Wondering if anyone knows about the lastest developments in realtion to Free Sat? Is is any good? What is the reception like? How many channels are available and that sort of stuff? Currently have free view but am considering Free Sat
Free Sat
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daveh75
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i'd say freesat has the slight edge over freeview purely for its hd content, although still limited they're adding more all the time. for full channel line up see here. reception isn't really an issue as its satellite, so its good, although you might get picture break up/signal loss with severe weather such as very very heavy rain and/or sleet and snow. but only if its severe. you may want to wait for the humax pvr to be released then your have the option to record programmes and live pause etc,if that doesnt bother you just go for a standard box
To clarify further, there are both standard and HD Freesat boxes - you'll only be able to enjoy the HD content if you buy an HD box.
You can also enjoy Freesat (including HD channels) via Panasonic's '81' series of plasma and LCD televisions, which feature an integrated Freesat tuner. Just plug into/add a dish and you're done.
The Freesat tuner/recorder PVR boxes are due out in the next couple of weeks - they're being launched at our Show later this month -which will offer further flexibility.
You can also enjoy Freesat (including HD channels) via Panasonic's '81' series of plasma and LCD televisions, which feature an integrated Freesat tuner. Just plug into/add a dish and you're done.
The Freesat tuner/recorder PVR boxes are due out in the next couple of weeks - they're being launched at our Show later this month -which will offer further flexibility.
If you want high-definition TV now, and don't want to pay Sky for the privilege, then Freesat is currently your best bet. HD TV won't be available on Freeview via a standard aerial until then end of next year at the earliest, or 2012 at the latest, as we reported yesterday.
I currently have Sky HD and think its great, i live in Manchester which comes under the Granada Region so will be one of the first to be getting the analogue switched off. As for Freesat i wouldnt even think about getting a box, look at the shambles with ITV HD at the moment there content is awful at the moment they have 1 HD Channel compared to Skys 26. And the thing to remember is that at best you will only get maybe 4 HD channels before 2012. Heaven knows how many HD Channels sky will have by 2012, so the answer is simple if you want HD Channels for Free be prepared to be in for a long wait, or you can just pay £10 a month for Sky HD and 26 HD Channels.
Not quite £10 per month though is it when you have to pay £38 per month for Sky plus as well and another £10 per month for every additional HD box in the house. I make that £48 per month, compared to Freesats, £0 per month.
No argument Sky has better programming, just q as to whether or not its worth it at £48 per month.
You also can't count HD channels very well, because the rather excellent BBC HD is on Freesat as well with 4HD rumoured to join as soon as its deal with Sky expires.
5HD?, well who knows in the future although no signs yet.
As for ITV HD, whereas it has been said that it isn't as good quality as BBC HD, I don't see wholesale dissatisfaction, just feedback that its not always as good as BBC quality.
No argument Sky has better programming, just q as to whether or not its worth it at £48 per month.
You also can't count HD channels very well, because the rather excellent BBC HD is on Freesat as well with 4HD rumoured to join as soon as its deal with Sky expires.
5HD?, well who knows in the future although no signs yet.
As for ITV HD, whereas it has been said that it isn't as good quality as BBC HD, I don't see wholesale dissatisfaction, just feedback that its not always as good as BBC quality.
Big Aura
Well-known member
Does anyone know if I can use a Sony DVD recorder (RDR HXD-970) to record Freesat programs and if so, how will recording HD work - will the DVD recorder record as standard def, and then upscale?
Don't see any real point in paying extra for a Humax Foxsat PVR when I have a Sony DVD PVR, and if freeview will have HD content next year, it's really only going to be a stopgap (my landlord won't allow another sky installation to upgrade to Sky Digital (and I'd sooner not pay 'em £48 a month!).
Thanks
Don't see any real point in paying extra for a Humax Foxsat PVR when I have a Sony DVD PVR, and if freeview will have HD content next year, it's really only going to be a stopgap (my landlord won't allow another sky installation to upgrade to Sky Digital (and I'd sooner not pay 'em £48 a month!).
Thanks
John Duncan
Well-known member
Alsone:As for ITV HD, whereas it has been said that it isn't as good quality as BBC HD, I don't see wholesale dissatisfaction, just feedback that its not always as good as BBC quality.
Well wholesale dissatisfaction would require more than seven people having it, probably.........
Well wholesale dissatisfaction would require more than seven people having it, probably.........
