Sky+HD box in motorhome (1 Viewer)

[Graydo]

I have the above fitted in motorhome and have just cancelled my sky subscription, according to sky, the box (they don't want it back) can be used as a free digital receiver.
Has anyone done this and did the record feature and epg still work?

Graydo

 

[Satandpcguy]

EPG will work, but the record feature is only available with a subscription

 

[Gaston aires]

As above. You could try marketplace for a cheap Humax receiver. They record without subscription.
Phil

 

[Graydo]

Thanks, are humax still going.
Thought they had stopped selling satellite receivers.
Anyone got any thoughts on the freesat recordable ones (as opposed to free to view).

Graydo

 

[Satandpcguy]

Humax ceased production of Freesat boxes a few years ago. I think they still make Freeview boxes.
There is only one Freesat recordable box these days the so called "4k" box (with no 4k content apart from on iPlayer, Youtube, and Amazon), made by Freesat themselves (or by Arris, on behalf of Freesat).

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[MisterB]

World-of-Satellite

SDF Trading Ltd trading as World-of-Satellite are Retailers and distributors of many brands, Air Digital, Formuler, Gigablue, Infomir MAG boxes, Octagon, Technomate, VU+, Zgemma and more. We stock Android media streamers, IPTV set top boxes. Linux Enigma 2 digital receivers & PVR's. We are...

www.world-of-satellite.co.uk

They will be able to provide you with whatever you need ......

 

[Headrush]

I would steer clear of the Arris Freesat box. Lots of problems with mine and the support was terrible and long winded. I eventually went for an Octagon SF8008 with the optional Freesat set up. Basically they pre-program the box with the channels you want in the correct order. Very satisfied and if you're that way inclined you can do so much more with it. The latest model has space for an internal hard drive for recording. Unless you have a dual lnb on the van it's not really worth getting a twin tuner version.
All in all, not bad for £130.

The only possible downside is that the extended epg is downloaded so the box does really need an Internet connection.
As posted above, go to world of satellite.

OCTAGON SF8008 SUPREME TWIN 4K UHD 2x DVB-S2X - PRE-SETUP FOR FREESAT UK

OCTAGON SF8008 SUPREME TWIN 4K UHD 2x DVB-S2X - PRE-SETUP FOR FREESAT UK

www.world-of-satellite.co.uk

 

[ManTheVan]

We used to have Humax HD Freesat, but now have a Freesat (Arris) box at home. It has been great. There’s a 2tB HDD and we receive HD on all main channels. The only issue we ever have (and had with the Humax box too) is nothing to do with the boxes themselves. If there’s particularly heavy rain coming from the South, the reception can be interrupted, as the dish can’t see the satellite signal as well. This is always temporary though.

 

[Satandpcguy]

I would steer clear of the Arris Freesat box. Lots of problems with mine and the support was terrible and long winded

Only main issue I have had with some is hard drive failures...not helped by people here in Spain putting electronics like TV and sat receivers where they can get the sun on them...things dont like being cooked by the sun! But changing hard drives takes less than 5 mins... And the current firmware is a lot better now than what it was when it was released... only downside of them is no easy changing to "non freesat mode" which was simple to do on other freesat boxes...

 

[Graydo]

I would steer clear of the Arris Freesat box. Lots of problems with mine and the support was terrible and long winded. I eventually went for an Octagon SF8008 with the optional Freesat set up. Basically they pre-program the box with the channels you want in the correct order. Very satisfied and if you're that way inclined you can do so much more with it. The latest model has space for an internal hard drive for recording. Unless you have a dual lnb on the van it's not really worth getting a twin tuner version.
All in all, not bad for £130.

The only possible downside is that the extended epg is downloaded so the box does really need an Internet connection.
As posted above, go to world of satellite.

OCTAGON SF8008 SUPREME TWIN 4K UHD 2x DVB-S2X - PRE-SETUP FOR FREESAT UK

OCTAGON SF8008 SUPREME TWIN 4K UHD 2x DVB-S2X - PRE-SETUP FOR FREESAT UK

www.world-of-satellite.co.uk

Does it require a constant internet connection for the epg or just at startup to update.
Also is the M2 slot for an ssd or hard drive.
I would be tempted to record on an sd card looking at the connections.on the back
I like the look of the octagon but was wondering if it was any smaller than a sky+hd box..

Graydo

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[Graydo]

P.s can you pause and rewind live tv with the octagon (and a hard/ssd drive obviously)

Graydo

 

[Headrush]

P.s can you pause and rewind live tv with the octagon (and a hard/ssd drive obviously)

Graydo

Yes.
Also, the epg download can be set to happen automatically with an interval between 3 to 24 hours.
There really are lots of available settings in the device, so it's best to gradually play with things one at a time until you're happy. You can easily back up and restore the settings.
The m2 slot is for a specific internal type of ssd, usually a lot faster than peripheral devices. There are different physical sizes, so check which is needed before purchase.
For example :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C2WGL8DQ?tag=mhf04-21

 

[Graydo]

Thanks,
would probably go for the 30 quid 500gb fitted option.
I see it is also offered with a pre configured channel list in a particular geographical location, I take it you can over ride this if you are travelling in the motorhome.

Saving settings may be a useful function.

Graydo

 

[Headrush]

Thanks,
would probably go for the 30 quid 500gb fitted option.
I see it is also offered with a pre configured channel list in a particular geographical location, I take it you can over ride this if you are travelling in the motorhome.

Saving settings may be a useful function.

Graydo

The 500gb option is an external usb drive.
You can change the preset channels but it would mean scanning the whole lot again. To be honest, unless you want to deliberately want to watch the local regions news then there's not much point. They all play the same programs whichever region you're in.
To be honest, I'm using the octagon 8008 at home. I have a simple octagon 88sx in the van. I'm not worried about regions or recording when I'm away. The only issue is when they periodically change the transponder frequencies and the box need scanning from scratch. This mucks up any favourites list. But an hour of messing around gets it back to the way I want it. Only about £65 for that one.