tv recorder

bungalow111-111

hi folk`s. i am new to this forum, also an old codger that doesn`t really understand all this technical talk. so can someone please try and explain to me? i am retiring on my government basic state pension next year. in other words i will be skint. i am subscribed to SKY, but i will not be able to afford these services next year on my retirement pay. so i am looking to get myself a broadband connection, a phone line, which is very important because of my walking problem. also some kind of tv recorder, so that i can record freeview tv. mainly so the wife doesnt miss her soap`s, it stop`s her nagging me a bit. bit i have not got a clue on what type of recorder to get or which are the better ones. i have seen the humax brand mentioned online many times. i have also seen freesat but i think this might be a little to techy for me. i want something that would be easy to operate. the same as the SKY BOX is okay. so if anyone out there has a little time to spare, i would much appreciate it. thank you in advance. john.

macman

If you don't have a working rooftop aerial then you (probably) won't be able to get Freeview, which is a terrestial service via an aerial. If you do you can get a Freeview PVR such as the Humax, SD or HD versions.
Or since you already have a Sky box and dish, you can use this without a Sky sub to get all the Freesat from Sky channels, but you won't be able to use the existing recording facilities on your Sky+ box unless you pay £10 a month forever.
So if you want to record, you'd do better to swap your Sky box for a Humax Foxsat PVR. This will get you all the Freesat channels, including the HD ones, and full PVR facilities. This is a straight box swap using your existing dish and LNB-no 'tech' required.
However, to use the PVR facilities you must have a twin feeed from the LNB (which you will already have if you currently have Sky+ installed)
Richer Sounds usually do a good deal on the Humax PVR's.
The three platforms (Freeview, Freesat, and !!!!!!) are different, but have similar channel line-ups.

Kurtis_Blue

My vote: Humax HDR, as easy to use as any other digital recorder, probably easier.

Straight swap for the Sky box if you have two feeds.

http://humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10105

penrhyn

OP, you may want to have a look at YouView, BT and Talk Talk are/will have package deals if you don't want to pay outright for the box.

You need a freeview compatible aerial, and a broadband connection, preferably with an unlimited contract.

Fifer

If you have an aerial capable of Freeview reception (if you have a TV with Freeview built in, is the aerial plugged in and do you get a picture with the Sky box switched off?), I'd suggest a Humax Freeview recorder. You View (which is basically Freeview with catch-up TV - like iPlayer and such - built in) is useful, but you either pay more for the box or pay a sub to BT or Talk Talk which seems to be the opposite of what you are trying to do, or ...

... use your existing Sky dish and a Freesat recorder such as the Humax Foxsat mentioned above, which gives you the complete range of Freesat channels (similar to the Freeview range) as well as access to lots of other free stuff and the regional variants of the 5 main channels (which is useful for avoiding local sports and or regional rubbish). The Humax freesat box also has somme catch-up capability built in (certainly iPlayer and I believe some others).

Refurbished Humax boxes (with full warranty) and manager's specials are often available to purchase at good prices from the Humax UK website.

almillar

Humax Foxsat HDR, around £200 (different hard drive sizes allowing you more storage). Plugs straight into where the Sky box was. Works in a very similar way, some parts are a bit clunkier, some are better.

bungalow111-111

macman wrote: »

If you don't have a working rooftop aerial then you (probably) won't be able to get Freeview, which is a terrestial service via an aerial. If you do you can get a Freeview PVR such as the Humax, SD or HD versions.
Or since you already have a Sky box and dish, you can use this without a Sky sub to get all the Freesat from Sky channels, but you won't be able to use the existing recording facilities on your Sky+ box unless you pay £10 a month forever.
So if you want to record, you'd do better to swap your Sky box for a Humax Foxsat PVR. This will get you all the Freesat channels, including the HD ones, and full PVR facilities. This is a straight box swap using your existing dish and LNB-no 'tech' required.
However, to use the PVR facilities you must have a twin feeed from the LNB (which you will already have if you currently have Sky+ installed)
Richer Sounds usually do a good deal on the Humax PVR's.
The three platforms (Freeview, Freesat, and !!!!!!) are different, but have similar channel line-ups.

hi, thank you ALL for your reply`s,, i think you have answered my problem`s. i don`t live very far from a RICHER SOUNDS SHOP, i shall call in and have word with them. i notice that they also do an installation service. i shall take full :jadvantage of that. AGAIN THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT HELP to an old codger. john

Kurtis_Blue

bungalow111-111 wrote: »

i notice that they also do an installation service. i shall take full :jadvantage of that.

I wouldnt, what installation do you need? its plug and play if you purchase a freesat PVR.

If you do need work find 3 local guys here:

http://www.cai.org.uk/members/postcode-search

and get quotes.

penrhyn

Your never to old to tackle something new. Just take is slowly, step by step. There sre often youtube videos to help. Typing this on my Nexus 7. 65 in a couple of months!

macman

Installing a Freesat PVR is quite literally a box swap. Remove Sky box and cabling. Move sat cable over to PVR, plug HDMI or SCART cable back into TV, plug PVR into mains, switch on and hit auto tuning. Job done.
10 minutes at most.

bungalow111-111

i`m back again. i noticed that some of you mentioned the options that i have, freestat or freeview. i have a digital aerial, and a sky dish installed at my home. so i think i have the choice of either
freestat or freeview. could anyone give me some idea of which of these 2 options is the best? ie. the most channels,, most reliable?

thank`s, john.