Freeview via Satellite

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Rushmere

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#214525 16-May-2017 09:27

I'm dropping Sky, and I need something to replace the MySky box.

I'm looking for an easy to use set top box with recording capability for free-to-air channels.

I'm used to the simplicity of the Sky box, plus the Apple TV that I'm using alongside it for Netflix and movies.

I bought a DishTV S8200, and I'm really disappointed with it. It's slow and has an awful user interface.

I don't have aerial reception. Is there any other alternative way for me to receive and record free-to-air channels? I'm willing to pay the necessary price for something that is well designed and easy to use, so the solution doesn't have to be ultra cheap.

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206 posts

Master Geek

#1782973 16-May-2017 10:00

I have a Vu Solo2, and its linux based, twin tuner and options for heaps of add ones and great support, takes a 2.5" internal HDD

davidcole

6029 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1782986 16-May-2017 10:10

Have you figured out if ondemand could replace your recording ability? It may surprise you how much is is ondemand and that you may not need to buy some new hardware.

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Rushmere

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1783085 16-May-2017 13:05

Mavarick:

I have a Vu Solo2, and its linux based, twin tuner and options for heaps of add ones and great support, takes a 2.5" internal HDD

Thanks, I'll take a look at that.

Rushmere

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1783095 16-May-2017 13:17

davidcole:

Have you figured out if ondemand could replace your recording ability? It may surprise you how much is is ondemand and that you may not need to buy some new hardware.

I hadn't considered that, but it's a good point. In fact, I should probably re-think generally how I watch TV. I've been using Sky only for more than 10 years, and old habits die hard!

Adding the Apple TV recently, and then Freeview, is certainly causing some frustration at the moment, but maybe it will get easier as I get used to it. The simplicity of Sky (all viewing in one place, one box, one remote, one subscription) is easy to underestimate. The Apple TV is a joy to use, but I need to work on my set-up to make it more convenient. I'm thinking that a programmable remote will be a good starting point (I'm getting really frustrated juggling multiple remotes right now), and then, as you suggest, thinking about how I watch TV may improve the experience.

Using on-demand might make it less convenient to watch live programmes like the news, although I know there are streaming options too. Perhaps the programmable remote would open up the options a bit more, as I could hopefully set up one-touch access to different ways to watch, and that might make me more likely to seriously explore the on-demand and streaming options. Hopefully I can work something out before the Sky box goes back at the end of the month.

Mavarick

206 posts

Master Geek

#1783098 16-May-2017 13:24

I hear the Harmony remotes are good, the VU units have the ability to since to TV,

so I just use decoders remote for the FTA and TV one for anything else, but as I have most stuff on a NAS the VU can see it on the network

Rushmere

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1783103 16-May-2017 13:30

Mavarick:

I hear the Harmony remotes are good, the VU units have the ability to since to TV,

so I just use decoders remote for the FTA and TV one for anything else, but as I have most stuff on a NAS the VU can see it on the network

Yes I'm looking at the Harmony Elite.

It's expensive, but I think I'll be going back to Sky very quickly if I don't at least solve the problem of having to sit with multiple remotes on my lap, and getting constantly frustrated when I start pressing buttons on the wrong bloody one!

Rushmere

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1783104 16-May-2017 13:40

Mavarick:

I have a Vu Solo2, and its linux based, twin tuner and options for heaps of add ones and great support, takes a 2.5" internal HDD

Does the Solo2 load the Freeview programme guide quickly?

I feel like I'm going to spend half my life staring at a "loading..." message on the DishTV, and it's going to drive me crazy! I'm not sure whether this is a Freeview problem, or whether it's purely caused by the DishTV.

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Mavarick

206 posts

Master Geek

#1783108 16-May-2017 13:50

The solos has user programmable epg settings

eg, I have 15 rows deep and a time space of 3hrs, it has 7 day EPG also, series recording and loads way quicker that freeview and looks way way better

Rushmere

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1783139 16-May-2017 14:05

Mavarick:

The solos has user programmable epg settings

eg, I have 15 rows deep and a time space of 3hrs, it has 7 day EPG also, series recording and loads way quicker that freeview and looks way way better

Oh. That sounds good. I fear I may have made an expensive mistake buying the DishTV!

