Moving to Freesat/Saorview - box recommendation

TheQuietBeatle

We received a letter from Sky Q confirming a price increase in the weeks ahead so we plan on cancelling. I'm interested in getting a box to watch the Freesat channels.

Our requirements would be the following:

- Ability to watch Saorview channels and freesat channels on the one box.
- Be able to pause, rewind, etc live TV.
- Series link to record shows
- EPG for 1 week is preferable but not a deal breaker
- On demand would be nice as we like using that option on Sky Q (I know I'll likely need to use a proxy or VPN)
- We want something reliable which doesn't constant reboots.

What would you recommend?

Thanks.

Johnboy1951

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057827739

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057925678

TheQuietBeatle

I should have included in my initial post , I saw those options when researching beforehand. There does seem to be a bit of configuration involved though. Is there an option available which is plug in and go? Or am I better off going down the Tiviar route given the requirements listed above?

Johnboy1951

TheQuietBeatle wrote: »

I should have included in my initial post , I saw those options when researching beforehand. There does seem to be a bit of configuration involved though. Is there an option available which is plug in and go? Or am I better off going down the Tiviar route given the requirements listed above?

As far as I am aware, there is no Freesat box with Terrestrial (Saorview) tuner on the market, and unlikely to be.
There are Free to Air combo boxes (sat + terrestrial) on the market, but all of them require some level of user management, and some have limited functionality.

Most of the work has been done on the Tiviar by a couple of forum members who have made their set ups available to all.

There are of course lots of other similar boxes, and some have a preference for a variety of those.

At present the Tiviar seems to be the most popular with this forum.
That of course will change in time, as newer devices are released

NewClareman

TheQuietBeatle wrote: »

I should have included in my initial post , I saw those options when researching beforehand. There does seem to be a bit of configuration involved though. Is there an option available which is plug in and go? Or am I better off going down the Tiviar route given the requirements listed above?

With either of the images posted, only minimal work is required.

1. Download the image to a usb key
2. Flash the image
3. Scan terrestrial channels
4. Match the remote to the tv

Each of these steps is straightforward, and fully described.

I am assuming that you buy the box from WoS, and get the hard drive pre-fitted. (It’s not difficult to fit a hard drive, but requires a little technical knowledge, which the steps above don’t.)

I don’t want to sound like a salesman, it’s just that I got a lot of help from Boards, over the years, and wanted to give something back. This solution worked better for us than I ever expected. I wanted to leave Sky for many years, but wifey always objected. I’ve had lots of trials, Media Centre, Freesat and generic FTA. None passed the usability test and none are in regular use, even by me.

We now use the Tiviar Alphaplus for everything but Netflix. In day-to-day use it works exactly as described in the thread - one remote, easy peasy. I suspect that if I wanted to change back to pay tv, now, there would be uproar.

Tigerandahalf

A freesat box will give you a lot of what you need unless you watch a lot of saorview channels. It doesn't offer saorview.

The best freesat box is the humax 1100s.
It has all the English channels and tv players plus netflix. Not in 4k though.

The box has an internal hard drive to allow for timeshift - pause, rewind etc. It has a 7 day epg and allows series recording.

It has 2 satellite inputs so you can watch and record another channel.

The remote can be paired to control your tv.

A saorview tv with the above would give you nearly everything except the Irish players.

I think we should probably create a sticky thread in this forum outlining the various options as there is very good info in this forum and the same questions come up.
I don't mind starting. I can just link the other threads.
Let me know.

I myself use a saorview connect box alongside the freesat box. The connect remote can control both boxes and the tv - so just 1 remote.
This gives me access to all channels and all players but different epgs.

To change from saorview to freesat and vice versa takes 2 or 3 clicks of one button on the remote.

The freesat box also has an app to allow remote recording and ability to delete recordings.

The saorview connect app should do likewise when launched.

My setup above is probably best if you just want a one room setup but the tiviar above is better when you need a multi room setup.

Just to add - the saorview connect box itself allows you to watch the satellite channels but the epg is only now and next and is separate to the saorview epg. It also doesn't allow recording through the epg. You have to do it through old fashioned timers. Not a great user experience.

The connect box is around €150 (plus you need to buy a hard drive)
The humax 1100s is about €200.

The tiviar is about €120 but you also need to buy a hard drive.

NewClareman

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I myself use a saorview connect box alongside the freesat box. The connect remote can control both boxes and the tv - so just 1 remote.
This gives me access to all channels and all players but different epgs.

To change from saorview to freesat and vice versa takes 2 or 3 clicks of one button on the remote.

I tried a similar combination, using a Harmony remote to make the transition between Freesat and Sarvoiew almost seamless. Wifey didn’t like it - she hated having to switch between Irish and UK channels and the change in look and feel between theFreesat and Saorview EPG’s. I had to go back to the drawing board.

In terms of ballpark cost the Tiviar approach is €200 and two separate boxes is €400. (This assumes that hard drives are required in both cases.)

Johnboy1951

At home I use three devices which combined give me all the functionality I want.
HDHomerun for two Saorview tuners
Digibit R1 which has four Satellite tuners
Tanix Tx3 mini (Android box) running CoreElec which manages all the tuners, 7 day EPG and recordings, and as a user interface Kodi media player with Netflix plugin.

