Got a 40" TV for £250 just before Christmas

4 brake light bulbs on the car, got an intermittent failure light (so going to change both and clean out the housing), other 2 are good for spares

That is the bluetooth bit and a cabled headset that plugs into the bluetooth box. That clips onto the collar / lapel and the phone stays out of sight.

In my case, I can leave the phone zipped away in a pocket and not have to worry about trailing cables getting tangled in stuff. The supplied headphones have about 15cm on one side and 25cm on the other side, much more manageable and they don't get tangled.

The other thing I bought was a Netgear Powerline AV+ 200. That works like a dream, I've had problems with WLAN in the cellar for ages and this has solved all the problems.I'm very happy with it.

Ignore that stupid bit at the bottom (it certainly isn't on my copy), it's about the MRF (Military Reaction Force, an SAS team, essentially) in Belfast. If it's true, and the guy has a book coming out that covers the rest of his career, it'll be quoted in court cases and other books for years to come...

Humax Foxsat HD Freesat Receiver


It took a smidge over 6 minutes to set up and it's chuffing brilliant! Superb picture, great sound, and (unlike Sky) the menus are a pleasure to use.

Oh and it can access iPlayer - which I didn't realise when we bought it. Bonus!

A spare car seat from asda online for 25 quid!

Does that box work with an existing Sky dish, Jim?

I installed a Sky/Freesat dish for my parents knowing that it would work with both types of service. I tuned in the dish with an old Sky digital box to the sky signal, but after discussing what would be best for my parent's, bought them a SD freesat box. It was up and running on freesat as soon as it was plugged in.

tl;dr

YES.

I've got a freesat receiver (not that one though) hooked up to a dish that was initially installed by/for Sky and it works fine. Apart from not being able to get Channel 4 HD for some reason, but I think that's specific to the box. The signal coming into the box doesn't know whether it's arriving at a sky box or a freesat box after all. It's just down to what the box itself can decode.

Jon

I'm thinking of ditching Sky and that box would pay for itself in a few months.

There's a recorder version available as well - but it is twice the price

I really want a Humax PVR but I barely watch TV as it is.

If you can justify the outlay, it really is worth it - even if only to have iPlayer running through the TV.

That and sticking up two fingers to the Murdochs

I've got the Humax Freesat box and its bloody brilliant. Wish I'd bought the PVR though. I still might and put the standard one in the bedroom.

Tis Brilliant

Yes there is a certain amount of satisfaction.

I'm firmly convinced adverts are improved no end by watching them at x16, x32 or even x64 speed.