Free-sat....whats my options?

[buzzer]

We currently have Sky plus on the minimum package. We hardly ever watch anything but BBC1 and 2 and a couple of other free channels so I am thinking of getting rid of Sky. Whats really useful though is the Sky plus facility that we use all the time.

Can I keep the sky plus box and use it on Freesat?

One thing, due to where we live we cant get a good freeview signal so that's out...

What are my options?

[FunkyNige]

I've got the Humax Freesat recorder box ( link) which has the functionality of the Sky+ box (except you can't set it to record from your phone) including twin tuners, iPlayer, ITV catchup thingy, etc. They are quite pricey mind!

[Digger]

Same here but at 6 months of (now cancelled) Sky Subs it will have paid for itself.

How do you get to the ITV catchup widget - not that I'll be missing much?!

[Gingerbread Man]

Digger said:

Same here but at 6 months of (now cancelled) Sky Subs it will have paid for itself.

How do you get to the ITV catchup widget - not that I'll be missing much?!

Itv catch up being released in jan 2011

[Bullett]

I have the HD freesat from HUmax. Very happy with it though it's not quite as intuitive as the sky box.
Even at £200 it paid for itself inside a year against sky.

[kazste]

Another human foxsat user here. It is good if with a few flaws. It seems keen not to record the end of programmes when on auto record, sky did this as well but with nowhere near the regularity!
Setting up the series link style service is strange as you need to record in a different manner.
It is pricey but then as said before 5 months of free freesat vs paid for sky and it will of paid for itself.
BBC iplayer is either in hd or Damn close enough through the internet as well!

[Mr AJ]

Sky+ box features will not work without a sky subscription, You also won't get as many free channels over a non-subscription sky box as you would through a normal freesat box. Take your card out of your sky+ box, then flick through channels and try to use the sky+ features - Thats exactly what you'll get without any subscription packages.

Best bet is to get a Freesat PVR if you want to be able to record, As mentioned the Humax one is very good - And will eventually pay for itself - But its a bit steep to pay upfront if your on a budget. If you can live without recording, Freesat boxes are cheap enough.

[buzzer]

Thanks for your help guys, will decide after the new year, we still have a bit left on the Sky contract...

[grenpayne]

Buzzer, I'm in exactly the same situation as you to a T!

I think the Humax Foxsat HD box would suit our needs too but one thing I can't seem to get a handle on is the quality of HD content. Read a few reviews that say it's not that great and availability is a bit sparse?

Any comments?

[Bullett]

Quality is fine.

The amount of content is limited to 3 channels (that I have found)
BBC1 HD - BBC1 in HD basically some minor variations(local news etc)
BBC HD - A kind of greatest hits of the BBC and programs that are not on BBC1 - Miranda, Top Gear etc.
ITV1 HD - ITV on HD.

[kazste]

Agree with above, its definitely better than the SD version but not blueray quality. Plus iplayer is either hd or very close if done through the internet and suspect itv player when it comes early next year will be the same.