HD Freesat box reccomendations?

In article ,
UnsteadyKen wrote:

Martin wrote...

What does Grade A mean?

It means it was only dropped once while stuffing it back in the box,
and you have to look closely to see that the dog has chewed the remote.
http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/prodCat...ctory&type=sat

or in the case of a mobile phone supplied to me by the company's shop -
dropped in water.

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18

In message , Martin
writes
On Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:52:44 +0100, Ian
wrote:

In message , PeterC
writes
On Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:21:38 +0100, Martin wrote:

Having missed the beginning of this thread, I would like to know which
Freesat boxes if any were recommended.

I've spent a few weeks looking at tests, reviews and ratings. Rather fancied
a Manhattan, but they're still not out, so went to RS in MK yesterday and
got a Humax Foxsat-HDR 500GB. £209.95 then price-matched with Laskys for
£199.99.
Seems to work OK, is frequently recommended in AV Forums and 'no-one ever
got fired for choosing IBM'.

Others can get the Humax Foxsat-HDR (Grade A) for £179 and £6.00 from
Humax Direct.

http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10105

What does Grade A mean?

From Humax,

" These products are either older models we are attempting to clear from
stock, or "Grade A" ("Grade A" units are marked with the suffix -G or
-GSP at the end of the part code). Grade A's are predominantly store
returns that have been tested and where appropriate repaired to an "as
new" standard in our own service centre or factory. They come fully
boxed with all accessories and full instructions and are all backed up
by a complete 1 year on site warranty."

My 9200T, Freesat HDR and Fox T2 have all been Grade A.

I like the idea that something that could go wrong has gone wrong, and
been fixed before I get it.

None of them has given me any problems.
--
Ian

Martin wrote:
On Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:03:10 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote:

David WE Roberts wrote:

FreeSat and free to view satellite are two very different things.
FreeSat is a UK thing on Astra 20.wibble E and continental free to view
is on Astra 19.wibble E (gross over simplification).
And many other satellite positions.

I think I am right in saying that only one satellite is transmitting
Freesat and whether they like it or not the footprint covers a good
part of Europe.
Continental free to view is available on many satellites.

Bill

In message , Bill Wright
writes
Martin wrote:
On Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:03:10 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote:

David WE Roberts wrote:

FreeSat and free to view satellite are two very different things.
FreeSat is a UK thing on Astra 20.wibble E and continental free to
view is on Astra 19.wibble E (gross over simplification).
And many other satellite positions.
I think I am right in saying that only one satellite is
transmitting
Freesat and whether they like it or not the footprint covers a good
part of Europe.
Continental free to view is available on many satellites.

Yebbut....
The audio is usually in Continental.
--
Ian

On 27/07/2012 08:09, David WE Roberts wrote:

"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:54:06 +0100, Grimly Curmudgeon
wrote:

On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:12:40 +0100, "David WE Roberts"
wrote:

However it isn't easy to see what is on now and next, let alone in
a few
hours time.
If you want to use computers, paper listings etc. to see what is on
then
help yourself.
We like to use the EPG to show us what programmes are on and
pending so we
can decide what to watch over the next hour or so.
Freesat and Freeview generally allow that - different sets have
slightly
different menus but they all do much the same.
This box showed bugger all - and no, that isn't a sex education
program.
It isn't just for recording.
The main function is to watch TV.
Recording is the bonus.
Only not if the main function doesn't work effectively.

Well, yes. I see what you're at.
In fact, I do use the old original Sky box's own 7-day planner for
recording SD things to a DVR via scart [1]. The Comag simply records
via USB to an external drive.

[1] I only discovered this relatively recently, and I'm sure it didn't
used to offer this facility (autochange from the 7-day planner and
series link), but hadn't checked it for years.

Having missed the beginning of this thread, I would like to know which
Freesat boxes if any were recommended.


None in the suggested price range - sub-£100 HD Sat with USB PVR
function seems to be only (as discussed above) continental systems
which haven't paid the FreeSat licence to use the unique FreeSat EPG
and so are fine everywhere but the UK.

As others have said, if you want a cheap PVR and are prepared to get
your program listings elsewhere and then manually program the recorder
then there are systems around (Ross was mentioned) but for general
watching with recording as a bonus the lack of a FreeSat EPG makes it
very hard work.

Cheapest way to get Freesat-equivalent functionality is to add a
satellite tuner (£50 or so) to an existing PC. Some applications can
decode the Freesat EPG data for inclusion in the program guide, while
Windows Media Centre gets guide data from an Internet source.

Even if the PC isn't directly connected to a TV, it can still stream
live and recorded programmes to a "Smart" TV or STB.

Jim wrote:

Cheapest way to get Freesat-equivalent functionality is to add a
satellite tuner (£50 or so) to an existing PC.

Does it need a dish as well? If so might that triple the cost?

Bill

On 30/07/2012 02:18, Bill Wright wrote:
Jim wrote:

Cheapest way to get Freesat-equivalent functionality is to add a
satellite tuner (£50 or so) to an existing PC.

Does it need a dish as well? If so might that triple the cost?

Bill
The comparison was with the cost of a Freesat recorder, as per the subject.