Freesat?

Jumpstart

Jumpstart

Regular Member
My Satellite Setup
Motorised dish
My Location
North East
Forgive me but isn't Freesat just a dish pointing at Astra?

That coupled with a standard receiver?

Why is it being painted as something new? I've had sat TV since about 1995, and never subscribed to Sky.
 
Jumpstart said:
Forgive me but isn't Freesat just a dish pointing at Astra?

That coupled with a standard receiver?
Click to expand...

Essentially yes it has always been there but is just branded in a particular way. The EPG is better than normal on a Freesat stb but apart from that nothing new

Jumpstart said:
Why is it being painted as something new? I've had sat TV since about 1995, and never subscribed to Sky.
Click to expand...

For the same reason people promote HD lnbs, which are actually the same as standard lnb's......... they call it marketing, others like myself call it deception
 
As Topper says, it's just an EPG (plus some Red Button stuff), similar to but not the same as Sky.


The point is that a "product" was needed to extend choice at Digital Switchover and it needed to be as "high level" (ie Idiot Proof) as Sky.

We may find non-platform kit easy to understand but yer average UK punter apparently doesn't!

Odd, then, that our friends elsewhere in Europe have been able to pick up Satellite gear from their local Hypermarket for years - and we are only just beginning to grow that particular market.
 
It is not just a branding exercise and no-one is being deceived. The prices of the receivers are fairly in the same ballpark as the FTA equivalents, and of course the channels are still free.

What Freesat gives is the non satellite boffin/man in the street, easy, plug and play access to the FTA channels, together with twin tuner recording facilities (if receiver equipped) together with a nice EPG. It is meant as an alternative to an aerial.

Yes, a FTA box would get you all the channels, but it needs to be retuned, when parameters change, and thus not plug and play. Many would be put off I imagine, if only FTA receivers were available.
 
...but of course freesat still cannot solve the irony that is HD ..

To obtain all 3 'terrestrial tv ' HD content channels...a 2 box solution is still needed ...unless you use one of the few workaround solutions available on open platform boxes ...often with extra hardware needed..

All in all ..quite a cockup...
VS
 
Well there is an easy one solution box of course, a sly one. But you have to pay.;) Stuff that!:)
 
Robbo said:
Well there is an easy one solution box of course, a sly one. But you have to pay.;) Stuff that!:)
Click to expand...


Hmmm ...I thought ITVHD wasn't available on a sly box ..
If it is ...then I stand corrected..
;)
 
Robbo said:
It is not just a branding exercise and no-one is being deceived. The prices of the receivers are fairly in the same ballpark as the FTA equivalents, and of course the channels are still free.
Click to expand...

Sorry Robbo I have to disagree that is the salesman in you talking, what they are offering has been there for a long time and is just a branding exercise for the general public's consumption to make the general public aware that the option exists. There is nothing wrong in that persay but it also opens the door for existing sat enthusiasts or others who are aware of satellite services existence to think there is something new available and they are missing out which of course they are not.

As regards deception I was not suggesting that Freesat is a deception persay it has allowed unscrupulous salesmen to deceive the uninformed public indeed there has been mention of these practices before on the forum.

Robbo said:
What Freesat gives is the non satellite boffin/man in the street, easy, plug and play access to the FTA channels, together with twin tuner recording facilities (if receiver equipped) together with a nice EPG. It is meant as an alternative to an aerial.
Click to expand...

Agreed entirely

Robbo said:
Yes, a FTA box would get you all the channels, but it needs to be retuned, when parameters change, and thus not plug and play. Many would be put off I imagine, if only FTA receivers were available.
Click to expand...

Correct for Joe Public it is ideal.
 
Vipersan said:
Hmmm ...I thought ITVHD wasn't available on a sly box ..
If it is ...then I stand corrected..
;)
Click to expand...

Yes, it is gettable on a Sky Box - has been for a fw months.

Not only that, it is being re-branded as ITV1 HD right now and due to be launched as a proper Channel (except it still won't be. Don't ask!)
 
Tivù said:
Yes, it is gettable on a Sky Box - has been for a fw months.

Not only that, it is being re-branded as ITV1 HD right now and due to be launched as a proper Channel (except it still won't be. Don't ask!)
Click to expand...

...Thanks for the update Gordon ...
When you say 'launched as a proper channel' ...I assume you mean that it will have its own APID VPID and SR on a transponder ....and not just a red button addon ..
..and should then be receivable on all fta stbs ...or will it be re-broadcast as part of slys offerings ?

...rather than try explaining ...a link to the info would be useful ..

Sorry I asked ...and you did advise not to ...;)
rgds
 
Tivù said:
Not only that, it is being re-branded as ITV1 HD right now and due to be launched as a proper Channel (except it still won't be. Don't ask!)
Click to expand...

One can only assume that this is in anticipation of the launch of terrestrial Freeview HD which I assume ITV1 HD will form a part of
 
Thanks for the replies. I see it's just a re-branding for peeps hitherto not satellite or freeview enclined. :)
 
Vipersan said:
...Thanks for the update Gordon ...
When you say 'launched as a proper channel' ...I assume you mean that it will have its own APID VPID and SR on a transponder ....and not just a red button addon ..
..and should then be receivable on all fta stbs ...or will it be re-broadcast as part of slys offerings ?

...rather than try explaining ...a link to the info would be useful ..

Sorry I asked ...and you did advise not to ...;)
rgds
Click to expand...

I'm following a turgid Thread on "another Forum", and will just give the bottom line as and when one finally appears - but Topper's assumption is correct: It's all associated with the impending launch on DTT.

Patience, dear boy! :D
 
No. Check nobody has stolen/re aligned your dish first, then check the LNB,cable and receiver
 
Back
Top