Advice on freeview/freesat/cable/o2 broadband..? HELP! Moving soon & confused....!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi all...I'm not technical at all so please be gentle! Am moving to postcode HD75QY (Manchester Road)....I have lived in that area before & could not get freeview (aerial was only 5 ft of ground at back of house).

Will need to investigate further but think the aerial on this house is a good 40 foot up right on top of house....not got keys yet so no way of telling (will ask landlord in a few days-they are apparently away) if freeview will work. The new house deffo has cable (Virgin) into house & 'I think' sky.

I have a twin tuner 40gig freeview pvr that works great where I am now in HD1.

My questions are....

1)-Anyone else around that area get freeview??!
2)-Definately want a 'PVR' type set up (rewind live tv , etc...)...which would offer a better deal-Sky or Virgin? Not fussed about HD at all & more than happy with 40gig max & twin tuners (possibly a refurb box?)...have looked at both web-sites & find it all confusing to say the least! Any idea who/where has the best deal to include a hard drive PVR type of thing?
3)-Am 5 months into a 1 year contract with o2 broadband....would I need a BT line or could that run on a cable phone line?
4)-If I received sky or Virgin cable on a normal sky box/normal virgin box could my current freeview PVR record/pause these programmes?
5)-Freesat....assuming property has a dish would this give same programmes as freeview? How much should I expect to pay for a 2nd hand box+card...& would my freeview pvr be able to record/pause etc with this set-up?

Any help would be appreciated....thanks in advance!:T

I'm not at all fussed about sports/films/premium channels

macman

How difficult is it to put your postcode into the Freeview postcode checker?
Anyway, it says it's not available in your area (until switchover in 2011).
For O2 broadband you need a BT line, only VM broadband works on cable, for any other ISP you need a BT ADSL service.
Freesat is your best non subscription offer, look at the website for channel details, but the line up is broadly similar to Freeview. You don't need a card for Freesat, but your Freeview PVR will not work with Freesat-you would need a Freesat PVR like the Humax Foxsat HDR.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi Macman-thanks for the prompt reply! I have checked the freeview website coverage checker but http://www.ukfree.tv/starthere.php states that I might be able to receive a good majority of the channels...hence the confusion!

Once landlord back will enquire...thanks for your help on the other points!