What will be cheapest for me - Sky+, Tivo or something else

whiskywhisky

Hi All

We have an old Sky box running freesat and are happy with this due to the cost savings. The property has a Virgin Media (VM) telephone line and we have VM broadband. We also have a old VM cable TV box that we do not use.

We would like to get up to date with TV viewing, as would like a viewing box that allows recording (whilst watching) and watching HD would be a bonus.

In MSE style what would be my cheapest option? am I right that to get a Sky + or Tivo box I will need to subsribe a package, which will be around £10 a month?

Are there any other freeview boxes on the market that take a Sky or VM lead and let you record TV? or do you have to go direct to Sky or VM?

Thanks

nunnygirl

What about a Freeview+ or FreeSat+ box?

whiskywhisky

I am a big numpty on these kind of things.

Do Freeview+ or FreeSat+ take the existing Satelite/Sky lead?

nunnygirl

Freeview comes through your aerial if you have one.

For Freesat this may help? Do you already have a dish?

whiskywhisky

Thanks - will be great help.

Yes I have a satelite dish which has a lead connected directed into an old sky box which we used as a "free channel" viewer.

whiskywhisky

Sorry to ask another question, looking at online info. Is it correct that to record TV and watch at the same time as well as the box (i.e. freesat+) I will need 2 leads coming from the Satelite Dish?

Unfortunately ours which was put up over 10 years ago has only 1, will I need another satelite dish that takes 2 connections?

Thanks

jb66

Seems easier to just get a TiVo considering you have all the wiring ready

macman

You are not currently receiving Freesat, you are receiving Freesat From Sky-the Sky FTA channels.

neil201

whiskywhisky wrote: »

Sorry to ask another question, looking at online info. Is it correct that to record TV and watch at the same time as well as the box (i.e. freesat+) I will need 2 leads coming from the Satelite Dish?

Unfortunately ours which was put up over 10 years ago has only 1, will I need another satelite dish that takes 2 connections?

Thanks

Yes but in some circumstances you may still be able to watch and record with a single feed from certain channels, all depends on your BBC and ITV region together with technical parameters. For recording with any other pay platform (Virgin or Sky) you'll need to pay them to enable the service which in my opinion is dead money.

The Humax Foxsat is highly recommended, broadband-wise check out Plusnet who've got their £3.49/12mths offer on for Broadband too (dependant on where you live), they also do line rental too a slight bit cheaper than BT. My aunt is currently paying Virgin Media £47/mth for Internet, phone and basic XL TV, apparently this is reduced from £67/mth! I've recommended her to go down this very same route as it will save a packet, especially as she's not too fussed about all the pay channels and says they are full of repeats half of the time.

Hope this helps.

square_bear

Hi,

Sorry to butt in.

I am looking for a good value way to be able to watch ESPN.

I've never subscribed to any dish or cable provider.

I only have a Freeview box and a TV.

I just want to watch ESPN and sometimes the other TOP UP TV channels.

So far I understand that I can get a recordable Freeview box (£ 170) which has a card reader for the Top Up channels, then pay about £11 per month for ESPN. No contract just 30 days notice to cancel.
Or I can subscribe to BT vision (Phone, Broadband) for about £29 per month. (18 month contract)

Are there any other options?

Thanks

macman

whiskywhisky wrote: »

Sorry to ask another question, looking at online info. Is it correct that to record TV and watch at the same time as well as the box (i.e. freesat+) I will need 2 leads coming from the Satelite Dish?

Unfortunately ours which was put up over 10 years ago has only 1, will I need another satelite dish that takes 2 connections?

Thanks

You won't need a new dish, if the existing LNB has a twin or quad outlet then you just need the additional cabling. If it's a single outlet, you'll need a new LNB and cabling.