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Freesat HD set top/recording box recommendations.


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Old 21-08-2010, 18:26
XPC465
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Hello there to all you good forum members again.
It is now 12 months since I had Sky+ HD installed in my home. As I could count on one hand, how many times I have watched an actual Sky programme, I am about to cancel my full subscription to Sky, and purchase a Freesat HD recording box.
The problem is, having read numerous reviews about freesat boxes, I have found that all of them have numerous negative points made about them. e.g. users giving only 1 point out of 5. I have yet to find one where the recommendations far outway the negative points.
For this reason I would like youi good forum members out there, who have been using a freesat box, to give me your opinion of what box is least likely to dissappoint me.
I do not care what brand it is, or the cost, as long as I can purchase a very good quality freesat box.
Many thanks to all who offer advice on this matter.
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Old 21-08-2010, 18:35
c4rv
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Can you get freeview in your area, they seem to have a larger range of HD channels available and the boxes seem to be more reliable.

Also there is a way of enabling the recording function of Sky+ box without subscription for the free to air stuff (basically the same channels as Freesat). Google it.
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Old 21-08-2010, 19:00
webbie
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I don't know much about them, but if I were you I'd read the following from what hifi: http://whathifi.com/News/Problems-wi...-HD-the-facts/
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Old 21-08-2010, 21:20
XPC465
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Many thanks for your input c4rv and webbie. My television set has built in freeview, but as Freesat has several more channels than freeview, I would prefer to have a Freesat box, and cancel my Sky subscriptions, which I feel is throwing money down the drain, as I seldom view Sky subscription programmes. Will definitely look into both your suggestions, in the hope of coming to a decision.
Many thanks again.
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Old 21-08-2010, 21:36
c4rv
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I was wondering which extra chanels you are referring to on freesat, I didn't think there were any ?
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Old 21-08-2010, 21:46
David (2)
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Freeview has more HD channels than Freesat - but a lot of people cant get Freeview yet, and some of those who can suffer from reception issues - no such problem with Freesat (or Sky).

Humax make a FreesatHD pvr (like a Sky+HD box), but only for free channels. Same wire up as well. I have seen a lot of stuff on the net re poor quality freesat equipment from Grundig and Bush, inc odd but serious stuff like dirty power supply which downgrades your satellite signal strength leading to reception issues. I would stick with a Humax box if you went with the freesat hd route.

So the situation is, more free hd on Freeview HD, but Freesat HD is the better system but has less free HD channels. Another option to consider would be to downgrade your Sky subscription rather than stop it. This would give you the most HD content and the advantage of still being on the satellite system.
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Old 21-08-2010, 22:09
XPC465
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Thanks for your input David(2), I have been looking at the box you recommended, but it does have quite a few negative reports on review pages. It does however have bbc i player, which is an advantage. I considered completely downgrading my Sky subscription, but I have been told that I would have to pay a minmum of £10 per month, JUST to use the Sky box with Freesat. I would rather invest in a good Freesat box of my own.
Many thanks again for your views David(2).
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Old 21-08-2010, 22:10
c4rv
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Don't know for sure but I am guessing a Sky FTV card does not allow Sky+ ?
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Old 22-08-2010, 18:01
David (2)
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i think you need to subscribe to at least one package or MIX to get the + Recording ability retained on Sky. If you dont, and you would need to pay the £10 pm to hold on to the + recording feature, and if you didnt pay that you would be left with in effect a plain Sky digi box with the + recording ability disabled.
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Old 22-08-2010, 18:38
XPC465
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Many thanks David(2), my enquiries to Sky reveal that if I cancel all my channel subscriptions, I will still have to pay Sky £10 per month, (possibly going up) to use the recording facility of the Sky box. I am not prepared to do this, as I feel that £10 per month to use a box to which I have partly contributed, is atking the micky. Sky said that the £10 is NOT for using the box, but for allowing their programmes, via the wavelegths etc., to be recorded onto a recorder.
If that is the case, how can I purchase a Freesat box and record the same programmes for free.
Many thanks for your input David(2).
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Old 22-08-2010, 18:56
call100
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May I suggest you use a forum where the knowledge of the subject you want to research is a bit broader....Try here..AV Forums - Freesat
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Old 22-08-2010, 23:55
RobAnt
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The answer is not to rely on boxes built for only one type of service.

