Can't have digital TV due to Plusnet tie-in

jicms

Hi
I've been trying to organise digital TV for my parents as they want to be able to record and rewind. All the packages seem to include broadband but they've recently moved and Plusnet have tied them in to a new 2-year contract. I thought they were a subsidiary of BT but apparently not for BT TV packages purposes.
I suppose the only option is just to buy a Freeview or Youview box?

Buzby

Sure - you don't need an Internet connected TV to stop & rewind - only catchup/iPlayer and IP derived channels. Indeed, a BT Vision box without an aerial feed is almost useless without.

They'll save a fortune!

Helix

jicms wrote: »

I thought they were a subsidiary of BT but apparently not for BT TV packages purposes.

Plusnet are the budget brand of BT. If you want all the bells and whistles like BT Vision then you need to pay the premium and go with BT directly.

earthstorm

jicms wrote: »

Hi
I've been trying to organise digital TV for my parents as they want to be able to record and rewind. All the packages seem to include broadband but they've recently moved and Plusnet have tied them in to a new 2-year contract. I thought they were a subsidiary of BT but apparently not for BT TV packages purposes.
I suppose the only option is just to buy a Freeview or Youview box?

You just need a Freeview Recorder

Youview box from TalkTalk does not give the same as a freeview box.

macman

Plusnet are a BT Group company-but run entirely independently.

jicms

I thought both boxes had pros and cons but is general opinion that Freeview is superior?

VisionMan

jicms wrote: »

I thought both boxes had pros and cons but is general opinion that Freeview is superior?

There have been some very confusing repiles on here.

You want a Freeview box for your parents. You asked if it should be a Freeview or YouView box/PVR. So heres my opinion -

Both boxes utilise Freeview for normal TV viewing. Some Freeview boxes are standard definition, some high definition. All YouView boxes are high definition (HD).

Some Freeview boxes can connect to the internet for a limited amount of catch up TV player access. A YouView box can access them all.

But a YouView box does/can cost more than just a standard Freeview PVR, but for the reasons stated above, it is a far better box than any other available at the moment. So my own personal opinion would be to go for a YouView box, because you would be future-proofing your parents. ie the box won't be going out of date anytime soon.

Plusnet are actually testing a new TV service, atm, though what it is they will not say. Though they ran a YouView trial-run in 2012, just to try it out. The new TV service is expected to launch sometime around the end of the year. And I would be amazed if it wasn't YouView.

Hope that helps.

penrhyn

OP if you are going to buy a Freeview PVR( no contracts) then have a look on the Humax Direct site. They often have manager specials at popular prices.

http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/prodCat.asp?cat=factory

I see they have YouView boxes from £150 ish.

Moneymaker

VisionMan wrote: »

But a YouView box does/can cost more than just a standard Freeview PVR, but for the reasons stated above, it is a far better box than any other available at the moment. So my own personal opinion would be to go for a YouView box, because you would be future-proofing your parents. ie the box won't be going out of date anytime soon.

I agree with your sentiments but, in my experience, electronic equipment is lucky to survive for three years nowadays - either because it develops a fault or because technology is changing so rapidly. So nothing is "futureproof".

(Add to this the UK government's declared intention to switch off digital terrestrial TV ASAP and use only Internet TV - I forget where I read this so you'll have to do your own search. However, they are determined to sell ALL the available bandwidth to mobile phone companies.)

penrhyn

If you are correct, and I suspect you are not, then the YouView box would be a good choice as it can receiver IP TV.

My pet hate are so called Smart TV's where the manufacturers support updates for little more than the model year..

Time to warm up my Televisor for this evenings programmes, just needs a spot of 3 in 1, on the Nipkow disc.

Naf

I wouldn't get a TV subscription at all.
Someone else pointed out Freeview PVR boxes which would cover both options; another option would be a cheap computer of some description to utilise the various catch-up TV services.