Satellite TV options question

scotsbob

samba wrote: »

I'm not sure it's a question of swings and roundabouts as at least one of the "limited" Freesat boxes is also capable of running a Diseqc 1.2 compatible motor, just the same as the box you have, thereby giving access to all the channels you have. However, the Freesat box does not allow you to circumvent the encryption like your box does.

Given the nature of this forum as a moneysaving site, I believe the general advice given to people here should be to go for Freesat, as it is far cheaper than Sky in the long run and is tailored for UK users with a full EPG for UK channels (and it allows access to all the FTA channels available up there using a diseqc motor if desired). There are plenty of other internet forums dedicated to the discussion of enthusiast boxes, and judging from the legal disclaimers that are printed in large red letters at the top of most of these fora, that's where the discussion should stay.

I take extreme exception to that comment.

Going for Freesat is just one option.

Your belief is exactly that "your belief." My belief is that there are better money saving options available. As a member of this site I shall continue to suggest what I believe to be good money saving options. I shall do so irrespective as to whether or not you have a different opinion.

The original poster asked for options and I offered one.
If you wish to discuss the merits of having extended EPG then you shouldn't hijack this thread but start a new one. After all many of the budget priced Freeview receivers only offer a now and next EPG

Nowhere in any of my postings have I broken any of the rules regarding legal disclaimers. Nowhere have I encouraged circumventing encryption. Indeed I have never even mentioned it. If you believe I have then back up your comment. You should report any of my posts which disregard the legal disclamers.

knightstyle

Surely the best/cheapest thing to do is to get an lnb with two or more outlets and buy a Sky digibox for each room? Just seen some digiboxes on Ebay for under £10.

AMO

scotsbob wrote: »

I have thousands of channels to choose from, with lots of HD channels and full PVR facilities with no subscriptions. The price I pay is limited EPG guides. Personally I can live with that.

Hey Scotsbob, out of the thousands of channels you get, which are your favourites?

I am trying to work out whether it would be worth my time to put in the same investment that you have.

AMO

hjb123

knightstyle wrote: »

Surely the best/cheapest thing to do is to get an lnb with two or more outlets and buy a Sky digibox for each room? Just seen some digiboxes on Ebay for under £10.

how would this be done - would we be able to just do it ourselves if we got the boxes and the cable - not that I know what cables would be needed though

Phantom_Flan_Flinger

A standard Sky+ install puts a quad LNB on your dish, so you shouldn't need to change it.

Look for WF100 cable.

samba

scotsbob wrote: »

If you wish to discuss the merits of having extended EPG then you shouldn't hijack this thread but start a new one.

I believe that the availability or otherwise of an extended EPG is extremely relevant to the OPs original request, as although any sat box will work for his purposes, some will work much better than others. Who wants to have to go to their pc and browse the radiotimes website to find out what's on later when they can do so just by pressing a button on their remote control?

scotsbob wrote: »

Nowhere have I encouraged circumventing encryption.

Maybe not explicitly, but to quote you from another thread:

scotsbob wrote: »

The website that lists the games along with the satellites and channels is here http://liveonsat.com/daily.php The Thor satellite at 1.0W is where I watch it for free. (or you can go to the Astra satellite at 28.2E and pay Sky some huge amount for the privilege)

On checking the site you mention, I can see that there are no free to air channels showing Prem football games on 1.0W.

You seem to think I am accusing you of something, but if you read my last post carefully, you will see that I only say that your box is capable of doing something, not that you use it for that purpose.

As I said before, let's keep the discussion here based around the UK satellite TV market, which means Sky and Freesat.

Getting back on topic, I think the OP should buy some CT100 grade cable and a couple of cheap Freesat boxes and put them in the upstairs rooms. He doesn't need a new lnb as he will already have a quad lnb from when Sky+ was installed. He can choose to get SD or HD freesat boxes depending on the capabilities of the TVs in the upstairs rooms and whether he can afford the extra cost of HD compatible boxes. He should also consider ditching his Sky+ box and getting a Humax Freesat HDR in it's place, especially if he has a HD ready TV downstairs. Paying £120 a year to Sky just to able to record BBC shows seems a bit silly when for £260 he can record as much as he wants and get it in HD too if available. If he sells his Sky+ box on ebay, then the Freesat HDR box should have paid for itself within 18-24 months, with a free upgrade to HD thrown in.

knightstyle

What I suggested is really easy, undo two screws and change the lnb. Run a separate cable from each Sky digibox to the connections on the lnb. Plug in and go.

scotsbob

AMO wrote: »

Hey Scotsbob, out of the thousands of channels you get, which are your favourites?

I am trying to work out whether it would be worth my time to put in the same investment that you have.

AMO

It's all about choice and value for money

To give you a few examples. Members of my family play volleyball and netball at county level. British tv never show those sports. Dutch and German tv show their leagues every week. Lots of minority sports never get shown here. European stations have a far wider selection.

We like to watch news programmes from other countries to get another angle on international news.

We find there is a wider variety of entertainment on European channels, the variety type shows that we used to have in Britain in the past are still popular in Europe.

It's also nice to surf the channels just for fun, in the same way as people surf the Internet.
I guess if you like soaps, makeovers, cooking and "celebrity" everything then surfing the channels might not be your thing. If you like to surf around you might enjoy it

Purely on a value for money choice I believe for my modest outlay I have greater value for money and wider choice

Why do people go from Freeview to Freesat? Isn't it to get more channels and more choice?

almillar

I went from Freeview to Freesat to get HD, and not get ripped off by Sky.
BTW Scotsbob I think that international news channels are one of Freesat's strengths, there are quite a lot. And I've never personally encountered a Freeview box without a full programme guide.

smith9891

I am hoping to get one of the Humax HD PVRs. At the moment we have a standard sky install so would need a quad LNB to get the most from the box. Does anyone have a rough idea of the cost of doing this / where you would go to get it done?

Thanks