Tivo and Freeview

[bobmac]

Does anyone have both and do they work together?
I know you can buy freeview boxes that are compatible with Tivo, but unsure about TVs with built-in freeview and how they would work?
Thanks

 

[RGDave]

Bob, what sort of gadget is it?

I have lots of things in the TV cupboard and haven't failed yet to work out the answer.

I have a PVR (hard drive freeview box) and linked it in the following way.

Aerial into the back of the freeview box, aerial output (should have one) into the TV. Run a scart from freeview box into AV1 scart input (back of TV) and then you can most probably use the TV without the box being on.

If I switch the TV on, I use the inbuilt freeview. If I switch the PVR on, the TV defaults to AV1.

Let me know, I can usually figure it out. I also have a dvd recorder between the PVR and telly so I can play and record (in real time) anything I want to transfer to dvd.

 

[TWM]

I have FreeSat with a Freeview set. It all works.
I don't know what Tivo is.

 

[big_russ]

I was unsure as well until i found this http://www.tivocentral.co.uk/tivo.htm

 

[bobmac]

Thanks guys, got it sorted now

 

[RGDave]

Cool, good news.

I had some hassle in the early days with my kit, as I needed to "route" a signal (via aerial cable) to a socket mounted on the wall behind the TV. I worked out the box sent the signal to the kitchen where it was amplified by an awesome looking box to the rest of the house. I just split the cable as soon as it comes into the house.

- - - -

What I want to know (and maybe someone can help) is IF there is an old satellite dish (presumably a sky installation) on my roof, can I buy a freesat box and get freesat too?

 

[Smiffy]

What I want to know (and maybe someone can help) is IF there is an old satellite dish (presumably a sky installation) on my roof, can I buy a freesat box and get freesat too?

As long as the wiring is all intact, yes you can. Just plug the sky cable into the back of your freesat box and Bob's your uncle. If you have got two lines coming in from the Sky dish it will be an old Sky+ installation so you could even buy a FreeSat PVR and record stuff onto it too....

 

[Tommo21]

What most people dont know, due to the fact that I'm a tight git, the old analogue sky box still works a treat. I get intenational eurosport with english commentators, 24h CNN, MTV and it dont cost a bean or do you need a card. The german sports channels have all the practice and morning warm up in F1, way more than the BBC. Freeview for me as I don’t subscribe to sky, I don’t watch much telly and besides I get most golf on the net these days.

 

[RGDave]

What I want to know (and maybe someone can help) is IF there is an old satellite dish (presumably a sky installation) on my roof, can I buy a freesat box and get freesat too?

As long as the wiring is all intact, yes you can. Just plug the sky cable into the back of your freesat box and Bob's your uncle.

I'll check it out in the day light. i.i.r.c. there is simply a black cable coming down the wall, through the bricks into the corner of the living room. I guess I ought to get up a ladder and see if there is anything on the dish.....it could be anything between 5 and (??) years old. I'm guessing (like a TV aerial) it doesn't need power either?

Cool.

 

[Smiffy]

I'm guessing (like a TV aerial) it doesn't need power either?

Cool.

No power needed. If the cabling is intact, just plug it into your FreeSat box and you will receive all the available channels, including BBC1 HD and ITV HD (when they transmit anything that is!). Just as long as you have got a HD ready TV and an HDMI lead!

 

[viscount17]

interesting, I also have an old satellite dish on the side wall. not what cables, if any, are there so when I get some spare time.

mind you, just searched the freesat channels - don't think I'll bother - 15 shopping not one sport

 

[RGDave]

viscount....be sure to read my post (OOB) about freesat.

I wanted to get freesat to watch bbc HD......it didn't quite work out as I'd planned.

Dave

 

[bobmac]

Ok, how about which format to buy
Plasma, LCD or LED?

(Can I hijack my own thread?)

 

[viscount17]

depends what's important to you

colour/contrast - plasma, LED, LCD
refresh (motion) - plasma, LCD or LED
viewing angle - plasma, LED, LCD
power usage - LED, LCD, plasma
life - LED, LCD, plasma
cost - LCD (below 42 *), plasma (above 42), LED = LCD+20%

32 in screens are baseline for LCD/LED size/cost, smaller is proportionally dearer, bigger often loses picture quality (bigger pixels)

simplest way, go to a decent shop and <u>insist</u> on having the same image on all the TV's you are considering (and ideally set up side by side).

 

[bobmac]

Why are things never simple

 

[Smiffy]

Ok, how about which format to buy
Plasma, LCD or LED?

(Can I hijack my own thread?)

Two questions Bob.
What size screen do you want.
How far are you going to be sitting away from it?

I've just gone from a 40" LCD to a 50" Plasma and am loving it. At first I thought I'd made a mistake but the telly has been running best part of two weeks now and just gets better and better.

 

[bobmac]

Dont know the answer to those questions. Depends on how many V****s I sell

The Plasmas do look good though

 

[Smiffy]

Dont know the answer to those questions. Depends on how many V****s I sell

The Plasmas do look good though

If you are sticking with a smaller set (32"/36")I don't think anyone does a Plasma this size.
40"/46" you can get either LCD or Plasma (or LED backlit if you fancy it, although these new screens aren't getting the rave reviews that they possibly hoped).
Bigger than 46" then most (not all) of the choices tend to be Plasma.
I was dead set against getting a Plasma a few years ago because you had issues of "screen burn" or "image retention" that LCD's don't suffer from.
But most manufacturers have got around these problems one way or another although Panasonic seem to be the best, LG and Samsung Plasmas do tend to get more bad press over image retention.
Plasmas have a better field of view than LCD's and tend to display blacks better, which will give you a better picture.
If you are going to be sitting fairly close to the set then don't go too big.
Whilst LCD and Plasmas are superb with HD material, standard definition can look crap on some panels, and sitting too close will give you a headache.
To be fair, this has more to do with the crap quality being broadcast than a fault with the set itself.
Just something to be aware of.

 

[bobmac]

Thanks Smiffy.
I'm hoping to be sitting at least 4-5 metres away and am quite tempted with this

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cu...p;category_oid=

 

[Smiffy]

Thanks Smiffy.
I'm hoping to be sitting at least 4-5 metres away and am quite tempted with this

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cu...p;category_oid=

Distance wise you should be OK with it Bob. Only thing I would say about that set is that quite a few people have purchased one and are suffering from "image retention" in the early days.
Hang on......

http://www.avforums.com/forums/plasma-te...ma-tv-sale.html

That thread is aimed solely at that particular telly and deal.

I bought a Panasonic 50" X10 model @ 649.00 delivered from Dixons. Not 1080p (just HD ready) but a better picture on standard definition (cos the piccie isn't stretched too much) and awesome on Blu ray and HD material.
But that deal you have seen is a good one mate.
Rob