Sat4Free/Freesat in Ireland

Tony · 24-10-2008 12:06PM

I've not been approached as of yet. Independents can get official freesat boxes (from Uk trade sources) if they wish to get involved which is what I am doing. Got an email from Electrolpus about sat4free boxes

Edit :Now the trade price from electroplus matches power city's retail price so no margin on the box.

Darth Maul wrote: »

interested to know if any installers were approached about this, who are they using for the installs?? is there anyway for us independents to get involved? other than buying some boxes in the North and piggybacking on there advertising campaign.

Tony · 24-10-2008 12:16PM

smccarrick wrote: »

I'm impressed- they're not trying to totally milk it- its only about a tenner more expensive.......

I'll bet they are putting the squeeze on the installers price though to make back some margin on the installed product . Could lead to the possibility of lower installation standards as happens with sky's low pay installers. As you say though good to see a cometitive price

Tony · 24-10-2008 12:17PM

sesswhat wrote: »

So was I. Should be interesting to see Tesco prices.

Supposedly the same from info so far.

Edit: Correction, I'm wroing tesco is supposed to be 299 installed

channelsurfer · 24-10-2008 02:32PM

according to posts on digitalspy freesat is to issue an official statement on the matter ie sat4free using the freesat epg today. should be interesting.

Tony · 24-10-2008 02:33PM

channelsurfer wrote: »

according to posts on digitalspy freesat is to issue an official statement on the matter ie sat4free using the freesat epg today. should be interesting.

Very interesting

TheDriver · 24-10-2008 03:01PM

very very interesting!!! Seems Alba are backing the venture so wonder if its them or freesat

redout · 24-10-2008 03:23PM

Some of the people over on DS said they called Freesat and spoke to a couple of people who genuinely had not got a clue what SAT4FREE was ? Sounds a bit strange that if it was sanctioned. Although they could just have been told to keep quiet about it until an official statement has been made.

Lossy · 24-10-2008 04:24PM

Sat4free website down at the moment.
I wonder is there a correction going on at the website.....

removing all links to Freesat website maybe

redout · 24-10-2008 04:44PM

A bit suspect that. They mentioned on DS earlier that might happen if it goes tits up and they get an angry call from Freesat. Lets wait and see.

DMC · 24-10-2008 05:00PM

/me draws up chair closer to the fire.

luckat · 24-10-2008 05:09PM

What channels are not available on Freesat or Sat4Free - RTE1, Network 2, TG4 and TV3? What about Channel 6?

I'm thinking of getting a telly, seeing as Christmas is coming up, and will probably get some kind of freesat as well.

(Perhaps some advice, if it's not thought too unrelated to this forum? There's a sale to the public over the weekend with Sony TVs about €200 cheaper than normal - but it's in an industrial estate in a kind of trade wholesale place. I'm hesitating because I wouldn't know if a TV wasn't actually Sony, and I'm wondering if I'd be wiser to buy in my local shop, where I can go back and say "Hey!" if it goes wrong. What do you experts think?)

DMC · 24-10-2008 05:28PM

luckat wrote: »

What channels are not available on Freesat or Sat4Free - RTE1, Network 2, TG4 and TV3? What about Channel 6?

Full channel lineup.

Correct, no "Irish 4" or channel 6. No Irish stations on Freesat at the mo, RTÉ International is to launch on Freesat, when ever it does, could be before Christmas, could be March depending on the source.

You get BBC 1 & 2, ITV and Channel 4 and their ancillary spin off channels. There are no premium sports, movies or entertainment channels like Dave, Sky One or Living.

Some one else may answer the Sony question in more detail, but almost certain Sony only make Sony for themselves, no rebadges there. More chance of a decent warranty in a proper shop than in a fire sale.

luckat · 24-10-2008 05:30PM

Thanks, DMC - is Channel 6 Irish, then? (Sorry, haven't had a TV for a bit.)

TheDriver · 24-10-2008 05:33PM

Its crap as well as Irish! owned by tv3 now

luckat · 24-10-2008 05:53PM

If I'm buying a TV with the intention of using it with a Freesat/ Sat4Free box and dish, is there anything I need to get or avoid?

redout · 24-10-2008 06:02PM

A dish and a lnb that can clearly point at 28 degree east unobstructed.

luckat · 24-10-2008 06:16PM

I meant in the TV itself. The local shop's guy says their TVs will work with all of the different satellite inputs - I didn't even know there were different ones.

The_Conductor · 24-10-2008 06:27PM

luckat wrote: »

I meant in the TV itself. The local shop's guy says their TVs will work with all of the different satellite inputs - I didn't even know there were different ones.

And so they will.
You have to ask yourself what are you looking for in a television- a massive panel on the wall- a discrete panel, something that stands alone etc. Also- which are you going to go for- a large Plasma screen or a smaller LCD screen. A lot of it is personal preference- and differs from person to person- its not a case of simply saying go onto the web and buy a 42" LCD panel etc- it really depends on what you're looking for, and what you want it to do for you.......

murphaph · 24-10-2008 06:31PM

I don't know much but I recently bought a TV myself so here goes:

There are indeed different ways to connect your sat receiver to your TV, each with its own quality level.