Use a PC and DVB-T or DVB-S PCI or USB cards. There will soon be DVB-T2 cards for UK HD Freeview (some countries can receive HD Freeview using simple DVB-T).

DVB-S cards can receive so much more than just Freesat.

Windows 7 comes with the Windows 7 Media Centre, which does a good job these days of providing an EPG too.

And, if you already have a PC with a DVI or HDMI output (most modern computers do), then connecting them to your LCD or Plasma widescreen TV is straightforward.

Another bonus is cost. Again, if you already have a suitable PC, then a receiver card can act as a PVR, writing to the PCs hard drive, for as little as £30, or even less.

Get a Hauppauge card, and it comes with a WMC capable remote control, too.
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Old 23-08-2010, 01:05
call100
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Because a computer is so reliable eh??? I understand what you are saying but even your method cannot be deemed as foolproof.
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Old 23-08-2010, 05:25
RobAnt
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Reliability is not an issue with my computers. But, of course, it's a matter of horses for courses.

From my point of view, it's better to pay £30 for a card to go into a box that has the potential and often sits around for hours, or even days, in an unproductive manner then spend £200 on a box before you find out it can't do what you want anyway!

Home Theatre PCs are the future, in my view, and W7MC certainly goes a long way towards improving the value of any future computer purchase.
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Old 23-08-2010, 08:20
call100
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You may be right about the future. But, for now the OP wants a Freesat box for under his TV....
Probably the Humax would be best. My father-in-law has one and never had any problems with it. His computer however.......another story!
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Old 23-08-2010, 10:17
XPC465
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Many, many thanks for all your replies, which have proved very helpful, and indeed, given me food for thought. I will definitely approach the situation, with all your recommendations first and foremost, and hopefully come up with a satisfactory conclusion. Many thanks again to all you good forum members.
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Old 23-08-2010, 10:31
gomezz
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Home Theatre PCs are the future, in my view
For some maybe. Not for everybody.
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Old 23-08-2010, 10:32
RubusRoo
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I do not believe a better alternative to Windows 7 & Windows Media Center exists currently that allows you to access ALL your media at the touch of the remote control. I've got terrabytes of moves, tv & music all available on external hard drives without the need to get off the sofa.

Vista WMC was not as reliable, but the version with Win 7 has never let me down.
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Old 23-08-2010, 13:25
c4rv
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As much as love HTPC (and I run 3 of them), I wouldn't give one to my or anybody who is no willing to put the effort in to support them. Some people want a simple box they can switch on and watch and record tv reliably and HTPC isn't it.
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Old 23-08-2010, 14:46
MM61
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Hi.........Sorry to intrude on here, have only just come across these forums, so not sure if im on right one even. Im far from techy minded, having been through school before calculators, but i just wanted to know, having purchased tv`s with freeview and HD ready why any current HD channels cannot be viewed. Do i have to do anything or buy anything to be able to do this, i assumed i would just be able to watch HD. Would be grateful for any assistance even if only to point me in the direction of another forum..........Thanks
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Old 23-08-2010, 14:49
RobAnt
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You'd be surprised how many of these limited stand alone boxes are actually based on PC technology in the first instance. Many are simply a processor, chipset and (in the case of PVRs) hard drive with a Linux or Java front end.
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Old 23-08-2010, 15:05
RobAnt
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Hi.........Sorry to intrude on here, have only just come across these forums, so not sure if im on right one even. Im far from techy minded, having been through school before calculators, but i just wanted to know, having purchased tv`s with freeview and HD ready why any current HD channels cannot be viewed. Do i have to do anything or buy anything to be able to do this, i assumed i would just be able to watch HD. Would be grateful for any assistance even if only to point me in the direction of another forum..........Thanks
Ok - Freeview and HD Ready are two different things.

Freeview is a set of digitally encoded television channels transmitted from land based base stations.

