Alternatives to Sky?

boardlady

Can anyone recommend what I can do on getting rid of Sky? We're sick of the expense for what we get out of the subscription. We would like to keep access to the Irish channels and some of the UK ones. And what about the pause, rewind and record facilities? Is there any method of retaining them? We have Netfix, Prime and an under utilised Apple box.

Many thanks

Capt'n Midnight

Easiest way is get a USB drive for your TV and an official Freesat box for UK TV. (and optionally a universal remote) You will then be able to pause live TV and record stuff up to a week ahead off the EPG.

Or if you are more hands on then get a Linux box. ( Enigma2 Edision Zgemma etc.)

Avoid combo boxes, they are a cheap solution to watching live TV and don't have UK EPG. Saorview is an overpriced combo box.

Do yoiu have SkyQ or how long ago did you get SKy or do you have a picture of the LNB at the end of the dish. - This will tell you if you can plug in a new satellite box or will need the LNB changed.

boardlady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645813#Comment_118645813

Ok thank you. I will take your post to my son - who will understand what you just said! Many thanks.

dam099

First step is probably to establish what your current TV(s) are capable of. Most TVs in the last decade will likely have a tuner for terrestrial TV from an aerial (for Irish channels). Some may also have a Satellite tuner for Satellite TV (for the free UK channels).

As noted above whether your existing satellite dish will work with a TV's satellite tuner (if you have any TVs with those) or a new satellite box (if not) will depend on the type of LNB on it (the bit at the end of the arm the cables are plugged into).

You will need a TV aerial installed and cabled to your TV point(s) assuming you don't already have one. If you are in a strong signal area you might get away with an internal aerial that you can just plug into your TV.

Seve OB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118645813#Comment_118645813

But is there not limits to the recording in this fashion?

i assume that’s why you are using a USB key?

doesn’t the tele have to be on and tuned into the Chanel you want to record? Or have I missed a trick here and that is no longer necessary?

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118709760#Comment_118709760

Watching the Irish channels while recording the UK ones on a Freesat box is the easiest option.

Recording options depend on the TV, usually you can select from the EPG. Using a USB key / external drive because you may have one lying around which makes it very low cost. USB memory sticks of 128GB are cheap enough, just don't use for time shift or you'll wear them out.

If it doesn't suit you can of course get a separate set top box and record on it. But that means another remote control and learning it and selecting inputs and cables. And you'd still have to get a drive.

decor58

The issue with usb/hdd recording on a tv is that many tv's only have one tuner, so you are unable to switch channel while recording, fine if you are away from the tv but restrictive to record one and watch another. My tv has Saorview and sat tuners so we keep a combi box for the rare cases of a clash, tv and combi work off same one for all remote.

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118710066#Comment_118710066

Only a Freesat approved TV will have a full UK EPG which is what someone moving from SKY will likely want. Otherwise it's now/next only.

A Freesat box or a configured Linux box will give you a similar experience to SKY or Virgin, EPG, channel updating, recording, series link etc. (you can get skins so the Linux box interface looks familiar to a SKY box, and do imdb lookups off the EPG)

Horses for courses.

Seve OB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118710056#Comment_118710056

But if I’m recording can the tele be on standby mode?

decor58

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118710280#Comment_118710280

Yes, no problem.

Seve OB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118711804#Comment_118711804

What TV have you got because mine doesn’t allow recording unless screen is on

decor58

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118714516#Comment_118714516

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118714516#Comment_118714516

Walker at present, I had a Sony and a Samsung previously and recording in standby wasn't a problem. What brand are you using.

Full_Circle_81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118710056#Comment_118710056

Can I ask what you mean when you mention "time shift" and why would that wear out the USB stick?

Wanderer78

...or you could go iptv, if you have half decent broadband....

blackbox

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118711804#Comment_118711804

I have an LG TV and it only records when screen is on.

Gerry Wicklow

"Timeshifting" usually means when you start watching a channel, it automatically begins recording in the background. This then allows you to rewind and watch a goal again, for example. Because this means the box is constantly recording it shortens the life of the disc.

"Live Pause" on the other hand only begins recording if you press the pause button if, say, your phone rings or someone calls to the door.

okedoke

I bought a Freesat 4k Recordable box and the experience is basically the same as with the sky box (without the pay channels - Sky Atlantic is the only one we've missed). Can record/series link shows and has the same week ahead channel guide as sky. Also has netflix/prime apps built in. I just unplugged our sky box and plugged this box in. I think it cost around €400. The only disadvantage really is that if you want to watch Irish channels, you have to switch inputs on the tv remote and you can't record RTE/TV3 etc. Very happy with the swap overall.

Seve OB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118717369#Comment_118717369

Walker ironically. it doesn’t bother me to much at the moment as that’s in back room.

For the best part of the last 5 years Ive been rocking an old sky HD box with no sub and English card which up till a month ago allowed me to pause record etc.

facility now gone, so I’m looking to upgrade TV in front room and had been thinking about a box, but if I can get a tv with recording in standby mode it would be great.

also looked before but couldn’t find one, is there such thing as a tv with double sat inputs,

Full_Circle_81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118718451#Comment_118718451

Thanks for that! I was thinking it might be referring to series linking or something, which is something I really wanted to use on freesat (switching over to it shortly from Sky).