Freeview boxes and recorders for the uninitiated

[Nick29]

You can run a Freesat+ box from your Sky dish with no problems at all, except of course your choice of programmes will be not the same as the ones you get on Sky (you'll only get the 'Free To Air' channels) 

You'll find that the FoxSat Freesat+ box is the nearest thing that you'll get to a Sky box.

[larkspur]

Many thanks Nick, we don't watch half of the programmes anyway, so no loss there!

[jmp]

Can I just ask another question please?

How much memory does a typical one hour programme take up? I am wondering what size harddrive I need to record various things
Many thanks
Jackie

[Nick29]

It depends on whether the recording is in HD or in 'standard definition'.   The Humax Foxsat HDR box with a 500GB drive will record about 250 hours of standard defintion, or 125 hours of HD programs.  You'll most likely to get a mix of both, but these figures will give you a rough idea.  You can now also get a verson of the box with a 1TB drive which will give double those figures.  Some stores (e.g. Argos) also seem to be selling the older 320GB drive model, so be careful about what you're buying if you go for the Humax.

There is also a USB socket on the Humax boxes which allow the connection of a USB hard drive, and you can transfer programs from the box's internal hard drive to the external USB drive for archiving purposes.

[jmp]

Thanks Nick, that really is helpful

Best wishes
Jackie

[Jean McGurn]

My area is about to start the change-over and do the first re-tune next week.

As I have a Freeview+ box set top box connected to my TV which also has Freeview will I have to re-tune both the set top box AND the TV or just the box?

I presume I will lose any recordings on the box as well?

 
Jean

[mshrmh]

Jean - you need to re-tune each Freeview device.

You won't lose any recordings but what you may need to do is to reset anything you've scheduled to record after the time you've done the re-tune.

When we were going through this I used to have a written list of programmes set (sad I know) as we record most things & watch the recorded version to skip the adverts, trailers & the endless "coming-up/reminder of what we've shown you" bits. I seem to recall we had a few re-tunes quite close together so the written list was handy.

[[Ray]]

Hi

Sounds like you are recording to the separate box,
so "yes" to the re-tune box query.

Also sounds like you have the capability to watch a different channel on the tv while the box is recording another,
so "yes" to the re-tune tv query.

Will the separate box erase old recordings?
As long as you are only re-tuning the incoming signal, then it should not erase recordings.
(Double check the box's manual)

You could always re-tune either now as practice, channels are being added/lost "all the time".

Ray

[Jean McGurn]

Thought I might have to re-tune both but wasn't sure as I don't use the TV on it's own.

My top box can record two programmes at the same time and it also does automatic adding of new channels. When you turn the TV and Box on you get the channel list up each time - which is handy because you can see what's on each.

I have noticed that channels have been added to what there was when I originally set the box up, even gives me Sky Sports 1 & 2 even though I haven't got Sky. Don't think I can access though.

Love the idea of a list, think I will do one as I have quite a few series currently programmed to record.

Many thanks for your replies

Jean