PVR please, but I already have FreesatfromSky

hvaghela · 12-11-2009, 3:55 PM

Hi Everyone, some help please.

Firstly apologises if this has been covered elsewhere - if so please direct me appropriately.

I currently have freesatfromsky - with a single cable from my LNB and dish. I want to enter the world of PVRs and gain its recording benefits. Although I have a HD ready TV, I'm not too worried about getting HD broadcasts. Also I don't want to have another cable - as all my cabbling is currently buried under flooring and plastered behind walls. I have no interest in paying Sky for a subscription.

So my question is - are their any stand alone PVRs that I can link my Sky digibox to (eg via scart)? If so I would like the ability to (if possible) to record one channel and watch a different one.

If stand alones aren't possible or a good idea - than are there any freesatfromsky boxes with built in PVR around requiring a single cable.

Thanks for the help.
HVaghela

Geofbob · 12-11-2009, 5:54 PM

A PVR records only from its interrnal tuners, so if you only have a satellite connection (not an aerial), then the only PVRs which would possibly work for you are Freesat PVRs, the most notable one being the Humax Foxsat HDR. However, this PVR like the others would require its own feed from the dish - and for full functionality two feeds.

Therefore, with your single feed you could operate the Humax Foxsat PVR but you would not then be able to run your FreesatfromSky box. Alternatively, you could record from your Sky box onto any DVD/HDD recorder, but could only record the channel to which the box is tuned - you could not record one while watching another.

To answer your final question, the box you're describing is more or less a Sky+ box, but this would require two feeds & a Sky subscription.

hvaghela · 13-11-2009, 8:01 AM

Thanx Geofbob

Your info is very helpful to me. I'm keen to keep hold of my freesatfromsky as it has some specialist channels that aren't available on freesat. Therefore, is there any way of spliting a single cable feed so i can have both my current freesatfromsky box AND the Humax Foxsat PVR (I understand I'll only be able to watch one at a time)?

grahamlthompson · 13-11-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvaghela

Thanx Geofbob

Your info is very helpful to me. I'm keen to keep hold of my freesatfromsky as it has some specialist channels that aren't available on freesat. Therefore, is there any way of spliting a single cable feed so i can have both my current freesatfromsky box AND the Humax Foxsat PVR (I understand I'll only be able to watch one at a time)?

You can fit a lnb changeover switch but what specialist channels do you think you can't get on a freesat box. The only channels you can't get are the Free To View encrypted ones, Fiver, Five US, Sky 3 and CH4 HD I think.

Manual A-B LNB Switch Satellite Broadband F-Connector on eBay (end time 13-Nov-09 10:31:06 GMT)

hvaghela · 13-11-2009, 1:56 PM

Thanks, the switching device seems like a good idea - i'll look into it a bit further.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

...but what specialist channels do you think you can't get on a freesat box. The only channels you can't get are the Free To View encrypted ones, Fiver, Five US, Sky 3 and CH4 HD I think.

I will occasional watch Fiver or Five US. However, more importantly the wife likes to watch the Hindi channels - located around sky ch. 780-840, most notably Zing (789), Music India (822) and NDTV (831). These channels are not listed on the freesat webite. If you have freesat and these channels are available please tell me and I'll run out and get the Foxsat straight away.

Geofbob · 13-11-2009, 3:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvaghela

Thanks, the switching device seems like a good idea - i'll look into it a bit further.

I will occasional watch Fiver or Five US. However, more importantly the wife likes to watch the Hindi channels - located around sky ch. 780-840, most notably Zing (789), Music India (822) and NDTV (831). These channels are not listed on the freesat webite. If you have freesat and these channels are available please tell me and I'll run out and get the Foxsat straight away.

Those channels are not on the Freesat EPG, but all unencrypted channels available on Sky (& your FreesatfromSky channels mst be unencrypted) are available in Non-Freesat mode, using any Freesat box, including of course the Humax Foxsat.

That said, I've just looked up the three Indian music channels you mentioned, & tried to find them with my Bush Freesat box - I identified their frequencies etc using the usually reliable KingOfSat - European Satellite Zapping & Directory but I failed to download Zing; did not find a channel called Music India but another Indian music channel called MATV on the same frequency; & successfully downloaded NDTV Imagine.

But, to repeat, any channel available on FreesatfromSky should also be receivable with a Freesat box, but possibly in non-Freesat mode.

