french set-top boxes... the maze

[storeysinfrance]

hopefully this isn't too stupid a question to ask..?

does anyone have any suggestions as to which is the best / most cost effective 'box' to buy to link in to our tv (and yes, toshiba have confirmed that it'll pick up the signal via this method) to connect to french tv via a second satelite dish.

by linking in i mean in the same way as one would a sky box (which we have anyway)...

all that we really want is / are the normal free-to-air channels (similar to bbc 1 / itv 1 etc etc) that one picks up via conventional sky-card...

is this facility available or does one have to subscribe or...? frankly every visit to a darty store or similar feels a bit like a maze so any easy to digest info would be much appreciated.

thanks

neil storey (pres de brantome, 24).

 

 

[Anton Redman]

Choice 1 – French Free To Air Analogue at notional  5 degrees west. Give main French channels. Not the best quality will be switched off sometime in the future. Cheap and cheerful

 

http://www.castorama.fr/boutique/sku/sku.jhtml?elementId=Casto890087&productId=CastoECO0103&_requestid=36253

 

Choice 2 – French Free To Air Numerique  at 5 degress west.  Better quality, no commitement from French Government about how long it will they will transmit in clear. Higher risk but probably my choice as if it all goes pear shaped ( AKA Pete Tong) you still have a dish you can aim at SKY and get BBC1 to 4  Radio 1 to 7 etd.

 

http://www.castorama.fr/boutique/sku/sku.jhtml?elementId=Casto892055&productId=CastoECO0113&_requestid=37005

 

Choice 3 – Buy a Numeric decoder from an outlet and pay sub for what it Free to Air

I am too mean to do this just to watch a couple, of quiz shows a week plus news and odd documentary

 

 Choice 4  - Numeric and Analogue plus three LNBs – difficult to set up but to quote Top Gear the Mutts Nuts. You still have not got a slot for the card for French PPV.

 

http://www.castorama.fr/boutique/sku/sku.jhtml?elementId=Casto890153&productId=CastoECO0103&_requestid=36373

 

The only French electrical retailers I have received good advice from were ’Pro & Cie’  - Darty, M. Boulanger etc were no better or worse than Comet/Curry’s in UK.