satellite reciever advice

2wheeels

I don't know anything about this stuff. I'm a bit confused and looking for advice. I'm looking recommendations for a basic satellite reciever that can get rte and uk channels. Thanks.

JDxtra

Depends on what you have already. So, answer will depend on…

Do you have an existing working satellite dish?

Do you have an existing working antenna for Saorview (Irish) channels?

Do you have a TV with a satellite dish input?

Do you need to record, or can you live without it?

Can you use RTE Player for the Irish channels, or is that not acceptable?

In general, my advice – keep is to keep it simple. Some TVs have inputs that allow you to receive UK satellite channels and Irish channels (via Saorview) directly on the TV. The Irish channels are not available for free on satellite – so you have to look at your Saorview options.

If your TV does not support satellite, but you can get the Irish channels from Saorview – then a “Freesat” satellite receiver from the UK would be best.

There may be some cost and complexity. This is why many people stick with Sky (or even something “dodgy”) – it’s just easier for them!

2wheeels

Do you have an existing working satellite dish? Yes have a dish

Do you have an existing working antenna for Saorview (Irish) channels? No

Do you have a TV with a satellite dish input? No

Do you need to record, or can you live without it? No

Can you use RTE Player for the Irish channels, or is that not acceptable? No

It's for an elderly person with an old tv. Seems like a freesat is the way to go.

JDxtra

If the TV is very old, you may even consider replacing it with one of the Walker range of TVs (available in PowerCity). They are meant to easy to use with access to the UK/Irish channels. You will need some sort of an antenna for the Irish channels.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123620586#Comment_123620586

If you want RTÉ channels and don't have an aerial you'll need to sort one. If you're living in a city or close to a transmitter a small one might work, if you're out in the sticks you may need a roof-top one. If RTÉ is important that is.

The only other ways to get RTÉ without an aerial would be via the player or via a paid for service (Sky, Virgin, Eir, etc)

2wheeels

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123620651#Comment_123620651

I'll take a look at those tvs. Thanks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123620680#Comment_123620680

I think I'll forget about rte. What free sat would you guys recommend? Thanks

dulpit

If it's for an older person then a freesat branded device would be best - it'll keep the channel list up to date, no need for re-tuning, and it'll have a full 8 day EPG. Something like this - https://www.freetv.ie/freesat-box/ - but note that it won't have recording.

2wheeels

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123620775#Comment_123620775

Ok thanks for that!

swoofer

be careful an old tv may not have HDMI.

andy1249

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123620651#Comment_123620651

I went down this route , basically following half baked orders from a missus that didnt really know what she wanted.

The ONLY thing these Walker TVs have over and above say an LG of the same price ( and the likes of Euronics and Power City do have Walkers and LGs , 43 inchs , at the same price ) is that you can set up a favourites list including saorview and FTA channels on the Walker. Please note: this is just a favourites list , and has only now and next , no EPG is available.

In every other respect , the Walker is a complete and utter pile of crap. Its a very poor example of a Vestel re-badged TV.

Seriously , given the choice , get the LG and learn how to use the shortcuts on the remote.

thereiver

You can get a combo reciever that has saorview and freesat built in see satellite ie

FFreesat all UK free satellite channels on asra you ll need a diah h and a lnb

And a small saorview aerial

See ww.satellite.ie freesat combo saorview teciever

thereiver

You get rte by plugging in an old aerial into tv uhf aerial , press av 1 av2 or HDMI 1 to see the freesat signal you.ll need a HDMI cable plug into HDMI 1 on tv HDMI slot on freesat reciever

zaphodbeeb

Hi there,

Having been in this exact situation a few times - I've gone with LG. They're generally good tvs, although like any make - beware of the very low cost models. (Against that, I have an LG OLED and it's flipping spectacular just for balance).

The LG tvs have both satellite and Saorview tuners, so you'll need obviously a Satellite dish and an aerial if not using the apps.

Switching between both requires a little setup, but for my 80+ year old mother I have it set such that:

• If she long presses '1' the tv tuner switches to the Saorview and she sees the RTE channels / Virgin Media / TG 4 channels Sky News / Challenge etc
• If she long presses '2' it switches to satellite tuner so all your freesat UK channels. Also the newer models generally have Freesat so when channels move frequencies / transponders (actually happens a fair amount) that'd be sorted automatically by the tv and you don't have to retune
• If she does want to record, you'll need an usb hard drive or ssd - usb sticks won't cut it - or maybe high speed USB3 ones might but I'd just go cheap and cheerful 260gb SSD and enclosure. But generally the elderly don't seem to record stuff….

