Sagemcom BT/EE TV Box Pro

[woodbar]

They cannot stop me adding a Manhattan Aero or a Pleo next to my Aura and I doubt they could if Humax had just a Freely box either.

Yes, I am afraid it is closed ranks with all the providers - you will watch adverts unless you pay each of us a subscription! Exactly why they want Freely and no recording capabilities.

I had a BT/EE TV subscription which ended in November I did not renew and tried a Manhattan T4-R which seemed OK although only twin recording available but I just could not get a decent PQ from it so it was returned. I resurrected my HDR Fox T2 and updated it with custom firmware as well as my firing up my original Aura. All went well for a few weeks but the the HDR T2 started playing up closely followed by the Aura up to its usual tricks - Unable to play due to HDCP bla bla and locking up etc.!

Solution, I bought a BT TV Box Pro, capable of up to 4 simultaneous recordings, Netflix, Prime, YouTube plus all the usual suspects, all working and with the same innards as the EE TV Box Pro I had on contract for the previous 2 years but the BT version looks nicer I think. Brand new from a private seller, updated itself twice when connected, £85 so hopefully my needs are fulfilled for a while!

When terrestrial is eventually shut down I think there might be a developing market for HDMI recording capabilities linked with a couple of Aero's for example. Might be a problem scheduling the recordings but I am sure that could be overcome! Of course, it might be illegal as well

 

[Black Hole]

Of course, it might be illegal as well

Not as illegal as you might think, probably more like breech of contract.

 

[trog]

Solution, I bought a BT TV Box Pro, capable of up to 4 simultaneous recordings,

I was just reading the Cordbusters review of the Manhattan Aero and saw this in the replies, can you confirm if what is said about the EE Box Pro being able to record streamed channels is correct or not please..............................................

"Having chosen to join the EE eco system, I know its not in the spirit of things on this website, but I like things simple, phone broadband and tv all in one place, and should there be a problem it’s not my worry. Having said all that, freely is being developed by the same people who brought us the youview platform and who’s EE box pro and mini I rent, what I find interesting is, although not strictly freely, it is never the less very simular, what’s more both sky and tnt sports channels appear in the epg and the box pro allows me to record up to 4 channels both streamed or via the aerial, my point being, yes the technology exist even now to allow people to stream and record streamed channels and have, Now, TNT discovery plus Netflix Amazon prime etc etc in one place and the people giving me this are the same people bringing us freely, ie youview, so my question is why cant the people have what they want and have it now ? Men in suits I suspect. As always, brilliant review hats off to OrGoren."

 

[EEPhil]

They cannot stop me adding a Manhattan Aero or a Pleo next to my Aura and I doubt they could if Humax had just a Freely box either.

Probably. I read "bundled" and thought Everyone TV might be, shall we say, displeased. If they are separate items with no bundled offer - no problem.
Alternatively we can all stick our heads in the sand and avoid Freely for as long as possible

 

[dougal1]

Probably. I read "bundled" and thought Everyone TV might be, shall we say, displeased. If they are separate items with no bundled offer - no problem.
Alternatively we can all stick our heads in the sand and avoid Freely for as long as possible

Avoiding Freely for as long as possible isn't sticking our heads in the sand at all...nobody, except perhaps those unable to receive a signal via an aerial and for whom Freely is one answer, needs Freely at this time.

Not diving into Freely until it's actually needed simply allows people to, firstly allow both Freely and enabled devices to be further developed and fine tuned, and secondly to carry on recording terrestrial TV so that adverts can be avoided and stored content accessed far more easily than via searching apps.

Not all tech advances are good ones, look at the performance issues that dogged the Aura from launch, Freely enabled television sets from launch, and so on.

 

[EEPhil]

nobody, ... needs Freely at this time.

I certainly don't - I don't have a fast enough broadband, I like to save some programmes for repeat watching, I do skip adverts but that isn't a game changer for me.

 

[Owen Smith]

I certainly don't - I don't have a fast enough broadband, I like to save some programmes for repeat watching, I do skip adverts but that isn't a game changer for me.

Skipping adverts once you start doing streaming is a game changer. The adverts on streaming are crap compared to broadcast TV and there are about three times as many of them. That's what happens when there are no regulations.

 

[EEPhil]

The adverts on streaming are crap compared to broadcast TV

I've only tried to watch BBC or Channel 4 streaming. Couldn't see any difference between the broadcast and online adverts on 4. ITV programmes downloaded (stream effectively recorded) from the STV player using yt-dlp removes the ads.

