Hi All,

I have decided to get a Freesat+HD box but I need a dish, I know I need 2 cable installation but I have seen people mentioning getting 4lnb and describing it as future proof, I take this to mean as boxes get better it may be possible to record several shows at once. Is this right, should I get 4lnb installation instead of two? Other post I have read in the no-to-distant past say 4 lnb installation can be arranged for £100 but I can only find 2lnb install for this price.


Help please, I'm not technically minded, I just want Freesat+HD to be installed and to work, but if I can be ready for any future changes that would be good, to avoid more install charges when tech gets better.

Oh and what do you think of these two boxes

GRUNDIG GUFSDTR500HD 500GB FREESAT+ HD TV RECORDER (Looks very slick)

SAGEM DTR94320S 320GB (Less slick looking but much much cheaper)

All help gratefully received.

Really, a quad LNB is the sensible option because it is the most typeavailable that fits a typical oval dish.

Even though it is possible to get dual LNB's they are probably more expensive and harder to fit to such a dish. It's a little surprising that you say you have found someone who will do a dual install cheaper than a quad.

You do need twin cable, as you say.

A quad LNB will 'future proof' you to a certain extent. It's always possible that someone will bring out a PVR with three tuners or you may want to go multi-room at some point but that is really just a incidental to the fact that a quad is pretty much standard.

As to the PVR's themselves, most people here seem to have gone for the Humax which is very good unless you are extremely prone to power cuts. If you shop around you can get one at a very good price.

A couple of posters have the Sagem and expressed satisfaction but the Gufsat seems to be problematic.

Would recommend the Humax FoxSat HDR personally. Very pleased with mine, and many people on these forums have them.

I echo that - it's the market leader by a long way - the power cut isssue (mentioned above) is promised to be solved in the next firmware update - due shortly.

The Humax has a large following because they were for ages the only option. Remember people always reccommend the one they bought because it sort of validates their decision! Its vey rare that people own two different brands and objectively reccommend one over the other.

I'm no different - buy a sagem! It less expensive, great picture, more modern - Humax HDR is now a bit long in the tooth and they have been promising a fix for that power off issue for literally years...

Agree with you derekb1,

I also have the Sagem (DTR94) PVR. I chose it over the Humax because the SD picture quality was visibly superior (sharp, clean edges etc).
Yes the box has its quirks, but they all do.

Chris.

A 'dual' installation will probably comprise a quad lnb on the dish (as they are often cheaper than twin) and TWO cables to one room. This would then leave two outlets for future use, as and when required.

A full 'quad' install might include more cables to other room(s) at an extra cost.

You'll need to ask potential installers what they will actually supply/do for the price.

Two cables are required for every Freesat+ pvr. One cable is adequate for each receiver.

Can't say anything about the Sagem, but the Goodmans gets bad press and best to avoid. If you want to be able to connect it to your PC to watch recordings and possibly make DVDs easily then there is a modified firmware for the Humax which allows this.

I'm kind of 50% technical (i try things and then they break) but we got a Humax 320 and we really like it. We have a UPS (universal power supply) behind it as we live in France and we do get power cuts. But we have switched it off, taken the plug out of the wall as it were, and we've had no problems.
I have more problems with my 18 month old boy getting hold of the remote and pressing odd buttons i dont know exist than I do with anything else.
Previously ive had a Grundig Sky box and a Digihome Freeview box and it kicks the pair of them in the boules.

Uninterruptible Power Supply.