Freesat-The new freeview?

Supernaut91 · 4 Jul 2008 at 20:58

Seen this advertised in some of the new Panasonic TV's and noticed it carries BBC1 HD channel 4 HD and ITV HD. So yeah im pretty gutted as i got my television christmas just gone. I was wondering, where you can actually buy a set, like a freeview box, with all extras as well.

My TV currently is a Panasonic Viera 26" TX26LXD70 so do i simply need all the elements to freesat and away i go? Anyone on the forums with freesat that could tell me if its worth it and does it kick a**

Thanks everyone
Peter

NightSt@lk3r · 4 Jul 2008 at 21:18

Sky box without subscription = Freesat

smit101 · 4 Jul 2008 at 21:29

NightSt@lk3r said:
Sky box without subscription = Freesat

Freesat is a new service recently started by BBC and ITV,it can't be accessed through a sky box,a dedicated freesat receiver is required.

smit101 · 4 Jul 2008 at 21:36

Bunyan said:
Seen this advertised in some of the new Panasonic TV's and noticed it carries BBC1 HD channel 4 HD and ITV HD. So yeah im pretty gutted as i got my television christmas just gone. I was wondering, where you can actually buy a set, like a freeview box, with all extras as well.

My TV currently is a Panasonic Viera 26" TX26LXD70 so do i simply need all the elements to freesat and away i go? Anyone on the forums with freesat that could tell me if its worth it and does it kick a**

Thanks everyone
Peter

The freesat boxes are widely available,just google around.If you want the HD channels you'll need an HD freesat box,Using the Humax Foxsat myself,the HD boxes are more expensive than the standard def boxes.

Well happy with the Humax,the BBC HD sports coverage has been superb of late,Euro 2008 and now Wimbledon with the Olympics to come,all broadcast in 1080i and Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

badbob · 4 Jul 2008 at 21:39

Just went for two "Freesat for Sky" packages, 2 x £150. Not sure what's better, Freesat or Freesat from Sky. I get Channel 4 & 5, do you get those with Freesat?

smit101 · 4 Jul 2008 at 21:42

badbob said:
Just went for two "Freesat for Sky" packages, 2 x £150. Not sure what's better, Freesat or Freesat from Sky. I get Channel 4 & 5, do you get those with Freesat?

No channel 5 yet but it will be available soon,channel 4 yes.

badbob · 4 Jul 2008 at 21:47

So later on I can replace the Sky box with another Sky HD box or a Freesat HD box and away I go? I have the Sky viewing card (unlocks CH4/5)

Corasik · 4 Jul 2008 at 21:59

smit101 said:
Freesat is a new service recently started by BBC and ITV,it can't be accessed through a sky box,a dedicated freesat receiver is required.

Apparently its only the EPG that cant be accessed, its still an Astra transmission, and you can manually add channels to the sky box as "Other Channels".

If your already with sky, at the moment, its probably better to use use a freesat from sky viewing card. (yeah the name is confusing, is sky still allowed to call it freesat from sky.. as they have used that name for a few years now)

badbob · 4 Jul 2008 at 22:03

and you can manually add channels to the sky box as "Other Channels".

Any worthwhile channels adding manually? Also can you hide channels from premium channels whilst channel hopping on the Sky box?

Corasik · 4 Jul 2008 at 23:12

No, its not worth adding channels yet, as freesat from sky covers everything, even bbchd if you have the hd sky box. But in the future, its possible that freesat will add additional channels which arnt part of the sky EPG, which could be worth adding manually.

smit101 · 4 Jul 2008 at 23:16

Corasik said:
Apparently its only the EPG that cant be accessed, its still an Astra transmission, and you can manually add channels to the sky box as "Other Channels".

If your already with sky, at the moment, its probably better to use use a freesat from sky viewing card. (yeah the name is confusing, is sky still allowed to call it freesat from sky.. as they have used that name for a few years now)

You'll get similar channels via a non subscription sky box as a dedicated freesat box,the main perk with freesat though is if you purchase an HD box you get BBC HD without subscription,and ITV HD which is a red button service that is completely exclusive to Freesat at the moment.

billybob89 · 4 Jul 2008 at 23:16

i going to wait for the HD drive ones to come out which is around end of this year

Supernaut91 · 6 Jul 2008 at 14:20

i now know a lot more about free sat, thanks guys! The humax set looks nice but is not very cost effective for £150 the avergae retail price. I think ill hold on a tad longer and make my purchase later.

Participant · 6 Jul 2008 at 15:00

Does anyone have any experience of PC hardware that will allow freesat through a computer?

-Ad- · 6 Jul 2008 at 15:11

ITV HD fails hard. No real listings and hardly shows anything. Will be impossible with PVR to know when anything on ITV HD is actually on and can be recorded. Also no C4 HD or E4 on freesat.

Will probably invest in it in the future though, with newer channels and PVR boxes. hopefully ITV will sort out thier HD channel.