All the same functionality is available on mobile devices as well as any other device with Kodi attached to the network.

This is probably more than you would want, but thought to throw it in there just in case.

NewClareman

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

At home I use three devices which combined give me all the functionality I want.
HDHomerun for two Saorview tuners
Digibit R1 which has four Satellite tuners
Tanix Tx3 mini (Android box) running CoreElec which manages all the tuners, 7 day EPG and recordings, and as a user interface Kodi media player with Netflix plugin.

That setup sounds really impressive. Have you thought about starting a thread on it, giving details on how to set it up, etc.?

Tigerandahalf

Re the epg on saorview connect and freesat -
These are near identical as metaphor (the software user interface) runs on both boxes. The features are the exact same with the colour being the only difference. Look on google images to see.

I use a chromecast as well for sports such as Now TV and eir sports.

NewClareman

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Re the epg on saorview connect and freesat -
These are near identical as metaphor (the software user interface) runs on both boxes. The features are the exact same with the colour being the only difference. Look on google images to see.

I use a chromecast as well for sports such as Now TV and eir sports.

The difference in usability is substantial - my family didn’t want to know. (Believe me, I tried to sell it to them. ) They were used to Sky where you browse through all the channels using the infobar, while still watching the current program. The enigma2 approach, which even allows you to preview any channel using PiP, from a very similar infobar, is now taken for granted.
Similarly, multiple EPG’s simply didn’t hack it. They expected to be able to flick through a single EPG, in the ad breaks. The enigma2 approach, which allows channels be placed in the order we actually use them, was seen as a big step up from Sky. Once I got that part sorted, all talk of moving back ended.

I’m not trying to talk down your setup, I’m sure it works well for your needs. For myself, I don’t really care. I have a deep knowledge of technology and software, and am comfortable with any setup. However, for the average family, usability is king. It is why Sky holds on to its user base, even for customers who don’t need the sports channels. There is simply no comparison between a single box/single EPG solution, and a multi-box solution, for these users.

Additional elements, with more buttons to press, impact usability even more. As an example, you mention Chromecast, which I also use for Netflix. Wifey has no interest in this, it is simply too complicated. However, she has no problem watching films, listening to music or local radio, or watching IPTV, on The Tiviar. Each are assigned a different colored button, and she uses them daily.

Anyway, to each their own, everyone’s needs differ. I have provided sufficient information on the Tiviar Alphaplus approach to allow an informed view of that option. The functionality can be replicated by other enigma2 based receivers, at various price points.

Johnboy1951

NewClareman wrote: »

That setup sounds really impressive. Have you thought about starting a thread on it, giving details on how to set it up, etc.?

The thread about my 'journey' is in the HTPC section.
Here is one post showing the connected devices ...... this includes eir sports from a Sky +HD box, converted to DVB-T.

There are another couple of threads there that might interest you also.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=108671297&postcount=41

NewClareman

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

The thread about my 'journey' is in the HTPC section.
Here is one post showing the connected devices ...... this includes eir sports from a Sky +HD box, converted to DVB-T.

There are another couple of threads there that might interest you also.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=108671297&postcount=41

Wow, I’ve just read your thread - you’ve done a lot. It tweaked my interest in a number of ways, not least the HDMI to DVB-T Unit. Thanks again, for sharing.

Johnboy1951

NewClareman wrote: »

Wow, I’ve just read your thread - you’ve done a lot. It tweaked my interest in a number of ways, not least the HDMI to DVB-T Unit. Thanks again, for sharing.

There are a few other threads on similar subjects, I got prolific there for a while

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057664687

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=107882186#post107882186

ANDREWMUFC

Can someone just tell me what’s the cheapest box to get that has Rte 1 and 2 ect and BBC and ITV?

Thanks

Johnboy1951

ANDREWMUFC wrote: »

Can someone just tell me what’s the cheapest box to get that has Rte 1 and 2 ect and BBC and ITV?

Thanks

Maybe something like this for approx €64

https://www.freetv.ie/combi-receiver/

TheQuietBeatle

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Maybe something like this for approx €64

https://www.freetv.ie/combi-receiver/

I couldn't see in description, does this one pause live tv if the hard drive is attached?

It looks like a simple but good option if so.

ANDREWMUFC

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Maybe something like this for approx €64

https://www.freetv.ie/combi-receiver/

Thanks

Johnboy1951

TheQuietBeatle wrote: »

I couldn't see in description, does this one pause live tv if the hard drive is attached?

It looks like a simple but good option if so.

The following is in the description under "USES of Combi Receiver"

PVR Features - Add Recording with an External Hard drive
Equipment needed - 250GB, 320GB External Hard Drive etc

Allows Viewer to Pause & Record Live TV Shows

Can record UK channel while watching Saorview channel and vice versa

ANDREWMUFC

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Maybe something like this for approx €64

https://www.freetv.ie/combi-receiver/

Are they hard to set up

Johnboy1951

ANDREWMUFC wrote: »

Are they hard to set up

The ~€64 includes the Sat channels set up (€2) so only your local Saorview transmitter needs to be set up.

You can get it without the set up also for €2 less.