change Virgin Tivo for Freesat

andrewf75

Hi, considering changing from Virgin Tivo to a freesat box. We already have a dish so I'm thinking it will be a money saving idea. We are happy with the free channels but do want to pause/rewind and record programmes.

I've seen you can get a Humax box for about 180 quid. It apparently can record one programme while watching another, which is not as good as the Tivo but good enough. Do we need two cables to the dish for that or does the box split the signal?

Is there anything else I have missed?

[Deleted User]

You will need two cables to the dish.

andrewf75

Thanks, how much will that cost roughly?

AndyPK

Isn't freeview good enough for you, with say a humax PVR box ?

I'd be interested to know what you get on freesat that isn't on freeview as I have a dish myself.

andrewf75

AndyPK wrote: »

Isn't freeview good enough for you, with say a humax PVR box ?

I'd be interested to know what you get on freesat that isn't on freeview as I have a dish myself.

yes it would be, but we don't have an aerial and portable ones don't pick up enough reception.

We do have a dish.

As far as I am aware freeview and freesat are basically the same free channels, the difference is freeview uses an aerial, freesat uses a dish.

[Deleted User]

andrewf75 wrote: »

Thanks, how much will that cost roughly?

Price of installation will vary locally, so no point giving you a figure. As for the cost of the cable itself, Google is your friend.

andrewf75 wrote: »

As far as I am aware freeview and freesat are basically the same free channels, the difference is freeview uses an aerial, freesat uses a dish.

Many of the channels are the same, but there are some significant differences.
http://www.ukfree.tv/channels/compare_tv

Pincher

Get a 50% off code from this week's Moneysaving e-mail for Sky.


Sky will put in a quad ( or at least dual ) LNB, with twin (aka shotgun) cable.


After one year, cancel Sky, keep the Sky HD+ for FreeSat, but you cannot record.


You now have the option of buying a Humax FreeSat box, plug in the twin cable, and you can watch and record at the same time.


If you know how to wire up the Quad LNB, you now have four satellite feeds.

[Deleted User]

Alternatively, the OP could save himself the cost of even a 50% off Sky subscription and use the saving to purchase a Humax PVR and a Quad LNB!

This is a money-saving site, you know!:)

Pincher

If it was me, I would put up a roof top aerial and get Freeview working, but the OP seems to be a bit phobic about going outside, for whatever reason.

andrewf75

Pincher wrote: »

If it was me, I would put up a roof top aerial and get Freeview working, but the OP seems to be a bit phobic about going outside, for whatever reason.

eh?! have I really asked that stupid a queston here to deserve comments like that?

Why would I install a rooftop aerial when I already have a dish?

freesat is the same as freeview isn't it? or why would I fork out for a new aerial when I could use what I already have?

AndyPK

or put an aerial in the loft.
It really depends if cable is present of how easy to run.

The advantages over an aerial and amp are that you can run many TV's and recorders off them
and not have to pay a premium on the TV or recorder for a SAT input.

Buts its upto you. If you only want 1 TV and its a hassle fitting an aerial I can understand it.