HELP Confused re: most cost effective route..You View box FreeviewHD or Freesat using Skydish? 30 November 2018 at 7:05PM edited 30 November 2018 at 7:17PM in TV MoneySaving 6 replies 992 views

DEBTMONKEY1A

:beer:Hi all. Thanks to the fab advice on here & the regular Martins Money Tips mails I' making a big dent in my spend on broadband, TV & mobile.

I've (or will be on 20 December) switched to fibre BB with Vodaphone, great value as they've taken £50 on calling them....LONG wait-off my contract in lieu of the £50 Amazon Voucher offered by a website (think was MSE but not 100%, but whole process took SO long after failing on order confirmation page with Vodaphone) BUT they've also offered £50 voucher, result as £100 off term of bill!!! This works out at around £15.50 a month.

TV......I've just renewed TV only entertainment package (no landline, don't use I, (Vodaphone offer landline FREE but won't be using it ) on an 18 month term at £11.50 a month. Still within cooling off period. Other half likes the remote/EPG & ease of recordingon Sky. The ONLY channel we can't get on Feesat/Free view is BBC good food.....but 100% sure can get this via Mobdro/Kodi etc so really not a massive issue.

Also the satellite picture for example on a terrestrial station in HD such as ITV1,seems to me to be 'a touch' better....maybe it's me but no one else can see it!

I presently have a You TV HD box, mine as out of contract & a SKY HD+ box. At present have a SKY HD box upstairs that still records (Sky said it should not record but again it has a catch up facility & an Amazon stick if. Catch up if this was disabled if I leave sky) & a bog standard Sky HD receiver in spare room that doesn't record.

My criteria..... My brain is puddled by this but the experts on here will probably see the best solution straight away!

1-Ability to record TWO channels & watch a third channel.
2-I think this is a given but main channelsl BBC, ITV,5, 4 etc in 1080 HD
3-CATCH UP TV
4-MINIMUM 320GB STORAGE, we have this on main Sky+HD box & its fine.

Couple of questions.....
1-
If I use Sky HD + on a Freesat basis do I need to ask for a new viewing card & will the box still record???

2- If I use You View box as Free view HD, again can I still record on it?

3-If I shell out for a £35_£45 EBay Freesat box ( if no internal memory I have an empty 1 TB flash stick).....any recommendations?

Sorry for long post......head is puddled! You guys have helped me with SO much good advice....what a fab forum this is!:)

Cornucopia

Not sure I can help with your overall situation, as I think we're going to need more info about what channels you want to have access to (is it just Freeview/Freesat, or something more).


I can answer these specific questions, though...

DEBTMONKEY1A wrote: »

Couple of questions.....
1-
If I use Sky HD + on a Freesat basis do I need to ask for a new viewing card & will the box still record???

You do not need to ask for a new viewing card unless your old one fails. The box will not record without a Subscription of some kind.

2- If I use You View box as Free view HD, again can I still record on it?

Yes. Youview is an open platform, and once the hardware becomes yours, you are free to use all of its features.

3-If I shell out for a £35_£45 EBay Freesat box ( if no internal memory I have an empty 1 TB flash stick).....any recommendations?

Do you have multiple rooms with different aerial/dish connections? What's your reason for swapping Youview to Freesat?

DEBTMONKEY1A

Thanks! Tablet battery died...standard channels showing on You Box Free view HD seem fine. Only 1 RM needs this. Reason for swapping is COST! From what you say You View Free view HD looks like a plan!

[Deleted User]

Cornucopia wrote: »

I can answer these specific questions, though...

1-
If I use Sky HD + on a Freesat basis do I need to ask for a new viewing card & will the box still record???

You do not need to ask for a new viewing card unless your old one fails.

3-If I shell out for a £35_£45 EBay Freesat box ( if no internal memory I have an empty 1 TB flash stick).....any recommendations?

Do you have multiple rooms with different aerial/dish connections? What's your reason for swapping Youview to Freesat?

You don't need a viewing card in the box anymore except for a very small handful of channels.

Do not buy a £35-£40 Freesat box, it'll be a door stop very quickly, pay the extra for a Humax if you're buying one.

Edit: you can find the list of Free-to-air (no card required) and Free-to view (Sky card required) at the following:-

https://www.tvchannellists.com/List_of_channels_on_Sky_(UK_and_Ireland)

JJ_Egan

<2- If I use You View box as Free view HD, again can I still record on it?>


YES
I record two channels and watch third via TV input .

DEBTMONKEY1A

Thanks kind people! Looks like You Box is the way forward as its free & already installed. Just need to train other half regarding remote & EPG!

Double bonus too....can cancel my Sky Protect with Domestic & General, saving another £9! Even though Sky box will in effect be just a receiver its handy for me as i live fairly high in pennines so 'if' ever a snow/rain/weather issue with aeriel i' ll have the back up of the more sturdy Sky dish.....good plan???

DEBTMONKEY1A

:beer:Update....done the above. Sky Protect cost HALVED as I was going to leave. This covers with no excess both my televisions, one of which is 8 yes old but a fab HD 1080P Toshiba! Still picture as new.

Realise sky box will just be free to air HD receiver, no recording....BUT a good ' backup' if any aerial issues on You Box.

So..Nearly £300 a year saved & no contract except for the new Vodaphone Fibre....going in soon.

Thanks folks....,sometimes takes other views from other people to see the wood for the trees!