LNB / cable question - dumping Sky+ for Freesat+

[SeeFive]

We have decided that now the last of the kids have moved out, we no longer need subscription-based Sky, but want to keep the ability to record and pause programs. We quite like the look of the channels available on Freesat compared to Freeview built into existing TVs. So, the decision is that we are going Freesat+ and completely cancelling our Sky subscription.

I notice that Freesat+ requires two cables to the digibox. I assume our Sky+ system uses similar cabling to record up to two programs at once.

So, my question is (at last), as I have Sky+ at the moment, am I likely to have the correct LNB and cables for Freesat+ ? In other words, is my swop-out simply going to be: a) unplug Sky+ box and; b) plug in Freesat+ box using existing LNB / cabling?

In case you need to know, the Freesat box I have in mind is the Samsung SMT-S7800. We only have Sky+ in the lounge, and are looking to keep it that way on Freesat+

Many thanks in advance.

[SeeFive]

Laplace said:

http://www.freesat.co.uk/how-to/use-your-sky-dish

Thanks for the link - I have been there already (and anywhere that various Google searches can take me such as the AVForums etc) It was that page was which triggered the my question - "Freesat HD digital boxes start from £70 and freesat+ from around £150 (remember that your dish will need two feeds/cables to your box in order to watch one channel while recording another)."

The issue is, I can't find anything that tells me if it is the same multi LNB / two cables as a typical Sky+ set up. Probably sounds thick to those that know about these things, but just checking up front.

[SeeFive]

Many thanks indeed for the replies. Another fellow insomniac out there I see.

A call to sky and off to richer sounds tomorrow morning I guess.

[SeeFive]

Set to record highlights on the beeb and will watch when I can. Doing a rip replace on our en suite at the mo so just unwinding before some zzzzs.

[SeeFive]

Well, that is it done. All Sky products (TV, phone and broadband) cancelled this morning, Talk Talk order placed for the internet, phone line rental £9.50 (for a 1 year up front payment), £3.25 a month for broadband, with free calls after 7 and weekends. A bit different to the average monthly £65 bill we were getting from Sky, but that does include TV. Given that, a Freesat+ box will pay for itself in a few months, and the channels we lose we have no need to watch anyway.

Will probably upgrade to TalkTalk fibre if the line speed does not improve (unlikely) to enable on-demand movie downloads and iPlayer etc (we are a long way away from the exchange, so any broadband service suffers over copper).

I quite like that Samsung Freesat box mentioned earlier, will pick one up on the way back from work tomorrow. Wouldn't normally buy that brand, but it seems to be the only DLNA compliant Freesat+ box available. Shame it doesn't support a wifi connection though, my router is a long way from the AV stack in a different room making it an awkward cable run.

Thanks for the advice overnight chaps.

[SeeFive]

VEX said:

Have a good look at the Humax range.

One of the better guide system, but unfortunately none are a patch on the Sky EPG.

The nice thing about the Humax is that once they are onthe network other humax's can see into the recorded program's and stream them through the local box.

Hopefully going to have a good chat with Humax at a trade show on Thursday.

V.

Thanks for the interesting insight. SWMBO does not like the existing Freeview style EPGs on the TVs compared to Sky EPG, and the Freesat guides seem the same duff look and feel from what I have seen on the web. If the Humax makes it that much easier, it will make my life easier, believe me!

I looked at the HDR1000s on the web yesterday, and it seemed to have that Freeview EPG look and feel, but jazzed up a bit, and of course the additional feature of <freetime>. I felt that £110 was a bit of a premium to pay to avoid a few other button presses on the interactive players looking to find a program that you missed. your advice is well timed!

We will only ever have one Freesat box in the house, so the other Humax Freesat device sharing feature is interesting, but probably not that critical to us. But on comms, I liked the DLNA hookup idea of the Samsung as it potentially brings a lot of other devices into play, something that Humax range lacked. Providing that the Sammy can operate (without too much effort) beyond proprietary AllShare Play, it *could* let some of the other Apple i-Devices and MS PC's on the home network hook up to it across the cable (via the wireless hub).

But either will still need to be cabled! On that theme, IMO, all the Freesat devices seem to be behind technology - even at the high end Humax bix, friendliness of the EPGs, wireless capabilities etc do not seem good accoring to the blurb on the net. At the moment, I kind of wish I was taking this step in a couple of years time when they may have caught up a bit. Perhaps you could let your Humax man know next week at the show

I will see if I can get a look at them in the flesh and make a comparison bearing in mind what you have said about the Humax EPG simplicity vs Sammy DLNA potential.

Thanks again for taking the time to post.