For this reason the last 3 tvs she's gotten (including one just 2 weeks ago) have been LG. I'm sure other brands have something similar but it's what she's familiar with so no new learning curve.

Hope this wells,

-ZB

decor58

Just to note, I bought an LG about 2 months ago, model number LQ60006, I can have Saorview or Freesat but not both, to set to Ireland for broadcasting for Saorview I can't have Freesat, I can have free to air, now and next epg. If I select UK for broadcasting I can get Freesat but Saorview channels are in the 800's and a workable favourites list appears impossible.

Regards recording, it won't recognise a 1TB hdd but records to a 64GB stick, both are formatted the same.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123625391#Comment_123625391

LG will only allow saorview or freesat, not both. You're correct. But there are only like 20 total channels for saorview, so it's easy job to arrange them in correct order with correct numbers, and then let freesat work away. It's what I did for my parents.

andy1249

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123625391#Comment_123625391

For exactly this reason , most end up buying some cheap box that does the job better.

Sure , you can set up a favourites list , yadda yadda yadda , but on LG they dont stick , and you will find that either on the next software update , or just for the hell of it , a couple of days later your favourites list is gone and you have to start from scratch.

andy1249

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123625687#Comment_123625687

Thats true , there are only about 20 channels for saorview , and only about 4 of those worth watching , but tune them in on an LG after its been set up for freesat , and watching say RTE1 ……. RTE2 is say , about 100 slots away in either direction , a real PITA to use.

Combo boxes sell like hot cakes here , and they do so for a reason.

Trying to live with " just " a TVs tuners in this country is a nightmare. Id rather have no TV at all

dxhound2005

On my LG the Saorview channels are 800 to 835. 802 RTE 2. 818 RTE 1. 804 TG4. 803 Virgin 1. I can get to any channel I want with no delay. As already stated there are only a few channels worth watching, certainy none of the 2rn engineering ones. RTE 2 is a long press of 3 on my remote.

I also have Freeview from over the border, and Freesat. I left the Postcode blank so 101 on Freesat is BBC One London. That is on a long press of 1 on the remote. I have BBC One NI channel 966 on a long press of 2. The only thing that I am missing in that set up is UTV, and I can get that on Freeview.

Give someone (including the old/elderly who get mentioned) a couple of weeks with a remote, and they should be able to whiz around the channels. It is just a matter of becoming familiar with things.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123626448#Comment_123626448

You can change the channel numbers easily. It's about a 10 minute job and then set shortcut. So my parents it's long press 1 to get to rte 1, and then the saorview channels are 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. And long bress 2 to get to BBC 1, and then the freesat channels are 101, 102, etc.

If freesat channels change, it's handled automatically. If saorview channels change that's a return needed just for those.

andy1249

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123626570#Comment_123626570

Yeah , I spent ages setting one up for the wifes parents , the problem is it doesnt stick , every time there is a software upgrade ( and with LG there are lots ) its back to square one , and Im on the phone again organising the next trip out.

They had a pretty good Manhattan Combo box , and just set that up instead. Everyone is happy , havnt had to " fix " it since.

She spends most of her time on netflix watching Bridgerton and the like anyways , so dont know why I bother sometimes.

LG magic remote picked up the manhattan box in no time , so any time she wants live TV , its a simple selection from the home screen to the " Manhattan" option.

The fact is , if those shortcuts on the LGs or on any other TVs built in tuners were reliable , this forum would be ghost town , but its fairly active and we all know why !

Edit: Ive got an LG CX55 OLED and a Walker 43 inch in the kitchen , both now have boxes due to ultimate and utter frustration with the built in tuners.

decor58

What is the model number/ webOS on your more recent tv, if you dont mind. The setup as described works fine on a 2021 LG webOS4.5, but wont work on a 2025 LG webOS 22, I can set up a favourites list for Saorview, but when I switch back to RTE, on the quick access function, the favourites list is useless, RTE1 is on 831 and the others 803 etc. I have a combo box as a second tuner for recording when programmes clash, but it's trying to do away with boxes and sticks. The LG is a replacement for a 5 year old Walker, there are some aspects on the Walker/Vestel that are handier, my wife doesn't do clutter, sources and remotes.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123625687#Comment_123625687

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123627205#Comment_123627205

I'll have to check next time I'm there, tv is probably 4 or 5 years old I'd guess.

decor58

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123627650#Comment_123627650

Sorry, my apologies, I mistook poster's, it was "Zaphobeeb" that had said they had bought an LG in the last few weeks. I took from their post they could renumber the Saorview channels in Freesat mode on a new model.