Newbie - help please.

[Calum08]

Hi folks,

So I have been reading previous posts on the forums but as I am new to this I a a little confused!

OK so I want to get an HD PRV and satellite so I can receive SKY tv. My options seem to be:

1. Subscribe to a basic Sky package, for 12 months, which will enable me to get the dish fitted and then use an HD prv to get the full range of Sky channels.

2. Pay for a dish to be fitted therefore avoiding a subscription.

My questions are these:

1. What is the best HD prv, i want to be able to record one channel and watch another - is this a twin tuner?

2. If I buy a dish which one is best, and does it depend on the prv and/or location (Edinburgh, Scotland)?

3. When I get the PRV do i need to upload new software so I can get the full range of sky channels - is this what people are referring to firmware? If so can you buy the box with this installed or is it easy enough to do myself?

As you can tell folks I really don't know what im talking about so feel free to respond appropriately!

Thanks in advance
Calum

[pspmixer]

sent you a p.m about it

[DOUGALMCD]

Twin tuner
zone 2 dish
Most reliable suppliers will add firmware of your choice.

[ramjet]

Hi folks,

So I have been reading previous posts on the forums but as I am new to this I a a little confused!

OK so I want to get an HD PRV and satellite so I can receive SKY tv. My options seem to be:

1. Subscribe to a basic Sky package, for 12 months, which will enable me to get the dish fitted and then use an HD prv to get the full range of Sky channels.

2. Pay for a dish to be fitted therefore avoiding a subscription.

My questions are these:

1. What is the best HD prv, i want to be able to record one channel and watch another - is this a twin tuner?

2. If I buy a dish which one is best, and does it depend on the prv and/or location (Edinburgh, Scotland)?

3. When I get the PRV do i need to upload new software so I can get the full range of sky channels - is this what people are referring to firmware? If so can you buy the box with this installed or is it easy enough to do myself?

As you can tell folks I really don't know what im talking about so feel free to respond appropriately!

Thanks in advance
Calum

1) yes , and its PVR , and a vu+ duo is probably best for this

2) Scotland uses a 59cm zone 2 sly dish, so 59cm or bigger is required

3) yes you need to install it, no its not easy, definitely not easy for a newbie, and no you wont get sly channels , just free to air (fta) channels from freesat

4) assuming you go down the non-sly box route, you will have to "subscribe" for cs, so you cannot avoid a sub (but we cannot talk about cs on here)

[Manic01]

Also ignore anyone offering you receivers and c lines using the pm system.
They can post any info in open forum except c line origin.

[Calum08]

3) yes you need to install it, no its not easy, definitely not easy for a newbie, and no you wont get sly channels , just free to air (fta) channels from freesat

4) assuming you go down the non-sly box route, you will have to "subscribe" for cs, so you cannot avoid a sub (but we cannot talk about cs on here)

I wouldn't consider installing myself, it will end in tears! So what would you recommend, get SKY to install or get a local engineer. Anyone have any idea what buying a suitable dish and installation would cost so I can weigh it up against a sky subscription?

[ramjet]

I wouldn't consider installing myself, it will end in tears! So what would you recommend, get SKY to install or get a local engineer. Anyone have any idea what buying a suitable dish and installation would cost so I can weigh it up against a sky subscription?

I appreciate that you would do this for the dish

the non-sly receiver also needs to be installed with the firmware you mentioned, and plugins and channel lists and various other aspects of this hobby

so if you go down the 3rd party route you have a vast amount to learn

the alternative is pay sly the money with a legitimate sub, and they do the rest (that is how they make their money, by doing everything for the customer) leaving the customer with nothing to do apart from pay a direct debit

I also think you missed the point where I said you will still need to subscribe (assuming you want the sly channel package)

[Calum08]

I also think you missed the point where I said you will still need to subscribe (assuming you want the sly channel package)

Thanks for the info, yeah I am aware of the point above.

[seamouse]

the twin tuner i use is xtrend et9200, ?350 ish but easy to use, great epg, add ons as well

you can get a sky dish of feebay and a 8 way lnb for under ?35 as well as cable is cheap as well

[ramjet]

costs will depend on what you need doing, but if you paid for somebody to buy and install a sly dish with quad lnb I would assume about ?75 to ?100 supplied and fitted due to labour costs

this would give you a sly dish with quad lnb and a twin cable (shotgun cable) to the room of your choice

then you need to buy a 3rd party box like the vu+ duo or xtrend for between ?250 and ?350 , install the firmware and plugins and channel list and at this point you should get freesat channels (their website gives channel details)

you are then left with obtaining the "sub", and adding it to the box in the correct way so that it works

obviously all this is not kosher and that addition could fail at any time, so dont expect a guarantee with it. and you have to learn a lot, very quickly !

if you want the legitimate easy peasy route with a guarantee and peace of mind, you contact sly and have them do it all for you

[Calum08]

Just had a quick look on ebay, no idea if this is a decent box but if i bought something similar from ebay is it not just a case of me plugging this in?

AMIKO ALIEN 2 HD,3D,PVR,SATELLITE RECEIVER TWIN TUNER,WIFI+12 MONTH GIFT READY | eBay

[ramjet]

no m8, no 3rd party box will come preconfigured, they all require user input, as they are for the hobbyist

no mention of a hdd either, so no idea if one can be fitted internally, or if it requires an external usb hdd

think of it as the difference between buying a fully functional metal toy car , as opposed to buying meccano and making your own metal car, from diagrams and tools and parts, or the difference between buying a ford fiesta xr, or a kit car from a box full of parts to make your own caterham 7

they all require some work , apart from a freesat box or a sly box which rely on info sent over the epg from 28 east

[Calum08]

no m8, no 3rd party box will come preconfigured, they all require user input, as they are for the hobbyist

they all require some work , apart from a freesat box or a sly box which rely on info sent over the epg from 28 east

Ramjet - I take your point but if I get something like that it is going to be a lot less work on my part?

[ramjet]

you would have to ask the seller that question , not me

in the uk its illegal to sell a preconfigured box, so if they are breaking the law in doing so I am not going to comment on their illegal activities

all I can say is that if you do things for yourself like I do, you will be able to fix any problems that occur, and that is my philosophy with my boxes (and I also have a sly HD sub for ease of use on the family channels)

you seem to want all the bells and whistles, as cheap as possible , no user input preferred and probably 24/7/365 service

a tall order ! ~

[Calum08]

you would have to ask the seller that question , not me

in the uk its illegal to sell a preconfigured box, so if they are breaking the law in doing so I am not going to comment on their illegal activities

all I can say is that if you do things for yourself like I do, you will be able to fix any problems that occur, and that is my philosophy with my boxes (and I also have a sly HD sub for ease of use on the family channels)

you seem to want all the bells and whistles, as cheap as possible , no user input preferred and probably 24/7/365 service

a tall order ! ~

I take your point mate. As I said I am new to this and just trying to figure out the best/easiest way for me. Im just struggling to find the info to start my 'hobby'.

I appreciate your input.