Freeview vs Freesat
Author
Discussion

croyde

Original Poster:

25,653 posts

254 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
quotequote all
I want to replace the functionality that I loved of my old SKY HD+ without the monthly outlay but happy to stump up £200 or so for a box. Flat to be moved into has both an aerial socket and twin satellite connectors.

My HD Panasonic has a Freeview tuner.

Briefly looking and I like the Humax Freetime box with the ability to set the record with your phone. I presume this is from anywhere, what I miss about the Sky set up, but I notice that they don't have Dave in their channel lineup. Probably the only channel I'd watch outside the usual terrestrial lot.

Is there a freeview box with the same functionality? especially the remote recording?

gpo746

3,397 posts

154 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
quotequote all
Don't know but I thought I would stick my 2p in.

I have both having jettisoned Sky some time ago.
Freesat quality is better and sharper there are more channels on freesat including lots of pop channels and some CBS channels plus the Horror Channel etc.
However as you note Dave does not appear to be on Freesat.

Like I said I have both Freeview in the TV. Freesat as a box. I have the Samsung one at the time it was 50/50 Samsung or Humax. The decision for the Samsung was simply done on design and the fact I got a great deal on it from Currys as it was a display item missing a few things.

I also would suggest you consider getting a second hand YOUVIEW BOX if you don't have I player in your TV. They can be picked up here fro aaound £25 to £39 quid these being the Huwai Talk Talk ones.
Connected up to my internet via Ethernet (no wireless in them) they work fine and give us all the catch ups in one box. They also function great as a freeview recorder. If you don't mind the design of the box they are so much better value than a standard freeview recorder box. The fact they are Talk Talk branded doesn't matter as they work fine with any ISP so long as your broadband is half decent.

anonymous-user

78 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
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I've got one of these for HD Freeview, works a treat (Neat feature where you can scroll back through the guide as well as forward and watch on demand channels), You can use your phone to remote record as well, not that I've tried it. Both of these features need a wired Ethernet connection, it doesn't support WIFI.

http://www1.humaxdirect.co.uk/Direct/prod/89f4b5ea...

marctwo

3,666 posts

284 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
quotequote all
Humax HDR Fox-T2 is a very good machine. However, with custom firmware it is brilliant.

You can get a well priced refurb here:

http://www1.humaxdirect.co.uk/Direct/ProdCat/freev...

then head over here for custom stuff:

http://hummy.tv/forum/forums/hd-hdr-fox-t2-customi...

Sonic

4,008 posts

231 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
quotequote all
I have a bravia from 5 years ago also with a freeview tuner on-board.

I've recently bought a YouView Humax DTR-T1010 box and it's awesome... a few HD channels, digital output to the hifi system (brilliant for films on HD and the F1 biggrin), plus recording and the missus uses the integrated video on-demand iplayer apps.

croyde

Original Poster:

25,653 posts

254 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
quotequote all
Cheers.

Is YouView basically the FreeView+ system with the added benefit of the On-Demand EPG?

gpo746

3,397 posts

154 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
quotequote all
croyde said:
Cheers.

Is YouView basically the FreeView+ system with the added benefit of the On-Demand EPG?
Yes effectively all 4 catch up services in one box

FlossyThePig

4,138 posts

267 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
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One point to consider with YouView is the USB ports are disabled, prventing backing up items on the hard disk (it's part of the specification).

stevenjhepburn

291 posts

153 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
quotequote all
croyde said:
I want to replace the functionality that I loved of my old SKY HD+ without the monthly outlay but happy to stump up £200 or so for a box. Flat to be moved into has both an aerial socket and twin satellite connectors.

My HD Panasonic has a Freeview tuner.

Briefly looking and I like the Humax Freetime box with the ability to set the record with your phone. I presume this is from anywhere, what I miss about the Sky set up, but I notice that they don't have Dave in their channel lineup. Probably the only channel I'd watch outside the usual terrestrial lot.

Is there a freeview box with the same functionality? especially the remote recording?
Why not hook up freeview and freesat?

RayPike

426 posts

146 months

Friday 7th February 2014
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I had a youview box for a year and a bit and it was so slow and unresponsive compared to an old sky box that it was virtually unusable for me. I have now moved to a Humax freesat box. It's not a lot better, to be honest. Slow start up times and fairly unresponsive. Sky appear to have the hardware/user interface nailed in this area and I've seen nothing that comes close in performance.

probedb

824 posts

243 months

Friday 7th February 2014
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I only use Freesat for BBC4 HD at the moment. I have both hooked into my Panny plasma. There's some more channels on Freesat but none that I was interested in.