Leave Sky and go to Freesat - Any good?

smudger1964

http://www.freesat.co.uk/

Simon7685

Thanks for the link.........
but I meant the channels you can add that don't come with Freesat. Also if this is an easy process to do?

Thanks

macman

The Humax Foxsat boxes can just be switched from Freesat to non-Freesat mode. You'll then get any non-subscription channels available on the same dish alignment. It's simple enough to do, but of course there is no EPG to assist you to find them.

almillar

Simon7685 - yes - you're talking about what Humax call 'non-Freesat mode'. I think these channels can also be manually tuned in on Sky, but they're not in either the Sky or Freesat guides by default.
I hate to disappoint you, but the channels can be summarised as 'a load of foreign rubbish'! If you do have an interest in another country, there are some news channels that would be of interest for example, but many of these are in the guide already.
When I tuned a few years ago, there was a channel called Luxe HD, whilst there wasn't much HD programming. That was utter rubbish, but in HD! You can also find all the ITV and Channel 4 regions here if you want to.

Intenso

Simon7685

Given the Sky exclusive programmes that you watch such as walking dead etc it may be worth you looking into a media streaming player that runs netflix such as the WDTV Live SMP. Netflix show most of the major American shows and current movie releases and costs £6 a month. They stream in HD and are now begining to stream in Super HD whatever that is

If you could find a freesat box that runs netflix that may be the way to go.

Alternatively, buy a cheap enigma 2 based receiver such as the Gigablue HD800 for £150 and install the Vix O/S on it and buy either a WDTV Live at around £60 or a Roku media streamer at £40.

The E2 receiver will provide you with series link recording, full 7 day EPG and now has an Ondemand service for bbciplayer, Itvplayer and 4OD. Downside is you will have to learn how to use it. The Vix team website has full details and set up guides.

Bit clusmy I know but this would be one way of getting what you want cheaper.

[Deleted User]

almillar wrote: »

I hate to disappoint you, but the channels can be summarised as 'a load of foreign rubbish'!

Yes, foreign "junk" TV , regionalised versions of ITV. CH4 etc, but certainly nothing that you normally pay a subscription for (Walking Dead et al).

javahart

We took the plunge several years ago and have not looked back. Currently using a humax freesat box with around 200 hours of hard drive space.
Make sure you can plug your broadband into the box, enables you to stream BBB iplayer and ITV player plus other stuff.

davemurgatroyd

almillar wrote: »

Simon7685 - yes - you're talking about what Humax call 'non-Freesat mode'. I think these channels can also be manually tuned in on Sky, but they're not in either the Sky or Freesat guides by default.
I hate to disappoint you, but the channels can be summarised as 'a load of foreign rubbish'! If you do have an interest in another country, there are some news channels that would be of interest for example, but many of these are in the guide already.
When I tuned a few years ago, there was a channel called Luxe HD, whilst there wasn't much HD programming. That was utter rubbish, but in HD! You can also find all the ITV and Channel 4 regions here if you want to.

Incorrect all FTA channels at present are available on the Sky EPG - it is the freesat EPG only that is missing approx 50% of the FTA channels not all of which are "foreign rubbish" (at least IMHO).

almillar

Incorrect davemurgartroyd - we're talking about channels that are being transmitted across Europe and that have paid Sky, or Freesat, to be in their Guides. Imagine the kind of junk you're talking about that is in the Sky guide, now imagine WORSE junk! What channel number is Luxe HD (if it still exists) for example in the Sky guide?

yorica

I currently have Sky+ with BB/Phone & HD with entertainment channels for approx £65 p/m and so I'm very tempted to go over to PN fibre & phone as I use Hulu a lot and so wouldn't miss out on the loss of my fav US progs from the Sky/Fox channels.

Sky told me if I cancelled my Sky+ HD box it would revert to the Freesat service at no cost whatsoever which also has a decent spread of channels plus the 5 HD Freesat channels (yes I love HD channels but not at an extra £10 p/m). Downside: I would lose the Sky+ functionality. I'm surprised there are no websites detailing ways to circumvent this.

As I use Hulu and their like along with the odd trial of NowTV (Sky) & Netflix etc I'm fed up with the buffering I suffer and so the leap to fibre will hopefully improve this. BTW my Sky BB is stuck at roughly 6mbps.

Does this all sound logical or am I missing a trick?