Easy system for elderly person

Mycro

Hello, I am looking for advice on an easy-to-use system for an elderly relative. It would need just only traditional Irish & UK terrestrial channels (RTE1, RTÉ2, TV3, TG4, BBC1, BBC2, ITV, C4).

However, it must be easy to use. Ideally it should have a single remote and not require require reprogramming from time to time. And I guess this is impossible, it should work in two rooms! However the same channel showing in each room might be okay. There is a coax connection between the two rooms.

It would not need recording or anything Like that.

And if anyone is able to recommend an installer in the D5 area, that would be even better!

Many thanks.

swoofer

sky does exactly what you want, look at offers.

Tigerandahalf

Sky is way too dear for an elderly person's needs.

The new saorview connect box at €150 might be perfect for their needs. The remote (once paired to the tv) will also control the tv's on/off and volume.

You will obviously need a uhf aerial and satellite dish on the house to receive it.

jelutong

"Sky is way to dear for an elderly persons needs" You don't know the individual involved so why make that assumption?

Boxcar_Willie

jelutong wrote: »

"Sky is way to dear for an elderly persons needs" You don't know the individual involved so why make that assumption?

k

All of the required channels listed by the OP are FTA (free-to-air). Absolutely pointless to pay a monthly subscription for them.

The Irish channels can certainly be picked up by a roof antenna , UK ones by a satellite dish , then use a combo-box in the main room with a "magic-eye" link to the second location. Buy a second remote with the combo-box.

Mycro

@tiger & @boxcar. Thank you. You’ve hit the nail on the head. She only needs the legacy channels. Cost isn’t an issue, but value for money is. She has been paying for years for channels that she should be able to get freely.

I didn’t realise the Saorview box also supported satellite so sounds like this is a good approach. Now to find a good aerial and dish installer!

Thanks again.

Boxcar_Willie

Mycro wrote: »

@tiger & @boxcar. Thank you. You’ve hit the nail on the head. She only needs the legacy channels. Cost isn’t an issue, but value for money is. She has been paying for years for channels that she should be able to get freely.

I didn’t realise the Saorview box also supported satellite so sounds like this is a good approach. Now to find a good aerial and dish installer!

Thanks again.

Is there an existing aerial and/or dish at the location ?
It's also possible that they have a Saorview TV if so then that would be a factor in selecting a box.

Also , as its in Dublin 5 , it just might be possible to pick UK channels up from the roof antenna , thus eliminating the need for a combo box . Quite possible no box at all required .

Tigerandahalf

Will the person have access to the internet?

If they do it will be possible for them to watch catch up rte and tg4 programmes on the connect box, e.g. if the Late Late Show is on too late they can watch it the following day.

wizardman

Recently had a the same for my Nanny. I went for a walker tv with satellite and terrestrial tuner. Simple, all on one remote. More channel selection than paying for sky or VM. Initial outlay but pays for itself.

Tigerandahalf

wizardman wrote: »

Recently had a the same for my Nanny. I went for a walker tv with satellite and terrestrial tuner. Simple, all on one remote. More channel selection than paying for sky or VM. Initial outlay but pays for itself.

Do the satellite channels update themselves if they change frequency?
I doubt it. Only 'freesat' branded tvs and boxes update automatically.

Saorview connect have promised to update the satellite channels if they change frequency.

wizardman

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Do the satellite channels update themselves if they change frequency?
I doubt it. Only 'freesat' branded tvs and boxes update automatically.

Saorview connect have promised to update the satellite channels if they change frequency.

No it doesn't. But it's not very often there's a change so I just reprogram them. Just a similar situation to the OP and what I had done in my case.

Thanks for the reply though ðŸ‘

NewClareman

Mycro wrote: »

Hello, I am looking for advice on an easy-to-use system for an elderly relative. It would need just only traditional Irish & UK terrestrial channels (RTE1, RTÉ2, TV3, TG4, BBC1, BBC2, ITV, C4).

However, it must be easy to use. Ideally it should have a single remote and not require require reprogramming from time to time. And I guess this is impossible, it should work in two rooms! However the same channel showing in each room might be okay. There is a coax connection between the two rooms.

