Recommend me a freesat box..
Discussion
I need a freesat box, thanks to this switch over thingy (leaving it a little late I know).
Ideally I'd like to record, but don't need a huge capacity as I don't actually record much at the moment.
I don't have a HD Tv at the moment, but will probably get one at some point so a HD unit would be better.
My current TV only has 2 scart sockets, which are both currently used (video and DVD) so I'll still need to be able to use both players ( i have a scart 4-way expander too).
I'd like something solid and reliable, rather than having lots of gizmos that break down.
Recommendations please? Absolute max budget is £250.
Ideally I'd like to record, but don't need a huge capacity as I don't actually record much at the moment.
I don't have a HD Tv at the moment, but will probably get one at some point so a HD unit would be better.
My current TV only has 2 scart sockets, which are both currently used (video and DVD) so I'll still need to be able to use both players ( i have a scart 4-way expander too).
I'd like something solid and reliable, rather than having lots of gizmos that break down.
Recommendations please? Absolute max budget is £250.
The Samsung SMT-7800 came out with a user interface that is apparently much better than the (two year older) Humax, but a list of bugs as long as your arm - some of them quite disasterous.
Since then there have been regular over the air software upgrades, and it looks like it's turning into a very usable box. The side effect of this is that prices dropped like a stone for a while, so you can get one at a fairly good price.
Worth reading up about, but certainly the Humax isn't the only game in town right now.
Since then there have been regular over the air software upgrades, and it looks like it's turning into a very usable box. The side effect of this is that prices dropped like a stone for a while, so you can get one at a fairly good price.
Worth reading up about, but certainly the Humax isn't the only game in town right now.
I can vouch for the samsung smt 7800 - had it 2 weeks and its user interface is very easy and intuitive. The first thing i did was update the firmware, which was updated in july, and i understand this fixed most of the bugs.
i bought it from richer sounds for £199 - the cheapest i could find.
it also connects to the internet, so you can watch you tube and iplayer, and soon itv player. it upscales, and everything can be tweeked.
it records similar to sky +, so you can record a programme or a series, and will also tell you if the programme is available as HD.
whereas the humax is an end of line product, with no further software updates. the samsung is new, and the software will be updated in due course to incorporate additional features.
i bought it from richer sounds for £199 - the cheapest i could find.
it also connects to the internet, so you can watch you tube and iplayer, and soon itv player. it upscales, and everything can be tweeked.
it records similar to sky +, so you can record a programme or a series, and will also tell you if the programme is available as HD.
whereas the humax is an end of line product, with no further software updates. the samsung is new, and the software will be updated in due course to incorporate additional features.
NorthDave said:
HellDiver said:
Humax FOXSAT-HDR.
Thread over.
I agree whole heartedly. Just spent weeks deliberating and picked up yesterday - it rocks.Thread over.
Nice feature where you can attach an external USB hard drive and archive good stuff, freeing up space on the internal box. Then you can also pull the files onto a PC so you can fill up DVDs with your favourite stuff too. They save in a funny format, but rinse them through a program like Freemake and they should be playable on anything, although VLC plays them just fine.
If I was playing devils advocate, the lack of the "sort of" free channels like Dave is a bummer, but you can only watch what you can watch. If you want more channels, they are launching a terrestrial Freeview+HD box which looks the mutts nuts.
vladcjelli said:
Been running one since they came out two years ago. Been no hassle in all that time.
Nice feature where you can attach an external USB hard drive and archive good stuff, freeing up space on the internal box. Then you can also pull the files onto a PC so you can fill up DVDs with your favourite stuff too. They save in a funny format, but rinse them through a program like Freemake and they should be playable on anything, although VLC plays them just fine.
If I was playing devils advocate, the lack of the "sort of" free channels like Dave is a bummer, but you can only watch what you can watch. If you want more channels, they are launching a terrestrial Freeview+HD box which looks the mutts nuts.
+1 Picked one up last week, great piece of kit and Iplayer works much better than on the PS3Nice feature where you can attach an external USB hard drive and archive good stuff, freeing up space on the internal box. Then you can also pull the files onto a PC so you can fill up DVDs with your favourite stuff too. They save in a funny format, but rinse them through a program like Freemake and they should be playable on anything, although VLC plays them just fine.
If I was playing devils advocate, the lack of the "sort of" free channels like Dave is a bummer, but you can only watch what you can watch. If you want more channels, they are launching a terrestrial Freeview+HD box which looks the mutts nuts.
OK my question is slightly different, I have a current HD telly, and sky+, so I have a dish already.
I don't watch that much on Sky I couldn't get on a freesat channel, and think I am wasting my money keeping the sky subscription, I dont watch sports, so dont need that, hardly watch a film either, mainly the basic sort of channels,
To save me a lot of looking around, can some of you guys recommend what Freesat to go for, I see there is quite a lot of different packages and suppliers.
Two that caught my eye was Freesat1 and Sky, both use existing sky dish's. Anyone got these I wonder.
