Need advice re: moving from Sky Q to Freesat

dtbDublin · 19-09-2023 9:58pm #1

Hi all

Probably going to sound thick here but I don't even know where to start and I'm not tech savvy at all.

I've just cancelled Sky Q and I'm looking for an option that will let me watch and record UK and Irish free to air channels, preferably one that won't need any new cables etc installed and that is good to go out of the box .

Is this even possible? I have the dish from Sky but no aerial.

Thanks in advance of any assistance.

greasepalm · 19-09-2023 10:02pm

Your lnb on dish will need to be changed as its not compatible with freesat boxes.

There is a thread on Zgemma H7S which is 2 sat tuners and 1 for Saorview and depending location an aerial

dermo2014 · 19-09-2023 11:13pm

The latest freesat recorder boxes are compatible with the sky q (wideband) lnb and will work out of the box.

You will need to add / install an aerial to receive the irish channels, you could view them through your tv tuner, but you won't be able to record them.

The Zgemma mentioned above will allow you to have a sky lookalike setup but will needs a good bit of setup and configuring.

Red Silurian · 03-10-2023 8:56am

This is what you are looking for. Will workout of the box with the sky satellite dish cables you already have and can record

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freesat-4K-TV-Recorder-1TB-Anthracite/dp/B07XRQ9JS6/ref%3Dasc_df_B07XRQ9JS6/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=430970646168&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14400565238248580840&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=20485&hvtargid=pla-939147236094&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=105846803171&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=430970646168&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14400565238248580840&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=20485&hvtargid=pla-939147236094

For RTE you will need a seperate saorview box or compatible TV. It's a bit more hassle but no monthly costs

icdg · 03-10-2023 11:25am

The Freesat 4K box is the easiest swap for you OP, it’s essentially plug and play. But it comes at a price and I’m not just talking about the fact that it’s one of the most expensive FTA satellite receivers on the market. You will not be able to do multiroom with this set up if that’s important to you. You’ll need to swap the LNB for a quad LNB if you need that.

Also it’s buggy. For me the ongoing issue is every time I boot up, after I see the “We are setting up your satellite dish” for what seems like an eternity, the screen goes black and remains black till I change the channel. It works fine then, but I have heard of other issues.

It won’t support RTE/VMTV, you’ll need another solution (Saorview or streaming) for them.

But the good thing about Freesat over the generics is that once it’s tuned in - a straightforward process of putting in your favoured UK postcode - you’ll never need to rescan again. No coming home to find the BBC have had a channel reshuffle and you need to rescan your channels.

muffinhead · 03-10-2023 1:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121188425#Comment_121188425

Apparently you can get rid of that dish setup startup screen by going into System Settings -> Standby Mode -> select "Active Mode". Although you do have to login to your Freesat account on the box before this option is available.

Also the Sky Q lnb should work fine with the box but on initial setup the common advise is to go through as much of the setup process as possible, if the box can't find any channels put it into standby for 2-3 hours then a software update should occur and hopefully the channels will have appeared next time you start the box.

waywill1966 · 04-10-2023 12:20pm

I got one of those freesat recordable boxs when i cancelled Sky! Like you said the only down side is the loss of the Irish channels but for me I have them on streaming apps on the smart tv although the RTE player isnt live unlike Virgin and TG4!

icdg · 04-10-2023 5:38pm

There are other platforms where the RTE app does offer live streams - certainly the iOS and Apple TV versions do. I think they assume if you’re watching on the smart TV version you have access to Saorview.

unimaginativeusername · 05-10-2023 3:24pm

Can I piggyback on this thread please as I'm not sure if the above recs will work for me as I have a slightly different set up.

I'm in an apartment, in Dublin. No dish (personal or communal). I have Saorview with this aerial but would love to have an option to watch free to air UK channels. Preferably one that can record but not the end of the world if not as I mostly want it for live viewing, as most things are on catch up (bar the BBC).

Would these boxes work for me given I don't have a satellite? I thought they only worked if close to the border?

DID sell this but not sure it works without a dish or in my location.

I'm also thick so any advice would be most welcome.