Is the satellite tuner on the Sony XH85 range any good?

salnado wrote: »

I have been using Freesat on a 32" Samsung for a number of years and works well.

I'm looking to upgrade to a 49/50" and looking at the Sony KD49XH9505 because of the various other capabilities (Homekit, Airplay, Chromecast etc...). This has 2 x sat inputs but I don't think it has a Freesat tuner. My question is, if it doesn't have Freesat tuner what is Sony's Sat tuner like...do you get any EPG..can you record series etc.?

Thanks in advance

If it doesn't have Freesat most likely to just get now and next, series link would be out but you could just set timed recordings, fairly reliable you just have to be conscious of program changes or overruns.

My Sony Bravia KDL-32W654A is connected dirrectly to the dish. Works perfectly! I have it for 5 years.

decor58 wrote: »

Just curious, does the TV have Freesat , i.e. channels in order, full epg, etc, or did you have to reorder the channels, now and next epg.

To be honest I don't know. I just did full scan, and from the "digital channel list" grabbed my favourites. There are 4 folders to sort them out. In fact I just watch few channels.

salnado wrote: »

It doesn't have Freesat, that's why I was looking for feedback on the tuner/EPG provided by Sony

If it doesn't have Freesat, it'll be difficult. I've used a Sony Android TV before with satellite and no Freesat and it was a horrible interface to tune and manage stations.

Phil.x wrote: »

Get a Walker tv.

Rather than a Sony XH85, you can't be serious. Comparing a top of the range Sony TV to a budget brand is laughable

A Samsung QLED (with Freesat) like this would be a better choice. Or, if still keen on the Sony then get a separate Freesat external box and use the Sony for any smart apps/casting and Saorview.

mackersdublin wrote: »

Rather than a Sony XH85, you can't be serious. Comparing a top of the range Sony TV to a budget brand is laughable

i have a walker tv no problems works on satellite and saorview and internet comparing to sony its different but most of the tv's now made are made by some body else panasonic tv's are made in the same factory as walker tv s even the remote's are the same but u are buying the name like panasonic

salnado wrote: »

It doesn't have Freesat, that's why I was looking for feedback on the tuner/EPG provided by Sony

My question was to Alex Sky Doctor.

salnado wrote: »

I went ahead and bought the KD49XH8505. Delivered yesterday and set it up (choosing UK as location). On initial setup only standard satellite tuner was available but then ran a software update and was pleasantly surprised to see a Freesat tuner appear with all the Freesat features. Sony don't mention Freesat in the release notes for this firmware update so not sure if this applies to other models too: https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/lcd-tvs-android-xh85xx_x85xxh_xh91xx-series/kd-49xh8505/downloads/00017076

Impressed so far with the TV, great picture and has all of Freesat, Chromecast, AirPlay, and Homekit.

Just to confirm you have a full Freesat guide and presumably can schedule recordings on this?
Presumably beacuse you have a UK setup you cannot have a saorview guide and schedule recordings on that?
Good news that Freesat might be back with Sony

Dec4 wrote: »

Brilliant, thanks very much for the pics Salnado.
Looks like my new TV will be a Sony:)

I'd highly recommend it. I just got the x9296h (x9005h) and the interface is the best I've used. Pressing TV and down let's you flick between sources and you can also switch while in the EPG.

You can even change where the TV button takes you. I have mine set to launch straight into Freesat instead of the default 'Live TV & catch-up'.

Plus being Android TV you can even set up shortcuts using the button remapper app. It was worth the €4 to change the Google video button to YouTube.

PFML84 wrote: »

Can someone with this TV confirm if the EPG can bu customised in any way? Can channels be renamed/reordered and in the EPG can you turn off the programme description appearing below the title?

If you have normal satellite channels (not on 28.2E) can they be displayed in the same screen as your DTT channels or do they all have separate guides? Thanks.

With a Freesat EPG (which is a good thing for most users) - channels cannot be renamed or moved. Freesat and DTT will be seperate guides.

What you require can be done with an Enigma2 box. I've Saorview, 28.8E channels and other sat channels in one EPG, fully editable. You won't findt a TV with the same customization capabilities.

