Advice on SKy Alternative

burly

Hi all,



I am quitting Sky at the end of the month after (too many) years paying for TV I don't watch. I am paying abot €40 a month for Sky Q which is not bad but I just don't watch much TV anymore, and neither does my wife. Our 2kids ( 6 and 4) watch a bit of CBeebies/RTE Jr every day, and we watch a documentary/film or two at weekend on Netflix. In short, we are a youing family, who don't have much need for loads of TV.



I am looking for advice on what to replace the Sky TV package with. I have good broadband with Eir, so broadband speed is not an issue.



Would like to be able to watch Cbeebies/RTE Jr/Netflix and would like to be able to view the Irish channels and BC etc on occasion, but that's not essential.



I ma looking at a premium package with Dalton TV here http://www.daltontv.ie/product/premium-package/ which essentially gives all the Saorview/Freeview channels, with ability to record, and Web TV. But is seems expensive and gives me probably more than I need.


Can someone recommend a more compact set-up that would meet the above needs? Is a simple Android box with the RTE player apps/Cbeebies/CBBC apps and Netflix the best option?



Thanks in advance.

galtee boy

Interesting set up with Dalton TV, it's looks like they have designed their own EPG to look like a Sky EPG, but it's only for free to air channels, however unlike a normal combo box, which would be much cheaper, it has 7 day epg for all channels and appears to have built in hard drive for recording. I presume it's legal or is it , to design and use this epg ? Looks excellent,but expensive, but if they maintain/update the EPG etc and all is above board, then it would fulfill many people's tv needs.

icdg

Mod Note:

As far as I can see from the linked to website, and despite the use of the word “package” implying a subscription, it’s just a relatively expensive Saorview/Freesat combo box with a Sky-alike skin on the EPG and I don’t think there’s anything more to it but I stand ready to be corrected on that one

galtee boy

icdg wrote: »

Mod Note:

As far as I can see from the linked to website, and despite the use of the word “package” implying a subscription, it’s just a relatively expensive Saorview/Freesat combo box with a Sky-alike skin on the EPG and I don’t think there’s anything more to it but I stand ready to be corrected on that one

It's hard to tell from the website what kind of box etc is being used, but if this is a combo box, with 7 day epg for both Saorview and satellite, built in HDD, as in this box is a pvr, is this not what a lot of fta people are looking for ? ie, all channels on one list, all with 7 day listings, proper built in recording, very Sky looking EPG ( if it's legal ? ), ok , it's expensive, but one years basic sky sub would easily pay for it, or is there something I'm missing here ?

Johnboy1951

galtee boy wrote: »

It's hard to tell from the website what kind of box etc is being used, but if this is a combo box, with 7 day epg for both Saorview and satellite, built in HDD, as in this box is a pvr, is this not what a lot of fta people are looking for ? ie, all channels on one list, all with 7 day listings, proper built in recording, very Sky looking EPG ( if it's legal ? ), ok , it's expensive, but one years basic sky sub would easily pay for it, or is there something I'm missing here ?

What is missing are the hardware specifications which are needed to make an informed decision.

dubrov

I remember OpenVix has a sky skin. So it is almost certainly an Enigma 2 box.

Hard tip know of it is a good deal without seeing the buzz specs. The box could be worth anywhere from 80 to 500.

dubrov

It's also unclear if it includes aerial/ satellite installation.
The price is not bad if it does.

If it is just the box you could easily setup similar yourself for about 130.

Have a look for a thread on the satellite forum called "user friendly replacement fire pay tv". All the instructions are there

dubrov

Just to add, the simplest setup for you would be to buy a freesat box. This would cover all the UK channels and will work by just swapping it out with your sky box.

For Rte/Netflix, you could just cast from your phone (maybe with a chromecast)

galtee boy

dubrov wrote: »

It's also unclear if it includes aerial/ satellite installation.
The price is not bad if it does.

If it is just the box you could easily setup similar yourself for about 130.

Have a look for a thread on the satellite forum called "user friendly replacement fire pay tv". All the instructions are there

This is the problem, it isn't easy to set up a similar box yourself, with Sky type 7 day guide for all channels, Saorview and satellite on one EPG, internal HDD etc, unless your very techy, good with computers/downloading and installing skins etc, this system from Daltontv seems to be an out of the box, plug and play solution, albeit at a premium price.

dubrov

galtee boy wrote:

This is the problem, it isn't easy to set up a similar box yourself, with Sky type 7 day guide for all channels, Saorview and satellite on one EPG, internal HDD etc, unless your very techy, good with computers/downloading and installing skins etc, this system from Daltontv seems to be an out of the box, plug and play solution, albeit at a premium price.

Normally I would agree but that with that thread I referenced, NewClareMan had reduced it down to being able to follow a few instructions.

Of course, even that still takes time so the DaltonTV option may still be worth it for some

FRIENDO

dubrov wrote: »

Just to add, the simplest setup for you would be to buy a freesat box. This would cover all the UK channels and will work by just swapping it out with your sky box.

For Rte/Netflix, you could just cast from your phone (maybe with a chromecast)

Freesat is very good and easy to use.

Most new TVs have a Netflix button, so if you could get the Saorview channels on the TV would be best. An aerial would be required for Saorview.

Tigerandahalf

The rte app on LG tvs (when updated again) should allowing live streaming of rte channels.