Help getting Basic (not Sky) Channels, please

[Andyjenk]

Virgin Media have replaced our pace digital set top box which used to give us additionally BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 and QVC on analogue through a gizmo on the back of the box. The new box doesn't have this. We now have no analogue signal so we can only record what we watch (the original aerial connection having been replaced by the NTL signal).

Obviously recording what you watch is pretty pointless.

We are in a Freeview blackspot with no information as to when, if ever, we will be able to receive it.

It is pointless getting a new analogue aerial installed as it will be discontinued in a few years time - and we get poor analogue reception.

Virgin Media tell us to get a V+ box, but I've already got a DVD recorder and an Archos PVR and it seems expensive overkill.

Sky are advertising a basic non-subscription package, but wouldn't I get the equivalent if I subscribed for a year and then left?

We would also like to watch a different channel in the bedroom to that on downstairs.

I'm out of work and not receiving benefit, so any suggestions for a cheapish solution would be appreciated (we only need the 5 main channels).

Thanks

[homealone]

What model is the new box?

What you need is a bypass device, but they are not available for all makes of box.

- however the channels available via the bypass are also going to be discontinued, soon, sooner than the broadcast analogue signals, afaik.

- it may be that a new external aerial would be the most likely way to achieve your aim, and if you got one compatible with Freeview you will be ready when/if it becomes available in your area.?

[joglynne]

Homealone, could I ask you what maybe a silly question?

If you are in an area with poor analogue reception would a signal booster help at all? I ask this because a friend is in that situation and I've been loath to suggest she gets one to find that she has spent money she can ill afford on something that doesn't improve her reception.

Jo

[Rob]

Unfortunately Virgin Media are no longer fitting the analogue bypass to set top boxes. Thus there is no way of getting the STB output plus terrestrial type channels out of your single cable outlet. This is in preparation for VM turning off the analogue signal over their network.

[homealone]

Originally Posted by joglynne

Homealone, could I ask you what maybe a silly question?

If you are in an area with poor analogue reception would a signal booster help at all? I ask this because a friend is in that situation and I've been loath to suggest she gets one to find that she has spent money she can ill afford on something that doesn't improve her reception.

Jo

I'm sorry, but I have to be very wary, as i wouldn't like to give advice that turns out to be wrong.

In theory a signal booster will help a poor signal, but if there is any distortion of that signal, a booster will just amplify the distortion...

- does anyone you know have one your friend could try?

[Nedkelly]

Home alone is right we do not fit these any more if the tech changed the box and the bit on the back does not fit the new box we will not replace it .VM will be turning the analogue signal off soon in digital areas As for the free sat is quite good as my Wifes parents have this Have you tried getting a CAI approved aerial installer to have a look what they could do

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by Andyjenk

Sky are advertising a basic non-subscription package, but wouldn't I get the equivalent if I subscribed for a year and then left?

Yeah.

"Freesat from Sky" costs a one-off £150. This covers the installation & the viewing card (a card is still needed as some channels are free-to-view rather than free-to-air). The box itself is free under the 12 month "Interactive Discount Contract" (IDC) - keep the box hooked up to a phoneline for a year & it's free - same as with subscription Sky Digital.

Anyone who already has a dish & STB, & is out of the 12 month minimum contract period, can get a "Freesat from Sky" viewing card for £20, which enables viewing of the free-to-view channels (the free-to-air channels don't need a card).


A 12 month subscription to the minimum Sky package (two mixes) costs £15 per month = £180 for a year.



So, for anyone who already has the equipment & is out of the minimum period, "Freesat from Sky" is only £20.

But for anyone without the dish & box, personally I think it makes more sense to pay £180 over a year for the basic subscription package, & then switch to "Freesat from Sky", rather than pay £150 in one go right at the start just for "Freesat from Sky".


EDIT:

Also, the BBC are planning their own Freesat service with ITV (& hopefully soon 4 & 5), which would give all the free-to-air channels that "Freesat from Sky" has.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freesat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freesat_from_Sky

[dragon]

You can get FTA satellite kits for around £60 (lidl had one on offer i seen them elsewhere before as well) but they don't pickup the encrypted channels.

Can't remember which ones are encrypted i think CH5 is one of them (e.g its free if you have a compatible box and viewing card)


If you want the free (but encrypted) channels you need a skybox and viewing card , could try ebay for the box/dish and then get the freesat card off sky for £20.

