freeview v freesat

andrewf75

As my recent post yesterday I’m planning to ditch Virgin Media for either freesat or freeview. From what I can see the Humax boxes are similar for both and the channels are similar. I have a dish already (an old one so I have no idea if it works) so that is in favour of freesat, but then dishes are ugly so the idea of removing it is appealing as well.

Which makes sense in the long run or is it really much of a muchness?

I’m guessing I would need to pay someone to rewire the dish as its pretty old and I want two feeds for recording so it may not even save me money over installing an aerial.

Chrishazle

What about one of these, get the best of both worlds?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FULL-HD-COMBO-Freeview-HD-FreeSat-SKY-HD-Receiver-TV-Set-Top-Digi-Box-Recoder/132491552154?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649


I have freesat HD on my main TV and use it ocassionally as BTTV is useless on freeview HD channels whether through the HD or UHD box (I have both on 2 different TV's), only downer is that C4HD is not on freesat so I can't get F1 in HD.

andrewf75

Thanks, but I want to keep it simple and want one or the other. If I pay someone to install an aerial I want to remove the dish! Also I need multiple recording, which I use on the Virgin tivo box.

pumpkin89

Do you know how good the reception is in your area? Freeview isn't great in some places, whereas I'd imagine Freesat is the same anywhere. If you have to pay someone to do the installation, it might work out cheaper to get a basic Sky package for the minimum term and then switch to Freesat.

AndyPK

blimy that ebay one is cheap!


Thought you needed to pay £200+

[Deleted User]

Chrishazle wrote: »

What about one of these, get the best of both worlds?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FULL-HD-COMBO-Freeview-HD-FreeSat-SKY-HD-Receiver-TV-Set-Top-Digi-Box-Recoder/132491552154?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

AndyPK wrote: »

blimy that ebay one is cheap!


Thought you needed to pay £200+

There's a reason for that:

Record UP TO 1TB by External-Hard drive

Hard Drive Capacity: 1 TB OPTIONAL (NOT INCLUDED)

The ports at the back also only show 1 satellite input so I'm guessing you can't record one channel while watching another.

almillar

Please don't buy that eBay junk. It has NO hard drive, and it's NOT 'Freesat', it's free satellite. It only takes 1 satellite feed.
Your choice between Freesat and Freeview is often dictated by signal. Got good signal for both? Decide on existing equipment. If you've already got a good dish with 2 feeds, that would lead us to Freesat (Freetime if you want the on-demand stuff). If all else is equal, look at the channel lineup. Mostly similar, but Freesat has many more (rubbish!) channels. It also has more capacity for the future. Freesat boxes are generally more expensive than Freeview ones though. So the answer is, there's no right answer, and it's up to you. I'd buy a Freesat box instead of getting an aerial installed.

[Deleted User]

Freeview Coverage https://www.freeview.co.uk/channels-at-your-address

Freesat Channel List https://www.freesat.co.uk/whats/full-channel-list/

thrifty_pete

I have had the same situation with a friend who ditched Virgin due to the high cost.
My advice & gut instinct was satellite, i.e. Freesat but apparently Channel 4 HD has bailed out of the platform due to high costs. Not sure if it is still on a free Sky platform, but just something to bear in mind if you like Channel 4 and your telly is big enough to benefit from HD!

thrifty_pete

andrewf75 wrote: »

save me money over installing an aerial.

Unless you live in a flat or really weak signal area, installing an aerial isn't that difficult. Go up in the loft, screw the aerial to a suitable bit of wood, then dangle the coax out the gap in the eaves above the window of the room with the telly. Drill through the wall / window frame and then Bob's your uncle.

AndyPK

don't even need to mount them to wood.

Some are propped between beams or just hung on string!