[SeeFive]

VEX said:

Be careful with the DNLA badge!

It is very loose spec and different manufacturers seem to treat it differently, some won't play nicely with others!

I'll post more if I find out more on Thursday.

V.

Cheers for that. I got too busy to go shopping today and will hold off the visit to the stores for a while, Sky terminates on 7th November, so I have plenty of time. As with your point, I am aware of the DNLA compatibility issues across brands, hence the *could* let other non AllShare Play devices on...

TBH, I am more fed up with the idea of having to rip up floors in two rooms to cable any of the Freesat boxes avaliable to the wireless router (my version of OCD - I can't stand visible pipes and cables in the house). Surely it can't be that expensive to put in an on-board wifi option at their higher-end price point, and it would be a big differentiator among the limited selection of boxes I have seen on the web. Well, the OCD in me buys it anyway!

Enjoy the show. Is it open to the public or just trade?

[SeeFive]

VEX said:

It is just a local Wholesaler's show, so trade only I am afraid.

I'll get as much info as possible and let you know.

Also consider PowerLine systems for getting Ethernet connections back to your router, used it a couple of times as a 'get out of gaol' (phew spelt that right)

V.

That is very kind, but please do not go to too much effort on my behalf. You have been very helpful in providing a few pointers, and that is appreciated. I will have a look at Powerline too.

Thanks again.

[SeeFive]

maxfan said:

OP
I have sent you a pm that may be of some help to you

Many thanks for that - reply sent. If it is ok with you I may clip some of that email (bearing in mind the things you pointed out) and post it here, as it was news to me and may well be of use to others trying to do similar things in the future.

I just need to get back to a computer tomorrow instead of this damn iPod to get a proper keyboard!

Thanks again for taking the time to help.

[SeeFive]

VEX said:

It is just a local Wholesaler's show, so trade only I am afraid.

I'll get as much info as possible and let you know.

Also consider PowerLine systems for getting Ethernet connections back to your router, used it a couple of times as a 'get out of gaol' (phew spelt that right)

V.

I guess you are probably aware of this forum but just in case it is useful before you meet your Humax man on Thursday.

http://myhumax.org/forum/topic/questionsqueries

[SeeFive]

PHer Maxfan provided me with some really useful info for a more universal WiFi connector for non-WiFi enabled devices. Not a lot of money (a quick Google search shows them starting at £26) for a very flexible device by the look of it - and it keeps your usb port free for hard drives etc by plugging into the ethernet port directly.

http://www.netgear.com/landing/wnce2001.aspx

This looks interesting as it seems to cure the major DIY upheaval that my cable run OCD will cause to get an 802.3 cable to the TV area. Maxfan has had major success with this device attached to a variety of devices, including the Samsung Freesat+ box I was looking at.

Maxfan describes it as a VERY clever device which connects to an ethernet socket enabling wireless for that device. You have to configure it via a laptop first, but its easy enough. You basically connect it to the laptop, assign it an ip address and then that ip address stays fixed on the WNCE2001 unit. You then unplug the unit and connect it to whatever you are wirelessly connecting - hey presto!

Maxfan has used them for both Samsung and LG SMART TV's and is putting one on a friends Samsung telly tomorrow.

You cant measure the speed of the connection when it connected to the network device, but when he sent me the pm he had just sat through the Beatles "love me do" documentary on iPlayer via the Samsung freesat+ box and it played fine with no buffering or drop outs.

This must be of use to someone else, so thanks again Maxfan.

[SeeFive]

munky said:

maxfan said:

I'm apalled at the reply before last
I love the shopping channels and can recite the words on the x5 steam cleaner advert word perfect
I think the presenters do really good jobs of selling ste watches too !!
And then theres the space bags amazing what you can fit in them
I'm shocked

Can't move for wizz mops and V slicers around here

actually we have one of each but not off the Shopping channels

[SeeFive]

VEX said:

Ok, had a good chat with the Humax guys at the show.

Currently the networking and sharing is only available on the FREEVIEW boxes.

However the newest (out soon) FREESAT+ boxes have the ability to be a clients (viewer) but not a Server (storage and share) out of the box.

The expected up date to the firmware will make this possible in the near future.

Also the new EPG from Freesat is far nicer than it used to be and the menu's seem a lot nicer and easier to navigate around.

HTH

V.

That's really useful information. I am probably looking to use it as a client mostly but the option to upgrade to enable it to operate as a server later is useful as more iPads come into the house.

Waiting on the release date for the 1000s next week. Only 500gig as the wait for 1tb is too long. Shame as there seems to be only £20 difference.

Thanks again for the info.