview in my area) and freesat. Is there any one box that will allow me to view both without the need for switching between TV/input sources or remote controls? I've read endless threads here but haven't a clue what's being said in most of them as its all going above my head with abbreviations which are meaningless to me.

Thanks in advance.

The Cush

Check out the Saorview coverage checker to find the recommended transmitter for your location - http://www.saorview.ie/get-saorview/make-the-switch/coverage-map/

An aerial will be required or possibly 2 aerials if you want to receive both Freeview from Strabane and Saorview from a local transmitter. Best advice might be to consider a local installer who'll be familiar with the area.

There isn't a combined Freeview/Saorview/Freesat receiver. There are combi Saorview/FTA sat receivers and combi terrestrial/FTA sat receivers but have their limitations.

Your own TV may be compatible with Saorview/Freeview reception, that combined with a Freesat+ box connected to your existing Sky dish would be one option.

Recording Freeview and Saorview will require a different receiver such as the Panasonic FreeviewHD PVR range, recent thread here.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Thank you so much. Unfortunately my main TV isn't Saorview compatible.

The Saorview transmitter and freeview transmitter are in a southerly and south easterly direction from my house so possibly one aerial aimed between them may be enough to get all the main RTE BBC UTV C4 channels. I guess I could manage with a separate box then for freesat (although I don't know if freesat has a whole lot more to offer than what I can get free with the sky box (minus subscription)

Is there such thing as a dual freeview & Saorview box available?

The Cush

List of channels on Freesat - http://www.tvchannellists.com/List_of_channels_on_Freesat_(UK)
List of channels on Freeview - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_digital_terrestrial_television_channels_(UK)

Strabane is a Freeview Light transmitter so only the channels on the 3 PSB frequencies/muxes are available, the channels on the Com muxes are not - https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/STRABANE. Some of the missing channels are available on Freesat.

Some Freeview receivers will also work OK with Saorview, the Panasonic range for example, read through this recent thread - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057466387

What is your recommended Saorview transmitter? A single aerial for both transmitters might be possible but can also cause reception problems if the aerial alignment/signal between the 2 transmitters isn't good enough. A local installer would be in the best position to advise.

Big Wex fan

You already have the sat dish for all the free satellite channels so when you end your sky sub, they are not going to come out & remove the dish.
1) You can buy a dual sat & Saorview box which I think were being sold by DID and the likes when Saorview came out 1st. Still can get them online for 70 Euro http://www.freetv.ie/combo-box.html
2) Assuming u have the more modern sky box which the free channels don't work on the main menus without the card - you can still add the free channels to other channels and watch away without the card.
3) Buy freeview Sat receiver & a Saorview box. Both can be picked up 2nd Hand cheaply.

You could switch over to N.I. freeview but when you have the sat dish there, you don't have to worry about signal strength which can be an issue with the terrestrial signal when your outside of the focus area for that transmitter.

winston_1

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Sick to death of Sky and their lack of anything worthwhile watching and paying through the nose for it so I'm going to cancel my subscription.

Freeview, Saorview, and Freesat will give you some of the "lack of anything worthwhile watching". If there is nothing that worthwhile on a sky package you won't find anything on your proposed alternative. The only advantage is you won't be paying a sub for it.

Cee-Jay-Cee

winston_1 wrote: »

Freeview, Saorview, and Freesat will give you some of the "lack of anything worthwhile watching". If there is nothing that worthwhile on a sky package you won't find anything on your proposed alternative. The only advantage is you won't be paying a sub for it.

Yeah I realise there will still be little or nothing to watch but at least I won't be paying monthly subs for it now.

TAFKAlawhec

As mentioned already the Strabane site only carries the BBCA, D3&4 & BBCB (HD) multiplexes as a relay from Brougher Mountain. Since you already have a satellite dish, the only channels on the commercial Freeview multiplexes that aren't free-to-air on satellite are Dave, Drama, Really, Yesterday, Quest, Quest +1 and 4Music (it is "free-to-view" but not free-to-air, it needs a UK Sky card, don't know if it'll work on an expired RoI card). If those channels aren't a notable part of your viewing, then it might be better to stick to satellite reception for UK-originated channels, but that'll depend on your viewing habits.

If you want the ability to record one channel via satellite while watching another, then you'll need a PVR. Freesat's range of PVRs will be ideal here (Sky receivers won't record without a paid sub).

If you can get UK Freeview TV via the Strabane relay in Co. Donegal, then it's not likely you'll have problems getting Saorview from somewhere at least. In those parts of Donegal where the Strabane mast can be seen then Saorview coverage might come from sites at Truskmore, Holywell Hill, Letterkenny, Ballybofey, Fanad etc. So unless you're very unlucky you should be able to get at least one of the above.

P.S. If ITV4 is a channel you watch, it'll become available via the Strabane relay from Tuesday next week. You might need to retune your receiver on that day or afterwards for it to show up if it doesn't do it itself.