Does anyone have this? It's apparently a retention offer from Sky, tenner a month plus whatever broadband is. Does it have EPG, record more than one channel at the time? Can you record RTEs, BBCs, C4,Film4? Are Dave and Gold on demand still available? Have already cancelled sky but thinking of running then and asking if they'll give this deal. Tbh they're the only channels we watch anyway and can use the nowtv app every few months. A freesat and saorview install is very pricy upfront so looks like best option ( assuming sky will offer it of course)
Sky essentials 10 a month
- Thread starter Bellow
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I have the tenner a month package from them, fairly limited channels, I definitely don't have C4 but can watch most of the shows on the catch up option just not live. Don't know about Dave & Gold as don't watch them, I have Quest and Really plus BBCs and a few other random ones, EarthX comes to mind, can record more than one at a time, they told me it was 6 but it doesn't do that many. I have broadband with a different provider
I'd check now what channels I have for you but Sky hasn't been working properly since storm the other day and still stormy here, RTE1 flicks in and out but have basically no channel at the moment but can watch all my recorded stuff which thankfully there is a lot plus can watch the catch up programmes.
I'd check now what channels I have for you but Sky hasn't been working properly since storm the other day and still stormy here, RTE1 flicks in and out but have basically no channel at the moment but can watch all my recorded stuff which thankfully there is a lot plus can watch the catch up programmes.
Thanks so much for replying, hope they sort your dish soon. Surprised they gave the package to you without the broadband- Assume you had rung to cancel and they offered to you ? Can you record RTE programs and fast forward recordings as with regular sky ? You're the only person I know who has this, don't want to push for it unless know it will be ok
Yes I rang to cancel as found I was watching so few channels and most things were repeats, I was on a 30/35pm package, can't remember exactly but told the guy it wasn't worth it to me, he asked what would I be willing to pay and coincidentally I said about a tenner would be enough, I didn't actually know they had a package for that price!
No mention of broadband needed or anything, I had been with them at one stage for BB but you know the usual dance every year switching meant I was now with Pure.
I can record RTE and any channel I have and fast forward etc as per normal sky. I have all Virgin channels, Food Network which I watch a lot but it's full of repeats now too, actually looks like I have Dave & Gold too as I just flicked down through them there and while they aren't working they just say on those that there is no satellite signal whereas with the channels I no longer have it says I am not subscribed or something similar. It is limiting but then again even with all the channels there was nothing on I wanted to watch or had already seen it. The only channel I actually miss is Comedy channel.
That sounds ideal. Watch very little tv as it is ( seems to be so much reality tv these days)but it's great to be able to record certain programs and fast forward. Do you have on demand stuff for gold and Dave I wonder? I only noticed this on Q the other day, there are loads of series that I hadn't realised were On Demand for these channels
It is kind of handy, I don't watch that much and definitely not the reality stuff! Saved me the hassle though of having to either change tv or get a saorview box and then deal with the whole recording problem. This way I usually scroll couple of days ahead on the ones I do watch and record anything that looks interesting and then mainly just watch back recordings other than the usual news etc. Don't know about on demand for Gold and Dave, still no tv at all here due to storm.
Actually was able to check this even though no signal but on both when I go into on demand it says I must upgrade to get them so no joy on that for you!
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Freesat/Saoirview option. What's your existing set up? sky q or one of the older boxes? If it's the latter then all you'd need for subscription free TV would be a combo box (maybe an aerial depending on what you have already).
You can achieve a decent set up easily enough and would save you money in the long term.
Thanks a million for that
Sky Q currently. Need a new cable to get the Combi , got quotation of 700€ for aeriel , new cable and box. Guy said no way of recording saorview channels, is he correct about that? Recording 2 channels simultaneaosly would be ideal Is the EPG on combi boxes decent? Never watch live tv so ability to record for the day ahead and then fast forward through ads etc is crucial. Am so confused about freesat, free to air etc , that's why thinking if can get the sky tenner deal, can put it all off for another year!
€700 seems very steep. I'd definitely get a second quote. Depending where you are you could just use a pair of rabbit ears ( works for mine). You'll probably need a new lnb on your dish (and an installer) but it's mostly labour you'll pay for. The lnb are fairly cheap. https://www.freetv.ie/twin-lnb/
With a combo box that combines satellite and terrestrial channels you can record on the one box. I hooked an old laptop hard drive up to my box but many come with a hard drive installed. As an example this is a widely used box. No idea how competitive a price out is but you get the idea. https://www.satworld.ie/zgemma-h7s-4k-uhd-500gb-hdd.html
I think it's definitely worth a second look. Depending on your viewing habits and how much you like to customise it could mean a small upfront cost (much less than €700) and zero monthly cost there after.
