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Legal alternatives to Sky, they've broken things again

  • 04-08-2016 06:46PM
    #1
    Irish Steve
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 6,524 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    OK, if I'm honest, the work needed to get a working EPG from other systems has meant that I've not bothered to get rid of Sky and use the Ariva 150 box more, but that's possibly about to change, as there's a problem between the BBC and Sky that has resulted in red button AND SERIES LINK no longer working on Sky boxes at the moment, which for me is a deal breaker, we pay a significant premium for a working service, and it seems that it's now broken, and from a conversation with Sky earlier, I'm not sure that they are going to be able to fix it any time soon, if ever.

    To be absolutely clear, I am NOT looking for illegal card sharing or the like, but I now want to try and find out what I can achieve using a combination of sat box (like the Ariva, which I have) and fibre broadband, which I now have access to.

    As I have Sat in place, and no restrictions on the number of boxes I can use if needed, I'd prefer not to move from one locked in service to another, so that rules Eir and Virgin Media out, primarily because both of them are seriously expensive and not offering much that we watch to justify the premium, we're not into sports.

    Is there a list anywhere of what can be received without too much hassles, and how to get an EPG that will facilitate something similar to the Sky series link?

    If I want to go that route, will the Ariva box be suitable, or should I be looking at something else. At the moment, we have 2 Sky HD+ boxes on multiroom and the Ariva 150 that realistically only gets used occasionally when we hit a schedule conflict that the Sky box can't cope with, which doesn't happen very often these days. If I chop Sky, I will need to get another Ariva or similar, to cover the second Sky box.

    I don't mind a bit of work, and I can cope with the technology, and even Linux if needed, but I don't want to end up with a system that I have to keep constantly tweaking and updating to get a basic reliable service, I'm aware that there may be "issues" with transponder changes, but that's not massive, but I don't want to have to get into coding to make it work.

    Hope that makes sense, right now, I'm less than happy that Sky have once again changed things without telling the users, with the result that we've missed several programs that we follow on a regular basis.

    Shore, if it was easy, everybody would be doin it.😁



Comments

  • #2
    decor58
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 946 ✭✭✭decor58


    A freesat box, series link, red button, auto updates, if you have a Saorview tv and an aerial, the freesat remote can be programmed for most tv's, one remote. The current Humax freesat receivers have Internet access, Netflix, YouTube, and other than the basic one are WiFi.


  • #3
    Vic_08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,090 ✭✭✭Vic_08


    Just get a Freesat box.


  • #4
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 20,339 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    +1


  • #5
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,263 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Red button on BBC channels has been deliberately broken. Blame the IOC. Series link will work again on BBC channels, but you need to set it all back up, as they have set up separate ROI BBC channels (with aforementioned lack of red button).

    Theres no discussion of using non Sky boxes for Sky here though


  • #6
    Irish Steve
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 6,524 Mod ✭✭✭✭Irish Steve


    Thanks for that, it would have been nice if Sky had been a lot more up front and warned people that they were going to break it.

    So, will it all go back the way it was when the Olympics are out of the way, or are BBC likely to "insist" on the new status quo being retained for the future?

    Will series links have to be reset again if they reset things back the way they were?

    Thanks

    Shore, if it was easy, everybody would be doin it.😁



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  • #7
    byte
    Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 19,174 Mod ✭✭✭✭byte
    byte


    I've never tried, but wonder would Red Button service work if BBC One England (as an example) was added to Other Channels (using that BBC1 Eng channel of course)?


  • #8
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,263 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    No, doesn't seem to work on Other Channels.

    The BBC aren't clear whether things will be returning to the way they were before the Olympics, but they have said all the other changes for the Olympics will be reversed after this so I suspect this may be to.

    The BBC had at one stage long term plans to ditch BBC Text and the red button services and I suspect the text service - which I think is the only one left - will go eventually anyway. Sky dropped its ages ago and nearly all other the Interactive services are gone except for sports.


  • #9
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,978 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    icdg wrote: »
    The BBC had at one stage long term plans to ditch BBC Text and the red button services and I suspect the text service - which I think is the only one left - will go eventually anyway. Sky dropped its ages ago and nearly all other the Interactive services are gone except for sports.

    They announced the move to HbbTV 2.0.1 from MHEG5 back in late June - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=100136461.

    The plan goes to consultation next month.


  • #10
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,263 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    That relates to Freeview rather than Sky though, no?


  • #11
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,978 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    icdg wrote: »
    That relates to Freeview rather than Sky though, no?

    Yes but will they follow the same route for their satellite services? Connected rather than broadcast?


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  • #12
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    +1 for a true Freesat box. I always felt that unofficial combo boxes were too messy. I have the Humax HDR-1000S and wouldn't have it any other way. It just works, no messing about.


  • #13
    Green Peter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,027 ✭✭✭Green Peter


    Karsini wrote:
    +1 for a true Freesat box. I always felt that unofficial combo boxes were too messy. I have the Humax HDR-1000S and wouldn't have it any other way. It just works, no messing about.


    What channels do you get? Will it work with a standard saorview telly, please excuse my lack of knowledge, I'm also thinking of getting rid of sky


  • #14
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Green Peter wrote: »
    What channels do you get? Will it work with a standard saorview telly, please excuse my lack of knowledge, I'm also thinking of getting rid of sky
    FTA UK channels only. You don't get the Irish channels on it. Should work with almost any TV.