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#1783142 16-May-2017 14:08

Before moving on, may pay to confirm the DishTV has the latest firmware, just in case...

Mavarick

206 posts

Master Geek

#1783145 16-May-2017 14:18

My parents went from a Vu Duo to a dish TV and my father hates it,

I would have got them a solo but mother in her wisdom said not to bother me.

I said it would have been all fixed in like 3 days, already its the second Dish as the first one failed just after they got it

Rushmere

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1783146 16-May-2017 14:19

RunningMan:

Before moving on, may pay to confirm the DishTV has the latest firmware, just in case...

It updated as soon as I switched it on for the first time (to version 1.28).

I'm comparing options right now (yes, I know, I should have done that a week ago before opening my wallet!), but I'll resist the overwhelming urge to rush out and buy something else straight away. I'll persevere for a week or two to see if I can get used to it, and maybe find more workarounds for problems. I'll then try something else if I still don't like it.

davidcole

6029 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1783184 16-May-2017 15:18

Rushmere:

davidcole:

Have you figured out if ondemand could replace your recording ability? It may surprise you how much is is ondemand and that you may not need to buy some new hardware.

I hadn't considered that, but it's a good point. In fact, I should probably re-think generally how I watch TV. I've been using Sky only for more than 10 years, and old habits die hard!

Adding the Apple TV recently, and then Freeview, is certainly causing some frustration at the moment, but maybe it will get easier as I get used to it. The simplicity of Sky (all viewing in one place, one box, one remote, one subscription) is easy to underestimate. The Apple TV is a joy to use, but I need to work on my set-up to make it more convenient. I'm thinking that a programmable remote will be a good starting point (I'm getting really frustrated juggling multiple remotes right now), and then, as you suggest, thinking about how I watch TV may improve the experience.

Using on-demand might make it less convenient to watch live programmes like the news, although I know there are streaming options too. Perhaps the programmable remote would open up the options a bit more, as I could hopefully set up one-touch access to different ways to watch, and that might make me more likely to seriously explore the on-demand and streaming options. Hopefully I can work something out before the Sky box goes back at the end of the month.

if you're a media works viewer you're better catered for with an Apple tv (am I correct in assuming a 4?) as their app is native, and I think includes live. But you were talking recording in your OP, rather than timeshifting live.

TVNZ is a bit harder, as you're left with airplay (grooooooooooooooooooan) I don't know why they insist on that an a valid approach when they have an IOS app anyway. Unsure live, but know that the news is streamed live.

Yes it does take a different approach, but not really, as by recording you're making your own on demand system. Live is a very different kettle of fish, but I'm assuming you're still keeping an aerial so it shouldn't be an issue.

Lastly you make have to jump around some services, lightbox, netflix, tv3 ondemand, tvnz. + any overseas providers you can get access to.

We tend to run live for get home, just after dinner for news etc. Then will use streaming for the rest of the night. I've had recording capability for about 10 years now, and since getting ufb, have found I don't use it anymore.

Rushmere

354 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1783230 16-May-2017 15:58

Yes it's an Apple TV 4 I've got, and I'm enjoying using that for Netflix and movies. I've only briefly used the App for Three, and it does seem OK, so I'm going to spend more time trying that out. It's a real shame there's no TVNZ App.

Sadly, we can't use an aerial (there are hills blocking the signal), and Airplay isn't really convenient for all the family to be able to use quickly and easily, hence why I was trying Freeview via satellite for viewing things like the live news (as well as recording from terrestrial channels).

I think this is going to take a bit of time to get used to it all!

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18657 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1783247 16-May-2017 16:19

Mixing and matching can be a good compromise solution. I have an HD $30 sat receiver that works fine for FTA (and all the other sat channels I can get). Like all such devices these days it also has USB recording. I almost never use it but it is there for the odd occasions I need it. The biggest issue is no EPG but if you only want to watch the news and an occasional program, maybe not such a problem. It depends on how you do things. I also have an old Harmony One and I could not live without it. I have dozens of devices programmed into it, including my streaming computer. I find a media pc gives maximum flexibility unless you are only watching a few on-line sites. With this setup the world is my oyster. Aussie FTA, BBC and UK TV, European concerts, USA, and so on.

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