Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

soolin

I hope i haven't missed someone already asking this question, I did a search and nothing obvious came up.

Mum in law is very impressed with our freeview channels and wants freeview herself. Problem is she doesn't have an outside aerial, all her TV comes via a local cable (its a new town and I think this cable system is quite common). She pays a very small yearly charge for the cable and only gets the normal terrestial TV plus Sky one.

Can we buy her a freeview box and just plug it into the existing cable socket or is it likely to be a problem?

I have asked her for details of her cable contract but she gets muddled and can't help, all she knows is that once a year a small direct debit is taken from her bank account. She has no outside aerial but her reception on the TV in the bedroom with an inside aerial is good and she can get channel 5 on it.

Soo

j_dlaw

After reading here about people plugging a freeview box into their cable connection to receive the digital channels, I thought i would give it a try.

I tested this with my brothers freeview box. No channels were found. I know I have signal, as I can pick up all the basic terrestrial channels perfectly, just none of the digital ones. This was through NTL.

My brother then suggested trying the box on the outside aerial. I had tried this a year ago with no luck. I had also just checked my post code on the freeview website and was told that there was no signal in my area. But......

When we tried the box, it worked!! I have a terrible picture normally, but with the box installed I got a perfect picture plus all the extra channels.

Hope this info helps.

thommo

I think you'll find that you need to plug the cable connection into the tv itself and then tune it in using the tv,probably about 6 or 7 cable analogue channels are available

Niggy_2

If anyone else is interested in the Humax 80GB set-top box/PVR (PVR8000-80) which I posted about earlier in this thread - John Lewis now have it but weird thing is they have a slightly different model number (PFV8000-80T), it looks very different and they say that it has twin-tuners and that you can record on both simultaneously!!!!!!! Where as PVR8000 only has one tuner.

Now, there is nothing on the Humax website to suggest that this model even exists, in fact they don't plan on there being a twin-tuner version until next year but I have found evidence )see here) to suggest that JLP get special treatment from Humax - so who knows???

Which ever way you look at it this PVR is quite a bargain and even allows you to upgrade the hard-drive with a larger one yourself if needed and although JLP aren't the cheapest place to buy this from you would obviously get better service from them and their excellent warranty on-top.

Here's the link JLP Humax PFV8000-80T

The more I read about these Humax STB/PVR's the more I like them but I can't see myself getting one before xmas - so if anyone else wants to see if they are getting a bargain twin-tuner freeview PVR or whether JLP have made a description mistake and will therefore offer anything (vouchers/discount) for their error then I will be interested to find out what happens.

RE: cable digi channels - I'm pretty sure Thommo is correct - you just need to connect your cable (ummm) cable to the back of your TV - you may need some plug conversion adaptors to do this

There is another thread somewhere describing what to do in more detail

FF99

If anyone else is interested in the Humax 80GB set-top box/PVR (PVR8000-80) which I posted about earlier in this thread - John Lewis now have it but weird thing is they have a slightly different model number (PFV8000-80T), it looks very different and they say that it has twin-tuners and that you can record on both simultaneously!!!!!!!  Where as PVR8000 only has one tuner.

Now, there is nothing on the Humax website to suggest that this model even exists, in fact they don't plan on there being a twin-tuner version until next year but I have found evidence )see here) to suggest that JLP get special treatment from Humax - so who knows???

Which ever way you look at it this PVR is quite a bargain and even allows you to upgrade the hard-drive with a larger one yourself if needed and although JLP aren't the cheapest place to buy this from you would obviously get better service from them and their excellent warranty on-top.  

Here's the link JLP Humax PFV8000-80T

The more I read about these Humax STB/PVR's the more I like them but I can't see myself getting one before xmas - so if anyone else wants to see if they are getting a bargain twin-tuner freeview PVR or whether JLP have made a description mistake and will therefore offer anything (vouchers/discount) for their error then I will be interested to find out what happens.  

I have checked with Humax and this is a screw up by JL. Is it really worth the effort of ordering one just for the possible compensation ??

tin

soo: I can't say for sure, but I very much doubt you'll get freeview through the cable.

Silent_Bob_3

Has Sony (or anyone else) produced a DVD Recorder with Hard-drive and digital tuner in it yet?

Reason I ask is I have a Sony 32DX150 integrated TV but when you turn the telly off the digital receiver turns off so you cant record from it. Dont really want a DVD HD and another Freeview box or PVR under the telly.

Niggy_2

Nice one FF99

you're probably right its not worth the effort but if you want one of these and you don't want to buy it from QED or 24/7 (which I could understand) then the benefit of buying from a highly reputable retailer plus the possibility of getting a nice discount chucked in might sweeten the deal some what.

As i said i don't want one at the moment but I thought it was worth passing the info on to someone who does

Niggy_2

Just checked the JLP website and it seems that they have corrected their description.

Looks like somebody has notified them of the error.....

....that puts an end to that then!

Soolin - check out the first page of this thread - Ben500 supplies a link describing how to get the main channels digitally through your cable connection - unfortuantly it seems this link doesnt work anymore- might be worth trying to PM Ben500 he may be able to provide more info?????

cashflow

I've just bought the Echostar which Victor Delta had recommended ( Argos for £44.99 ), and it's very impressive. Previously had a Bush model which kept breaking up on the weaker channels, so I then bought a £40 aerial and it still didn't work much better! Thanks for the advice.