  • #15
    LLewellen Farquarson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 405 ✭✭LLewellen Farquarson


    I've a Freesat Humax box. Pretty much plug and play, and the wifi picks up the EPG from the freesat site. Series link etc. all available. All UK channels

    My telly (Sony) has a built in saorview receiver through the Ariel, so......

    Irish Channels - through telly
    Satellite Channels - through Freesat

    I Can't record the Irish channels, but if I missed something, I just plug in the Chromebook and use the RTE player to watch it.


  • #16
    LLewellen Farquarson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 405 ✭✭LLewellen Farquarson


    I've a Freesat Humax box. Pretty much plug and play, and the wifi picks up the EPG from the freesat site. Series link etc. all available. All UK channels

    My telly (Sony) has a built in saorview receiver through the Ariel, so......

    Irish Channels - through telly
    Satellite Channels - through Freesat

    I Can't record the Irish channels, but if I missed something, I just plug in the Chromebook and use the RTE player to watch it.


  • #17
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Same setup myself. Internal Saorview tuner in the TV for the Irish channels and I just use online catchup if I miss something.


  • #18
    Gerry Wicklow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,572 ✭✭✭Gerry Wicklow


    This lists the channels a FreeSat box gets. As mentioned above you will need a separate aerial for the Irish Saorview channels. There are several more channels available free from the same satellites using 'non-Freesat mode' if the box supports it or a FTA /combo box


  • #19
    Nelbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,343 ✭✭✭Nelbert


    I've a couple of DVB-T tuners and sat tuners hooked up to a PC running tvheadend... You can set it to update frequencies automatically and it'll pull in epg data too.

    Means you can use any laptop, android box or in my case dedicated HTPC as a front end.

    Kodi with tvheadend is a very nice all in one box (I've my own movie collection stored on the same "server" too".

    I get ITV HD and C4 HD which are free to air but annoyingly not on the Sky epg.....
    I actually came on here about the bbc olympics feeds and was about to complain but I think your on a similar track (and I've just scanned them in and added them to my tvheadend lineup, they are all FTA).

    Essentially the world is your oyster. Depends what you are willing to spend to cut the reliance on sky.


  • #20
    johnnylancer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 60 ✭✭johnnylancer


    Make sure to buy an official Freesat Box and not Free To Air box
    I use Humax HDR and in 4 years never a problem


  • #21
    Skerries
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,867 ✭✭✭✭Skerries


    do they have an epg and series record function?
    Untitled Image




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  • #22
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 20,339 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    Skerries wrote: »
    do they have an epg and series record function?

    Freesat boxes do.


  • #23
    ei9go
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,036 ✭✭✭ei9go


    LLewellen Farquarson wrote: »
    I've a Freesat Humax box. Pretty much plug and play, and the wifi picks up the EPG from the freesat site. Series link etc. all available. All UK channels

    My telly (Sony) has a built in saorview receiver through the Ariel, so......

    Irish Channels - through telly
    Satellite Channels - through Freesat

    I Can't record the Irish channels, but if I missed something, I just plug in the Chromebook and use the RTE player to watch it.
    If you have a recent Sony Android TV, you only have to plug a HDD in and record one Saorview program while watching another.


  • #24
    Sleeper12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,282 ✭✭✭✭Sleeper12


    Series link works fine on sky Q. Don't know about the red button, I don't use it


  • #25
    felunia
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47 ✭felunia


    BBC closed the Red Button for the Olympics in Ireland as RTE have all the rights to show Olympics in ROI - nothing what so ever to do with Sky - BBC done this and it will revert back to normal use in 16 days.


  • #26
    johnnylancer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 60 ✭✭johnnylancer


    Red Button working on Humax Freesat box


  • #27
    Duzzie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 740 ✭✭✭Duzzie


    felunia wrote: »
    BBC closed the Red Button for the Olympics in Ireland as RTE have all the rights to show Olympics in ROI - nothing what so ever to do with Sky - BBC done this and it will revert back to normal use in 16 days.

    Not happy about this. The red button was great for watching lower profile sports that aren't shown on the mainstream channels. RTE coverage is poor in comparison to the red button option. Off to kodi I go


  • #28
    Vic_08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,090 ✭✭✭Vic_08


    Duzzie wrote: »
    Not happy about this. The red button was great for watching lower profile sports that aren't shown on the mainstream channels. RTE coverage is poor in comparison to the red button option. Off to kodi I go

    The BBC Olympics/red button channels can be added via "other channels" to your sky box.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=59538229&postcount=1


  • #29
    Duzzie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 740 ✭✭✭Duzzie


    Vic_08 wrote: »
    The BBC Olympics/red button channels can be added via "other channels" to your sky box.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=59538229&postcount=1

    Thanks for that, works a treat. Makes the BBC's decision to block the red button somewhat pointless


  • #30
    Digifriendly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,088 ✭✭✭Digifriendly


    Duzzie wrote: »
    Vic_08 wrote: »
    The BBC Olympics/red button channels can be added via "other channels" to your sky box.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=59538229&postcount=1

    Thanks for that, works a treat. Makes the BBC's decision to block the red button somewhat pointless

    I suppose they had to do something and they couldn't get rid of channels altogether as they're FTA. If I lived in ROI I would have both Sky and Freesat and get the best of both worlds.


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