Continue with Sky HD or what?

Retromatic

Retromatic

Retromatic

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5 Oct 2008
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West Sussex
I'm in a fairly new build property (about a year old), the main tv ariels were never installed, so as a quick fix I just ordered Sky Hd when I first moved in. My 12 month contract is now up and I decided now to renew it, so currently only getting standard uk channels via the satellite.

Sky was only installed in the main lounge but potentially there are 6 rooms in total that I would like tv installed in. So do I

1. Get a main ariel installed throughout the house (local tv guy couldn't give me a set price?) and then use Freeview HD when it comes?

2. Do the Freesat HD thing? Can I use the current Sky dish for this? If so how many signals can I use from one dish?

3. Sign up to Sky again and do multiroom with HD in the lounge.

I thought Sky was pretty cool, but in all honesty I watched very little "Sky only" channels. The flip side of it is you get a free box or two when joining.

Anyones input on this is appreciated, I simply can't decide the best way forward!
 
Is it unusual for house builders no to include aerials? Probably best to see what kind of reception you get with a cheap portable aerial as that might be an idea..
 
Even if you go with Freesat, you'll need some form of coax distribution if you want to split the signal to multiple rooms.

To be honest you can buy a 250m roll of WF100 cable for £80, so even if you paid labour only it should come to around £500.

I'd go Freesat HD if you don't watch many sky channels. You can split the signal the same as a Sky box but you'll need an RF modulator and TVLink Plus if you want true multiroom control like the sky remote + magic eye combo that most people use (no RF2 output on Freesat boxes).
 
If going Freesat you can use the sky dish, i'm sure you can't "split the signal", you have to buy a LNB with more ports and run the cable to different rooms from the dish.
 
1 sky box, 1 multi room, 5 xbox 360s :p

get the sky player then you dont need to pay 5 monthly multiroom subscriptions.

or just get tvs with built in freeview/fireeview hd tuners.
 
It all depends what you watch and how much you are willing to pay.

if you don't mind heights borrow a ladder or rent one and install an aerial yourself.
Or just go freesat, but not sure how many feeds you can use. You can use sky dish.
 
utajoker said:
1 sky box, 1 multi room, 5 xbox 360s :p

get the sky player then you dont need to pay 5 monthly multiroom subscriptions.

or just get tvs with built in freeview/fireeview hd tuners.
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Sky player is crap though, there is never anything on it.

I'd just get an aerial and freeview boxes. Gonna be the cheapest method overall and it's not difficult to install an aerial.
 
Have you considerd cable tv?

I never thought very much of it but it seems to have come on quite well now offering HD, record more channels than sky plus and iplayer 4ondemand etc something that really makes it shine compared to sky and yes you can get sky one on cable aswell!
 
Freesat has such limited channels. I've been running a HTPC for my TV for years and upgraded to Sat card a few years back because my TV aerial is next to useless and the pre-installed dish was a better alternative. Personally I would go down the Freeview HD route if this is an option for you :)
 
thepharcyde said:
Freesat has such limited channels. I've been running a HTPC for my TV for years and upgraded to Sat card a few years back because my TV aerial is next to useless and the pre-installed dish was a better alternative. Personally I would go down the Freeview HD route if this is an option for you :)
Click to expand...

Limited in what way?
 
[TW]Fox;16819082 said:
Why? It's not as if its unique is it, had the same thing on Freeview for at least 5 years now, and now have it using Freesat HD.
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I'm a little out of date (in that freeview may have this), but I can set programs to record from the web/iPhone with Sky+. That's just awesomely convenient for me as I very rarely watch live TV.
 
[TW]Fox;16819082 said:
Why? It's not as if its unique is it, had the same thing on Freeview for at least 5 years now, and now have it using Freesat HD.
Click to expand...

The EPG is one of the best out there though.

Was unique at one point too.
 
Thanks for the suggestions people. Looks like Ariel and Freeview HD boxes then. I would be up for installing myself (got ladders etc) but I live in a 3 storey town house - there's no way I'm getting up there!

I'll just have a phone around, the nearest bloke was an ass and said "it will cost what it costs" - helpful.
 
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