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Some newbie questions.... |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
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Some newbie questions....
....which I'd be grateful for some answers. I have searched without success.
I have had Sky full package for about ten years now and, considering I can only watch one program at a time, I have decided to ditch sky and get Freesat. I have a new HD TV being delivered next week and need your advice. 1 I would like a Humax HDR but they are like hens teeth. If I buy a HD in the meantime can I still record to my DVD recorder? 2 As per above can I record one channel to my DVD recorder and watch a different channel? (I think probably not). 3 Ref #1 can I record HD to DVD? 4 My new TV has Freeview. Will I be able to watch Freeview through my Sky Sat Dish after I cancel my Sky subscription? The questions may seem simple but many thanks in anticipation. |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Worcester
Posts: 4,185
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Quote:
1 I would like a Humax HDR but they are like hens teeth. If I buy a HD in the meantime can I still record to my DVD recorder? 2 As per above can I record one channel to my DVD recorder and watch a different channel? (I think probably not). 3 Ref #1 can I record HD to DVD? 4 My new TV has Freeview. Will I be able to watch Freeview through my Sky Sat Dish after I cancel my Sky subscription? 2 no 3 no 4 Freeview comes through the aerial but freesat comes through the dish and therefore yes you will get freesat without a sky sub |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
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That makes it clear - many thanks
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Co. Donegal
Posts: 797
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Quote:
....which I'd be grateful for some answers. I have searched without success.
I have had Sky full package for about ten years now and, considering I can only watch one program at a time, I have decided to ditch sky and get Freesat. I have a new HD TV being delivered next week and need your advice. 1 I would like a Humax HDR but they are like hens teeth. If I buy a HD in the meantime can I still record to my DVD recorder?. Quote:
2 As per above can I record one channel to my DVD recorder and watch a different channel? (I think probably not)..
No, not a freesat channel, but you will be able to watch a Freeview channel tuned in on the TV whilst recording from the freesat STB.Quote:
3 Ref #1 can I record HD to DVD?.
No.Quote:
4 My new TV has Freeview. Will I be able to watch Freeview through my Sky Sat Dish after I cancel my Sky subscription?.
You need an ordinary TV aeriel to watch Freeview. So, the answer is, "No, you won't be able to watch Freeview through your Sky Sat Dish before or after you cancel the Sky subscription". However, if you have an ordinary aeriel connected to the TV you will be able to watch the Freeview channels without any subscription.
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Worcester
Posts: 4,185
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Quote:
That makes it clear - many thanks
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#6 |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Co. Donegal
Posts: 797
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Some more thoughts.
Do you have an ordinary TV aeriel that can get good Freeview reception? If not, the additional cost of an aerial installation in a poor Freeview reception area could well make it worth your while to just get the HDR and forget about Freeview. It shouldn't be too long before they are more readily available (hopefully, I'm still trying to get one). If you can get good Freeview reception, why are you thinking about freesat? A Freeview PVR would be a good alternative and they are readily available. |
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5
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Freesat+ to other rooms
I have read these comments with interest. I have an ordinary Sky box and have 'magic-eyes' in two other rooms. If I get a Freesat + will I be able to continue to access programmes, as before, and will I be able to access recorded programmes, in the other rooms? Many thanks in anticipation.
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Co. Donegal
Posts: 797
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Quote:
I have read these comments with interest. I have an ordinary Sky box and have 'magic-eyes' in two other rooms. If I get a Freesat + will I be able to continue to access programmes, as before, and will I be able to access recorded programmes, in the other rooms? Many thanks in anticipation.
You also say you have an ordinary Sky box. That probably means the dish only has a single LNB. You will need to change that to a quad (or twin) LNB and run a second cable to the HDR. It is possible to use the HDR in a limited fashion with only a single connection, but you need two for it to work fully. There's a number of threads covering this. Again, if you are in a good Freeview reception area, you should think about a Freeview PVR. It is easier to distribute Freeview around the house as you can simply split the aeriel feed. You can't do that with a satellite dish as each tuner needs an independent connection. Freesat does not offer a lot that is not on Freeview, and Freeview has some channels that are not on freesat. If it is HD channels that you are thinking about, remember that, at present, there is only a limited service on BBC HD and an even more limited service on ITV HD. Hopefully, that will improve in the future, but HD will also be coming to Freeview (although new kit will be needed to receive it). |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5
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Freesat+ to other rooms
Thank you very much awo1949 for a very prompt and helpful reply. My Sky dish has a single LNB and I thought (and hoped) that I might just replace the Sky box connection into the Freesat+ box, because I do not wish to continue to subscribe to Sky. We have no Freeview signal and the new Digital signal should be available in March 2010. I hope someone will be able to direct me to any helpful thread. As a silver surfer, all this new technology is very trying! In fact I think I am losing my 'thread!' Thanks again.
