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Old 08-01-2009, 11:44
stepheno
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....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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Old 08-01-2009, 11:50
GaseousClay
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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?

1 yes
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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Old 08-01-2009, 12:00
stepheno
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That makes it clear - many thanks
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Old 08-01-2009, 12:01
awo1949
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....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?.
Yes.

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.

3 Ref #1 can I record HD to DVD?.
No.

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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Old 08-01-2009, 12:05
GaseousClay
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That makes it clear - many thanks
your welcome. and welcome to the forum too
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Old 08-01-2009, 12:15
awo1949
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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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Old 08-01-2009, 12:18
jangra
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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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Old 08-01-2009, 12:34
awo1949
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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.
In principle, yes, but it's a lot more complicated than with the Sky box. You will need a SCART to UHF converter to distribute the signal to other rooms plus some gizmos to relay the remote control signals. There's a thread on these somewhere, perhaps someone will point you to it. It will end up rather expensive.

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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Old 08-01-2009, 17:43
jangra
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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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Old 08-01-2009, 18:00
grahamlthompson
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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.
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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Old 08-01-2009, 19:04
machare
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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.
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.
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Old 08-01-2009, 21:33
grahamlthompson
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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.
I simply assumed because he said he did not wish to continue subscribing to sky he must have an existing sky stb. Hundreds may be thousands of sky subscribers don't realise that all freesat channels are available on a non subscribed box. The suggestion was not intended in any way to suggest that he could record simply that he was paying for a service that he did not need. It's obvious that the OP would be happy with the free to air channels and he can have them now at zero cost. If he wants to record the occasional programme there is always the option of an el cheapo DVD recorder. As you say the Humax hdr deserves two lnb feeds to give 100% functionality but in reality it offers a surprising degree of functionality with only 1 lnb. (tuner 1 looped to tuner 2)

Last edited by grahamlthompson : 08-01-2009 at 21:34. Reason: typo
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Old 09-01-2009, 12:11
jangra
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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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Old 09-01-2009, 13:50
awo1949
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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?
Not really, you seem to have it spot on.

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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Old 09-01-2009, 14:09
PaulB67
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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)
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.

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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Old 09-01-2009, 14:30
GaseousClay
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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.
Also the manual is not going to win any awards but at least you know where to get help on the forum.
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Old 10-01-2009, 17:11
stepheno
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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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Old 10-01-2009, 17:53
grahamlthompson
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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
That's freesat not freeview. Freeview is free terrestrial digital TV (from an aerial not a dish)
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Old 10-01-2009, 19:29
stepheno
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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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Old 10-01-2009, 19:58
grahamlthompson
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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?
There aren't any Freesat channels as such they are all free to air but some pay freesat to be on the freesat epg. You can get them on any fta box but you can't necessarily get the freesar epg (Some fta boxes can even get the epg). Pull your card out to convert your Sky box to a fta box. You will lose Five (but can get it back as a fta channel) The others like Fiver and Five US will need a card but don't need a subscription (you can get them on freeview)
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