 

[Owen Smith]

I've only tried to watch BBC or Channel 4 streaming. Couldn't see any difference between the broadcast and online adverts on 4. ITV programmes downloaded (stream effectively recorded) from the STV player using yt-dlp removes the ads.

Try watching More 4 or U&Dave on streaming, the adverts are torture. I think I once got 12 of them in a single ad break.

 

[EEPhil]

Try watching More 4 or U&Dave on streaming, the adverts are torture. I think I once got 12 of them in a single ad break.

Tried watching Walter Presents, which is mainly More 4 or streaming only and didn't notice that many ads. The junction in and out of the breaks was a bit messy. The thing I really hated was the loss of the end credits after about ten seconds and the jump to the next episode. I'll watch the next episode when I want thank you very much!

 

[woodbar]

Not as illegal as you might think, probably more like breech of contract.

I like to think I don't really have a contract now, other than possibly Netflix and Prime of course but I don't need to record from them.

 

[woodbar]

I was just reading the Cordbusters review of the Manhattan Aero and saw this in the replies, can you confirm if what is said about the EE Box Pro being able to record streamed channels is correct or not please..............................................

"Having chosen to join the EE eco system, I know its not in the spirit of things on this website, but I like things simple, phone broadband and tv all in one place, and should there be a problem it’s not my worry. Having said all that, freely is being developed by the same people who brought us the youview platform and who’s EE box pro and mini I rent, what I find interesting is, although not strictly freely, it is never the less very simular, what’s more both sky and tnt sports channels appear in the epg and the box pro allows me to record up to 4 channels both streamed or via the aerial, my point being, yes the technology exist even now to allow people to stream and record streamed channels and have, Now, TNT discovery plus Netflix Amazon prime etc etc in one place and the people giving me this are the same people bringing us freely, ie youview, so my question is why cant the people have what they want and have it now ? Men in suits I suspect. As always, brilliant review hats off to OrGoren."

From memory, and with presumably your NOW Entertainment package, I think you are able to record most things from the program guide that you would be able to view BUT not any "catch-up" streams if that makes sense?

What I really like about the TV Box Pro is that the back button on the remote is generally a proper back button for example you can be watching something on iPlayer when SWMBO says "Oh, there's a new XXXX on Ch5 tonight at 9, can you record it - pressing "Guide" will bring up the necessary where you can select the program for recording and then a quick jab on the Back button will resume to exactly where you left off in iPlayer, excellent.

However, I feel BT shafted me with the new contract as they insisted we would be changed over to their digital voice landline for the phone so it was easier for our layout to purchase a few of their HD Voice premium phones which I negotiated a hell of a discount on. BUT, what they did not tell you is that because they are Alexa enabled etc (disabled on mine) with loads of other frills, including oftenwhich mostly turned out not to work, they eat the batteries at an alarming rate. In fact the other night we had a medical emergency, which involved a few lengthy calls, and two of their wonderful phones just cut off and dropped the call with a low battery beep - both were lifted off the chargers where they had been for at least 24hrs and full! Absolute rubbish and you can't use any other VOIP handset with the BT/EE router - it is a tied system, only BT products.

They did send me a complete set of new phones when I complained but even with higher capacity batteries inserted there is not much difference.

Sorry, a little off topic.

 

[woodbar]

Skipping adverts once you start doing streaming is a game changer. The adverts on streaming are crap compared to broadcast TV and there are about three times as many of them. That's what happens when there are no regulations.

And it will get far worse when they have a captive audience - Oh, hello Freely with no recording, but you can pay to go advert free - to multiple providers - mmn, think of all that revenue!

 

[Black Hole]

"record up to 4 channels both streamed or via the aerial"... I don't think so, somehow.

 

[ferretusmaximus]

Does anyone happen to know how BT/EE boxes do their trick of allowing you to record streaming channels (specifically TNT Sports)? It appears to be a seamless integration so it is possible to record streaming channels if you put your mind to it.

 

[Rick88]

From memory, and with presumably your NOW Entertainment package, I think you are able to record most things from the program guide that you would be able to view BUT not any "catch-up" streams if that makes sense?

What I really like about the TV Box Pro is that the back button on the remote is generally a proper back button for example you can be watching something on iPlayer when SWMBO says "Oh, there's a new XXXX on Ch5 tonight at 9, can you record it - pressing "Guide" will bring up the necessary where you can select the program for recording and then a quick jab on the Back button will resume to exactly where you left off in iPlayer, excellent.

