Changing from paid to free

Larsheen

Hi all,

I am sure this has been discussed to death but being an oldie and not very tech savvy,I am trying to get some guidance as to how to get rid of my UPC TV( will be out of contract soon),staying with them for just broadband and landline and going free to air for TV.An option to record would be essential.We have a new smart TV from Samsung.Would anyone more clued in than I be so kind as to maybe give me some guidance as to pros and cons and if allowed,tell me who they went with?Thank you in advance

amikoalien2

We got sick of paying sky
As a UPC customer you probably dont have an existing satellite dish or terrestrial aerial on your house (Guessing )

So any future plans would need to include sat dish and aerial and my recommendation would be a combo box
To receive both saorview and satellite stations in one box with 1 remote otherwise known as a triple tuner
2 satellite tuners and 1 terrestrial tuner
You can get these boxes with a built in hard drive for recording 2 sat stations while watching rte
Or watch a sat station while recording rte and another station
I would recommend a box with a built in /hard drive as against a usb powered one for ease of use

When we got rid of sky we went with an amiko alien 2 and it worked well but did require some tinkering to keep it family friendly wifey had a few gripes when items failed to record due to the usb powered drive being forgotten or going to sleep

I deciided to get something with a little more grunt the VU+Duo2 which has been absolutely flawless never misses a beat
But the extra grunt cost a lot more
The amiko was around €140 the VU+ was around €380 or so
there are boxes available now with the same ram and processor for a lot less money have a look at the edission os3 and technomate boxes the all important bit is the triple tuner saorview + sat to remember

+ remember to include the dish and aerial
Dish around €35 aerial around €20 + some cable + installation if your not up to doing it yourself

no regrets whatsoever
This site has some good videos of various boxes and a good guide to prices
No connection but have used them before
http://www.freetv.ie/technomate-nano-3t.html

The Cush

Where are you located?

In Dublin if you continue with their broadband service the analogue channels continue to be available on the cable for the time being without an extra sub - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=93774102&postcount=28

This is a reply I gave previously to a person in a similar situation - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=96793440, post any questions you may have.

Larsheen

Thank you amikoalien2 and The Cush. I am in Dublin. I think I would need an installer and unfortunately whatever the set up, it would have to be really user friendly because I know lady wife would go loopy if the box didn't automatically update any change in frequencies and to be honest I wouldn't be far behind. This Horizon box thing is a nightmare, failing to record programmes and only half recording others ! We have had three boxes and are on our fourth, each going rogue after a while. Thank you both again. I saw on one of the links you gave a comment that a dish should not be fixed to to chimney. So this true?

bored_stupid

@larsheen here,s some links to shops and installers all well respected and can be trusted if other members can add links to other shops in dublin please do so there is some independent installers about also that will do a first class job to.

Ring all the shops get a quote don,t mention your budget explain what your needs are and the missus also you can,t forget the gaffer you be in trouble:) .

Please just be careful where you go .

Fathers friend [retired ]got a lad few doors up from him about two months ago to install a combo setup for him sky dish was already on the house just needed new cable .

So he installs a triax box from powercity an installs a set of cats ears from dealz the ones for 1.50 euro and and the total cost all in 7 hundred and fifty euro i kidd you not you could,nt make this up honest to god /

What a total scumbag he was,nt any installer just a chancer with no shame .

We been able to get a least 500 euro back for him so shop where you like just be careful below links offer warranty after sales support if needed.

https://www.freesat.ie/

http://www.satellite.ie/index.html

http://www.satworld.ie/

http://www.satexperts.ie/

Ring explain your just looking for Quotes for installation and box also post back here if you need anymore info or advice .

Kind Regards .

Larsheen

bored_stupid wrote: »

@larsheen here,s some links to shops and installers all well respected and can be trusted if other members can add links to other shops in dublin please do so there is some independent installers about also that will do a first class job to.

Ring all the shops get a quote don,t mention your budget explain what your needs are and the missus also you can,t forget the gaffer you be in trouble:) .

Please just be careful where you go .

Fathers friend [retired ]got a lad few doors up from him about two months ago to install a combo setup for him sky dish was already on the house just needed new cable .

So he installs a triax box from powercity an installs a set of cats ears from dealz the ones for 1.50 euro and and the total cost all in 7 hundred and fifty euro i kidd you not you could,nt make this up honest to god /

What a total scumbag he was,nt any installer just a chancer with no shame .

We been able to get a least 500 euro back for him so shop where you like just be careful below links offer warranty after sales support if needed.

https://www.freesat.ie/

http://www.satellite.ie/index.html

http://www.satworld.ie/

http://www.satexperts.ie/

Ring explain your just looking for Quotes for installation and box also post back here if you need anymore info or advice .

Kind Regards .

Thank you