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Old 08-04-2009, 10:47
LDW
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Hi to everyone on this useful forum - and I hope you won't mind my asking for advice - at length!

I recently needed an aerial upgrade and havered between terrestrial and dish / Humax PVR.

With only a 32" TV I wasn't sure if I'd notice the difference, and there still doesn't seem to be enough HD content yet. Plus I see from this forum that the bugs in recording aren't 100% sorted in the Humax PVR (eg when programmes run late unannounced conflicts can prevent recording).

It seemed to me that my combination of Pace Twin and FVRT200 was still unbeatable - 14-day EPG, record three channels at once.

Anyhow, I finally settled against Freesat. I know I'm asking the converted here, but did I make the wrong call?

I see that some people here have Freesat AND Freeview (how is that managed? Separate aerial downleads?), so should I be thinking about going down that route in the near future?
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Old 08-04-2009, 11:00
awo1949
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If you're getting reliable Freeview reception, and you've already bought the kit, I suggest you stick with what you've got for the time being. Review things again in (say) a year's time. A lot is likely to happen between now and then so, if you're reasonably happy with what you've got now, it should be worth waiting. The sort things that are likely to happen are a major firmware update to HDR, competative freesat PVRs becoming available, more HD channels, and HD coming to Freeview. Freeview HD will require new kit and will depend on where you live in this timesacle, but it will happen by the completion of digital switch over.
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Old 08-04-2009, 11:02
grahamlthompson
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?

I see that some people here have Freesat AND Freeview (how is that managed? Separate aerial downleads?), so should I be thinking about going down that route in the near future?
A dish for satellite and an aerial for freeview. You can combine one lnb (sat) and freeview (plus radio) onto one cable if you wish. This requires a diplexer at both ends. Often simpler to run seperate coax cables though
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Old 08-04-2009, 12:56
savvy
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.........I see that some people here have Freesat AND Freeview (how is that managed? Separate aerial downleads?), so should I be thinking about going down that route in the near future?
I have both, Freesat+ via dish with 2 leads, Freeview+ with Aerial & distributed leads. Very useful for backup recordings, e.g. the weekday soaps quite often start early/late/overrun, and the broadcasters seem to send the start/stop signals differently on Freeview & Freesat. The same applies to Series Link consistency. Where we have occasionally been caught out on one platform, invariably the other has the programme start/end OK.

But then again, I am a belt & braces man

Rgds.

Les.
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Old 08-04-2009, 14:14
Caz42
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It seemed to me that my combination of Pace Twin and FVRT200 was still unbeatable - 14-day EPG, record three channels at once.
Is that the Digifusion you have LDW? If so I'm amazed you found one that lasted longer than 6 months!!!! I went through 4 of those, loved the box but they all overheat and are so unreliable as they crash constantly......geez, that brings back memories.

That aside, I have Freeview x3 (Inverto, the best ) and Freesat so it really depends what you want to watch. I have 8 tuners so can record many progs at once and of course still have the briliant 14 day TV guide from 4TV but thats not the issue. If you want the HD content and more films maybe, then Freesat is for you. I got it for the True movies, Simply films and more reality TV. The HD is brilliant and the David Attenborough stuff is amazing on HD.

So, it really depends on what you want from the channels I think. I have both and enjoy them equally
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Old 08-04-2009, 17:35
Bolander
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I added the HDR to my Pace Twin and am still using both - it allows me to set up recordings on Fiive USA from the Pace EPG and watch any channel on that when both tuners are recording on the Humax. It seems to be the ideal way to get the best of both worlds
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Old 09-04-2009, 12:25
LDW
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Thanks for all the very helpful responses.

Yes, I'm still struggling on with the Digifusion 145 (the 200 is in the loft awaiting the death of the 145 - maybe I'll be able to make one live one from two dead ones??!!)

Or more likely, I'll go Humax HD when the 145 expires.

Thing is, I'm hooked on the 14 day EPG. I still can't believe the other manufacturers haven't picked up on it. Maybe eventually there will be a way for boxes to download all programme info from an internet connection?

What I'd REALLY like is one box, with three or four tuners, a nice big HD drive, and an integrated DVD/BD recorder. And if it could make great coffee as well....
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Old 09-04-2009, 13:30
gkite
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Is that the Digifusion you have LDW? If so I'm amazed you found one that lasted longer than 6 months!!!! I went through 4 of those, loved the box but they all overheat and are so unreliable as they crash constantly......geez, that brings back memories.
ah how I miss my Digifusion FVRT100, with its replacement power supply, additional power supply dedicated to the disk drive and mains cable trailing out from under the lid It was the RF input socket that did for it in the end, non-stop pixellation unless you could wedge the cable in just the right place. Completely stable for the last few years as well.
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Old 09-04-2009, 15:47
davemurgatroyd
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Really Freeview and freesat compliment each other - both have channels that are not available on the other. So for the best of UK free TV you need both.

I too have a Pace Twin and an FVRT200 both going trong with no rpoblems with either since purchase, BUT I have Sky HD and multi-satellite and not freesat (my interest in motor racing is catered for very poorly on free UK TV)
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