What's the point?

[me-smith]

I have a fixed dish looking at ASTRA 2. I wonder about upgrading my receiver since there's such exciting equipment coming on the scene but it seems to me that all transmissions coming from this satellite are either FTA, which I get just fine, or locked up Videoguard/SkyBox/ftv Card stuff. I want nothing to do with Sky, so it appears there is little to be gained by moving off my Samsung FTA receiver. Am I missing something?

Also, it appears to me that receiver manufacturers are missing a good bet as the one thing that would attract me is an inexpensive FTA box with PVR capability. I've looked at PVR's but the manufacturers seem to place them all at the very high-end of their lines. That's a shame, as a 40gb hard disk proably costs them no more than £20 in quantity. Anyone know of an FTA box that can have a HD added?

 

[rolfw]

Why limit yourself to the one satellite, you could install a multi LNB setup for 28.2, 19.2 and 13E, then you could get your money's worth out of a better receiver. If you have a computer network, you can get one of the cheaper Dreamboxes and record onto your PC hard drive via a network connection.

 

[me-smith]

With 35 years computer experience the network solution and pc HD would be do-able, but physical constraints prevent it. Thanks for the multi-lnb advice though. That might be something to think about. Do you agree that an inexpensive FTA receiver with an HD would be a winner for someone?

 

[rolfw]

Possibly not, as most people who want a hard drive also want "other" features. How about this one with twin tuner http://www.hm-sat-shop.de/10276.ahtml or this one http://www.hm-sat-shop.de/10307-201.ahtml €199

There is a wireless solution with the Dreambox which might bring it in as a possibility.

 

[RedDevil_UK]

Comet do a 80gig Hard drive recorder with built in freeview for £129