finding a Freesat digi box

[HoneySuckleDreams]

hi

My Sky Digibox went pop tonight so i'm looking at replacing it fairly sharpish.

Rather than go down the Sky route again (as i wasn't paying for it anyway) the Freesat way looks like it will give us everything we need.

Does anyone know of a reasonable box to buy here in France (or even if anyone is doing any deals at the moment) to get the freesat service? Or do I have to get one from the UK. I've read about the HUMAX stuff, but it's a bit expensive for me.

Also, I have a sky gnome, would I be able to use this as well with a freesat digibox

Many thanks

[Anton Redman]

Almost any French purchased numerique/digital TV satellite receiver will do a good job of receiving the free to air channels but versus you recently deceased system you will have the following down sides : 

The initial set up will involve entering loads of parameters for channels from a site such as lyngsat. When as occasionally happens channels move transponders you will lose them till some kind soul updates the lyngsat list. You then have to sort out those channels you want

 http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/skyuk.html

 

The Electronic Programme Guide is very limited and shows only what is on now and what is on next with almost no programme details.

 Finding the alternative feeds for sports events like Wimbledon or Snooker is very difficult

 The numerique receivers to avoid are those for Fransat, TNT par Sky and canal Plus which have been often set up so that you cannot add the extra frequencies you need for UK free to air.

 The choices for sourcing either a replacement sky digibox or a ‘freesat receiver are in declining cost but ascending ease.

 From one of the business specialising in UK TV in France check English language press about France or google UK TV in France.

 Ebay etc classified ads for boxes.

 Have friends buy in the UK and bring out.

 I have an Optex 9510 which I keep in case either of ourt digiboxes breaksdown.

 The ski gnome is a door stop unless you buy a replacement digibox

[cooperlola]

LOOK HERE As it's "fulfilled by Amazon" then it should be ship-able to Europe.  I don't know if it's any good, of course.

[Bob T]

Freesat boxes are only available from the authorised Freesat sellers in the UK. Free to air boxes can be bought anywhere, but they will not have the Freesat program guide.

[Martin963]

Anton - I haven't actually put this to the test on my two but the Fransat boxes are "non-bridée",  c'est a dire that you can use them on any satellite and any free-to-air frequency.

Having said that it's an academic point as unless one had two dishes (or possibly motorised) and a particular reason for using one a Fransat box would not be the obvious choice.

You are of course quite right about TNTsat,  these boxes simply freeze if you point the dish at anything other than Astra 1.

Sorry to nit pick!

[Thebiga]

Try Bigdishsat, Good people.

[kimg]

if you come back to th uk, most diy shops have one for about £40 complete

kim

[Anton Redman]

Stand corrected on Fransat. I am trying a very cheap TNT box at the momement post to follow. Fransat is the next stop.

[gosub]

You don't have to pay the earth for a UK sourced freesat box, if you don't want the bells and whistles.

http://www.satbuyer.co.uk/freesat-digital-boxes-c10.html?gclid=CKXgrYfAuZ0CFZoU4wodMGhWjA

http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=products.Products&type_id=2