Humax - SkyBox - EirSports

DrBass

Hey Folks

I'm finally ending our Sky TV subscription.

I have set up Saorview with an Ariel in the attic on a Saorview TV = So far so good.

I bought a Humax HDR 1100s box and plan to connect that using the dual feed to the Skybox Sat. as I want the option to record and view a different channel at the same time.

Problem:

I have EirSports free with Eir BB that works using the Skybox. I want to keep viewing it (Is this even possible once I cancel Sky)

Question:

How would I go about finding an easy way to ‘switch’ between the Humax connections and the Skybox when for the odd times I’d like to watch a bit of ball sport?.

Thanks
DrBass

Former Former

1. Yes, you can still watch Eir Sports on your Sky box even after you cancel your Sky subscription.

2. Yes, you can use a splitter to divide one of your satellite feeds into two, and connect one end to the Humax, one to the Sky box.

DrBass

Former Former wrote: »

1. Yes, you can still watch Eir Sports on your Sky box even after you cancel your Sky subscription.

2. Yes, you can use a splitter to divide one of your satellite feeds into two, and connect one end to the Humax, one to the Sky box.

Thanks FF

That was easy - good to know.

Could you link me to a splitter I would need for this?

mackersdublin

Problem 1; You can watch the eir/BT channels on your Sky box once you have eir broadband until this May for BT channels. Sky subscription is not needed

Ideally you need 3 feeds from your satellite dish - 2 for Humax/Freesat box and 1 for your Sky box

The Sky box will lose signal and card will need to be repaired if there's no cables connected to it

Johnboy1951

Former Former wrote: »

1. Yes, you can still watch Eir Sports on your Sky box even after you cancel your Sky subscription.

2. Yes, you can use a splitter to divide one of your satellite feeds into two, and connect one end to the Humax, one to the Sky box.

2. I would advise against this TBH.
What happens if a recording is timed on the Humax box?
Would adjustments need to be made on powering the LNB?
What happens if the Humax box is powered off?

Best option is a third cable from LNB ......

@mackersdublin ....... has there been an announcement from eir about what sports channels will be carried from May onwards?

Tigerandahalf

Your best option may be to get a chromecast and cast eir spprts from your phone.

Splitting a satellite cable will reduce its power and you may end up with a weaker signal/failing signal every so often.

I have a tv for saorview, humax 1100s for satellite and a chromecast for eir sports.

In a bedroom I have an old sky box for eir sport.

Advantages:
If internet goes down you can still view eir sports. Some eir/premier sports channels can be tuned on the sky box, but are not available on the app.

Disadvantages:
The sky box is a pain to use. No Irish channels on it.

I have also had to repair my sky box to eir sports 2 or 3 times (through the myeir app), presumably as the signal went down.

No recording is available on either option above.

Former Former

DrBass wrote: »

Thanks FF

That was easy - good to know.

Could you link me to a splitter I would need for this?

Something like this:

https://www.freetv.ie/tv-aerial-and-satellite-combiner/

As noted above, there is a chance that you could weaken the signal but chances are it'll be grand. I use this solution and it's fine.

I would imagine it's a much more practical solution than running another cable from the dish to your sitting room just for an occasional game.

Johnboy1951

Former Former wrote: »

Something like this:

https://www.freetv.ie/tv-aerial-and-satellite-combiner/

As noted above, there is a chance that you could weaken the signal but chances are it'll be grand. I use this solution and it's fine.

I would imagine it's a much more practical solution than running another cable from the dish to your sitting room just for an occasional game.

That splitter/combiner is not what you described

2. Yes, you can use a splitter to divide one of your satellite feeds into two, and connect one end to the Humax, one to the Sky box.

That device is for placing both the terrestrial and satellite signals on one coax cable and then splitting them apart again at the receiver device.

It is not to split one satellite cable/signal from LNB into two usable independent signals.

The Cush

Former Former wrote: »

Something like this:

https://www.freetv.ie/tv-aerial-and-satellite-combiner/

As noted above, there is a chance that you could weaken the signal but chances are it'll be grand. I use this solution and it's fine.

Are you sure you're using this one? It's a satellite terrestrial combiner/splitter with DC power pass on 1 leg only and the other leg restricted to the frequency range below the satellite I.F. range.

A Smart Priority Switch would be an option, master/slave, it would allow the Sky box (master) to take control of 1 LNB output when switched on with the second LNB output still controlled by the Humax box - https://www.pulsat.com/products/Digiality-Smart-Priority-Switch.html

Barr

mackersdublin wrote: »

Problem 1; You can watch the eir/BT channels on your Sky box once you have eir broadband until this May for BT channels. Sky subscription is not needed

What is happening in May that op won't be able to watch after this?

DrBass

Thanks folks for all the replies - appreciated.

Chromecast was another solution that I was actually trying to avoid, as I have a Smart TV and an Apple TV.

Interesting note on the ‘May’ options for Eir/BT on the Sky box however, I too would like to know more about this.

Ideally Eir would have an Apple TV App and I would be sorted (Never going happen)

So as Eir are officially pushing Chromecast for ‘Mirroring’ from other devices I may have to just bit the bullet and install that for ease of use.

tsue921i8wljb3

Barr wrote: »

What is happening in May that op won't be able to watch after this?

Sky will become the "exclusive distribution partner" for BT in Ireland. It is widely expected, though not yet confirmed, that the current situation where BT is available for free with eir broadband will end. You will still be able to watch BT channels it will just cost more.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/sky-agrees-deal-to-make-bt-sport-available-to-its-irish-subscribers-1.3681041

Johnboy1951

There has been no announcement from eir regarding what they intend to do about the eir sports channels.

They might discontinue them completely;
they might agree some deal with Sky;
they might replace the BT channels with other sports channels.

We simply do not know at this time.

icdg

Not May - 1st August as I understand.