Sagemcom BT/EE TV Box Pro

[Steppy]

Neither of those features are available, it’s just a straightforward no nonsense box that works with zero issues for me since I set it up.

You can filter the guide by HD channels etc, but it doesn’t stick from what I remember when I set it up.

From what I gather YouView devices are pretty locked down with minimal customisation options.

It’s refreshingly simple.

 

[Luke]

I scrolled/paged through this thread but may have overlooked any comment on these features:

• sorting and deleting/hiding channels in a way that also affects the EPG (essential IMO)
• access to recorded content from other devices.

How does the EE TV Box Pro rate on these?

There is an option to hide individual channelss so that they do not appear in the programme guide. This only suppresses the hidden channels from the guide. It is still possible to key in the LCN directly to watch, locate programmes via search, and to use the programme up and down buttons of you are currently watching a channel that is adjacent to one that would not appear in the epg.

LCN 100 and 555 are already suppressed when the box is first tuned using aerial mode.
There are some pre-2017 posts that state that hidden delete/channels are not available at all. These pre-2017 posts on the subject should be ignored as that fuller functionality was removed in late 2016 / early 2017.

The box itself updates the channels without any user intervention. Years ago, occasionally the user had to kick off a full retune, but I haven't experienced that so far and I've had the box at least since August 2022.
If a channel moves its location in the guide then, it used to be that the channel would become unhidden, and the channel which moved into the old LCN would then not appear in the guide. I haven't noticed whether of not it still does do that. I don't use it as my prime aerial box.

 

[Steppy]

That’s very interesting, when I tried when I first set up the box I found that after I had changed the guide to remove some channels they didn’t stay hidden when I went into the guide again, so I must have missed a step.

It’s a secondary box for me too, so I will have another go for interest, but I am happy using it ‘out of the box’, it’s a great PVR which is all I need

 

[Steppy]

I’ve just had a fiddle with the box and this time the channels did stay hidden just as Luke said, so not sure what I did or didn’t do the first time

It may have been me getting confused with selecting different categories in the guide as they do not stick, as soon as you leave the guide it defaults back to ‘All’ channels.

 

[Luke]

I’ve just had a fiddle with the box and this time the channels did stay hidden just as Luke said, so not sure what I did or didn’t do the first time

In an earlier post you stated:

Just done it now and although all the available channels are listed in the guide, when you select them it states it is not part of your TV package, press OK for more information.

Have you applied the yellow button to all those now? !

 

[Steppy]

No, after tinkering I decided not to hide any of the channels. 99% of the time I only record from the main five channels and they are visible when I go into the guide to set any programmes.

 

[Luke]

Yes you can, I happen to have EE broadband, but without the TV subscription.

Just make sure you connect the aerial lead, before you power on the box for the first time, otherwise it will only tune into the internet channels (without subscription) and that restricts its recording ability. The only way to then get TV via the aerial is to reset the box. This was clearly explained in a great crib sheet from the supplier of the box.

What did you mean by "it will only tune into the internet channels (without subscription)"?

When I last reset I did try setting it to internet mode, which id did successfully. I.e. looked for any channels that I subscribe to, correctly found none, and gave me an empty channel list to watch. (And yes I agree that would servery restrict its recoding ability, i.e. a maximum of zero channels would be recordable at the same time.)

Are you saying that it does something different for you?

EE/BT does allow non-customers to use their remote app for free, and the box also attempts to restore the schedule if the user of the box for some reason does a full retune regardless of who is using the box, but EE/BT never used to provide free transport for channels that would be free via the aerial. That would always require a subscription.

 

[Steppy]

What did you mean by "it will only tune into the internet channels (without subscription)"?

This was taken from a setup sheet from the supplier who sold the machine. I didn’t want any hassle so I followed the instructions he provided and everything setup as I hoped.

EE/BT does allow non-customers to use their remote app for free

I do not have any paid subscriptions, but I use the app without issue to set up recordings. Maybe as I am an EE broadband customer that is why?

 

[Luke]

EE/BT does allow non-customers to use their remote app for free

I do not have any paid subscriptions, but I use the app without issue to set up recordings. Maybe as I am an EE broadband customer that is why?

Sorry, there's no 'not' in that last statement of mine. What I was attempting to give an example of is where EE/BT Do allow use of their infrastructure for free. Their remote app is one of them.

They started to do this after the youview company removed the free one. I suspect BT did that as a bit of good publicity.

 

[Steppy]

Sorry, there's no 'not' in that last statement of mine.

So sorry, think I’m losing it

 

[Luke]

With settings, the component software for the box that I am using states 4.3.166.
It has been like that for at least a few months.

Online there is post from April 2026 where their box had just been updated to 4.3.46.

Is my box special or are any of you with pro box also on 4.3.166?

The same settings page now also states a feedback group. That could have been there for a while, thus me curiosity about the Component Software version and whether I am getting updates early as a result.