Freesat Query

poppysocks1

Apologies for appearing a bit dim but I really dont know the answer.

Basically my mum just moved house and her analogue tv reception is poor, making it hard to watch tv. There is a satellite dish on the side of the house, but she doesnt have sky or want a subscription but i wondered if she could have Freesat and if so was going to buy her one of the following as a moving in present:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5321571/Trail/searchtext>FREESAT.htm

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5321557/Trail/searchtext>FREESAT.htm

However how do I know the satellite dish works and it will be ok if I bought one of the above?
Any advice appreciated, as I am not technically minded and dont have anyone else to ask! thanks

savemoney

If its a sky digital dish you can use them for freesat boxes as far as I am aware. However those two models I believe wont able you to watch the free HD channels on freesat

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5321595/Trail/searchtext%3EHUMAX.htm

If you pay a bit more go for the Humax fox freesat box or wait until end of month for the Humax pvr box at £300 but it can record SD/HD broadcasts up to two channels at once assuming you got a twin LNB on the dish

fwor

As long as the previous user of the dish was using it for Sky, the chances are it will work fine, as Freesat is transmitted from the same satellite.

It should be visibly obvious if the dish itself is damaged, so at worst you might need to replace the LNB (the bit at the middle of the dish) and the cabling. However both are generally quite robust, so you'll probably be ok there.

poppysocks1

Thank you for your replies, I will look into it further. Much appreciated

gjchester

savemoney wrote: »

If its a sky digital dish you can use them for freesat boxes as far as I am aware. However those two models I believe wont able you to watch the free HD channels on freesat

We have Freesat, It's OK, nothing great at the moment.

Bear in mind that unless the OP has a HD ready set HD won't make that much of a difference to the picture. It also needs a HDMI connectory to accept HighDef signals, no HDMI and you won't get HD sent from the box to the TV.

there is a limited HD service at the moment, BBC is between 7PM and 1am and sometimes reparts, sometimes simulacts with BBC1 (stricklyly come dancing comes to mind),ITV is just a few a week, although the UEFA football is in HD usually too.


It may be worth waiting, there is a 2nd wave of manufacturers coming along out soon, and also you could alget get a used Sky box, pay Sky £20 and get a Freesat from Sky setup, that is not freesat but is most of the channels from it on there. Due to sky rules and sign ins somethings are not on freesat, (Dave is not on Freesat, neither is Channel 4 HD) although this will probably change over time.

Gymgenius

savemoney wrote: »

.....If you pay a bit more go for the Humax fox freesat box or wait until end of month for the Humax pvr box at £300 but it can record SD/HD broadcasts up to two channels at once assuming you got a twin LNB on the dish

I'm going to get a Humax Foxsat HDR when they come out in a few weeks.
I'll be dropping Sky+ like a hot anvil. Can't wait to tell them where to go

savemoney

Argh yes you are right about HD forgot to mention that part that you need a tv capable for getting HD to watch HD on Freesat

Its true the service is limited and doesn't follow from what I heard the same as SD in schedules

gjchester wrote: »

We have Freesat, It's OK, nothing great at the moment.

Bear in mind that unless the OP has a HD ready set HD won't make that much of a difference to the picture. It also needs a HDMI connectory to accept HighDef signals, no HDMI and you won't get HD sent from the box to the TV.

there is a limited HD service at the moment, BBC is between 7PM and 1am and sometimes reparts, sometimes simulacts with BBC1 (stricklyly come dancing comes to mind),ITV is just a few a week, although the UEFA football is in HD usually too.


It may be worth waiting, there is a 2nd wave of manufacturers coming along out soon, and also you could alget get a used Sky box, pay Sky £20 and get a Freesat from Sky setup, that is not freesat but is most of the channels from it on there. Due to sky rules and sign ins somethings are not on freesat, (Dave is not on Freesat, neither is Channel 4 HD) although this will probably change over time.

savemoney

Yes I been waiting for them for almost a year now. As soon as I see them online I will be ordering its our Xmas pressie

Gymgenius wrote: »

I'm going to get a Humax Foxsat HDR when they come out in a few weeks.
I'll be dropping Sky+ like a hot anvil. Can't wait to tell them where to go