As in the title.

After my bad experience with Freesat boxes, I'm looking at going down 
the FTA box route. Maplin have a few for well under 50 quid. Sounds like 
good value.

Does anyone have any experience with these? Is the picture ok; are they 
easy to set up/use, etc? Not so worried about the setup as long as I can 
programme the channels to be in logical places, but it must be something 
the wife can use - she's a bit of a technophobe.

TIA.

Steve.

"Silk"  wrote in message 
news:g26sg8$tpg$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> As in the title.
>
> After my bad experience with Freesat boxes, I'm looking at going down the 
> FTA box route. Maplin have a few for well under 50 quid. Sounds like good 
> value.
>
> Does anyone have any experience with these? Is the picture ok; are they 
> easy to set up/use, etc? Not so worried about the setup as long as I can 
> programme the channels to be in logical places, but it must be something 
> the wife can use - she's a bit of a technophobe.
> TIA.
> Steve.
>
In that case and if you don't need HD? You're probably better off with a
used Sky digibox, at least you can tune in channels that aren't in the EPG
if you have to

Check out:
http://www.uk-satellite-tv.co.uk/digibox.html   reviews

I've recently been using Pace DS445N which i can recommend,
but that site will give you the run down on all

and easier to use than say a Comag SL65 FTA box, which are great if
you are a button phreak

Steve Terry

Steve Terry wrote:
> "Silk"  wrote in message 
> news:g26sg8$tpg$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>> As in the title.
>>
>> After my bad experience with Freesat boxes, I'm looking at going down the 
>> FTA box route. Maplin have a few for well under 50 quid. Sounds like good 
>> value.
>>
>> Does anyone have any experience with these? Is the picture ok; are they 
>> easy to set up/use, etc? Not so worried about the setup as long as I can 
>> programme the channels to be in logical places, but it must be something 
>> the wife can use - she's a bit of a technophobe.
>> TIA.
>> Steve.
>>
> In that case and if you don't need HD? You're probably better off with a
> used Sky digibox, at least you can tune in channels that aren't in the EPG
> if you have to
> 
> Check out:
> http://www.uk-satellite-tv.co.uk/digibox.html   reviews
> 
> I've recently been using Pace DS445N which i can recommend,
> but that site will give you the run down on all
> 
> and easier to use than say a Comag SL65 FTA box, which are great if
> you are a button phreak

Thanks.

I was under the impression that a FTA box was easier as you could put 
the channels in any order you want. I find sky boxes very restrictive in 
this respect. I don't have a problem with programming. I find adding 
extra chennels and, even worse, viewing them is a right pain in the arse.

I just want to be able to put BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, CH4 etc. next to 1,2,3,4 
  and the rest as I see fit.

Silk wrote:
> As in the title.

Just bought a cheap FTV box from Maplin (35 notes) excellent picture. A 
bit of a learning curve to set up, but nothing I can't handle. Fantastic!

FreeToView (FTV), now known as FreeSatFromSky, or FreeToAir (FTA)
which is what I suspect you mean?

On Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:33:49 +0100, Silk  wrote:
> 
> Just bought a cheap FTV box from Maplin (35 notes) excellent picture. A 
> bit of a learning curve to set up, but nothing I can't handle. Fantastic!

Java Jive wrote:
> FreeToView (FTV), now known as FreeSatFromSky, or FreeToAir (FTA)
> which is what I suspect you mean?
> 
> On Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:33:49 +0100, Silk  wrote:
>> Just bought a cheap FTV box from Maplin (35 notes) excellent picture. A 
>> bit of a learning curve to set up, but nothing I can't handle. Fantastic!

Yes, I meant FTA - slip of the keboard. I'm just glad to be Sky free. 
Not for any particular reason, just freedom.

"Silk"  wrote in message 
news:g281qu$85r$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> Steve Terry wrote:
>> "Silk"  wrote in message 
>> news:g26sg8$tpg$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>> As in the title.
>>>
>>> After my bad experience with Freesat boxes, I'm looking at going down 
>>> the FTA box route. Maplin have a few for well under 50 quid. Sounds like 
>>> good value.
>>>
>>> Does anyone have any experience with these? Is the picture ok; are they 
>>> easy to set up/use, etc? Not so worried about the setup as long as I can 
>>> programme the channels to be in logical places, but it must be something 
>>> the wife can use - she's a bit of a technophobe.
<snip>
> I was under the impression that a FTA box was easier as you could put the 
> channels in any order you want. I find sky boxes very restrictive in this 
> respect. I don't have a problem with programming. I find adding extra 
> chennels and, even worse, viewing them is a right pain in the arse.
>
> I just want to be able to put BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, CH4 etc. next to 1,2,3,4 
> and the rest as I see fit.
>
I was thinking of it from the point of view of your technophobe wife.

If you are doing all the programming, then yes go for a FTA box

Steve Terry

"Java Jive"  wrote in message 
news:675g4418hh4p9pbggceedotld39gvvrlhi@4ax.com...
> FreeToView (FTV), now known as FreeSatFromSky, or FreeToAir (FTA)
> which is what I suspect you mean?
>
<snip top post>
>
I think he means something like the old Comag SL65 general purpose FTA box

Originally meant for German Astra 1 digital, OTA software upgrades for them
are still done over Astra 1, 19 east.

Steve Terry

Steve Terry wrote:
> "Silk"  wrote in message 
> news:g281qu$85r$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>> Steve Terry wrote:
>>> "Silk"  wrote in message 
>>> news:g26sg8$tpg$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>>> As in the title.
>>>>
>>>> After my bad experience with Freesat boxes, I'm looking at going down 
>>>> the FTA box route. Maplin have a few for well under 50 quid. Sounds like 
>>>> good value.
>>>>
>>>> Does anyone have any experience with these? Is the picture ok; are they 
>>>> easy to set up/use, etc? Not so worried about the setup as long as I can 
>>>> programme the channels to be in logical places, but it must be something 
>>>> the wife can use - she's a bit of a technophobe.
> <snip>
>> I was under the impression that a FTA box was easier as you could put the 
>> channels in any order you want. I find sky boxes very restrictive in this 
>> respect. I don't have a problem with programming. I find adding extra 
>> chennels and, even worse, viewing them is a right pain in the arse.
>>
>> I just want to be able to put BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, CH4 etc. next to 1,2,3,4 
>> and the rest as I see fit.
>>
> I was thinking of it from the point of view of your technophobe wife.
> 
> If you are doing all the programming, then yes go for a FTA box

I've got it all set up now. EPG is a bit hit and miss, also you can't 
browse other channels without actually switching to them. Had to do a 
bit of digging to get CH4, no CH5. Otherwise very impressed.

I have the Fortec Star 4200 and the picture is first class. Certainly 
better than Freesat and cheaper to boot.

Am Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:58:40 +0100 schrieb Silk:

> Java Jive wrote:
>> FreeToView (FTV), now known as FreeSatFromSky, or FreeToAir (FTA)
>> which is what I suspect you mean?
>> 
>> On Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:33:49 +0100, Silk  wrote:
>>> Just bought a cheap FTV box from Maplin (35 notes) excellent picture. A 
>>> bit of a learning curve to set up, but nothing I can't handle. Fantastic!
> 
> Yes, I meant FTA - slip of the keboard. I'm just glad to be Sky free. 
> Not for any particular reason, just freedom.

Plus - different to the Sky boxes and most freesat boxes, in case you get
really sat-geeky, you have the option to use the DiSEqC 1.2 system to
switch to other satellites or even get to steer a motorised dish to exotic
sat positions.

Andreas