Help me ditch SKY!

dulpit · 22-06-2020 11:19AM

Colson Zealous Steak wrote: »

Can they run IPTV

Think so, but zero interest in IPTV so can't really comment.

paulhardman · 23-06-2020 02:04PM

dulpit wrote: »

I have one, it's great. I know there are a few others floating around here who have one too. I have mine set up with PurE2, feel free to fire any queries.

Ditto here, shout up for any questions. I have done very little configuration on mine, save creating my own bouquet that contains all the Freesat stuff plus Saorview on channels 401+.

Zardoz · 23-06-2020 02:56PM

Colson Zealous Steak wrote: »

Can they run IPTV

Yes .
It runs it extremely well.

g6fdyotp5nj2l7 · 23-06-2020 06:08PM

https://www.satworld.ie/formuler-s-mini.html

Does anyone here have any experience with this box. I'd be interested to know what the sat tuner is like in them

Bif · 24-06-2020 09:28AM

paulhardman wrote: »

Ditto here, shout up for any questions. I have done very little configuration on mine, save creating my own bouquet that contains all the Freesat stuff plus Saorview on channels 401+.

Sounds good. For a non techie type like myself how hard are they to set up? Which exact model would you recommend? Thanks.

dulpit · 24-06-2020 09:45AM

Bif wrote: »

Sounds good. For a non techie type like myself how hard are they to set up? Which exact model would you recommend? Thanks.

H7S (make sure it's the S, as this has 2 x satellite tuners). It's very straightforward, most of the setup is done by following the tutorial/steps when you first boot it. Loads here will be able to walk you through it further if needed.

ec_pc · 24-06-2020 03:43PM

dulpit wrote: »

H7S (make sure it's the S, as this has 2 x satellite tuners). It's very straightforward, most of the setup is done by following the tutorial/steps when you first boot it. Loads here will be able to walk you through it further if needed.

Does this do Saorview?

Irishphotodesk · 24-06-2020 04:04PM

Can someone explain to me why the need for a box ?

A TV with dual tuners is enough to receive the signals and most modern TVs will have access to a full EPG (electronic programme guide) too.

All we had to do when we got our TV in 2013 was scan for channels and then we selected our favourites and ignored the rest.

Since that time we have purchased Netflix and Disney+ subscriptions but these are mainly for the kids to have extra stuff to keep them entertained when we do allow them to watch the TV.

Gooey Looey · 24-06-2020 04:21PM

Irishphotodesk wrote: »

Can someone explain to me why the need for a box ?

A TV with dual tuners is enough to receive the signals and most modern TVs will have access to a full EPG (electronic programme guide) too.

All we had to do when we got our TV in 2013 was scan for channels and then we selected our favourites and ignored the rest.

Since that time we have purchased Netflix and Disney+ subscriptions but these are mainly for the kids to have extra stuff to keep them entertained when we do allow them to watch the TV.

You don't need a box, but a box can give much better functionality and you can rearrange and put all your channels in a single list if you want to. Am enigma box can be setup to emulate Freesat and Saorview so it scans for frequency changes and new channels. An enigma box can also stream to other devices like phones and tablets, i can watch live TV and recordings on my enigma box from a hotel anywhere in the world if I want to (I've actually used this when away for work)

dulpit · 24-06-2020 04:24PM

Irishphotodesk wrote: »

Can someone explain to me why the need for a box ?

A TV with dual tuners is enough to receive the signals and most modern TVs will have access to a full EPG (electronic programme guide) too.

All we had to do when we got our TV in 2013 was scan for channels and then we selected our favourites and ignored the rest.

Since that time we have purchased Netflix and Disney+ subscriptions but these are mainly for the kids to have extra stuff to keep them entertained when we do allow them to watch the TV.

Most TVs will have now and next only. And likely will not auto-update channels for changes. Unless you are lucky to have a freesat enabled TV I guess.

monkeycork · 24-06-2020 09:08PM

looking for a new tv 43" anyone have experience with LG TV with both Freesat and Saorview built-in? can you pause / record?

Bif · 25-06-2020 01:42PM

dulpit wrote: »

H7S (make sure it's the S, as this has 2 x satellite tuners). It's very straightforward, most of the setup is done by following the tutorial/steps when you first boot it. Loads here will be able to walk you through it further if needed.

Cheers. Which firmware did you go for? Thanks.

dulpit · 25-06-2020 03:18PM

Bif wrote: »

Cheers. Which firmware did you go for? Thanks.

I played with OpenATV and OpenVIX, both were fine, but I ended up going with PurE2, looked nicest.

Bif · 25-06-2020 04:03PM

dulpit wrote: »

I played with OpenATV and OpenVIX, both were fine, but I ended up going with PurE2, looked nicest.

Sorry for my ignorance but when buying do you not need to specify one of those listed?

