New TV and recorder questions

greenery

My situation is:
I now have standard TV and a Talk talk broadband contract with added Talktalk TV including a box that can record. I pay £2.50 per month for the this
At contract renewal they want to update to £5 per month
I also need to replace my TV (because has light dots on the screen)
I am trying to work out my options

If I stop paying for the Talktalk tv and buy a smart TV I would still need the ability to record
I assume talktalj would not ask me to return the box? Would I be able to continue to use this to record?
Trying to work out the cheapest way to go forward
Any advice appreciated!

ButterCheese

A smart TV will have all the apps you need to watch any terestrial TV on catchup, or some channeles you can watch it live.  You don't need to record anything unless you like fast forwarding through the ads which some people do.  I personally don't see the point myself.

Talktalk might request that you send the box back because it is still their equipment.

My advice on a TV would be to get a 4k LED but not the cheapest (i.e. not Digihome or Hisense).  TCL are well regarded for budget TVs or if you stretch to a samsung, panasonic, LG or sony then even better.  The cheaper TVs will be very slow in terms of Apps but you can always buy a Firestick for under £30 to get around this.  It will have all the apps you need on it

DullGreyGuy

greenery said:

My situation is:
I now have standard TV and a Talk talk broadband contract with added Talktalk TV including a box that can record. I pay £2.50 per month for the this
At contract renewal they want to update to £5 per month
I also need to replace my TV (because has light dots on the screen)
I am trying to work out my options

If I stop paying for the Talktalk tv and buy a smart TV I would still need the ability to record
I assume talktalj would not ask me to return the box? Would I be able to continue to use this to record?
Trying to work out the cheapest way to go forward
Any advice appreciated!

What are you wanting to be able to record?

Many TVs these days allow you to record off FreeView or FreeSat, I dont know if TalkTalk TV offers anything beyond that? Obviously many people dont record at all these days and instead use catchup services like BBC iPlayer

Personally think SmartTVs are fairly dumb and in most cases you'll get a better user experience ignoring the smart features and instead using an Amazon FireStick or AppleTV etc.

According to the internet TalkTalk require the return of their kit after cancelling and will charge you if you dont. No idea if the kit is usable still if you dont return it and pay the fee instead. Certainly if you look at the old Sky+ and SkyHD boxes you could keep them but without a valid subscription their ability to record ceased.  

greenery

Thanks both. 


I do want the ability to record. I do like to watch fast forwarding through the adds and I like to be reminded of what I wanted to watch!
I just wondered if anyone had any personal experience of if Talktalk would want me to return it and if it would still work as a recorder if I had no contract
In my experience they don't ask for old modems even though the t&c's say they want them.

knightstyle

Just cancel the agreement for the box, chances are they will not want it back and if they do you can get one for around £25 or less secondhand.

greenery

knightstyle said:

Just cancel the agreement for the box, chances are they will not want it back and if they do you can get one for around £25 or less secondhand.

But will I still be able to use it as a recorder and will I still be able to access recordings  I already have on  it. 
That's what I would love to know

Neil_Jones

greenery said:

knightstyle said:

Just cancel the agreement for the box, chances are they will not want it back and if they do you can get one for around £25 or less secondhand.

But will I still be able to use it as a recorder and will I still be able to access recordings  I already have on  it. 
That's what I would love to know

Probably not because you get it as a benefit of subscription.

As TalkTalk TV is basically a recordable Freeview with a bunch of apps and Now on it, you can replicate that to an extent with a Freeview hard drive recorder some of which do have support for apps.

steven141

You could always look at Freeview recorders but they aren’t always the best. Try looking at EE TV, Sky Q or Virgin TV 360. 

greenery

steven141 said:

You could always look at Freeview recorders but they aren’t always the best. Try looking at EE TV, Sky Q or Virgin TV 360. 

Not interested in paying any subscription. 
Interested to know why you say Freeview recorders aren't always the best? I n what way? Only want to be able to record

jbrassy

I don't have any advice on what tv to buy, however...

If you want the ability to record live TV, I believe this is a popular Freeview recorder (no subscription required): https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3100000

I don't have the Manhatten box above, but I've had this Freeview recorder for over 5 years: https://amzn.eu/d/1LiHvfN

Before I had a Freeview recorder I had Tivo with Virgin. Honestly, the person who said Freeview recorders aren't very good is talking nonsense, there's hardly any difference. A Freeview recorder is far cheaper than a Sky or Virgin subscription and a good box will last several years. All I pay for TV (apart from TV licence) is £10.99 a month for Netflix and £24 a month for fibre broadband (I also get Disney+ free with Club Lloyds and Apple TV+ free with Barclays Premier).