I don't watch that much on Sky I couldn't get on a freesat channel, and think I am wasting my money keeping the sky subscription, I dont watch sports, so dont need that, hardly watch a film either, mainly the basic sort of channels,
To save me a lot of looking around, can some of you guys recommend what Freesat to go for, I see there is quite a lot of different packages and suppliers.
Two that caught my eye was Freesat1 and Sky, both use existing sky dish's. Anyone got these I wonder.
I'm very tempted to cancel Sky HD and go down the Freesat route. Have been looking at the Humax Foxsat HD box as an option but, I'm alittle hesitant due to all the reports I keep hearing about very slow menus and rubbish remote control angle (due to my setup, I often sit 45 degrees from the Satelite box).
Don't think I'd miss the Sky channels too much though as I mostly watch BBC HD anyway.
Just how slow are the menus?
Does anyone have any other Freesat HD recorder unit (apart from the Samsung) that they would recommend?
Don't think I'd miss the Sky channels too much though as I mostly watch BBC HD anyway.
Just how slow are the menus?
Does anyone have any other Freesat HD recorder unit (apart from the Samsung) that they would recommend?
Bullett said:
Humax Foxsat HDR - Job done.
I replaced SKY with one of these a couple of years ago. Works well, just disconnected the sky+ box and connected the foxsat, hit setup and away we went.
Do all freesat receivers cover the same channels, or do some have more than others, how can I find out what the Humax Foxsat HDR covers, have failed miserably so far to find it out myself.I replaced SKY with one of these a couple of years ago. Works well, just disconnected the sky+ box and connected the foxsat, hit setup and away we went.
Found this interesting item on a forum, wonder if it's true?
I’ve been a begrudging Sky subscriber for some time now. Whilst waiting for the BBC to launch their own Freesat offering, I’d considered switching to Freesat From Sky before, but had been put off by the cost. Then I made a very useful discovery.
This only really works if you’re already a Sky subscriber. Here’s the trick. Call Sky, and tell them that you want to cancel your subscription. They’ll try and persuade you not to, but just say that you’ve decided to switch to “Freesat From Sky” because you don’t watch the extra subscription-only channels. The trick (which they’ll tell you if pushed) is that once the subscription ends, your existing Sky digibox, with your existing subscriber card in it, is a fully-working Freesat From Sky system. No need to pay £150 for the box and dish (you’ve already got both). And more importantly, no need to pay £20 for a Freesat viewing card (as claimed in their FAQs) – your existing subscriber card will do the job just fine.
Could it be that simple? One of our members must be a sky technician......spill the beans.
I’ve been a begrudging Sky subscriber for some time now. Whilst waiting for the BBC to launch their own Freesat offering, I’d considered switching to Freesat From Sky before, but had been put off by the cost. Then I made a very useful discovery.
This only really works if you’re already a Sky subscriber. Here’s the trick. Call Sky, and tell them that you want to cancel your subscription. They’ll try and persuade you not to, but just say that you’ve decided to switch to “Freesat From Sky” because you don’t watch the extra subscription-only channels. The trick (which they’ll tell you if pushed) is that once the subscription ends, your existing Sky digibox, with your existing subscriber card in it, is a fully-working Freesat From Sky system. No need to pay £150 for the box and dish (you’ve already got both). And more importantly, no need to pay £20 for a Freesat viewing card (as claimed in their FAQs) – your existing subscriber card will do the job just fine.
Could it be that simple? One of our members must be a sky technician......spill the beans.
Yes, we still use the old sky box in the bedroom and it gets a basic selection of channels.
http://www.freesat.co.uk/files/1113/0329/4479/Larg...
http://www.freesat.co.uk/files/1113/0329/4479/Larg...
Yep, a cancelled sky box will still work for the free view channels (as long as you have a sky card in it - even if the card is cancelled).
However, the "+" functions stop working. No Pause or recording etc.
We have been doing this for the last 4 months, but finally upgraded to a Humax after the sky box finally died a few weeks ago. It's a great box with BBC iPlayer and ITV on Demand really making it a top package.
P.S. Another little known sky 'feature'. Unplug you phone line and rent a couple of movies on demand before you cancel your account - just make sure you don't plug that phone line back in and they will never appear on the bill
However, the "+" functions stop working. No Pause or recording etc.
We have been doing this for the last 4 months, but finally upgraded to a Humax after the sky box finally died a few weeks ago. It's a great box with BBC iPlayer and ITV on Demand really making it a top package.
P.S. Another little known sky 'feature'. Unplug you phone line and rent a couple of movies on demand before you cancel your account - just make sure you don't plug that phone line back in and they will never appear on the bill
Vipers said:
Do all freesat receivers cover the same channels, or do some have more than others, how can I find out what the Humax Foxsat HDR covers, have failed miserably so far to find it out myself.
All freesat boxes cover the same freesat channels with the obvious addition of HD channels on HD boxes, you can also use most as fta boxes to watch other sat channels not affiliated with freesat.Another vote for Humax here, also if you goto freesat-direct we have had some good experiences with their cheaper "managers specials" on the 320gb boxes.
http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/prodCat2.asp?cat=Fact...
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