Freesat and Freetime

Horizon81

I'm hoping a techie expert can help me get my head around Freesat.

I'm basically unsure whether to go for a standard Freesat recording box, or one with Freetime. I understand that with Freetime you need an internet connection and it offers a more sophisticated catch up and recording facilities than a standard box. However, I only have around 2.8Mb connection so I'm unsure if that's going to be enough. I know the Freesat states a minimum of 2Mb so I may be OK however i won't know until I buy it and plug it in! So... if I buy a Freesat box with Freetime, and the internet side is too slow, am I still able to record programmes using the standard functions? I'm just wondering if the software fails to work at all if there's no internet connection.

jem16

Horizon81 wrote: »

if I buy a Freesat box with Freetime, and the internet side is too slow, am I still able to record programmes using the standard functions? I'm just wondering if the software fails to work at all if there's no internet connection.

It will work fine in the standard mode even if not connected to the internet.

All Freetime adds is the ability to use catchup services drirectly from the TV Guide as it also features a roll back section in the guide.

almillar

As jem16 says, you'll be fine. Recording is satellite dish only and your internet speed (or any internet at all) will have no effect.
If you do want to use catch up stuff, with your relatively slow connection, you'll just be waiting for a while at the start for the programme to buffer - get some of it loaded before watching, as you'll be watching faster than you can download. It may be fine. You'll get less buffering if you use SD rather than HD as there's less data (and worse picture).

VisionMan

You'll be fine. Freetime is the number 1 box of choice of users on the Freesat platform. 2.8Mpbs is more than enough. It will give you the BBC iPlayer, the ITV Player and the CH4 and 5 Players. Enjoy.