Another dumb question!

[grocerjack]

I have a mobile home in France and earlier posted a question about UK did-boxes working over there. The person who responded stated that yes it would work and to ensure the dish was pointing at Astra 2d at 28.2 degrees. I'm getting the dish installed by the local bloke. I was also told that for £20 I could get a Freesat card which extends the number of fta channels I can get. Great I thought.

The whole deal including a digi-box is €300 (€195 without) but I'm unsure what digibox I get and if it is freesat capable. I'm also unsure if this is a good deal at that price. What I need to know is.........


a.) Where do I get a Freesat card from?
b.) Is this legal - to take it abroad and use it in a system I own?
c.) Is a 'freesat' card slot a standard feature on all digi-boxes, or only on specific models?
d.) If I buy one here is it small enough to carry easily in a suitcase on a plane?
e.) Is there such a thing as a DVD Player/Freesat capable combi digi-box?
f.) Any recommendations for a model or supplier?

Any other useful tips will be greatly appreciated!

Cheers Jack

[Silas Greenback]

Hi the freesat card is freesat from sky

it only gives you ch4 and 5 extra (and five alikes)

a.) Where do I get a Freesat card from?

Sky


b.) Is this legal - to take it abroad and use it in a system I own?

No you can only use the sky card in the UK

c.) Is a 'freesat' card slot a standard feature on all digi-boxes, or only on specific models?

No you need to use a sky box

d.) If I buy one here is it small enough to carry easily in a suitcase on a plane?

Not really

e.) Is there such a thing as a DVD Player/Freesat capable combi digi-box?

no

f.) Any recommendations for a model or supplier?

no :-)

BR Silas

[davemurgatroyd2]

Originally Posted by grocerjack

I have a mobile home in France and earlier posted a question about UK did-boxes working over there. The person who responded stated that yes it would work and to ensure the dish was pointing at Astra 2d at 28.2 degrees. I'm getting the dish installed by the local bloke. I was also told that for £20 I could get a Freesat card which extends the number of fta channels I can get. Great I thought.

The whole deal including a digi-box is €300 (€195 without) but I'm unsure what digibox I get and if it is freesat capable. I'm also unsure if this is a good deal at that price. What I need to know is.........


a.) Where do I get a Freesat card from?

From Sky , £20 one off payment will get extra channels of channel 4)not really necessary in a couple of weeks), Five, Five US, Five Life (Fiver next week), Sky 3 and Setanta Sports News in addition to the FTA channels

b.) Is this legal - to take it abroad and use it in a system I own?

It is against the terms and conditions of its issue BUT it is not a criminal offense, merely a matter of civil law - maximum risk is card being turned off

c.) Is a 'freesat' card slot a standard feature on all digi-boxes, or only on specific models?

The required card slot is only on Sky digiboxes

d.) If I buy one here is it small enough to carry easily in a suitcase on a plane?

Yes standard Sky digibox is 15" X 10" X 3" or smaller. (similar width and depth to a VCR or standard DVD player and midway in height between the two)

e.) Is there such a thing as a DVD Player/Freesat capable combi digi-box?

No and unlikely to be

f.) Any recommendations for a model or supplier?

Any other useful tips will be greatly appreciated!

Cheers Jack

Of the latest standard new Sky digiboxes - Amstrads are the most reliable, followed closely by Pace and Thomson a poor third. Of second hand boxes (pre the current curved boxes) Pace followed by Amstrad and Thomson - Thomsons suffer from premature failures of the power supply electrolytic capacitors (although easily fixed and kits of parts are available. Prices £10 upwards from ebay, this forums classified etc. BUT NOT direct from Sky for box only - they will only do box plus install.

If you wait a couple of weeks then the Grundig BBC freesat boxes will be available which will not require a card but will not receive the Five family (for some time), Sky or Setanta Sports News. Price £49 for SD box and £149 for HD box

The choice is yours Sky digibox (without a card it will receive exactly the same channels as the BBC freesat box BUT has the possibity of easy upgrade to subscription if required, whereas current BBC freesat boxes will have no card slot so no option to subscribe) or BBC freesat Grundig or Humax box if you want HD TV (initially 3 or 4 channels HD with probably limited hours) but will expand in the next two to four years.

The other choice is a generic FTA receiver available at most hyperstores in France (prices start at around 30 Euros) and will receive exactly the same channels as the BBC freesat box BUT will only have a "now and next" EPG against the 7 day BBC/Sky EPGs and interactive channels (press red for different match sort of thing) will have to be added manually and you would have to change to the channel number you store them on. These boxes will have the advantage over the Sky (and probably the BBC) boxes that you will usually be able to organise the channels in the order you want and delete any you do not want although Sky boxes have a 50 channel favourite list you can set up (and BBC will probably have something similar)

[grocerjack]

Originally Posted by davemurgatroyd2

From Sky , £20 one off payment will get extra channels of channel 4)not really necessary in a couple of weeks), Five, Five US, Five Life (Fiver next week), Sky 3 and Setanta Sports News in addition to the FTA channels
It is against the terms and conditions of its issue BUT it is not a criminal offense, merely a matter of civil law - maximum risk is card being turned off

The required card slot is only on Sky digiboxes

Yes standard Sky digibox is 15" X 10" X 3" or smaller. (similar width and depth to a VCR or standard DVD player and midway in height between the two)

No and unlikely to be

Of the latest standard new Sky digiboxes - Amstrads are the most reliable, followed closely by Pace and Thomson a poor third. Of second hand boxes (pre the current curved boxes) Pace followed by Amstrad and Thomson - Thomsons suffer from premature failures of the power supply electrolytic capacitors (although easily fixed and kits of parts are available. Prices £10 upwards from ebay, this forums classified etc. BUT NOT direct from Sky for box only - they will only do box plus install.

If you wait a couple of weeks then the Grundig BBC freesat boxes will be available which will not require a card but will not receive the Five family (for some time), Sky or Setanta Sports News. Price £49 for SD box and £149 for HD box

The choice is yours Sky digibox (without a card it will receive exactly the same channels as the BBC freesat box BUT has the possibity of easy upgrade to subscription if required, whereas current BBC freesat boxes will have no card slot so no option to subscribe) or BBC freesat Grundig or Humax box if you want HD TV (initially 3 or 4 channels HD with probably limited hours) but will expand in the next two to four years.

The other choice is a generic FTA receiver available at most hyperstores in France (prices start at around 30 Euros) and will receive exactly the same channels as the BBC freesat box BUT will only have a "now and next" EPG against the 7 day BBC/Sky EPGs and interactive channels (press red for different match sort of thing) will have to be added manually and you would have to change to the channel number you store them on. These boxes will have the advantage over the Sky (and probably the BBC) boxes that you will usually be able to organise the channels in the order you want and delete any you do not want although Sky boxes have a 50 channel favourite list you can set up (and BBC will probably have something similar)

Magic answer, very helpful thanks.

[mrbleu]

e.) Is there such a thing as a DVD Player/Freesat capable combi digi-box?

Yes !!!

[davemurgatroyd2]

Originally Posted by mrbleu

e.) Is there such a thing as a DVD Player/Freesat capable combi digi-box?

Yes !!!

It is NOT freesat compatable - although it will receive the channels it will NOT have access to the EPG (beyond "now and next") and the ease of use on interactive functions of Sky or freesat boxes in the same way as any generic FTA receiver which this is.