Which HD source?

ray_01 · 01-11-2007, 17:06

I have full HD lcd tv with built in Freeview.
I don't want Sky movies or sport, I also have a 1080p up-conversion home cinema system, what would you suggest as a source of HD tv that is value for money?

Jarrak · 01-11-2007, 17:24

Right now you have a few simple choices for programming in H, they are via satellite and cable or via optical disk.

Now SKY HD requires a HD box and HD subscription.
A FTA HD box gets you the BBC HD channel and next year Freesat should make that option more practical. VM offer the BBC and HD VOD but you need to get their V+ box which comes with a sub or one off payment (still loaned hardware) plus subscription.
Optical disk those being HD DVD and Blu-ray require a suitable player (from around £200 to £800) with the PS3 and 360/addon sitting in the mid price range, consoles also provide HD gaming.

Right now if you are not willing to spend a decent amount of cash to make full use of your HD telly then I'd wait for Freesat next year which is a non-subscription service with STB's with HD and DVR support.

ray_01 · 01-11-2007, 17:46

Jarrak, many thanks for replying so soon, I will get my thinking cap on. I don't have the option for cable but have a Virgin Freeview box from my old tv , can that be used for HD transmissions?
I used to subscribe to Sky but cancelled about 8 years ago.
They want around £300.00 for a HD box plus installation etc.
I think Virgin is cable but will check it out.

Jarrak · 01-11-2007, 18:22

There are still signs HD could come to Freeview but you will certainly need a new STB and well it's so vague I wouldn't rely on OFCOM to get any of their ideas off the ground.

SKY HD from scratch is expensive that's even before the HD subscription and even less value if sports/movies are of no interest.

You can buy a FTA HD box just for the BBC HD channel (get an independent installer to fit a dish) and then buy a Freesat box in a year or so since the dish will work for both.

ray_01 · 01-11-2007, 18:52

I still have my old SKY dish but the Amstrad box finally packed up about a month ago. Where do I get a FTA HD box and Freesat box?

Jarrak · 01-11-2007, 19:32

A FTA HD box can be found on ebay or a google for UK satellite retailers, PACE and Humax have suitable models they are however useless for the encrypted channels that require a FTV/Freesatfromsky smartcard. Not a great problem if you have Freeview via the aerial so around £100 gets you the BBC in HD and ITV sometime next year.

Freesat isn't out yet so you can not buy anything and no specs on launch models have been announced.

Nigel Goodwin · 01-11-2007, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarrak

A FTA HD box can be found on ebay or a google for UK satellite retailers, PACE and Humax have suitable models they are however useless for the encrypted channels that require a FTV/Freesatfromsky smartcard. Not a great problem if you have Freeview via the aerial so around £100 gets you the BBC in HD and ITV sometime next year.

Bear in mind that this isn't the real price of the Pace HD box, they were £299 just for the box, but as it flopped big time the remaining ones are being dumped at silly prices.

Jarrak · 01-11-2007, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Bear in mind that this isn't the real price of the Pace HD box, they were £299 just for the box, but as it flopped big time the remaining ones are being dumped at silly prices.

Yep but does the consumer care if all they want is a cheap way to watch one or maybe two (LUX thingy atm) FTA HD channels from the satellites that serve the UK?

As long as they know it won't be Freesat capable and know it's limitations buying stuff that has "failed" isn't always a bad thing

ray_01 · 02-11-2007, 14:33

I e-mailed Pace about their HD box and was told that it would work with my old Sky dish but that I would only receive BBC HD, someone else told me my cable from the dish would need replacing. Is that much of a job, and is BBC HD long term or just on trial?

Nigel Goodwin · 02-11-2007, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by ray_01

I e-mailed Pace about their HD box and was told that it would work with my old Sky dish but that I would only receive BBC HD, someone else told me my cable from the dish would need replacing. Is that much of a job, and is BBC HD long term or just on trial?

The trial is due to finish anytinme now, but should be replaced by a 'proper' HD channel.

Jarrak · 02-11-2007, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by ray_01

I e-mailed Pace about their HD box and was told that it would work with my old Sky dish but that I would only receive BBC HD, someone else told me my cable from the dish would need replacing.

If the dish was providing the digital channels on the Amstrad box a couple of months ago it should be fine for BBC HD.

Older installations sometimes have cabling renewed when HD is installed, it's not essential but depending upon the quality of the cable it's required.