HD Ready is the basic level of technology required to view high definition (ie higher than CRT analogue based televisions) programming.

So one is related to transmission, the other is related to ability to view.

Freeview HD is viewable on HD Ready TVs, but in addition your TV (and Freeview Receiver - often a separate "Set Top Box" (STB)) need to be able to receive the Freeview HD signal.

If the TV or STB are rated to receive Freeview, that doesn't mean they can show high definition alone. Your TV or STB must be able to receive "Freeview HD".

Having said that, High Definition TV isn't limited to Freeview. There are alternative services - Freesat, Sky and Virgin Cable all provide both High Defintion and Standard Definition services.

There is a further technicality I must make you aware of with Freeview. The TV, STB or other delivery method (such as a computer) must host a DVB-T2 chipset. Freeview standard definition only requires DVB-T chipsets.

There is a better technology for high definition too, FullHD (found on many TVs today) is capable of even higher resolution than HD Ready.

I've tried to keep this as simple as I can, but it is a complicated, multi-faceted, subject and avoiding terms like "DVB-T" are almost unavoidable.

Not all TV channels are transmitted in high definition, either. Some still aren't even embracing wide screen programming, yet.
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Old 23-08-2010, 15:22
MM61
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Ok - Freeview and HD Ready are two different things.

Freeview is a set of digitally encoded television channels transmitted from land based base stations.

HD Ready is the basic level of technology required to view high definition (ie higher than CRT analogue based televisions) programming.

So one is related to transmission, the other is related to ability to view.

Freeview HD is viewable on HD Ready TVs, but in addition your TV (and Freeview Receiver - often a separate "Set Top Box" (STB)) need to be able to receive the Freeview HD signal.

If the TV or STB are rated to receive Freeview, that doesn't mean they can show high definition alone. Your TV or STB must be able to receive "Freeview HD".

Having said that, High Definition TV isn't limited to Freeview. There are alternative services - Freesat, Sky and Virgin Cable all provide both High Defintion and Standard Definition services.

There is a further technicality I must make you aware of with Freeview. The TV, STB or other delivery method (such as a computer) must host a DVB-T2 chipset. Freeview standard definition only requires DVB-T chipsets.

There is a better technology for high definition too, FullHD (found on many TVs today) is capable of even higher resolution than HD Ready.

I've tried to keep this as simple as I can, but it is a complicated, multi-faceted, subject and avoiding terms like "DVB-T" are almost unavoidable.

Not all TV channels are transmitted in high definition, either. Some still aren't even embracing wide screen programming, yet.
Thanks for taking the time to reply even though most of it is still beyond me. I get the the part now where freeview and HD are totally different but I can`t make out whether i need a set top box aswell or to opt for freesat, maybe its best i just stick to the freeview channels as they are, thankyou again for your time.
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Old 23-08-2010, 15:41
RobAnt
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Thanks for taking the time to reply even though most of it is still beyond me. I get the the part now where freeview and HD are totally different but I can`t make out whether i need a set top box aswell or to opt for freesat, maybe its best i just stick to the freeview channels as they are, thankyou again for your time.
If your TV says "Freeview" and not "Freeview HD", then you will need to abandon use of the TVs built in Freeview receiver and buy a separate "Freeview HD" set top box.

A Freesat HD box is certainly an alternative, but Freesat HD has less HD channels.

Sky supply the most HD channels, with Virgin catching up slowly.

If you buy a "Freexxx HD" set top box with recording capabilities, you can still use the TVs built in standard definition Freeview receiver if you want to watch one side, and record another.

You may need to read what I have written a couple of times before it sinks in.

Remember, though, that Sky and Freesat require a satellite dish, while Virgin Cable isn't available everywhere in the UK.
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Old 23-08-2010, 16:09
c4rv
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You'd be surprised how many of these limited stand alone boxes are actually based on PC technology in the first instance. Many are simply a processor, chipset and (in the case of PVRs) hard drive with a Linux or Java front end.
Totally agree, but they are not general purpose computers, only limited number of tasks that can be completely tested. Effectivily embedded devices.
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