If freesat was avalible now with even more HD Channels on offer i would cancel my Sky HD Subscription and by a freesat box, however it isnt and i cant see that changing in the not to distant future, to me Freesat shot themselves in the foot by not having ITV HD on the sky platform, i have to make do with a poxy picture whenever England play when all Freesat have to do is a little configuration and put it on Sky.
JohnDuncan:Alsone:As for ITV HD, whereas it has been said that it isn't as good quality as BBC HD, I don't see wholesale dissatisfaction, just feedback that its not always as good as BBC quality. Well wholesale dissatisfaction would require more than seven people having it, probably.........
Nah, it just takes 6 to be unhappy.
Nah, it just takes 6 to be unhappy.
dazb:If freesat was avalible now with even more HD Channels on offer i would cancel my Sky HD Subscription and by a freesat box, however it isnt and i cant see that changing in the not to distant future, to me Freesat shot themselves in the foot by not having ITV HD on the sky platform, i have to make do with a poxy picture whenever England play when all Freesat have to do is a little configuration and put it on Sky.
How did they shoot themselves in the foot? The only reason why you want it is so you can have everything on Sky. Thats hardly going to make you change to Freesat now is it. I'd call it a shrewd marketing move making a desirable channel Freesat exclusive and exactly the same as what Sky did with their service and channels.
As for Freesat HD, yeah there's currently 2 HD channels, but as take up grows so will the line up I would have thought. You have to remember that Freesat is still in its infancy (albeit with good growth figures) whereas as Sky is an established broadcaster with huge figures (even before HD launched) thus giving channels more reason to join Sky thean Freesat. However, with growth, I think that will start to even out more although free tv will probably never attract as many channels overall.
How did they shoot themselves in the foot? The only reason why you want it is so you can have everything on Sky. Thats hardly going to make you change to Freesat now is it. I'd call it a shrewd marketing move making a desirable channel Freesat exclusive and exactly the same as what Sky did with their service and channels.
As for Freesat HD, yeah there's currently 2 HD channels, but as take up grows so will the line up I would have thought. You have to remember that Freesat is still in its infancy (albeit with good growth figures) whereas as Sky is an established broadcaster with huge figures (even before HD launched) thus giving channels more reason to join Sky thean Freesat. However, with growth, I think that will start to even out more although free tv will probably never attract as many channels overall.
John Duncan
Well-known member
dazb:all Freesat have to do is a little configuration and put it on Sky.
Oh, and agree the commercials.
Oh, and agree the commercials.
I think one point that is being missed here is that not everyone wants to subscribe to Sky. Personally I have never and will never subscribe. Freeview has provided me with more than enough channels to watch (I like to do other activities as well as watch TV). As for films, you are hard pressed to beat the experience of going out to the cinema. For all other film watching I buy either DVD's or Blu-rays watching them when I want. Sport, I go and watch my football - live.
I tend to mainly watch BBC1/2/3/4 ITV4 C4/More4/E4. Freesat seems like the ideal next step from Freeview, it's good that there is some HD, I can wait until more comes on stream.
As an adjunct, there are three people in my office cancelling their Sky packages and moving over to Freesat and another two (me included) looking at buying into Freesat.
I tend to mainly watch BBC1/2/3/4 ITV4 C4/More4/E4. Freesat seems like the ideal next step from Freeview, it's good that there is some HD, I can wait until more comes on stream.
As an adjunct, there are three people in my office cancelling their Sky packages and moving over to Freesat and another two (me included) looking at buying into Freesat.
fatboyslimfast
Well-known member
JohnDuncan:dazb:all Freesat have to do is a little configuration and put it on Sky.
Oh, and agree the commercials.
Oh, that...nothing much then
Oh, and agree the commercials.
Oh, that...nothing much then
On this topic, I think I read somewhere that Freesat HD requires a specific type of connection from a dish - I seem to remember it needed two cables? I live in a rented house that has a Sky dish from a previous occupier. There is one "normal" aerial-type cable coming into the house from the dish. Would this give me Freesat HD if I just plugged it into a Freesat box?
