HD on Freeview

Alexia · Thu 19 Feb, 2009 20.56

marksi wrote: You'll also have a lot more HD content than is on Freesat.

Devils' Advocate as this is not my area of expertise...but you missed off "at present" - I imagine C4 HD will come to Freesat once its current contract with Sky ends, and as HD becomes more mainstream more FTA channels will move to HD.

marksi · Thu 19 Feb, 2009 21.58

Sadly I think you'll be waiting a long time for FTA HD to exceed that on a pay-tv platform.

Alexia · Thu 19 Feb, 2009 23.03

marksi wrote:Sadly I think you'll be waiting a long time for FTA HD to exceed that on a pay-tv platform.

Oh absolutely, I'm not saying it will exceed it, rather that it will improve from one-and-a-bit channels to a good few. I imagine the transition to HD will last at least as long as the transition to digital (over 12 years and counting so far), if not longer. I just think that it's not an unreasonable expectation that within the next 5 years, we have some sort of HD offerings from BBC, ITV, 4, 5, UKTV, Virgin, etc. available to Freesat/view audiences.

Bail · Fri 20 Feb, 2009 10.27

May i recommend this:

It's the latest (only at the time) HDR freesat box, and its amazing. Think Sky+ just without Sky bills. It allows recording of BBC and ITV HD (the latter being exclusive to freesat) as well as any other SD channel. Whilst the channel selection is a little light they are adding new features all the time, C4HD and the iPlayer coming soon. It's a great way to get HD for low cost.

cdd · Fri 20 Feb, 2009 12.41

Ooh, looks shiny. I might consider that for myself actaully.

Chie · Fri 20 Feb, 2009 13.52

That looks amazing Bail, but it's £300.

marksi · Fri 20 Feb, 2009 14.17

It's a nice box though has some downsides.

The Humax Freesat boxes can work either in Freesat or Non-Freesat mode.

Freesat mode gives you a full EPG but limited channels (only those who have paid to be on Freesat).

In Non-Freesat mode you have a free-to-air satellite receiver with every FTA channel available to you, but with only now/next EPG info. However my understanding is that the PVR functionality will only work in Freesat mode and if you are in Non-Freesat mode it will not do any timed recordings.

Bail · Fri 20 Feb, 2009 16.14

marksi wrote:It's a nice box though has some downsides.

The Humax Freesat boxes can work either in Freesat or Non-Freesat mode.

Freesat mode gives you a full EPG but limited channels (only those who have paid to be on Freesat).

In Non-Freesat mode you have a free-to-air satellite receiver with every FTA channel available to you, but with only now/next EPG info. However my understanding is that the PVR functionality will only work in Freesat mode and if you are in Non-Freesat mode it will not do any timed recordings.

Sort of. If you put it in non-freesat mode, then reboot it, you can record in a vcr style, now, or at a timed event. But you can use the basic epg it provides to do this, but you're right its harder in freesat mode you can search for programmes and series link.

Also if you look around, and use savvy you can get it for less than £300, have a look at joinfreesat.co.uk for more. And yes, it is shiney.

£270 here: http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/ ... t-homebase

Bare in mind this is a one off (excluding dish install if you need it) So ok sky+ box is £45 plus £10 pcm for HD plus more for mixes it soon builds up.

cdd · Sat 21 Feb, 2009 01.26

The promise of iPlayer is what's tempting me. That's something VM have the exclusive on ATM.

Inspector Sands · Sat 21 Feb, 2009 09.46

How is it going to give you iPlayer programmes?

marksi · Sat 21 Feb, 2009 10.12

Inspector Sands wrote:How is it going to give you iPlayer programmes?

Freesat spec has an ethernet port and the plan is to have BBC iPlayer available on the boxes around the middle of the year.