FreeView, FreeSat, BT Vision, etc, etc

[Kinky]

Peeps,

I hope someone can help in some way.

I had Sky TV for many many years; and did not have too much grief with it - except when it rained heavily. However, due to some trees across the road from me, I believe that my Sky signal is semi-blocked.

So, a year ago I moved to BT Vision (as I was a BT BB customer). However, due to continual BB problems, I'm going to drop BT and move to something else.

From a BB point of view - it's easy .... BE is the way to go.

However, TV is a different story. Does anyone have any practical experience of Freeview, freesat, Skys Freesat, or something else? What about Talk Talk TV?

I know that freesat is satellite-based - but there's a possibility I might be able to get a vaguely good signal. But I'd rather not be 100% reliant on it.

Unfortunately we don't have cable in the area, and never will; so reliant on a terrestial signal; or possibly a satellite signal as a backup.

[Marty Funkhouser]

Whatever you do, avoid VirginMedia. I switched after many relatively pain free years with sky.

The HD box has a shockingly small capacity - an HD film takes almost 20% of the space.

It continually misses the end of programmes (despite asking it to add 5 mins to the end), it regularly freezes requiring the plug to be pulled out of the back.

The broadband is not much better....!

[Kinky]

Thanks for that Marty

Not the 1st time I've heard that.

But you do remind me, that I'd be after a HD recorder box too. Don't mind paying for it

Not sure if it's relevant at all, but here's my exchange details in terms of what services/ISPs/etc are available:
http://www.samknows.com/old/broadband/exchange.php...

[Kinky]

And down goes my broadband. So its been up 3 hours in the last 3 days. On mobile now

[mp3manager]

Marty Funkhouser said:

Whatever you do, avoid VirginMedia. I switched after many relatively pain free years with sky.

The HD box has a shockingly small capacity - an HD film takes almost 20% of the space.

It continually misses the end of programmes (despite asking it to add 5 mins to the end), it regularly freezes requiring the plug to be pulled out of the back.

Sounds like somebody needs a TiVo.

http://tivo.virginmedia.com/

I've been a TiVo user since launch in 2000 and it's the most reliable and user-friendly PVR ever released.

[Peter101]

I had Sky HD, the equipment (Box) was always breaking down, and I was always losing signal strength, it was a crap service. I got rid of it and now have Free sat, it uses the same dish as Sky did. It never loses signal. For films I have Apple TV and also installed Boxee onto it. The only bits of sky I miss are the Nat Geo channels. But still wish I had got rid of sky sooner.

[Kinky]

Peter - so what you're saying is that the freesat signal seems to be better/stronger than Skys own signal?

[johnnyreggae]

Freesat uses the same dish & aerial as Sky so if your Sky reception is compromised so would be Freesat

If you have a strong terrestrial signal then Freeview is free (!) and with a hard disc makes a good alternative to Sky+ unless you need all the sport - I think there's even a subscription upgrade possible - one minor downside is there's not much HD yet

[Kudos]

I have just been upgraded (FOC) to Sky HD. They came out and said I was getting a crap signal, so stuck a new dish on a smallish pole.

Perhaps an option?

I have Sky broadband too, really no complaints with it

[Nimbus]

mp3manager said:

Marty Funkhouser said:

Whatever you do, avoid VirginMedia. I switched after many relatively pain free years with sky.

The HD box has a shockingly small capacity - an HD film takes almost 20% of the space.

It continually misses the end of programmes (despite asking it to add 5 mins to the end), it regularly freezes requiring the plug to be pulled out of the back.

Sounds like somebody needs a TiVo.

http://tivo.virginmedia.com/

I've been a TiVo user since launch in 2000 and it's the most reliable and user-friendly PVR ever released.

certainly is, but.... you wouldnt want to use a uk tivo to record HD content, or playback on a 'big' screen, without hacking it to improve picture quality, disk size etc.

My Tivo is the best 'electrical' item I've ever bought, lets hope the virgin model actually gets released and is a 'true' tivo, and not some cut down box..

[DogChops1]

I find the same as Peter101 above...use the same dish attached to both a Freesat PVR and a Sky box; the Freesat doesn't drop the signal nearly as badly as the Sky