Spec me a Sky+ freeview equivalent

fred_easey · 10 Sep 2009 at 17:27

OK so I'm canning my Sky subscription as I realised the other day that 99% of the stuff I watch is on terrestrial/freeview channels anyway

However, I've become quite attached to the whole Sky+ / series link goodness; does there exist a freeview equivalent, eg a box that does freeview and doubles up as a PVR with series link?

If it can get HD channels too then that is a bonus

Any advice would be much appreciated,

Cheers,

Fred

derkaderka · 10 Sep 2009 at 19:43

Yeah I have one of those its called a PC :-)

Stick a freeview card (Nova-T 500) and a freesat card (Nova-S2)
Stick on some free software (gbpvr / comskip) , and record all you want (hd too)
and also it will mark the advert breaks for you

rossw · 10 Sep 2009 at 19:47

PlayTV?

3dcandy · 10 Sep 2009 at 20:04

you could look to humax, they're all pretty good, PVR9300 or similiar model....or you could still use your satellite dish and get a Foxsat recorder, not 100% sure of the model...

*edit* it's called the foxsat HDR - review here http://www.pvrjunction.co.uk/a-closer-look-at-humax-foxsat-hdr-and-freesat-features/

fred_easey · 11 Sep 2009 at 12:35

Foxsat looks intriguing, cheers for the link

fred_easey · 11 Sep 2009 at 12:39

OK have just read through, sounds ideal for my needs. One question- to get it up and running, is it as simple as taking the two co-axial leads that currently go from my Sky dish to my Sky+ box and plugging them into the Foxsat box?

kinetic747 · 11 Sep 2009 at 15:37

fred_easey said:
OK have just read through, sounds ideal for my needs. One question- to get it up and running, is it as simple as taking the two co-axial leads that currently go from my Sky dish to my Sky+ box and plugging them into the Foxsat box?

Yes.

wonko · 11 Sep 2009 at 15:54

I've only played with others' Humax freeview/freesat PVRs, and for me they aren't as user-friendly and intuitive to use as a sky+ box, especially if you're used to the way that the sky+ does things (e.g. IIRC the Humax has separate 'to record' and 'recorded' programme lists, and deleting recordings is more longwinded).

kinetic747 · 11 Sep 2009 at 15:59

wonko said:
I've only played with others' Humax freeview/freesat PVRs, and for me they aren't as user-friendly and intuitive to use as a sky+ box, especially if you're used to the way that the sky+ does things (e.g. IIRC the Humax has separate 'to record' and 'recorded' programme lists, and deleting recordings is more longwinded).

I've got a Humax pvr and also Sky HD and to be honest I prefer the EPG of the Humax although I haven't got the latest Sky EPG yet. Just one example, if I go to delete something from the Sky planner then it's just one button push and it's gone. The Humax asks if you are sure you want to delete which is surely safer.

wonko · 11 Sep 2009 at 16:25

Fair enough - each to their own

.
Know what you mean re the one button push delete on Sky, but you soon learn to treat it with respect. ISTR it was quite a few button presses to delete on the Humax (menu, select delete, ok, select yes, ok).
Do you still have to stop a recording on the humax before you can delete it?

kinetic747 · 11 Sep 2009 at 19:10

wonko said:
Know what you mean re the one button push delete on Sky, but you soon learn to treat it with respect.
Do you still have to stop a recording on the humax before you can delete it?

I think so, another fail safe I suspect.