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by dragon

Can't remember which ones are encrypted i think CH5 is one of them (e.g its free if you have a compatible box and viewing card)

Yep, the various Five channels are encrypted (but free), as is Channel 4.

Film 4 is free-to-air - no card needed.

E4 & More4 are free-to-air on Freeview DTT, & are currently subscription based (Variety Mix) on Sky Digital (so not on Freesat from Sky).

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by homealone

I'm sorry, but I have to be very wary, as i wouldn't like to give advice that turns out to be wrong.

In theory a signal booster will help a poor signal, but if there is any distortion of that signal, a booster will just amplify the distortion...

- does anyone you know have one your friend could try?

Thanks for the answer homealone. I don't think there's anyone who could let her try one. She lives in a pretty isolated area in the north of Scotland, she's a bit of a recluse and keeps very much to herself. I think I will just have to get one and take it up to her, we are due to go up soon to help her service her generator and take up some more solar panels. Can always bring it home and sell it on Ebay if it's no use to her.

Jo

[Andyjenk]

Thanks for the advice. We've got TWO boosters (I bought 1 not knowing the previous owner had left one in the loft) but they don't seem to do much. We had someone around to fit a Freeview aerial but he said there was no signal whatsoever. He might have disconnected at the analogue aerial - we got NTL shortly after moving in and can't remember if we ever got a (decent) picture.

It looks as though the basic Sky TV package could be the way to go - I see Quidco claim to get you a £50 cashback with sky - has anyone any experience with them?

Thanks again

[dragon]

Originally Posted by Andyjenk

Thanks for the advice. We've got TWO boosters (I bought 1 not knowing the previous owner had left one in the loft) but they don't seem to do much. We had someone around to fit a Freeview aerial but he said there was no signal whatsoever. He might have disconnected at the analogue aerial - we got NTL shortly after moving in and can't remember if we ever got a (decent) picture.

It looks as though the basic Sky TV package could be the way to go - I see Quidco claim to get you a £50 cashback with sky - has anyone any experience with them?

Thanks again

wouldn't it be cheaper to just get a second STB off of VM

Then you'd get all the channels you get on the first STB anyway

[homealone]

Originally Posted by joglynne

Thanks for the answer homealone. I don't think there's anyone who could let her try one. She lives in a pretty isolated area in the north of Scotland, she's a bit of a recluse and keeps very much to herself. I think I will just have to get one and take it up to her, we are due to go up soon to help her service her generator and take up some more solar panels. Can always bring it home and sell it on Ebay if it's no use to her.

Jo

If you get one from Argos, afaik you can return it for a refund, if it doesn't work as well as you hope???

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by homealone

If you get one from Argos, afaik you can return it for a refund, if it doesn't work as well as you hope???

Cheers, forgot about their returns policy. That may well be the solution.

Had a kind of weird idea pop in my head. Know you probably couldn't know the answerer but can I use you as a sounding board....If I went the booster root... plus...one of those powered inside aerials, linked by an 2into1 aerial connector do you think it might work? It sounds more crazy as I think about it. ( I realise this wouldn't compensate for a distorted signal - just hoping its a weak one)

Not exactly easy to pop out to 'Maplins' once we get to her so I'm trying to think of things I could take with me to give me the greatest chance of success. Did a round trip of over 10 miles to the nearest village one time because we had forgotten a phillips screwdriver.

Sorry to keep dragging you back to this thread.

Jo

[homealone]

Originally Posted by joglynne

Cheers, forgot about their returns policy. That may well be the solution.

Had a kind of weird idea pop in my head. Know you probably couldn't know the answerer but can I use you as a sounding board....If I went the booster root... plus...one of those powered inside aerials, linked by an 2into1 aerial connector do you think it might work? It sounds more crazy as I think about it. ( I realise this wouldn't compensate for a distorted signal - just hoping its a weak one)

Not exactly easy to pop out to 'Maplins' once we get to her so I'm trying to think of things I could take with me to give me the greatest chance of success. Did a round trip of over 10 miles to the nearest village one time because we had forgotten a phillips screwdriver.

Sorry to keep dragging you back to this thread.

Jo

no worries

that does sound feasible, although if I remember rightly it is possible to 'overboost' the signal, so it might need a bit of tweaking to make sure that the signal is optimised, but stays within a nominal range for the TV - similar thing to having headphones with their own volume control, it isn't a good idea to have the amplifier on full volume & have to turn the sound down on the headphones, if that makes sense ?