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,287
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Quote:
Thank you very much awo1949 for a very prompt and helpful reply. My Sky dish has a single LNB and I thought (and hoped) that I might just replace the Sky box connection into the Freesat+ box, because I do not wish to continue to subscribe to Sky. We have no Freeview signal and the new Digital signal should be available in March 2010. I hope someone will be able to direct me to any helpful thread. As a silver surfer, all this new technology is very trying! In fact I think I am losing my 'thread!' Thanks again.
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 900
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Quote:
You do realise that if you stop paying sky that your existing sky box will get all the sd channels that you can get on Freesat plus a few more, just leave your card in the slot. You can still use the rf output from the sky box to feed other TV's.
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,287
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Quote:
He might struggle to record to a hard disk though! Whilst the the Humax PVR will work to some extent with one cable, fitting a twin/quad LNB and having two cables is the preferred option and not normally a major expense, especially if done as DIY.
Last edited by grahamlthompson : 08-01-2009 at 21:34. Reason: typo |
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5
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Freesat+ to other rooms
As one who obviously has had a 'technology bypass', I thank everyone for your continued patience and help. I have a DVD recorder and am able to record both analogue and Sky broadcasts. The reason I am considering a Freesat+, is because I (like Michael Parkinson) am very impressed with the ease of Sky+ (which my brother uses), but do not want to pay Sky for HD. I understand that the Humax is similar in operation. I know that I will have many free channels from Sky if I cease subscribing, but not HD unless I pay for it, and, despite my advanced years, I am looking to the future. The ability to view both transmitted and recorded services is essential. Is there anything further to add please?
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Co. Donegal
Posts: 797
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Quote:
As one who obviously has had a 'technology bypass', I thank everyone for your continued patience and help. I have a DVD recorder and am able to record both analogue and Sky broadcasts. The reason I am considering a Freesat+, is because I (like Michael Parkinson) am very impressed with the ease of Sky+ (which my brother uses), but do not want to pay Sky for HD. I understand that the Humax is similar in operation. I know that I will have many free channels from Sky if I cease subscribing, but not HD unless I pay for it, and, despite my advanced years, I am looking to the future. The ability to view both transmitted and recorded services is essential. Is there anything further to add please?
Just to confirm, the Foxsat HDR is (at present) the only option if you - do not want to pay a subscription, - want to be able to record one channel while watching another **, - want ease of use similar to Sky+, - cannot get a Freeview signal, - and, for the sake of completeness, don't want to get involved with more complicated solutions such as generic FTA receivers (that may or may not have been adapted to give something like the freesat EPG). ** Also just to confirm, you will need to upgrade your dish to a quad (or twin) LNB with two connections to the HDR for recording of one channel while viewing another to be unrestricted. |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 250
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Quote:
The reason I am considering a Freesat+, is because I (like Michael Parkinson) am very impressed with the ease of Sky+ (which my brother uses)
The Humax PVR is not as easy to use as sky+ and does have a few quirks It provides much more functionality but there is a trade off with ease of use. That's not to say that you won't find the humax pvr easy to use after some practice, but it does take a while to get used to if you have previously been used to sky+ I am slowly warming to mine. |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Worcester
Posts: 4,185
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Quote:
A word of caution (at the risk of being attacked from all sides !!)
The Humax PVR is not as easy to use as sky+ and does have a few quirks It provides much more functionality but there is a trade off with ease of use. |
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
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I have only just come back to this thread and I thank other members for their contribution. I didn't know that I could still get Freeview SD through my Sky box when I cancel.
Also, I appreciate that Freeview is easier but my intentions are to be able to see "some" HD channels without having to pay the exorbitant Sky fees. Thanks again
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,287
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Quote:
I have only just come back to this thread and I thank other members for their contribution. I didn't know that I could still get Freeview SD through my Sky box when I cancel.
Also, I appreciate that Freeview is easier but my intentions are to be able to see "some" HD channels without having to pay the exorbitant Sky fees. Thanks again ![]() |
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
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Thanks Graham....so just to clarify - I will be able to receive Freesat channels through my Sky Box and Dish after the Sky subscription ends?
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,287
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Quote:
Thanks Graham....so just to clarify - I will be able to receive Freesat channels through my Sky Box and Dish after the Sky subscription ends?
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