Freesat TV / PVR

Gers

Just a quick query on this horrible wet cold day.

We have a Samsung Freesat TV on the bedroom wall. I want to add a Humax Freetime / Freesat PVR.

Am I right in assuming that this shouldn't be a problem? Just the satellite cable into the PVR and the HDMI cable joing them both? Don't know why I've had a sudden panicky thought about it though it's perhaps because the TV already has a sat receiver in it.

I'd appreciate reassurance about this. Thanks.

Nodding_Donkey

It'll work fine

Gers

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

It'll work fine

Thanks - don't know why I had that sudden thought, not techie at all. OH is the one who is the tech here, he's back tomorrow.

Once again, thanks.

grumpycrab

And, while you didn't mention it, if you intend to watch any On Demand/Catchup services on the Humax Freetime / Freesat PVR, you'll need an internet connection (ethernet cable) at the PVR.

EDIT: to see the connections go to
http://www.humaxdigital.com/uk/products/product.php?gid=436
and go down to where it says "Easy Set Up"

gjchester

Gers wrote: »

Just a quick query on this horrible wet cold day.

We have a Samsung Freesat TV on the bedroom wall. I want to add a Humax Freetime / Freesat PVR.

Am I right in assuming that this shouldn't be a problem? Just the satellite cable into the PVR and the HDMI cable joing them both? Don't know why I've had a sudden panicky thought about it though it's perhaps because the TV already has a sat receiver in it.

I'd appreciate reassurance about this. Thanks.

Satellite signals come in horizontal and vertical polorisation modes, and the selection of this in the LNB is controlled by sending a voltage back up the cable.

For this reason unlike a terrestrial TV aeriel you cannot daisy chain a Satellete feed out of the unit into another and get all channels on the 2nd ( or 3rd) receiver in the chain. The first receiver would have control of the horizontal or vertical, all the others would be only get to listen to the same mode.

Generally speaking to a PVR will need a feed from the LNB for each tuner it can record with. Your solution would work but you will only be able to record one channel at a time as you only have one feed from the LNB. You may also be unable to record one channel on the PVR and watch another on the TV at times if they are different polorisation modes.

almillar

You've almost got it with your installation plans.
Yes, you need to connect HDMI from Freeat box to TV.
You also need TWO feeds from the satellite to go into the box. You can get away with ONE, but you can only watch/record one broadcast at a time.
Make sure the Freesat box has 3 satellite connections - 2 will be in, 1 will be out. 2 in comes from the satellite dish, then the 1 out connects to your satellite IN on the TV, so that you can still use the Freesat on the TV, when the PVR is switched off.
My ancient Humax Foxsat HDR is connected this way and I assume newer Humaxs still do this.

Gers

gjchester wrote: »

Satellite signals come in horizontal and vertical polorisation modes, and the selection of this in the LNB is controlled by sending a voltage back up the cable.

For this reason unlike a terrestrial TV aeriel you cannot daisy chain a Satellete feed out of the unit into another and get all channels on the 2nd ( or 3rd) receiver in the chain. The first receiver would have control of the horizontal or vertical, all the others would be only get to listen to the same mode.

Generally speaking to a PVR will need a feed from the LNB for each tuner it can record with. Your solution would work but you will only be able to record one channel at a time as you only have one feed from the LNB. You may also be unable to record one channel on the PVR and watch another on the TV at times if they are different polorisation modes.

almillar wrote: »

You've almost got it with your installation plans.
Yes, you need to connect HDMI from Freeat box to TV.
You also need TWO feeds from the satellite to go into the box. You can get away with ONE, but you can only watch/record one broadcast at a time.
Make sure the Freesat box has 3 satellite connections - 2 will be in, 1 will be out. 2 in comes from the satellite dish, then the 1 out connects to your satellite IN on the TV, so that you can still use the Freesat on the TV, when the PVR is switched off.
My ancient Humax Foxsat HDR is connected this way and I assume newer Humaxs still do this.

Thanks for this. The bedroom one is only going to be used to record programmes and not watch and record at the same time. The Humax on the downstairs TV has the two satellite connections so that works fine. The dish only has four connections, three we use and the other I've let my nearest neighbour use as it prevents another dish going up.

Freeview is very limited here, not even getting Channel 5 on it, but we have installed an analogue aerial so that we can see watch if the satellite goes wonky. Bit belt and braces for something we don't watch too much, though I do like to record some programmes for watching on cold rainy days (like today!_.

Cheers
F

almillar

the other I've let my nearest neighbour use as it prevents another dish going up.

You're not meant to do this for plenty of moral reasons I'm sure, but I think there's also a fairly substantial electrical reason you shouldn't - hopefully someone can explain it properly, but you're connecting two houses together electrically (The LNB in the dish is powered from the STB).

agrinnall

almillar wrote: »

You're not meant to do this for plenty of moral reasons I'm sure.

I'd love to know what moral issues you think there are with sharing a FREEsat service.

almillar

Neighbour mightn't be paying the Licence Fee? A poor, impoverished satellite installer unable to feed his children? OK maybe a bit far...