However, I feel BT shafted me with the new contract as they insisted we would be changed over to their digital voice landline for the phone so it was easier for our layout to purchase a few of their HD Voice premium phones which I negotiated a hell of a discount on. BUT, what they did not tell you is that because they are Alexa enabled etc (disabled on mine) with loads of other frills, including oftenwhich mostly turned out not to work, they eat the batteries at an alarming rate. In fact the other night we had a medical emergency, which involved a few lengthy calls, and two of their wonderful phones just cut off and dropped the call with a low battery beep - both were lifted off the chargers where they had been for at least 24hrs and full! Absolute rubbish and you can't use any other VOIP handset with the BT/EE router - it is a tied system, only BT products.

They did send me a complete set of new phones when I complained but even with higher capacity batteries inserted there is not much difference.

Sorry, a little off topic.

I was switched from Plusnet to ee because I wanted to keep my landline. We don’t make calls on the landline but need it for elderly people who do phone us. ee provided a new router (Smart Hub 6 Plus) with voip. I plugged my old Panasonic base station cordless into the router and the cordless phones work perfectly.

 

[woodbar]

"record up to 4 channels both streamed or via the aerial"... I don't think so, somehow.

It will I think, have often tried 3 channels which works - not often I need 4!

To clarify, you have to have aerial + internet mode enabled and it is supposed to be able to record 2 from each simultaneously. If you don't have the aerial enabled then only 2 recordings possible. It obviously depends on what is available on t'internet feeds? It records streamed channels from the guide but NOT catch-up streamed it seems, although you have no way of discerning what the source actually is.

 

[trog]

From memory, and with presumably your NOW Entertainment package, I think you are able to record most things from the program guide that you would be able to view BUT not any "catch-up" streams if that makes sense?

What I really like about the TV Box Pro is that the back button on the remote is generally a proper back button for example you can be watching something on iPlayer when SWMBO says "Oh, there's a new XXXX on Ch5 tonight at 9, can you record it - pressing "Guide" will bring up the necessary where you can select the program for recording and then a quick jab on the Back button will resume to exactly where you left off in iPlayer, excellent.

However, I feel BT shafted me with the new contract as they insisted we would be changed over to their digital voice landline for the phone so it was easier for our layout to purchase a few of their HD Voice premium phones which I negotiated a hell of a discount on. BUT, what they did not tell you is that because they are Alexa enabled etc (disabled on mine) with loads of other frills, including oftenwhich mostly turned out not to work, they eat the batteries at an alarming rate. In fact the other night we had a medical emergency, which involved a few lengthy calls, and two of their wonderful phones just cut off and dropped the call with a low battery beep - both were lifted off the chargers where they had been for at least 24hrs and full! Absolute rubbish and you can't use any other VOIP handset with the BT/EE router - it is a tied system, only BT products.

They did send me a complete set of new phones when I complained but even with higher capacity batteries inserted there is not much difference.

Sorry, a little off topic.

Thanks though I am not really sure if that was a yes or no to my question . How about if I ask whether the EE TV Box Pro you had was capable of recording any channels that both could receive but your Aura could not record ?. I am tending to be with BH on this and think it is highly unlikely but it is good to know for sure.

 

[trog]

It will I think, have often tried 3 channels which works - not often I need 4!

To clarify, you have to have aerial + internet mode enabled and it is supposed to be able to record 2 from each simultaneously. If you don't have the aerial enabled then only 2 recordings possible. It obviously depends on what is available on t'internet feeds? It records streamed channels from the guide but NOT catch-up streamed it seems, although you have no way of discerning what the source actually is.

Hmmmm is it actually recording streamed channels from the guide or is it actually recording their OTA versions ?

 

[Steppy]

I was switched from Plusnet to ee because I wanted to keep my landline. We don’t make calls on the landline but need it for elderly people who do phone us. ee provided a new router (Smart Hub 6 Plus) with voip. I plugged my old Panasonic base station cordless into the router and the cordless phones work perfectly.

I was just going to post the same.

We have FTTP and have a BT fibre box in the understairs cupboard. It was a simple case of unplugging the output plug from the socket that’s feeds all the sockets in the house into the digital voice socket in the EE router and our trusty old Panasonic cordless phones worked just as before.

We have since got rid of the landline everyone calls us on our mobiles.