It would not need recording or anything Like that.

And if anyone is able to recommend an installer in the D5 area, that would be even better!

Many thanks.

If the Tiviar is still available it will give you everything you want - single remote, main channels in one list and auto update. Someone with a very small amount of technical skill will need to flash the image on this thread. After that it’s just a matter of entering your local Saorview transmitter into ABM and job done.

NewClareman

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Do the satellite channels update themselves if they change frequency?
I doubt it. Only 'freesat' branded tvs and boxes update automatically.

Saorview connect have promised to update the satellite channels if they change frequency.

The enigma boxes can be programmed to update all channels automatically and have the mix of channels required on one list that auto updates.

Neither Saorview connect or Freesat will do this for the list requested,

Tigerandahalf

NewClareman wrote: »

The enigma boxes can be programmed to update all channels automatically and have the mix of channels required on one list that auto updates.

Neither Saorview connect or Freesat will do this for the list requested,

I wouldn't recommend the enigma type boxes. They need work to set them up, are not officially supported and always seem to have some teething problems (from reading the boards thread on them). That is just my take on them.

The saorview connect box does have teething problems as well.

In truth there isn't a perfect free system out there yet but don't go with Sky or others given the way they can fleece their elderly customers and tie you into long contracts.

The Cush

Mycro wrote: »

I am looking for advice on an easy-to-use system for an elderly relative. It would need just only traditional Irish & UK terrestrial channels (RTE1, RTÉ2, TV3, TG4, BBC1, BBC2, ITV, C4).

However, it must be easy to use. Ideally it should have a single remote and not require require reprogramming from time to time. And I guess this is impossible, it should work in two rooms! However the same channel showing in each room might be okay. There is a coax connection between the two rooms.

Was your relative using the Virgin analogue cable channels up to now?

Unfortunately there is no user friendly, off the shelf solution like the analogue cable channels. The nearest equivalent would be a Sky or VM cable subscription.

My recommendation would be a combi Saorview/satellite TV or STB. Walker and Toshiba have similar combi TVs with all channels in a single list and a single remote control. Walker also have a combi STB for €90.

All require an aerial and satellite dish. Each TV point requires a combi STB or TV.

My mother has used both the Walker and Toshiba TVs.

St Senan

OP. i would agree with what the Cush said. And id consider buying the Walker or Toshiba TVs 1 for each room €230 roughly for a 32". and what ever the installer charges for supplying and fitting a dish and aerial feeding signals to both TVs. i know its a big outlay at the start but it will be well worth it in the long run. it will be very easy for them to use and all channels on same screen and same remote.

wizardman

Try Freesat in Fairview. Call in, Michael is very helpful.

homer911

Given the range of set-top boxes, are people still buying TVs these days or just "monitors" with multiple inputs?

STB.

homer911 wrote: »

Given the range of set-top boxes, are people still buying TVs these days or just "monitors" with multiple inputs?

Most TV's don't have dvb-s2 inputs. You have ton seek out the ones that do. Even still the manufacturers of these TV's do not see why people would want to combine dvb-s2 and dvb-t sources in a customised list! Walker did, but its not off the shelf, it requires programming and when channels move on satellite, they need to be rescanned and reordered or manually re-inserted.


To answer the OP's question, if its a simple watch system with the channels labelled 1-40 with now/next epg data, the you are best to get one of the ferguson combo boxes. It doesnt have that many buttons that the end user can get lost (as comparible to E2 which the installer may even fail to understand)

Capt'n Midnight

wizardman wrote: »

Recently had a the same for my Nanny. I went for a walker tv with satellite and terrestrial tuner. Simple, all on one remote. More channel selection than paying for sky or VM. Initial outlay but pays for itself.

This is the easiest system for an elderly person.

It's a pretty safe bet they don't care about a 7 day EPG or series linking so a separate satellite box would be overkill.

The only trick is to make sure the TV can put the favourite channels on one list. Extra key presses to switch between satellite and terrestrial are a mood killer.

NIMAN

Op

Has the elderly person got a satellite dish in place already?