Ive had two Panasonic Freesat boxes that have worked perfectly for a bout 10 years....but both have recently given up working....been looking on the internet for replacements....but theres no choice....any idea why?
Freesat (twin) Recorders...
- Thread starter GazSuttonUK
- Start date
There do seem to be a few available, or I daresay Marketplace or ebay will have plenty S/H.
The reason there's less choice than before (10 years ago or earlier) is that (i) fewer manufacturers are including Freesat in their TVs because of cost cutting, (ii) fewer manufacturers are bothering with set-top boxes thanks to consumer trends to go with subscription TV with PVRs, (iii) cord cutters are ditching linear TV and using streaming. The manufacturing market has shrunk.
There's really only two players left since Humax lost the contract. You have Manhatten at the budget end doing a basic Freesat HD receiver (no inbuilt hard drive, and only a single LNB input), and then Arris replacing Humax and taking the tech forward with the Gen 3 platform Freesat boxes. These include streaming, 4K, and wideband LNB compatibility. Manhattan and Arris are both Freesat boxes as opposed to satellite receivers. That means they pay to licence the Freesat programme guide (EPG) rather than just scooping up a bunch of free-to-air satellite channels.
There are satellite receivers that have a certain amount of channel overlap with Freesat. Some even include both terrestrial TV (aerial input) and satellite. But none of these are guaranteed to use the familiar Freesat/Freeview channel order or any of the other Freesat EPG features.
Occassionally Humax Freesat boxes pop up as refurbished. Unless they're sourced from Humax then the chances are these are returned items that have been given a quick wipe over rather than being properly refurbished.
There's really only two players left since Humax lost the contract. You have Manhatten at the budget end doing a basic Freesat HD receiver (no inbuilt hard drive, and only a single LNB input), and then Arris replacing Humax and taking the tech forward with the Gen 3 platform Freesat boxes. These include streaming, 4K, and wideband LNB compatibility. Manhattan and Arris are both Freesat boxes as opposed to satellite receivers. That means they pay to licence the Freesat programme guide (EPG) rather than just scooping up a bunch of free-to-air satellite channels.
There are satellite receivers that have a certain amount of channel overlap with Freesat. Some even include both terrestrial TV (aerial input) and satellite. But none of these are guaranteed to use the familiar Freesat/Freeview channel order or any of the other Freesat EPG features.
Occassionally Humax Freesat boxes pop up as refurbished. Unless they're sourced from Humax then the chances are these are returned items that have been given a quick wipe over rather than being properly refurbished.
https://www.freesat.co.uk/get-frees...McZrSCpE2-OjqfqQc8IaAvMhEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Argos still do one .
Argos still do one .
That the smallest capacity Arris box. It's marketed as Freesat 4K. You'll find it at Currys, Amazon, Hughes, Euronics dealers and at RicherSounds too. Their price is lower than the rest - £199. Curious that there's no Freesat of any kind at John Lewis though, or at least not according to their web site.
