I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

Blag

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I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #1

Can anyone recommend free-to air or Freeview equipment that would be a good substitute?

HD would be good along with the ability to record tv shows.

eirebus

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #2

Powercity etc have boxes that will allow you record, stop /start etc, they're about €200/250 you will need 2 cables coming in from your dish and you will also need an aerial for Saorview, I'm thinking along the same lines myself

Blag

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #3

Quote by eirebus

you will also need an aerial for Saorview

Good tip, I didn't think of that.

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #4

I'm running a Satellite / Saorview combo box for a good few years now. All the FTA satellite and saorview combined in a single EPG, recording, live pause, etc...

Very few of these things are plug and play, you'll have to be prepared to get a bit nerdy to get it right for you.

I don't think the box I have is still available but I got it from freetv.ie and they probably have alternatives. What you need is a triple (two satelite, one terrestrial) or quad tuner box (two satellite, two terrestrial).

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #5

thru the adds

Blag

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #6

One thing I'm struggling to find is an intuitive tv guide that is similar to what we're used to (Sky).

A lot of the combo systems I had a look at, seem to have a tv guide for saorview only, one that you can record your favourite tv show by scrolling through a guide up to a couple of days in advance. But for satellite they only have "now & next" video recording OR you can set future recordings by using a basic timer function (i.e. the same way you'd set a VHS recorders some 30 odd years ago)...?

Now that I've done a bit of digging, I'd like something that has full function tv listings on saorview and satellite if such a thing exists.

A Lot of the decoders I've seen so far seem to be loaded with a very chintzy user interface?

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #7

Quote

I'm running a Satellite / Saorview combo box for a good few years now

That's what I have in the van

Quote

All the FTA satellite and saorview combined in a single EPG, recording, live pause, etc...

That's what I'd like for the house, you can use the cables from your present sky box with another aerial and cable for the Saorview which shouldn't be too hard to do I think

@Blag good point on the TV listings I never thought of that

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #8

I have full 7 day EPG combining both Saorview and Satellite on a box that's about 5 years old. They do exist. I'll have a look at what's available this evening and post a few suggestions but as I said earlier, don't expect a plug and play solution, it'll take a bit of fiddling to get it set up the way you want it.

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #9

Quote by <BM>

7 day EPG

I had to google that!

So, I learned a new acronym today...

Quote by <BM>

don't expect a plug and play solution, it'll take a bit of fiddling to get it set up the way you want it.

Yeah, I don't mind that. But the goal will need to be close to what we have now, or I'll never hear the end of it, if you know what I mean...

"Series link" would be another handy feature to have...

the fat controller

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #10

I had a freesat box a few years ago made by Samsung which recorded from a decent EPG, not sure if they still make it or if it even covers Soarview. Humax were the other players in that market at that time.

Have a look at Argos and see what they have.

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #11

I find no need to record anymore, everything is on catch-up.

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #12

Most of the UK catch up services won't work down south unless you have a very good vpn and RTE player is useless.
We have a smart TV with the satellite and sarview tuner built into it. Just had to connect a usb hard drive to record.

Unfortunately I think most of the combo boxes are now and next only for satellite unless you have a subscription, our TV is the same.

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #13

Freetv.ie. has plenty of info on the boxes they sell

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 21.10.2019 · #14

Haven't spent a whole lot of time looking but I'd probaby go for something like this if I was upgrading.

ZGEMMA H7C with DVB-S2X+2*DVB-T2/C Triple Tuner 4K UHD E2 Linux Satellite Receiver https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0…RDbEXC1V35

Its a quad tuner 2x DVB-S and 2 DVB-T and theres a 10% voucher which makes it cheaper than its lesser triple tuner sibling. The twin tuner for saorview is a nice to have, with a single tuner you can only watch / stream other channels on the same multiplex when you're recording. With the twin DVB-T tuner you'll have full redundancy for watching/recording/streaming all saorview channels all of the time.

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 16.12.2019 · #15

I'm guessing that you are in the republic. If so Freeview is not available but FREESAT is. This is important when choosing a set top box.

Saorview recording boxes have 7 day EPG for Irish channels only. For BBC, ITV C4 C5 E4 etc the EPG is limited to now/new.
For several years now I have been successfully using a Humax HDR Freesat box for the satellite channels plus an aerial for the Irish channels.
8 day EPG - record to Humax HDR.
Irish channels 7 day EPG record to external hard disc via USB connection - if supported by the TV.
Humax box was easy to set up, but you do have to input you GB or NI post code during this. This is not verified in any way, but does determine what 'local' BBC and ITV channels you get.

At the time I bought it the Humax boxes were not available in ROI, but I Amazon were happy to supply. Freetv.ie and probably other now sell them

I hope this helps.

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 16.12.2019 · #16

Oh boy you lot are a lot braver than me. I did all the research got a freesat card from Sky and connected the other TV to TalkTalk TV via tinternet.
A lot cheaper to pay the £70 odd per month than suffer Maureens wrath so it stays

Now you know I am a wimp

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 16.12.2019 · #17

We just have a memory stick loaded to the gills of stuff we like, Also have Saorview on the TV should we need it.

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 16.12.2019 · #18

IPTV

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 16.12.2019 · #19

I’ve literally just dropped Sky after 15 years and switched to Freesat. I still have the Sky box wired to a lot of rooms in the house so I can still watch most channels but for recording I have just got a Humax box. I mostly use Netflix, catchup TV and Plex. The kids mostly watch YouTube or Netflix so why pay for Sky unless you are really into Sports.

I’m in Northern Ireland but all of the above should work in the south if the Humax box is happy enough to take an NI postcode. I’m guessing the catchup might not work though as it would pick up your IP address and know where you are. Mind you my Xbox thinks I live in California..

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Re: I'm thinking about ditching Sky tv.

· Posted: 17.12.2019 · #20

I have a Sky box because Mrs B MUST have RTE & Virgin when away in Europe.
I also have a Freesat box with an NI post code. TBH Freesat + Soarview meets all our needs when at home.

Having said that, the RTE and Virgin channels are on the pan European beam which is very handy when in the south of Spain.

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