Get HD satellite TV without subscription with the best Freesat set-top boxes
For most of us, live TV broadcasts now mean Freeview, with HD signals hitting our TVs or set-top -boxes through the good old-fashioned aerial. But what if you live in an area with a weak TV signal, where the full range of channels – including HD channels – is out of reach?
Or what if you have an existing satellite dish, but don’t want the monthly cost of a Sky subscription? Here Freesat is the answer, giving you more than 200 TV channels through a satellite dish, along with a few exciting extras.
How to choose the best Freesat box for you
Before you can get Freesat up and running on your TV, you’re going to need two things: a dish, if you don’t already have one, and either a TV that supports Freesat or a set-top box. Some Samsung, LG and Panasonic TVs support Freesat directly, and all you need to do is plug in the coaxial cable coming through the wall; check the manual and look for the distinctive satellite input socket (it sticks out and has a screw thread running around it) to see if this might be the case with yours. You can also check a list on the Freesat website. If not, you need a separate set-top box.
What is Freesat and how does it compare to Freeview?
Freesat is the satellite equivalent of Freeview, delivering SD and HD programmes – along with digital radio – to your TV via a satellite dish. You get access to more than 200 channels, including all the major UK channels, some slightly more obscure UK channels, some foreign-language channels and the usual specialist sport, adult, special interest and religious odds and ends.
If you live in an area with a good Freeview signal, then we’d usually recommend getting that instead, not least because, while Freesat has all the BBC’s HD channels and ITV’s too, it’s lost access to Channel 4 HD and All 4. You will get some other HD channels to compensate, but they can’t really make up for the inability to watch The Great British Bake-Off, Travel Man and (shudder) The Circle in glorious HD. Of course, if you have a smart TV or streaming stick/box, then you can still watch in HD through the All 4 app.
If you can’t get a good Freeview signal, however, then this is the best way to get HD TV that doesn’t involve forking over a monthly subscription fee to Sky. Just be aware that, if you don’t have an existing dish you’ll need to budget for that as well. Freesat can arrange an installation for an average of £80-95 including the dish – much cheaper than the local cowboy satellite installer, where prices can go from anywhere between £250 and £500.
What should you look for in a Freesat HD box?
Freesat HD boxes come in two basic types: a simple receiver that will allow you to watch one channel but not record, and a recorder with two inputs that will allow you to watch one channel and record another or record two channels simultaneously. These have a built-in hard disk for recording, with capacities between 500GB and 2TB – enough for 1,000 hours of SD programmes, or roughly half that in HD. Some Freesat receivers will also record if you plug in an external USB drive, though with the limitation that you can only record one programme at a time and can’t watch another programme while recording.
Freesat boxes have also evolved for the catch-up TV age, with some models now including an Ethernet port and/or Wi-Fi so that you can watch Netflix, iPlayer and YouTube through the box or even watch catch-up TV from within the standard electronic programme guide (EPG). That’s not so important if you already have a smart TV or some kind of streaming device, but it’s useful if you want better apps or just one box that does it all.
Is there anything else to look out for?
Dolby 5.1 surround support is now standard, so the main things to watch out for are picture quality and the software and EPG being used. There are still a few older units out there running old-fashioned, clunky EPGs that look ugly and make finding a programme or setting a recording a real chore. What’s more, Freesat and the remaining Freesat box manufacturers have worked hard in the past few years to build much more stylish and functional EPGs with proper Now and Next views and additional sections where you might find a showcase of hit programmes or catch-up TV features.
Freesat also has its own equivalent to Freeview Play or YouView’s rollback feature, where you can track backwards through the EPG and select a programme that was showing up to seven days ago. Provided it’s available on a catch-up TV service, your box will then play the programme as if it were live.
Finally, don’t forget the remote control. This is one area where budget Freeview and Freesat boxes consistently go wrong, and it can make a surprisingly big difference in everyday use, particularly if it’s uncomfortable with badly positioned buttons.
The best Freesat boxes you can buy
Manhattan SX: The best budget Freesat HD Box
- Price: £49
While there are a few no-brand boxes that will show all the free-to-air channels, the Manhattan SX is the cheapest unit to give you the full Freesat service. Luckily, it’s a great budget box. It’s an extremely compact set-top-box with a square-ish profile and an interesting film strip effect on the front. Setting it up is as simple as plugging in the power and connecting the HDMI output – or the bundled analogue AV kit for older TVs – then running through a quick configuration process.
