Free TV advice needed

mikew

mikew

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At the moment we have Virgin TV but find we only ever watch Freeview, we have Freeview in the TV but obviously we cant record, would like some advice about which are good Freeview boxes with hard drives and twin tuners.
Just as an add on would someone on here be prepared to talk me through these sticks? that are a one-off purchase price and then supply free TV.

Thanks
 
If you are prepared to have a dish fitted you can get a humax Freesat recordable box for under £200.
Fitting and lining up a dish isn't hard if you are competent with DIY.
I've done a few over the years and if remember correctly, the last one I bought from ebay was around £35.
They come with plenty of coax cable, p clips, connectors and twin LNB (the cable is a pair joined together so you make two connections at the dish and on the receiver box).
 
hashcake said:
If you are prepared to have a dish fitted you can get a humax Freesat recordable box for under £200.
Fitting and lining up a dish isn't hard if you are competent with DIY.
I've done a few over the years and if remember correctly, the last one I bought from ebay was around £35.
They come with plenty of coax cable, p clips, connectors and twin LNB (the cable is a pair joined together so you make two connections at the dish and on the receiver box).
Click to expand...

Thanks but possibly a no go as we are surrounded by tall trees and a few years ago I looked into Sky TV and the report said i would be unlikely to get a consistent signal, self-fitting is a no go as ime not fit enough anymore.
 
I have had Humax and Sagem in the past, currently have a box made by Manhattan. The latter wasn't a make I had heard of but seemed to have good reviews. Only had it since March and I only use it once every few weeks to record 6hrs+ of BTCC motor racing. Prices vary between manufacturers and also the amount of disc space available. You don't need a dish for all boxes. Most will run off a normal co-axial aerial.
 
I've had a couple of Humax boxes and they have been fine, did everything I needed (i.e. recorded programs, pause/play back live TV) easy to use and reliable. Sometimes Humax offer refurbished units at a good discount, check their website.
 
mikew said:
At the moment we have Virgin TV but find we only ever watch Freeview, we have Freeview in the TV but obviously we cant record, would like some advice about which are good Freeview boxes with hard drives and twin tuners.
Just as an add on would someone on here be prepared to talk me through these sticks? that are a one-off purchase price and then supply free TV.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Who is your internet provider? Both BT and Plusnet do a relatively inexpensive TV package with a hard drive recorder thrown in to the monthly cost.
 
Virgin do tivo, and they gave me a box for free... Maybe worth phoning them to ask for one?
 
supergeeman said:
Virgin do tivo, and they gave me a box for free... Maybe worth phoning them to ask for one?
Click to expand...
Sure Virgin will give you a box free.... if you pay a monthly fee for their tv service. ;) Actually, genuine question: do they really give away free boxes? I’ve never heard of that. Must cost them a few bob?

Personally I’d go with a Humax box. I’ve had a couple ( Freesat and Freeview) and apart from a slightly clunky interface on the program guide they’ve been great. Their refurbed ones sold through the Humax site are cheaper but you still get a full warranty.
 
Yes, I'd had the old box, agreed to sign up another 12 months and they sent the tivo box and the latest router
 
So that’s not exactly “free” then, you’re getting the box as part of the contract and they’ll want it back when you stop paying them. The OP also says he’s giving up Virgin ;)
 
That was a couple of years ago, just cancelled and they do not want it back, but it's useless unless you have virgin anyway lol
 
Plus one vote for a Humax box.
 
I left sky a few years ago now as we travel a lot and so it’s a waste of money. I now only use a fire stick I can get most terrestrial channels on catch up.
 
I use Humax boxes, refurb and used off eBay. I think their interface is good compared to others and TVs (I’m my experience, obviously). You can also modify the Linux software they run on on — see https://hummy.tv/forum/, which is good for general information and help.
 
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