Seve OB · 25-06-2020 04:11PM

bog master wrote: »

Bye Bye Sky

Time for Sky to go, so kindly asking those in the know, their recommendations and advice for the best box.

Requirements:

Receive Irish and English Channels and at least Sky News and CNN (news junkie!)- Freesat????
Be able to programme to record in advance and of course play back that recording.
Currently use a Go Flex 1 Tb drive to store and playback video content-will this also work in tandem with the new box?
Stereo audio outputs as I have a quality AVR and 5.1 Surround System.

A new telly is on the cards after this purchase-will the new telly require any special features?

Budget-€100-€150

Thanking all in advance ~~~

bog master wrote: »

Thanks all! Busy digesting and researching. For the record, Netflix is out as unreliable internet and with a daily cap limit. Am able to obtain many of what's on Netflix. No kids in the house-no need kids programmes. Just looking for the simplest method that meets my needs.

bog master wrote: »

Starting to get the hang of this. So it seems (please correct me) that one of the ehmm problems in my case is wanting all 3 Irish/UK and FreeSat. As I am not to pushed on UK stations, would something like this Ferguson do the job forr me, Irish and Free Sat, progamme, record, live pause etc-just NO UK channels?

https://www.freetv.ie/ferguson-ariva-254/

Or I could forego FreeSat and gain UK channels?

honestly you don't have to go to much trouble. you have sky, a sky box and a satellite dish. take out your irish card when your sub is up. see if you know someone in the uk who might have an old Sky card they can give you, if not you can buy them on adverts for 50 bucks. you need a white card. this will allow you to have all the uk channels on your sky box without any need for going into other channels. but the bonus if you make sure you get the white card is that you will be able to record, pause etc.

a pair of rabbits ears will pick you up saorview (although a proper aerial is better and means less clutter around your tv) as long as you have a new tv, if your tv is old and not saorview compatible then this is the only reason you would need a box. most tv's will allow you to stick a usb plug in to a hard drive for recording etc.

dulpit · 26-06-2020 02:29AM

Bif wrote: »

Sorry for my ignorance but when buying do you not need to specify one of those listed?

You pick one when purchasing, but you can download an image onto a USB stick and flash it onto box very easily, so it's easy to chop and change.

Sam Quentin · 26-06-2020 02:35AM

Nunu wrote: »

I’m in exact situation as OP.

Are recordable saorview connect combi boxes any use? It seems they’d tick all the boxes? I know my brother has one and he says he has it hooked up to a dish and aerial so can record all available Ire/Uk channels...I’ve yet to see it in action.

It’s €160 in DID ... he paid half that in a sale...edit: €155 Power City.

https://powercity.ie/product/DXD7025

https://www.did.ie/powerpoint-saorview-connect-box-black-dxd7025svc-dxd7025svc-prd?param1=wglowmarfb&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI87u_0PSP6gIViLHtCh1jVATTEAQYASABEgJThvD_BwE#fo_c=1898&fo_k=113fed01b8ad71f3bc1decc5bc4a8955&fo_s=gplaie

Edit: important info regarding add ons needed for full capability...

What do I need?
A Saorview aerial, satellite dish with dual LNB, a WIFI or wired broadband connection and external USB 3.0 drive for recording (we recommend 500gb to give approximately 100 hours of recordings)

Can you elaborate on the exact set-up. Why a dual LNB etc.

Gooey Looey · 26-06-2020 07:40AM

Sam Quentin wrote: »

Can you elaborate on the exact set-up. Why a dual LNB etc.

Most PVR boxes come with dual satellite tuners. This allows you to record or pause a satellite channel while watching another

Meeoow · 26-06-2020 06:32PM

Seve OB wrote: »

honestly you don't have to go to much trouble. you have sky, a sky box and a satellite dish. take out your irish card when your sub is up. see if you know someone in the uk who might have an old Sky card they can give you, if not you can buy them on adverts for 50 bucks. you need a white card. this will allow you to have all the uk channels on your sky box without any need for going into other channels. but the bonus if you make sure you get the white card is that you will be able to record, pause etc.

I have an old sky plus box that I use for free sat now. All I am missing is the record function. Are you saying that I can buy a white card that enables the record? That would save me buying a new box.

g6fdyotp5nj2l7 · 26-06-2020 07:09PM

Meeoow wrote:

I have an old sky plus box that I use for free sat now. All I am missing is the record function. Are you saying that I can buy a white card that enables the record? That would save me buying a new box.

