Freesat Boxes

Rodders53

Rumour is Arris boxes will be available late February... but rumours have said earlier dates that have passed.

EDIT Other forums are reporting emails from freesat stating the new 4k boxes are "coming soon"

Some boxes are in the hands of <crash test dummies> to iron out the obvious defects and those are chomping at the bit to reveal all (but the non disclosure agreements stop them currently).

IMHO Catchup is better provided by 'dongles' like Amazon Fire sticks than any STB or TV set. They are cheaper to replace and update/refresh technology when the broadcasters move the goalposts.

Robisere

This is what I understand, after looking through the many forums and websites with varying accuracy in their reports:

*Arris will be releasing their G3 box, after being taken as the new partner of Freesat. The release date is a moveable feast atm.
*As a result, Humax boxes are either unavailable, or low stock, in outlets. Humax lists all their boxes as 'out of stock.'
*The latter appears to mean that Humax will either end production and sale, or are holding onto current stock. The reason for that can only be surmised.
*The new Arris G3 box will also have the facility to show Amazon and Netflix as subscriptions. Other paid for services may follow.
*The Arris box will be priced IRO £400 as a result, much more expensive than any current Humax box.
*The Arris box will require a more expensive LNB to be fitted to the current dish. I have been unable to find out whether that also means a retune of the dish. I doubt it, as Freesat will continue to use the same satellite(s).

As I own a 3 yo Humax HDR-1100S and have also obtained a second hand Amazon Fire TV, I am not about to rush into anything right now. My options are open, but I will definitely not be buying an Arris box until they have been on sale and reviewed for at least 12 months.

nickcc

I have three Humax 1100s boxes, will the change to a different box supplier mean that the Humax box no longer receive updates ?

Peter999_2

Robisere wrote: »

*The Arris box will require a more expensive LNB to be fitted to the current dish. I have been unable to find out whether that also means a retune of the dish. I doubt it, as Freesat will continue to use the same satellite(s).

Now that is interesting. I bet it will be a wideband LNB - this will allow you to have two connections to the box, one for the vertical band and one for the horizontal band. It basically means you'll mean able to record multiple channels at the same time - very much like Sky Q.

almillar

The Arris box will require a more expensive LNB to be fitted to the current dish.

Yeah, this had better be the same as the Sky Q one. Part of the selling point of Freesat has been 'unplug Sky, plug Freesat in where it was'. That needs to remain the case.

Robisere

nickcc wrote: »

I have three Humax 1100s boxes, will the change to a different box supplier mean that the Humax box no longer receive updates ?

Since Humax are apparently not selling any more boxes and will not answer any of my queries about the situation, simple answer is that no one knows yet. I refuse to panic, because I cannot see the Freesat current service ending suddenly. I am only guessing, but I think that the current service will continue 'as is' with no updates, until users change to a new service over time. Whether that is the Arris box or another service, your guess is as good as mine.

In short: Don't panic, keep watching TV as you do now.