Full details of Humax's forthcoming £299 Freesat+ PVR just posted in our news story. And you'll be able to see the real thing exclusively for the first time when it's launched at the What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Show next week.
daveh75
Well-known member
ceep:On this topic, I think I read somewhere that Freesat HD requires a specific type of connection from a dish - I seem to remember it needed two cables? I live in a rented house that has a Sky dish from a previous occupier. There is one "normal" aerial-type cable coming into the house from the dish. Would this give me Freesat HD if I just plugged it into a Freesat box?
yes you can use a single feed with freesat, you only need a secon feed if you go for the freesat pvr
yes you can use a single feed with freesat, you only need a secon feed if you go for the freesat pvr
Sure SKY have a lot of HD channels but apart from the sport HD channels they all show repetitive rubbish
I have FREESAT HD and I am more than happy with the SD picture quality on my 42ins HD ready only TV and more recently when you're getting programmes like POIROT and Champions League football on ITV HD for free I for one am not complaining
It may be a while before we get more FREE HD channels but come they will and most probably more so after 2012 . Meanwhile SKY are desperately trying to increase their share of the satellite market by offering the SKY HD box for £75.00, but then you still have to pay anything between £48-60 a month to watch great pictures but highly repetitive programmes
As for films why not just buy DVD's and /or Blu Rays anyway..Had SKY for 6 years essentailly because of the kids.....it was rubbish then.. and in my opinion it is still overly priced for the rubbish you get..... only to say ...look I have SKY HD...isn't it wonderful! which is a category into which I am sad to admit I fell
I have FREESAT HD and I am more than happy with the SD picture quality on my 42ins HD ready only TV and more recently when you're getting programmes like POIROT and Champions League football on ITV HD for free I for one am not complaining
It may be a while before we get more FREE HD channels but come they will and most probably more so after 2012 . Meanwhile SKY are desperately trying to increase their share of the satellite market by offering the SKY HD box for £75.00, but then you still have to pay anything between £48-60 a month to watch great pictures but highly repetitive programmes
As for films why not just buy DVD's and /or Blu Rays anyway..Had SKY for 6 years essentailly because of the kids.....it was rubbish then.. and in my opinion it is still overly priced for the rubbish you get..... only to say ...look I have SKY HD...isn't it wonderful! which is a category into which I am sad to admit I fell
Big Aura
Well-known member
Assuming it's an F-plug, that's sufficient. One cable only. The new PVR may need two cables, in the same way as a Sky+ box does, tho.
If you're interested in getting one, I've just ordered a from selectronics.co.uk (not advertising or vouching for them, but it cost me £114.99)
If you're interested in getting one, I've just ordered a from selectronics.co.uk (not advertising or vouching for them, but it cost me £114.99)
Tallyho:
Andrew Everard:You're not a fan, then...?
Afraid not Andrew
Me neither
I have the Sky HD since near the begining.
They take ?86 (I think) out of my account.
Their HD movie channels are all over the place. They still have sky sports 3 HD on 450 (in Ireland anyway).
Sometimes when I sit down to watch a movie theres a sign language person on the screen whick I cannot turn off. They should make technology that turns it on and off.
I have to put in my password for 15+ movies every time I change channels before 9pm.
May take the movies off it soon (buy some Blurays with the savings) as we only watch 3 or 4 a week (not all premium)
This free-sat seems it could take off. A lot of people are peed off with skys prices and monolopy
Boo
Andrew Everard:You're not a fan, then...?
Afraid not Andrew
Me neither
I have the Sky HD since near the begining.
They take ?86 (I think) out of my account.
Their HD movie channels are all over the place. They still have sky sports 3 HD on 450 (in Ireland anyway).
Sometimes when I sit down to watch a movie theres a sign language person on the screen whick I cannot turn off. They should make technology that turns it on and off.
I have to put in my password for 15+ movies every time I change channels before 9pm.
May take the movies off it soon (buy some Blurays with the savings) as we only watch 3 or 4 a week (not all premium)
This free-sat seems it could take off. A lot of people are peed off with skys prices and monolopy
Boo
bullitt
Well-known member
Can i use the two cables from my sat dish that went into my sky+ box for the new HUMAX freesathd pvr?
daveh75
Well-known member
professorhat
Well-known member
boopolo:May take the movies off it soon (buy some Blurays with the savings) as we only watch 3 or 4 a week (not all premium)
Have to say, I can understand having Sky for sport, but not movies. For much less, you can get an unlimited rental from Lovefilm - any Blu-Ray movies you want. Admittedly, you have to wait 3 days for a new one (send the last one off = 1 day, 1 day's processing time, 1 day to receive the new one via 1st class post). But that's still potentially 10 new HD movies per month (9 in February)...
Have to say, I can understand having Sky for sport, but not movies. For much less, you can get an unlimited rental from Lovefilm - any Blu-Ray movies you want. Admittedly, you have to wait 3 days for a new one (send the last one off = 1 day, 1 day's processing time, 1 day to receive the new one via 1st class post). But that's still potentially 10 new HD movies per month (9 in February)...
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