I didn't think you could record on a sky box without a sub but I'm open to correction I got rid of them years ago

Seve OB · 26-06-2020 07:12PM

Meeoow wrote: »

I have an old sky plus box that I use for free sat now. All I am missing is the record function. Are you saying that I can buy a white card that enables the record? That would save me buying a new box.

yes. but a uk one, this will change the egg to bbq on 101 etc
there was a lad selling the cards on adverts a few years ago for 50quid, but i was lucky enough to get my cousins old card (lives in london) and it works fine for me

LenWoods · 26-06-2020 07:30PM

Seve OB wrote: »

yes. but a uk one, this will change the egg to bbq on 101 etc
there was a lad selling the cards on adverts a few years ago for 50quid, but i was lucky enough to get my cousins old card (lives in london) and it works fine for me

50 quid seems alot but if the card allows recording then it's worth it,
I bought four white cards & multiroom boxes on Ebay uk for each room from various sellers, the cards were around €11 each hree of the boxes were brand new from €40 - €50 each; shipped via ParcelMotel of AddressPal,
the fourth multiroom box I purchased in ireland and it works with the uk card just the same; thought that was worth mentioning.
I specifically chose multiroom boxes as there completely silent and dont have the "pause/Record" facilities as I assumed it's not possible to pause/record without subscription even with a white card; the multiroom box is smaller than the main box, completely silent, has the same menu and remote as the main sky box very user friendly but doesn't/can't record.
Heres my install: https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/80864-living-room-project/?do=findComment&comment=715076

greasepalm · 26-06-2020 07:34PM

One of the reasons i dumped sky was their bad picture quality on the sky+hd box and was excellent at the beginning but got worse over time.Used better enigma2 boxes and added a zgemma h7s 4K with new 4K tv wow some picture quality.Saorview and foreign sats and 28.2.

LenWoods · 26-06-2020 08:02PM

Many contributing factors there
Cable Quality both the Hdmi and the coaxial cable, connector type, aswell as the condition of the sattelite dish and LNB can all contribute to a good or bad signal Quality aswell as blanking or not blanking any unused cables/ports with F-type blanking caps which help increase signal Quality to the device in use.
I would like to experiment with hybrid systems and explore the market to discover what more I could obtain for free

However I cant fault the quality of Sky+HD box given its maximum output resolution is 1080i which is one generation below 1080P and two generations below 4k which as said requires a few factors to be in play such as the television capability and cable shielding aswell as the LNB.
Overall the quality depends on the level of funds invested; from my own experience anyway.

Zardoz · 26-06-2020 10:24PM

greasepalm wrote: »

One of the reasons i dumped sky was their bad picture quality on the sky+hd box and was excellent at the beginning but got worse over time.Used better enigma2 boxes and added a zgemma h7s 4K with new 4K tv wow some picture quality.Saorview and foreign sats and 28.2.

What image do you use on the Zgemma out of curiosity ?
I have a Mutant HD51 ,same processor as the H7S ,so I'd expect the same picture quality.
OpenAtv images give the best picture quality for me ,well older ones pre Nov 2019 ,when they changed the video drivers .
The newer ones are bad ,they adopted the same ones as Vix and other images .
Never liked Vix picture settings ,everything looks too bright.

greasepalm · 27-06-2020 09:07AM

Zardoz wrote: »

What image do you use on the Zgemma out of curiosity ?
I have a Mutant HD51 ,same processor as the H7S ,so I'd expect the same picture quality.
OpenAtv images give the best picture quality for me ,well older ones pre Nov 2019 ,when they changed the video drivers .
The newer ones are bad ,they adopted the same ones as Vix and other images .
Never liked Vix picture settings ,everything looks too bright.

Every box i have uses openvix and have not moved or tempted to stray,dont bother me not having picons and other stuff as i like looking at tv.
4K sat on a 4K tv is blowing my mind as its crisp and clear.

Johnboy1951 · 27-06-2020 09:36AM

greasepalm wrote: »

Every box i have uses openvix and have not moved or tempted to stray,dont bother me not having picons and other stuff as i like looking at tv.
4K sat on a 4K tv is blowing my mind as its crisp and clear.

Is there much content of interest in 4K on foreign satellites?

Gerry Wicklow · 27-06-2020 09:46AM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Is there much content of interest in 4K on foreign satellites?

Apart from demos, the only thing of note that's FTA is NASA Tv. Otherwise it's 'Fashion' and shopping channels.

greasepalm · 27-06-2020 09:48AM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Is there much content of interest in 4K on foreign satellites?

Not really gone through my list of 4K channels,would need to check on my zgemma as thats the only 4K box and tv connected.

Nasa was stunning.

Zardoz · 27-06-2020 02:08PM

greasepalm wrote: »

Every box i have uses openvix and have not moved or tempted to stray,dont bother me not having picons and other stuff as i like looking at tv.
4K sat on a 4K tv is blowing my mind as its crisp and clear.

4K sat is as rare as hens teeth though .
Far more important and relevant is how standard definition and high definition content is upscaled and rendered.

Help me ditch SKY!

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