Advice Needed Best generic satellite PVR.

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My medium term plan is to dump the abysmal Virgin Media when my contract expires, get Sky Q for the minimum 18 month term and then get a PVR for the FTA channels.

Would a generic satellite PVR be better than getting a Freesat box? The new Freesat box can record 4 channels, but doesn't have all the FTA channels in it's EPG. Do generic PVR's have their own EPG?

What to do.......thanks :)
 

Channel Hopper

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You need on understand what is meant by FreeSat.
 

ozumo

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If you plug a USB hard drive into your Freesat television (as per your bio) does it not become a Freesat PVR?
 

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If you plug a USB hard drive into your Freesat television (as per your bio) does it not become a Freesat PVR?
Yes, it will - but I suspect that you could not then view any other channel via either of the TV's DTT or Freesat /Freeview tuners, which is probably "not ideal".
 

ozumo

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Can you select an HDMI input?
 

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Can you select an HDMI input?
For which you would need a generic sat receiver - my suggestion for one of those would be the newly announced Octagon SX89 which should be available from next week (maybe?) as it is claimed to be a lot "quicker" overall than the existing SX88 range, and can handle a USB drive for recording via USB3.
 

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I'd just use a cheap as chips Sky DRX-595 for FTA UK television, if the TV's on-board Freesat can be used for recording.

Off-topic but does the PVR work well on the SX88+? On my Primo FFWD/RWD doesn't work, it's pathetic.
 

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Off-topic but does the PVR work well on the SX88+? On my Primo FFWD/RWD doesn't work, it's pathetic.
Since the Primo is almost a "clone" of one of the SX88 series, I think that could be related to the overall sluggish performance of that design - hopefully SX89 series receivers should be a lot faster, and that could "alleviate" that issue.
 

ozumo

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I've never noticed the Primo being particularly slow, though I don't use it tor streaming, the PVR playback just doesn't work properly. My old Openbox V8S is far superior, at least it can FFWD & RWD!
 

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I've never noticed the Primo being particularly slow, though I don't use it tor streaming, the PVR playback just doesn't work properly. My old Openbox V8S is far superior, at least it can FFWD & RWD!


No, not noticeably slow.

And PVR playback is absolutely fine - using a Verbatim 16 GB USB Stick.
 

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I'm curious what extra FTA channels you think are worth watching on a generic FTA receiver that aren't on the Freesat EPG?
 

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Is Channel 4 HD back on Freesat EPG?
 

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No, not noticeably slow.

And PVR playback is absolutely fine - using a Verbatim 16 GB USB Stick.

I've tried multiple firmware versions and USB sticks/cards/drives today and still not working properly. Hopefully the bearded fat man dressed in red will pop a new receiver down the chimney.
 
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@PaulR Channel 4 HD is the main one, but whilst I know there's a load of dross, there are some others that i'd like such as Freesports, music channels etc.
 
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For which you would need a generic sat receiver - my suggestion for one of those would be the newly announced Octagon SX89 which should be available from next week (maybe?) as it is claimed to be a lot "quicker" overall than the existing SX88 range, and can handle a USB drive for recording via USB3.

Thank you, i'll check this out :)
 

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What makes a good receiver is a very personal thing. Many folks swear by the E2 boxes. I tend to swear AT them and after a few minutes of using them want to reprogramme them with a large sledgehammer!

:D
 

ozumo

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I've tried multiple firmware versions and USB sticks/cards/drives today and still not working properly. Hopefully the bearded fat man dressed in red will pop a new receiver down the chimney.

It turns out the Primo doesn't like being connected to my HDMI to component converter, when connected directly to a modern television the fast forward & rewind work. It also seems to have solved the crashing caused by the auto 50hz/60hz switching option.
 

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interesting thread.... I recently bought a 2nd hand Humax fressat PVR for the kitchen - i couldn't believe ch4 HD was missing from the EPG - very dissapointing, it wasnt long before i noticed other channels missing, such as the music ones (which are great at Xmas) Box, Magic, etc...

in the end, I sold it on, and have instead, put my "spare" Octagon SF8008 in its place....I now have proper FREE satellite - with a full EPG, (using EPGImporter) plus i can record to my NAS over my LAN....

everyones a winner!
 
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