It’s not the most feature-packed box, with no catch-up TV services or streaming apps to mention, despite the Ethernet port at the rear. This and the single USB port are reserved for use in software updates. However, Manhattan has developed a smooth, good-looking eight-day EPG with proper Now and Next views, reminders and a filtered channel list. What’s more, both picture and sound quality are up to scratch. If you already have catch-up and streaming covered and you’re not bothered with recording, this is all the box you need to watch TV.
Key specs – Dimensions: 120 x 130 x 26.5mm; Tuners: Freesat HD; HDD: none; Smart Apps: none; Connections: Satellite in, Ethernet, HDMI, 3.5mm AV out, USB
Humax HB-1100S: The best Freesat HD Receiver
- Price: £97
The Humax HB-1100S is basically a cut-down version of the HDR-1100S recorder (see below), giving you most of the same features bar built-in recording. This means the Humax trumps the Manhattan SX by offering Wi-Fi, Ethernet and catch-up TV, complete with the roll-back feature where you can travel back in time on the EPG and select programmes from yesterday or even several days before. There’s also limited streaming app support, including iPlayer, Netflix, ITV Hub and Demand 5, plus the Showcase feature where Humax’s team put the spotlight on films and programmes that they think you might enjoy.
You’re not prevented from recording, either, as you can plug in a USB hard drive and set programmes or even series to record. With a drive plugged in it even saves up to 30 minutes of the current programme, and if you press record it will record from the point where you switched channel. The obvious restriction is that, with just one satellite input, you can only record one channel at a time, while watching one while recording another is a non-starter.
This is a great Freesat box with rock-solid HD picture quality, a high-quality remote and an excellent EPG. Not only is it worth the extra over the Manhattan SX, but it leaves you wondering whether you really need its more expensive sibling.
Key specs – Dimensions: 206 x 169 x 42mm; Tuners: Freesat HD; HDD: none; Smart Apps: iPlayer, ITV Hub, Demand 5, STV Player, BBC Sport, BBC News, YouTube, Netflix, Wakui, Hopster; Connections: Satellite in, Ethernet, HDMI, 3.5mm AV out, USB 2, 802.11n Wi-Fi
Humax HDR-1100S: The best Freesat HD Recorder
- Price: £176 for 500GB, £209 for 1TB, £299 for 2TB
For a while, Freesat owners had reason to be envious of the Freeview Play and YouView-watching crowds, with their built-in catch-up features and flexible EPGs. That ended with the HDR-1100 and its follow-up, the HDR-1100S. This is a Freesat box as advanced as anything Freeview Play and YouView can muster, with a slick, modern-looking EPG, built-in catch-up and streaming services and, through FreeTime, the ability to scroll backwards through the EPG to catch-up with missed shows.
Some of the HDR-1100S’s thunder has been stolen by the younger HB-1100S, but there are still things it can do that the smaller unit can’t. With a 500GB, 1TB or 2TB hard drive already in there you can record live programmes or set programmes or series to record – and you can also pause and rewind live TV. More importantly, with dual satellite inputs you can watch one programme while you record another or record two at the same time.
Humax’s showcase arguably makes more sense here, as you can record the selected programmes from the same screen, and you still get the same line-up of streaming services, which could be useful if you don’t already have a streaming box or smart TV. The interface and otherwise excellent remote can make getting to these a little long-winded, but it’s still good to have so many viewing options in just the one box.
Humax used to have competition from Panasonic and Samsung in the Freesat market, but now it has this niche almost to itself. It’s lucky, then, that the HDR-1100S is such a strong Freesat HD recorder, and the way to go if you want full control over when and for how long you can enjoy your favourite shows.
Key specs – Dimensions: 280 x 200 x 48mm; Tuners: 2x Freesat HD; HDD: 500GB, 1TB or 2TB; Smart Apps: iPlayer, ITV Hub, Demand 5, STV Player, BBC Sport, BBC News, YouTube, Netflix, Wakui, Hopster; Connections: 2x Satellite in, Ethernet, HDMI, 3.5mm AV out, 2 x USB 2, S/PDIF, 802.11n Wi-Fi
Source: expertreviews.co.uk