01-11-2007, 17:06	#1
ray_01 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 411	Which HD source? I have full HD lcd tv with built in Freeview. I don't want Sky movies or sport, I also have a 1080p up-conversion home cinema system, what would you suggest as a source of HD tv that is value for money?

01-11-2007, 17:24	#2
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	Right now you have a few simple choices for programming in H, they are via satellite and cable or via optical disk. Now SKY HD requires a HD box and HD subscription. A FTA HD box gets you the BBC HD channel and next year Freesat should make that option more practical. VM offer the BBC and HD VOD but you need to get their V+ box which comes with a sub or one off payment (still loaned hardware) plus subscription. Optical disk those being HD DVD and Blu-ray require a suitable player (from around £200 to £800) with the PS3 and 360/addon sitting in the mid price range, consoles also provide HD gaming. Right now if you are not willing to spend a decent amount of cash to make full use of your HD telly then I'd wait for Freesat next year which is a non-subscription service with STB's with HD and DVR support.

01-11-2007, 17:46	#3
ray_01 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 411	Jarrak, many thanks for replying so soon, I will get my thinking cap on. I don't have the option for cable but have a Virgin Freeview box from my old tv , can that be used for HD transmissions? I used to subscribe to Sky but cancelled about 8 years ago. They want around £300.00 for a HD box plus installation etc. I think Virgin is cable but will check it out.

01-11-2007, 18:22	#4
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	There are still signs HD could come to Freeview but you will certainly need a new STB and well it's so vague I wouldn't rely on OFCOM to get any of their ideas off the ground. SKY HD from scratch is expensive that's even before the HD subscription and even less value if sports/movies are of no interest. You can buy a FTA HD box just for the BBC HD channel (get an independent installer to fit a dish) and then buy a Freesat box in a year or so since the dish will work for both.

01-11-2007, 18:52	#5
ray_01 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 411	I still have my old SKY dish but the Amstrad box finally packed up about a month ago. Where do I get a FTA HD box and Freesat box?

01-11-2007, 19:32	#6
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	A FTA HD box can be found on ebay or a google for UK satellite retailers, PACE and Humax have suitable models they are however useless for the encrypted channels that require a FTV/Freesatfromsky smartcard. Not a great problem if you have Freeview via the aerial so around £100 gets you the BBC in HD and ITV sometime next year. Freesat isn't out yet so you can not buy anything and no specs on launch models have been announced.

01-11-2007, 20:34	#7
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by Jarrak A FTA HD box can be found on ebay or a google for UK satellite retailers, PACE and Humax have suitable models they are however useless for the encrypted channels that require a FTV/Freesatfromsky smartcard. Not a great problem if you have Freeview via the aerial so around £100 gets you the BBC in HD and ITV sometime next year. Bear in mind that this isn't the real price of the Pace HD box, they were £299 just for the box, but as it flopped big time the remaining ones are being dumped at silly prices.

01-11-2007, 20:41	#8
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Bear in mind that this isn't the real price of the Pace HD box, they were £299 just for the box, but as it flopped big time the remaining ones are being dumped at silly prices. Yep but does the consumer care if all they want is a cheap way to watch one or maybe two (LUX thingy atm) FTA HD channels from the satellites that serve the UK? As long as they know it won't be Freesat capable and know it's limitations buying stuff that has "failed" isn't always a bad thing

02-11-2007, 14:33	#9
ray_01 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 411	I e-mailed Pace about their HD box and was told that it would work with my old Sky dish but that I would only receive BBC HD, someone else told me my cable from the dish would need replacing. Is that much of a job, and is BBC HD long term or just on trial?

02-11-2007, 15:13	#10
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by ray_01 I e-mailed Pace about their HD box and was told that it would work with my old Sky dish but that I would only receive BBC HD, someone else told me my cable from the dish would need replacing. Is that much of a job, and is BBC HD long term or just on trial? The trial is due to finish anytinme now, but should be replaced by a 'proper' HD channel.

02-11-2007, 16:05	#11
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	Quote: Originally Posted by ray_01 I e-mailed Pace about their HD box and was told that it would work with my old Sky dish but that I would only receive BBC HD, someone else told me my cable from the dish would need replacing. If the dish was providing the digital channels on the Amstrad box a couple of months ago it should be fine for BBC HD. Older installations sometimes have cabling renewed when HD is installed, it's not essential but depending upon the quality of the cable it's required.

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Which HD source?