PS I've now found Music India - its frequency is 12649, not 12643 which King of Sat quotes. But still haven't found Zing which KoS says is on 12607V - irritatingly, I can't find any transmission info on its own website.

grahamlthompson · 13-11-2009, 3:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geofbob

Those channels are not on the Freesat EPG, but all unencrypted channels available on Sky (& your FreesatfromSky channels mst be unencrypted) are available in Non-Freesat mode, using any Freesat box, including of course the Humax Foxsat.

That said, I've just looked up the three Indian music channels you mentioned, & tried to find them with my Bush Freesat box - I identified their frequencies etc using the usually reliable KingOfSat - European Satellite Zapping & Directory but I failed to download Zing; did not find a channel called Music India but another Indian music channel called MATV on the same frequency; & successfully downloaded NDTV Imagine.

But, to repeat, any channel available on FreesatfromSky should also be receivable with a Freesat box, but possibly in non-Freesat mode.

Geoffbob off out till Sunday but I will have a look in non freesat on my hdr for these channels on Sunday.

hvaghela · 13-11-2009, 5:01 PM

Thanks again.

I'll look out for Graham's input on Monday. The Humax foxsat is looking promising.

Geofbob · 13-11-2009, 5:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

Geoffbob off out till Sunday but I will have a look in non freesat on my hdr for these channels on Sunday.

Graham - Thanks, but please see the PS to my post above. You'll see I've found Music India, but Zing is still a mystery. It looks as though a Foxsat purchase may depend on your finding it for the OP's wife!

hvaghela · 13-11-2009, 6:41 PM

The Humax Foxsat HDR looks tempting , but are there any SD freesat boxes with built in PVRs? You'll note from my orginal post i'm not bothered about HD.

Geofbob · 13-11-2009, 8:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvaghela

The Humax Foxsat HDR looks tempting , but are there any SD freesat boxes with built in PVRs? You'll note from my orginal post i'm not bothered about HD.

I'm fairly sure that there aren't. I think this is because Freesat already had an HD element before the Humax Foxsat PVR was developed & marketed; coupled with the fact that for about a year that was the only Freesat PVR around. (Even now, it seems to be the only Freesat PVR anyone talks about, though Argos also list 2 Sagem models & 2 Goodmans - all HD.)

hvaghela · 13-11-2009, 9:04 PM

Hi Geofbob / Graham
I've just spoken to my wife - Zing was formly known as Zee music. Zee Music is present on kingofsat.net, but comes up as encrypted. Please can you try this frequency. Thanks again.

Geofbob · 13-11-2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvaghela

Hi Geofbob / Graham
I've just spoken to my wife - Zing was formly known as Zee music. Zee Music is present on kingofsat.net, but comes up as encrypted. Please can you try this frequency. Thanks again.

GREAT NEWS - Zing is actually on the Freesat EPG - Channel 509. "Hip Shakers" is on my TV, as I write this! (Quite like Indian music myself -though some of the Bollywood movie visuals are OTT!)

Cyril · 14-11-2009, 4:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvaghela

So my question is - are their any stand alone PVRs that I can link my Sky digibox to (eg via scart)? If so I would like the ability to (if possible) to record one channel and watch a different one.

There's TiVo, but unless you have another tuner you can only record one channel and watch a previously recorded item.

Geofbob · 14-11-2009, 9:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyril

There's TiVo, but unless you have another tuner you can only record one channel and watch a previously recorded item.

Seems a little pointless mentioning Tivo at this stage - the OP could record a Sky channel while watching a previous recording with any DVD/HDD recorder.

grahamlthompson · 14-11-2009, 4:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geofbob

GREAT NEWS - Zing is actually on the Freesat EPG - Channel 509. "Hip Shakers" is on my TV, as I write this! (Quite like Indian music myself -though some of the Bollywood movie visuals are OTT!)

Hi all, not at home but I popped in using my grandsons PC. I can confirm ZIng is on the freesat epg. a lot of the net freesat listings are out of date.

Up to date list here (it's .htm file that you can open in any browser)

4shared.com - online file sharing and storage - download FoxsatStaticMK2_011.htm

Note although it includes ITV1 regions you only get up to two in the epg your own region allocated by postcode at 103 and London ITV at 977

hvaghela · 14-11-2009, 9:05 PM

DEAL DONE!!!!!!!!!

I'm gonna get a Humax Foxsat HDR for us. Looks like I can pick one up at John Lewis for £250 (hopefully they'll price match it with our local Richer Sounds £245).

Thanks again to everyone.
PS - I noted Graham's input on another thread regarding setting up the Humax. Once I've got the Humax and set it up, I'll post again if I have a problem. Thanks again.

HVaghela