If you are thinking of ever receiving High Definition satellite (you will need a sat receiver capable to do this, most are not) you will obviously need a HD TV. There are varying standards of 'HD' though!

I have a HD Ready TV but I don't (yet) have a HD sat receiver, so I use a simple scart lead to connect them and it's almost as good as it can get. I doubt it's possible to buy any TV (in this part of the world) nowadays which doesn't have a scart input.

So for basic freesat, a basic receiver (non-HD) and a basic TV with scart will suffice.

luckat · 24-10-2008 06:34PM

Hm. My local shop does three brands: Sony, Panasonic and JVC. Normally I'd always buy Panasonic, but the guy there said the JVC actually had a better picture than either Sony or Panasonic in his opinion. Little difference in the price.

I reckon on getting a 32" one and fixing it over the fireplace. Then all I need is the sofa and I can become a prátaí toilge.

The_Conductor · 24-10-2008 06:35PM

You will futureproof your TV if it has an MPEG4 digital tuner built-in, as RTE have to turn off the analogue transmitters by 2012 at the very latest...... A lot of the TVs out there advertise themselves as "digital tuner" etc- avoid them unless they specifically state MPEG4........

S.

luckat · 24-10-2008 06:37PM

Oh, good tip, S, thanks.

barneyeile · 24-10-2008 08:24PM

It has some good shows on it if you bothered to look. Shows like The Wire and Heroes. Just because it's Irish does not mean it is crap!

DMC · 24-10-2008 08:35PM

Channel 6 has a special place, though.

(wayy down the Sky EPG, that is!

)

SteM · 24-10-2008 09:20PM

smccarrick wrote: »

You will futureproof your TV if it has an MPEG4 digital tuner built-in........

Do you know of any set top boxes around at the moment that have an mpeg4 tuner?

24-10-2008 09:20PM

luckat wrote: »

Hm. My local shop does three brands: Sony, Panasonic and JVC. Normally I'd always buy Panasonic, but the guy there said the JVC actually had a better picture than either Sony or Panasonic in his opinion. Little difference in the price.

I reckon on getting a 32" one and fixing it over the fireplace. Then all I need is the sofa and I can become a prátaí toilge.

Over the fireplace is never a good spot to fix an LCD or plasma.
Too hot and smokey there.Plus you are drilling into the chimney wall-never a good thing to be doing!

etcetc · 24-10-2008 09:47PM

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?jspStoreDir=argos&catalogId=1500001151&referredURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2FSearch%3FstoreId%3D10001%26catalogId%3D1500001151%26langId%3D-1%26searchTerms%3DHumax%2BPVR-9150T%2B%26Submit%3DGO%2B%253E&cmpid=COJUN&langId=-1&searchTerms=Humax+PVR-9150T+&referrer=COJUN&Submit=GO+%3E&storeId=10001

is this the humax people are steering towards?

also qualifies for the £10 voucher

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/ArgosPromo3/includeName/giftvoucher1.htm

DMC · 24-10-2008 10:01PM

etcetc wrote: »

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?jspStoreDir=argos&catalogId=1500001151&referredURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2FSearch%3FstoreId%3D10001%26catalogId%3D1500001151%26langId%3D-1%26searchTerms%3DHumax%2BPVR-9150T%2B%26Submit%3DGO%2B%253E&cmpid=COJUN&langId=-1&searchTerms=Humax+PVR-9150T+&referrer=COJUN&Submit=GO+%3E&storeId=10001

is this the humax people are steering towards?

also qualifies for the £10 voucher

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/ArgosPromo3/includeName/giftvoucher1.htm

Thats not for satellite, thats Freeview (Digital Terrestrial, won't work too far south of the border)

luckat · 25-10-2008 11:12AM

bk wrote: »

Of course down at 32" Panasonic don't do Plasma, if you can afford it I'd recommend looking at a Sony W4000 or even better W4500, these are hands down the best LCD's on the market.

By the way "if you can afford it" (nope!) - how much are we talking here?

I'm on a bit of a budget at the moment, but normally I'd buy a TV that would last for as long as possible - TVs are one thing I'd buy at a high spec. My last Panasonic lasted 20 years, and is still going fine down the road in my neighbour's a year after I got rid of it.

But people tell me that now isn't a good time to spend a lot of money on a fancy TV (if you're not going to have it to spend again in a couple of years) because the spec is changing rapidly, and the TV you buy today may be useless five years from now.

I know this has to some extent been answered here - for which, thanks - but could you elucidate on the price of the Sony W4000 and W45000, please?

Mossy Monk · 25-10-2008 11:21AM

luckat wrote: »

the TV you buy today may be useless five years from now.

Because the tuner may not work? Buy a STB, solved.

Sat4Free/Freesat in Ireland

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