Sky plus alternatives?
 

Hi everyone

I am about to move home to a building where I'm not allowed a satellite
dish. Unfortunately I've got hooked on Sky Plus and I'm struggling to find
anything comparable. Is there an alternative combination of broadcaster and
hardware solution that could offer timeshifted viewing and the ability to
watch/record more than one channel at a time?

The area I'm moving to has ntl and homechoice, but neither can offer the
functionality I'm used to. The new address doesn't get working Freeview and
ntl doesn't offer broadband there either.

This is the start of my research, so I'd be very grateful for any tips you
have.

Ben

On Sat, 14 May 2005 13:23:37 +0100, Ben C wrote:
Hi everyone

I am about to move home to a building where I'm not allowed a satellite
dish. Unfortunately I've got hooked on Sky Plus and I'm struggling to find
anything comparable. Is there an alternative combination of broadcaster and
hardware solution that could offer timeshifted viewing and the ability to
watch/record more than one channel at a time?

Apart from the last bit (although you can watch and record) get a Tivo.

--
Dave

"Ben C" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone

I am about to move home to a building where I'm not allowed a satellite
dish. Unfortunately I've got hooked on Sky Plus and I'm struggling to
find anything comparable. Is there an alternative combination of
broadcaster and hardware solution that could offer timeshifted viewing and
the ability to watch/record more than one channel at a time?

The area I'm moving to has ntl and homechoice, but neither can offer the
functionality I'm used to. The new address doesn't get working Freeview
and ntl doesn't offer broadband there either.

This is the start of my research, so I'd be very grateful for any tips you
have.

Ben


Move somewhere else!

"Dave MacRae" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 14 May 2005 13:23:37 +0100, Ben C wrote:
Hi everyone

I am about to move home to a building where I'm not allowed a satellite
dish. Unfortunately I've got hooked on Sky Plus and I'm struggling to
find
anything comparable. Is there an alternative combination of broadcaster
and
hardware solution that could offer timeshifted viewing and the ability to
watch/record more than one channel at a time?

Apart from the last bit (although you can watch and record) get a Tivo.

--
Dave

Do they still exist in the UK? I thought they went bust.

"Ben C" wrote in message
...
"Dave MacRae" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 14 May 2005 13:23:37 +0100, Ben C wrote:
Hi everyone

I am about to move home to a building where I'm not allowed a satellite
dish. Unfortunately I've got hooked on Sky Plus and I'm struggling to
find
anything comparable. Is there an alternative combination of
broadcaster
and
hardware solution that could offer timeshifted viewing and the ability
to
watch/record more than one channel at a time?

Apart from the last bit (although you can watch and record) get a Tivo.

--
Dave

Do they still exist in the UK? I thought they went bust.

Try a search on Ebay.

I was watching one which went for £420 with a lifetime subscription.
http://tinyurl.com/7pm5d
I don't know if that is a typical price.

"Ben C" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone

I am about to move home to a building where I'm not allowed a satellite
dish.

Are you allowed a globe light??

http://www.ddelec.com/digiglobe.htm

Paul

On Sat, 14 May 2005 13:23:37 +0100, "Ben C" wrote:
Is there an alternative combination of broadcaster and
hardware solution that could offer timeshifted viewing and the ability to
watch/record more than one channel at a time?

You need a Freeview Hard Disc recorder.
http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewreceivers.html
for a list of currently available models.
All will Timeshift. You need a dual tuner model to watch more than one
program at a time. Check the specs about recording more than one.
The beauty of this is that there is NO subscription charge.
Spend the savings on beer and fags!
--
John Adams.
I do not check this mail account. Please reply to Newsgroup.

On Sat, 14 May 2005 23:37:29 GMT, "Paul G"
wrote:


"Ben C" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone

I am about to move home to a building where I'm not allowed a satellite
dish.

Are you allowed a globe light??

http://www.ddelec.com/digiglobe.htm

'Its "globe" shape guarantees a prefect protection'.

Does it offer similar assurances for senators, consuls and praetors?

Charlie

--
Remove NO-SPOO-PLEASE from my email address to reply
Please send no unsolicited email or foodstuffs

"Charlie Pearce" wrote in
message ...
On Sat, 14 May 2005 23:37:29 GMT, "Paul G"
wrote:


"Ben C" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone

I am about to move home to a building where I'm not allowed a satellite
dish.

Are you allowed a globe light??

http://www.ddelec.com/digiglobe.htm

'Its "globe" shape guarantees a prefect protection'.

Does it offer similar assurances for senators, consuls and praetors?

Charlie


Et, tu Charlie?

In article , John Adams
writes
On Sat, 14 May 2005 13:23:37 +0100, "Ben C" wrote:
Is there an alternative combination of broadcaster and
hardware solution that could offer timeshifted viewing and the ability to
watch/record more than one channel at a time?

