Freeview replacement for sky+

[Greamec]

Hi all,

I am going to cancel my Sky tv when the subscription is over, it is just to expensive. I am going to get a freeview box but have a couple of questions:

1. I like sky+, is there a freeview alternative?

2. I get poor tv reception through my ariel so can I continue to use my sky dish to get freeview? or does it have to be an ariel

Thanks Greame

[MarkE19]

1. if you want all the features of Sky+ and more then get a FV STB & TiVo. If you just want a digital HDD recorder then get something like the Topfield recorder, or a load of others on the market.

2. No 'Freeview' is via the aerial only. However your Sky card will become a 'free to view' card allowing acces to most of the FV channels, plus a fair few more that are only via Sky.
Poor analogue reception does not automatically mean you will get poor FV reception. The chances are that an aerial upgrade would solve any reception problems, as long as you are in a FV reception area.

Mark.

[Cyril]

The only real PVR in the UK is the TiVo.

The Topfield appears to be the next best thing according to manu users on this forum and digital spy.

If you want something basic and simple and less feature rich than TiVo, like Sky plus, or require dual tuners in one box, go for the Topfield.

If you can afford it and have the space, go for two (or more!) Tivos and two freeview STBs .

[nig28]

Hi
If you cancel your sky, you can still view some free channels using your sky dish and a card from sky, sky like to this because one day you may come back to them.
Nigel

[Greamec]

Thanks guys,

Just to clear this up, can I use my old sky dish with the topfield box? Is it just a case of taking the two coax cables from the sky plus box and putting them in the topfield?

Thanks Greame

[GrahamC]

I think your Sky+ box becomes a freeview box.

[Nick_UK]

Originally Posted by GrahamC

I think your Sky+ box becomes a freeview box.

The Sky+ box will continue to receive non-subscription channels. The recording/timeslip functions will not work without a £10/month subscription.

[CJROSS]

Originally Posted by Cyril

The only real PVR in the UK is the TiVo.

Hey Cyril I must be imagining that Humax 8000T 80 Gb PVR in my lounge then because it seems pretty real to me. £150.

[Cyril]

Originally Posted by CJROSS

Hey Cyril I must be imagining that Humax 8000T 80 Gb PVR in my lounge then because it seems pretty real to me. £150.

Nah,, all other PVRs are just pretenders.

Windows Media Centre is pretty close, but expensive and noisy.

The Humax , Topfield Pace Twin, Sky plus are really DVRs, not PVRs.

[Greamec]

Thanks guys,

Just to clear this up, can I use my old sky dish with the topfield box? Is it just a case of taking the two coax cables from the sky plus box and putting them in the topfield?

Thanks Greame

[JayCee]

Originally Posted by Greamec

Thanks guys,

Just to clear this up, can I use my old sky dish with the topfield box? Is it just a case of taking the two coax cables from the sky plus box and putting them in the topfield?

Thanks Greame

No, as stated earlier the Topfield is for the Freeview digital TV service which you receive through the normal outside/loft mounted aerial..........you do not use a satellite dish.

[LV426]

For the avoidance of any doubt.......

There is no crossover or commonality between

- use of Satellite receiving equipment ($ky, whether you pay for it or not) and

- use of DTT (Digital, Terrestrial - aka Freeview) receiving equipment.

You have to use a box which suits the type of signal you want to receive; a $ky box (of some type) for satellite (dish) transmissions, or a Freeview box for terrestrial (aerial) transmissions.

$ky + boxes can record satellite transmissions but their functionality is restricted unless you subscribe to their "+" service (included with some packages or payable separately).

Freeview boxes and PVRs can only receive and or record terrestrial freeview.

Standalone recorders (such as HDD-DVD recorders, and TiVo) can record pretty much anything you connect up to them; but their onboard tuners are typically just for old-style, analog UHF television (Channels 1..5). Anything more and you have to buy, separately, a set top box (again, either $ky/satellite type, or terrestrial Freeview type) and connect it up to the recorder.