As for definitions, my rough understanding would be:
Freeview (free to air): UK terrestrial TV received in the UK via an aerial. Not really available in Ireland. Outside of a few small pockets. It will cover your BBC's, ITVs and channel 4s plus a range of specialist channels.
Freesat: similar range of channels to Freeview - though not exactly the same. It's transmitted on the same satellite as Sky. If you've ever explored the "other channels" section of Sky you'll find them there.
switched from Sky 2 years ago and using the satellite dish that was there and an Amico box, the cost was €300-€350 fully installed.
Combined with a standard Netflix plan and Disney, there's more than enough TV to watch.
I only ask myself why on earth did I not switch 10 years ago
Combined with a standard Netflix plan and Disney, there's more than enough TV to watch.
I only ask myself why on earth did I not switch 10 years ago
Had come across the zgemma box, seems like needs some configuring so not sure how straightforward it would be ? And do you routinely have to rescan for channels? .How many years would you expect to get trouble free from a combi? I'll ring around tomorrow, am in Cork ,.I might ask neighbours if they use indoor aeriel for saorview or what. Have solar panels on the roof so reluctant to put an aeriel there as if one panel is shaded even a tad, it could reduce output of all the panels.
Re Combi box you can definitely.record rte etc? Wonder why that installer told me this wasn't an option!
Can you record more than one channel at a time? Is there 7 day EPG? For longevity it definitely seems the best option
Blackrock1
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Zgemma can definitely record, you can watch and record to the extent you have separate tuners. You get 7 day epg and you don’t have to routinely rescan.
On configuration it is more involved than say Sky. That has it's advantages.These boxes give you a lot of customisation. I can order the channels anyway I want. This takes a little bit of time at first. You can customise almost everything, that includes the onscreen display. Mine looks just like sky. If you connect the box to the internet you can set up an integrated 7 day epg for saorview and your satellite channels.
There are various boxes out there. Like everything some are better than others. A very basic box may only have one tuner. Perhaps that's what your first installer was selling.
The zgemmas - and many others boxes - have multiple tuners. I don't have a Zgemma but have the equivalent value for money option that was available 6 years ago. In terms of tuners you probably want a box that has at least 2. One for 'T'errestrial a "DVB-T2" i.e., for rte picked up through an aerial and a second tuner, a "DVB-S2" for your 'S'atellite channels. The better boxes have a third tuner which is usually another DVB-S2 tuner so you can watch a second satellite channel while record another satellite channel. As long as you've one of each (a T2 and and S2) you'll be able to record a saorview channel while watching a satellite channel or vice versa.
Channels moving round happens periodically. It's not as if all the satellite channels will disappear it's usually one dropping off here and there. I couldn't tell you how frequently you will have to rescan. I have a high tolerance for losing a shopping channel or a god channel compared to a BBC channel. I've probably had to do it once in the last two years because the BBCs moved and after that maybe once more - mostly of curiosity if there was anything new.
Is it as plug n play as Sky? No but you don't need a computer degree to get a very good system up and running either.
See I read that and think I would need a computer degree because I couldn't be dealing with all that 
, I don't even like the new remote I got with last Sky change! I would love to get rid of mine too but I read all the threads on here and on Boards last year before renewal and there are many where they want simple set up for elderly parents for example, I got lost in those even! I'm good at a lot of things but that sort of stuff is not one of my skills
, I don't even like the new remote I got with last Sky change! I would love to get rid of mine too but I read all the threads on here and on Boards last year before renewal and there are many where they want simple set up for elderly parents for example, I got lost in those even! I'm good at a lot of things but that sort of stuff is not one of my skills It may not have been that you can't record, but you can't record one SaorView channel while watching another. Many of these combo boxes come with dual satellite tuners, but only a single terrestrial tuner.
Sky wins for technophobes due to the simple intuitive interface. Most of these set top boxes are more complex with poor menu structures, not sure if that will change in the short term but a few of the Chinese manufacturers have stopped making these as streaming services gain popularity. Perhaps a consolidation of the market will see more focus on quality than base price.
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Me too, the thread on boards re zgemma box makes it seem very complex. Maybe the posters there are doing deep dive modifying of Linux etc and the basic setup isn't as complicated as the thread would imply. I'll do some googling later of the setup on youtubeSee I read that and think I would need a computer degree because I couldn't be dealing with all that