You need a Freeview Hard Disc recorder.
http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewreceivers.html
for a list of currently available models.
All will Timeshift. You need a dual tuner model to watch more than one
program at a time. Check the specs about recording more than one.
The beauty of this is that there is NO subscription charge.
Spend the savings on beer and fags!

If you read the rest of his message, he says he can't get freeview.
--
Tim Mitchell

John Adams wrote:
On Sat, 14 May 2005 13:23:37 +0100, "Ben C" wrote:

Is there an alternative combination of broadcaster and
hardware solution that could offer timeshifted viewing and the ability to
watch/record more than one channel at a time?


You need a Freeview Hard Disc recorder.
http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewreceivers.html
for a list of currently available models.
All will Timeshift. You need a dual tuner model to watch more than one
program at a time. Check the specs about recording more than one.
The beauty of this is that there is NO subscription charge.
Spend the savings on beer and fags!

Unfortunately you missed the OP's comment in his 2nd paragraph "The new
address doesn't get working Freeview".

D

On Sat, 14 May 2005 19:27:53 +0100, "Ben C" wrote:


Apart from the last bit (although you can watch and record) get a Tivo.

Do they still exist in the UK? I thought they went bust.

They didn't go bust but made a "tactical withdrawal from the UK
market".

sponix

On Sat, 14 May 2005 13:23:37 +0100, "Ben C" wrote:

| Hi everyone
|
| I am about to move home to a building where I'm not allowed a satellite
| dish.

Are either of these URLs any use
http://sms.sshost.co.uk/product.php?3200257
http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/...ingdishes.html

--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk
On any Usenet newsgroup, *truth* is defined by the person or
group who shout longest and loudest.
It is not related to any reality. :-(

"Dave Fawthrop" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 14 May 2005 13:23:37 +0100, "Ben C" wrote:

| Hi everyone
|
| I am about to move home to a building where I'm not allowed a satellite
| dish.

Are either of these URLs any use
http://sms.sshost.co.uk/product.php?3200257
http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/...ingdishes.html

--
I wish I could use those globe light things. Unfortunately it's a
restriction from the freeholder. I'm not allowed to put anything up on the
outside of the building.

"Mike Henry" wrote in message
...
In ,
(s--p--o--n--i--x) wrote:

snip

Both are false. TiVo's hardware contract with Thomson wasn't renewed and
so far hasn't been replaced with another manufacturer. It would be more
correct to say they have "put their UK expansion plans on hold" whilst
they concentrate on the USA market - but the guide data listings
(supplied via Tribune in Europe) and support (supplied by a dedicated
team at Sky's call centre - not the usual Sky droid, but really
knowledgeable helpful people) side of operations has continued
unaffected and all of us UK TiVo owners continue to enjoy our TiVos,
thankyou very much.

--
Where does Tivo physically gets its listings from? If I hook up Tivo to a
Homechoice box (which I understand runs on a BT line), would it get listings
through Homechoice? In other words, how do Tribune's listings get to the
Tivo box?

Ben C wrote:

Where does Tivo physically gets its listings from? If I hook up Tivo to a
Homechoice box (which I understand runs on a BT line), would it get listings
through Homechoice? In other words, how do Tribune's listings get to the
Tivo box?


Hmmm... I've just checked. Homechoice is supported. Didn't know that ;-)

The TiVo box contains a Dial-up modem, and nightly (or whenever you set
it) calls a freephone ISP number to update itself. With an additional
network card you could have it update over broadband instead (and that
could be using your homechoice ethernet connection).

Check out http://www.tivo.co.uk & http://www.tivoportal.co.uk/

--
Adrian

"Adrian C" wrote in message
...
Ben C wrote:

Where does Tivo physically gets its listings from? If I hook up Tivo to
a Homechoice box (which I understand runs on a BT line), would it get
listings through Homechoice? In other words, how do Tribune's listings
get to the Tivo box?

Hmmm... I've just checked. Homechoice is supported. Didn't know that ;-)

The TiVo box contains a Dial-up modem, and nightly (or whenever you set
it) calls a freephone ISP number to update itself. With an additional
network card you could have it update over broadband instead (and that
could be using your homechoice ethernet connection).

Check out http://www.tivo.co.uk & http://www.tivoportal.co.uk/

--
Excellent! I think that's my solution.

I was toying with a hard disk drive recorder, but recording stuff sounds so
awkward as you have to set the HDD to record at a certain time, and set the
Homechoice box to switch to the right channel at the same moment. If you
don't do both, I understand you record the wrong channel or don't get the
recording at all. And of course you can just forget about recording a whole
series without mega complexity.

So, just so I'm completely clear on this, if I program a bunch of stuff into
Tivo, will it automatically change the channel on my Homechoice box to
record stuff when it's on? I won't need to program the Homechoice box
separately to switch channel in perfect sync with Tivo, will I?

Thanks for your tips everybody. This has been really helpful...

Ben

Ben C wrote:

Excellent! I think that's my solution.

Just a shame that the are no longer available in the UK and if you want
one you will have to get one from eBay or similar.