Sounds like its designed for use in mainland Europe. Try Amazon.de to see if they have something.

salnado wrote: »

That's not correct. Some of the larger Sony's have Freesat tuners e.g. kd55xh9005

Ah I see, you had intended buying the xh9005, but were put off maybe by that Simplyelectricals list ? I can't imagine the firmware is so different that the upgrade does not apply to the xh9005. (Aka xh9096 and xh9296). I went for the 9005 after side by side comparison of it and the 8196, the full array LED was noticeably better, stood up well beside a 55 Qled. The 9005 has bluetooth audio, important dealbreaker for late night viewing using the bt headphones.
I've updated the firmware, no sign of Freesat, probably because i'm still in region IRL. I'll factory reset and start again, it's bound to work, as its listed in Currys as Freesat, albeit with the UK region warning.
I tried out an android channel listing app, it rescanned Astra, and when done it was still only now next, but sat list was fully expertly sorted and renumbered, with ITV HD and CH4 HD prominent, unlike Freesat which ignores HD versions on it's list. Best features, whose absence tested my patience on my Damsung Qled, it's a few presses to change from Saorview to Sat, and better again, you can mix them in a favourites list, then just horse up and down with the P +/- buttons. Samsung takes 11 presses just to change tuners, favourites are also strictly segregated. Picture is extremely good, upscaling of measly 520 pixel sub SD VM Saorview channels is extremely good. Im nowhere near trying out all the google/alexa stuff, though I cast a streamed match from my laptop to the chromecast, it was as good as the dodgy source. Lots to play with. Oh btw, there's an APK installer app that works on the Android, it might be useful for installing unlisted apps. I tried it with Virgin media Player APK, it said installing but just hung there waiting. I think there's a different file split structure required, I'll have another go later.

It did, no bother. General sat scan also came in with the list fully ordered, albeit with just now/next. Saorview all over the shop, channels start at 800 but its a cinch to order it, and move it to ch1,2 etc. Favourites can combine all three sources, e.g , Ch4 HD is not in Freesat, but its easy to drop it in the favourites list along with all the Freesat equipped channels. I might make a seperate favourites list for swmbo, RTE1, VM1, Sky news. No possibility of getting lost in the epg.
Must see can I put RTE player back on, it's not available now with the change of region.

freddy99 wrote: »

I see that Sony have started to update firmware for older Android models to make them Freesat compatible. I have a 2019 XF8096. Has anyone had any success with Freesat on this model? I just don’t want to do a full reset and start from scratch with UK postcode unless it will work.
Thanks.

Xf series is not specifically mentioned on any lists, but then there's no mention at all on sony sites of Freesat upgrade. You'll just have to try it. You have to factory reset TV to get the region choice on setup, it's not available as a soft option once setup is completed. Backup your IRL channel lists to USB, in case you revert, it'll save the long Astra scan.
If Freesat does appear as a tuner choice, it's extremely fast to scan as it just pulls the data from the Freesat epg data TP channel. Saorview will be a mess in the 800s channel range, but it's a cinch to edit, delete and re-number. If you open the IRL channel file backup in notepad, you can change the region tag to UK and the TV will now read it, but it's no big hassle to run a rescan of Astra for General satellite in order to get the channels not listed on Freesat, CH4 HD in particular.
You can mix them in favourites list, but only sequentially afaik, with say a choice of Terrestrial followed by freesat listing followed by additional general satellite, but not interspersed, you can't push CH4 HD into the Freesat segment. No big deal if your favourites list is tight. My General satellite list scanned fully sorted btw, not the random mess you usually get with dozens of CH4 at the head. I'm not sure if this is a feature of the scan or the work of an EPG app I installed when in IRL region, it was originally a mess, the app sorted it, but then I reset and changed regions, and the new full Astra Genenal scan came out sorted, so it and Freesat are perfect companions in the source list.
It's a pleasure to jump from sat to terrestrial, unlike the Samsung nightmare, favourites allows 7 day epg of either, but a single press of TV button defaults to your chosen tuner/source, so swmbo can slam back to RTE1 on button 1 if the set is on sat or YouTube, Netflix, browser etc. Browser works very well for streams also, and VM player works on it, which is cool as their android app is not TV compatible. Only annoyance is RTE player disappears of course in region UK, and their web version doesn't work on the browser, but I already have an Apple tv box with it, and If you want you can install alternative browsers from the play store. Better though if I spend more time watching, and less time fiddling.

salnado wrote: »

Great tip thanks, hadn't thought of that for VM player - works for me too.



Mine was UK from the start and I was able to install RTE Player and it works fine, so strange that it is not working for you.

I'll give it another shot. I would have thought it would install based on ROI IP address, but play store is listing the telly as not suitable. It was preinstalled after first ROI region setup.