ballaughbiker Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Is there any other way to record? Can you plug in your own external hard drive? Yes there are free to air receivers with a usb port to use an external hard drive and they are a lot cheaper than the Foxsat. However they are not as neat and have no epg. You can get away without the epg if you are not recording but having it as per the Foxsat HDR makes booking a recording a "press one button" affair which it wouldn't be with the cheaper option. Setting it up initially would also be more difficult. When you add up the Sky costs over a few years its a lot of money. I'm sure these Foxsat HDRs will reduce in price but you get a lot of technology for your £300. As for software glitches, its early days for me but I've had no problems. It looks for software updates automatically as part of the initial set up anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebrof Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 dont pay £60 for a HDMI lead! They are all the same, it's a digital connection so a £2 is the same as a £60. It will either work or it won't. Yeah right!, if you say so! If you've got a decent telly and a big screen there *is* a difference. OK, its not a huge difference as the law of diminishing returns kicks in but I think my £60 was well spent. If you don't agree, hey, fine . You aren't going to be watching it! You will not however see any difference on your 720p 32" screen though and I would keep your £2 lead... Next time you are across, wander into Dixons/Currys etc and look at their demo tvs connected to Foxsat and BluRay players. I think you will find they aren't using the £2 lead that came with the box. I wonder why.... The reason Dixons use the expensive leads (and they probably get them free) is because they are trying to flog them. It wouldn't do their sales pitch much good if they were using cheap leads themselves. I have to say I am confused by this. I see the argument that says it's just numbers, and will either work or not, but at the same time, I do use more expensive network cables for my fast network. Perhaps the expensive leads will carry a signal over a longer distance. S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballaughbiker Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Maybe. Any improvement is entirely subjective but our lass who isn't the slightest bit interested in the technology bit said it was better as well. You usually get what you pay for. If you just say "its only a load of 0s and 1s and it will work or it won't", why not use some bell wire from Woolworths (if they were still there.) instead? I think I'll stick with my QED lead. OK, it's a ridiculous comparison and only used to make a point. Don't try it at home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassettiespagetie Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Probably a stupid question but will our analogue sky dish that we've had in storage since we got a mini dish work with free sat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbms Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Probably a stupid question but will our analogue sky dish that we've had in storage since we got a mini dish work with free sat? Do you realy want an answer to that one? I put that on par with a question once asked of a mate of mine "If i put a hardened bolt into the spark plug holes on a petrol engine can i then convert it to deisel" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pongo Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Probably a stupid question but will our analogue sky dish that we've had in storage since we got a mini dish work with free sat? Do you realy want an answer to that one? I put that on par with a question once asked of a mate of mine "If i put a hardened bolt into the spark plug holes on a petrol engine can i then convert it to deisel" It's a perfectly reasonable question. The correct answer is that in many cases it will work - if pointed at the right bit of the sky. Most of the analogue dishes were fitted with universal lnbs - same as digital. Certainly in the last few years of analogue. If not then the lnb would need replacing. If it's a diy job then ebay is fine for replacement lnbs. If you are getting it done for you then a new dish + lnb will be just as cheap or cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manshimajin Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Incidentally I assume that if my old-fashioned TV is incapable of receiving signals after the changeover I do not need to pay a TV licence fee unless I buy a digital box or connect to Freeview (slightly ironic name come to think of it - 'NotSoDearView?). I sense a bit of a contretemps with the TVLA coming on... So I sent a message to them: If my existing TV is incapable of receiving signals after digital changeover and if I do not install a 'digibox' I assume that I do not need to renew my TV licence. Is this correct? Yes or No? Back came the reply: "The use of television sets, videocassette recorders (VCRS), digital set-top boxes (Sky, cable or Freeview) or DVD recorders to receive or record television programme services must be covered by an appropriate TV Licence. A digital set-top box can be a receiver only or a receiver with recording facilities. If the set top box contains a recording device, such as a DVD recorder or hard drive, then a colour licence is required in all cases. If you have a separate VCR or DVD recorder that you use, you will need a colour licence. From 1 April 2007, when a set top box that has no recording facility is attached to a black and white television