The move from Sky to Freesat

[Gromitboy]

Hi all

I currently have Sky+ on its most basic package - effectively I have all of the freeview channels plus SkyOne, but I only pay 20something quid a month for the subscription.

I love Sky+, in fact its hard to remember life without it , but as soon as FreeSat release the PVR boxes I'm going to be seriously considering them. The thing is though is that I'm a total ignoramus when it comes to stuff like this and I want to make the move as easy as possible so as not to attract violence from my wife. Before I do, could you help me out with the following questions please...

1. Does anyone know how the Humax boxes will compare to Sky+ for ease of use and volume of storage?

2. The Sky installer made a complete botch of my Sky+ install and ended up throwing 2 cables over my roof and rather visibly down the front of my house - will these cables be usable or am I going to have to have some kind of reinstall?

3. I'd love to know whether anyone thinks that SkyOne might EVER become available on FreeSat (I know what the answer is going to be!)...my wife is addicted to Lost so I may have to wait until 2010 to change or else my manhood will be at risk.

Thanks in advance...

Stu

[derek500]

Why don't you and your wife sit in front of the telly, pull the card out the box and go through every channel and then you'll see what you get with Freesat?

Channel 4 is an exception because they have a 'Freesat Only' version.

Sky One will never go to Freesat!!

[nwhitfield]

Sky will almost certainly (if I were a breeder, I'd bet my children on it) never put Sky 1 on freesat.

You could, however, amaze and enchant your wife by buying her a box set each year for your birthday if it's that important (I lost interest in S2). She'll get to see it, and you'll get brownie points for remembering. Everyone wins.

[Gromitboy]

lol. Yeah I agree about Sky1, I was being a little tongue-in-cheek when I asked that Love the box set idea, but I think I'd be better off waiting a year and a half until it finishes altogether (freesat may have ironed out any issues by then anyway)

My main concern is the features of the PVR and how much of my current install they will or will not be able to use. I like to forward plan.

Originally Posted by derek500

Channel 4 is an exception because they have a 'Freesat Only' version.

Sorry, can you explain what you mean by that? C4 is our most watched channel, how is it different on freesat? (or do you mean that HD is freesat only?)

[Maggie]

Originally Posted by Gromitboy

Sorry, can you explain what you mean by that? C4 is our most watched channel, how is it different on freesat? (or do you mean that HD is freesat only?)

Chan 4 and Chan 5 are scrambled stations. So if you remove your sky viewing card they are not viewable on a FTA nox, but freesat has Chan 4 as part of their package without subscription.

[Gromitboy]

Ah! Thanks for explaining - I didn't realise that.

[best-deal]

Really want to watch Euro in HD, thinking to get the Humax FoxsatHD Freesat box next day but before i take the plunge is the Humax the best box i can buy at the moment?

I have read contradicting things regarding how to connect the Freesat box, if i buy the box can i just take the 2 feeds from my sky plus box and plug them into the freesat box and it will work?

Also am i guaranteed solid picture because i read that it depends where the dish is placed but my sky plus SD comes in superb quality so the Freesat should be fine?

I noticed on the screen shot pictures there are borders on the broadcast is this the case with all of u? Is it like a trade off get HD but with borders?

[Maggie]

Freesat only uses one cable at present, due it it only having one tuner - when the PVR version is launched in July it will require two feeds.

If you are getting a superb picture on sky, then you should expect the same as they are both from the same satellite (Astra 28).

The 'border issue' I believe is to do with the studio shots on ITV which were not being broadcast in HD, only the football on the pitch was in HD.

You will be a lucky man to find an off the shelf Humax box at the moment.

[Gromitboy]

So I ask again...

Does anyone know how the Humax boxes will compare to Sky+ for ease of use and volume of storage?

Or has that information not been released yet?

[BrianMc]

Originally Posted by Gromitboy

Does anyone know how the Humax boxes will compare to Sky+ for ease of use and volume of storage?

Or has that information not been released yet?

No-one knows yet!!! It is expected that Humax PVR will cost ~£300 and have an ~300Gb HDD. Apart from these facts none have beeen released for review.

I would (and have!) personally go for SkyHD if you already have a Sky subscription and enjoy some of the channels. If you buy from anyone except direct from Sky even the most basic subscription gets the Sky+ features and the FTA/FTV HD channels (BBCHD and C4HD - and Luxe TV!! - currently)

[Gromitboy]

Originally Posted by BrianMc

No-one knows yet!!! It is expected that Humax PVR will cost ~£300 and have an ~300Gb HDD. Apart from these facts none have beeen released for review.

I would (and have!) personally go for SkyHD if you already have a Sky subscription and enjoy some of the channels. If you buy from anyone except direct from Sky even the most basic subscription gets the Sky+ features and the FTA/FTV HD channels (BBCHD and C4HD - and Luxe TV!! - currently)

Thanks.

I have considered SkyHD - but I'm currently only paying 20something a month for sky+ and the major con of SkyHD is that to get the box I have to subscribe to ALL of the channels first, which would put my subscription in excess of 50 quid a month. Unless you know of a way to do it without subscribing to everything?

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by Gromitboy

Thanks.

I have considered SkyHD - but I'm currently only paying 20something a month for sky+ and the major con of SkyHD is that to get the box I have to subscribe to ALL of the channels first, which would put my subscription in excess of 50 quid a month. Unless you know of a way to do it without subscribing to everything?

You can get SKY+HD with any subscription, you can buy it via a third party and not subscribe at all. The SKY+ part of the SKY+HD is also included with a single MIX so if you replaced the SKY+ with a SKY+HD your monthly sub would not increase.

However if you chose to pay the £10 for the HD sub you would only get the non-premium HD channels (no sports or movies) based on your SD package which may be were the confusion resides as the HD sub has more value the bigger SD package you have.

[BrianMc]

Originally Posted by Starburst

You can get SKY+HD with any subscription, you can buy it via a third party and not subscribe at all. The SKY+ part of the SKY+HD is also included with a single MIX so if you replaced the SKY+ with a SKY+HD your monthly sub would not increase.

That's what I was suggesting - getting BBCHD and C4HD for no extra cost!

[Gromitboy]

So let me get this straight, are you telling me than I can simply plug in a SkyHD box and immediately be able to view HD channels?? I thought that they ask you to increase the subscription before they turn the channels on? (ie if I go to a HD channel now it tells me that I need a HD subscription)

Sorry if I'm asking really ignorant questions, but I appear to have fallen completely for Sky's marketing if this is the case.

[Gromitboy]

Apologies for the double post but I've just found this thread that explains all I need to know about Sky HD.

For the record though, I was right, I *would* have to add another £10 a month to my subscription to receive the tiny handful of HD channels available. Not something that I'm happy about doing until more channels start appearing.