with no means to view in colour, then a black and white licence is required. When a set top box with no recording facility is attached to a Hi-Fi system with no means to view the picture, then no licence is required. If you use a television to listen to the radio channels on your set top box, you will need a licence. If you have use a separate VCR or DVD recorder that you use, you will need a colour licence." I suspect that they are genetically incapable of saying 'no you don't need a licence if your TV can't receive a picture' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 So I sent a message to them:If my existing TV is incapable of receiving signals after digital changeover and if I do not install a 'digibox' I assume that I do not need to renew my TV licence. Is this correct? I suspect that they are genetically incapable of saying 'no you don't need a licence if your TV can't receive a picture' You need a license if you have a device that's used to watch programmes as they're being broadcast. If you don't use your tv to watch broadcast programming, you don't need a license. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebrof Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 So I sent a message to them:If my existing TV is incapable of receiving signals after digital changeover and if I do not install a 'digibox' I assume that I do not need to renew my TV licence. Is this correct? I suspect that they are genetically incapable of saying 'no you don't need a licence if your TV can't receive a picture' You need a license if you have a device that's used to watch programmes as they're being broadcast. If you don't use your tv to watch broadcast programming, you don't need a license. No. You need a licence if you have any device that is capable of receiving a TV signal. Whether you care to use it is up to you. S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDave Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 That isn't the case, and TV Licensing clarified the point many moons ago. You need a licence if the equipment is used to receive broadcasts. If you use a TV as a monitor for a DVD player and it is de-tuned and not plugged in to an antenna then you do not need a licence. Clicky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebrof Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 That isn't the case, and TV Licensing clarified the point many moons ago. You need a licence if the equipment is used to receive broadcasts. If you use a TV as a monitor for a DVD player and it is de-tuned and not plugged in to an antenna then you do not need a licence. Clicky Well, that is a change. It certainly used to be the case that mere possession of a TV set rendered you liable to pay for a licence. But I admit I haven't looked at the rules for over twenty years. Interesting that you don't need a licence to download Iplayer stuff. S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lfc84 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Yesterday i recieved a Switchover help scheme pack ,this morning i made an enquiry and was told that the Isle of Man transmitter will only be broadcasting 5 digital channels ,first ive heard of this,is anyone else aware? Depends where you live. http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/ Try it without the tick in the "aerial installer box" and also try it with the tick. Give you the same results just presented in different ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dooahhdoo Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Cancelled my £36 per month sky subscription earlier this month. It finishes on the 8th March. Have also just order a Humax Freesat Digital TV recorder from John Lewis. I figure after 8 months of not paying Sky the box has then paid for itself. I gather I now have to buy a Dual LNB to replace the single one and run another cable to the box if I want to pause and record etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambon Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 A couple of things - You can test to see if your aerial is going to be good enough AFTER digital switch over by using page 284 on teletext /ceefax. The test has been there for ages but I am not sure how many people know about it. It may mean you don't have to get an engineer or specialist in to test for you. HDMI cables for £60? I am not sure. The on/off idea is true for digital, but the gold plated / better connection and better conductors mean better reliability and ultimately better quality. The other thing is that the standards for HDMI state that support for 1080p (60hz) is not manratory so basic cables may only support 1080i. Therefore, a better cable may will give a better picture if 1080p is supported. Slim is bound to object to that one!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 HDMI cables for £60? I am not sure. The on/off idea is true for digital, but the gold plated / better connection and better conductors mean better reliability and ultimately better quality. The other thing is that the standards for HDMI state that support for 1080p (60hz) is not manratory so basic cables may only support 1080i. Therefore, a better cable may will give a better picture if 1080p is supported. Slim is bound to object to that one!!! I am, it's bollocks. There's no need to use any hdmi cable over 2 quid, unless you're doing something unusual like running near the distance limit. It's digital, gold contact don't matter a jot. When's the last time you saw a server with gold sata cables? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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