Freesat Anmeldelser 764

Like many others, I have been bitterly disappointed by the fact that the remote recording function has been summarily removed - their obfuscatory explanation - “Due to a change in our internal systems, we will be removing Freesat ID accounts from our platform from mid-June 2024”. I can just imagine the Monday cost-saving meeting - how can we explain our latest feature removal? Just make a bland statement, and then keep repeating it on Twitter / X until the complaints go away. I bought this expensive recorder particularly for this feature, and feel duped. One year of use, then software support removed. NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

Update, Sept 2024: I was so disappointed with the loss of the remote recording facility that I’ve sold my recorder, and bought a Humax Aura - Freeview, but with this facility. I suppose that I’m pleased to have got back half the money I spent originally. What a company! What a let-down! They won’t survive long with this performance. 😡

I have had freesat for years after dumping Sky. The Humax 1100S box was the bees knees. But had just decided to play up, so had to replace it. Bought the best one from the new manufacturer freesat have decided to use, and it is the worst body ever. The Humax controls were far superior, as were the on screen menus, and this box decides to do what it wants jumping around recordings. That’s the tip of the faults with it, except they are not faults, it is how they are designed and built. Absolutely useless. I am now looking at my options to dump freesat. They treat their customers like mugs, I don’t want to put money in their pockets. Steer clear of freesat, they have gone down the pan.

Why have you removed the ability to remotely record via the app, indeed, without this what is the use of the app. I've used Freesat for years and been very happy removing the remote record facility is a big nail in your coffin

I have happily used Freesat boxes (Humax, Arris) for years and been happy with them. In june 2023 for some strange reason, and without any notice to their customers, they removed the ability to remotely manage and control the boxes via their App.

I agree - removing the ability to remote record is absolutely ridiculous and a massive nail in their coffin. The app is much easy and quicker to navigate for the guide and to then set the recordings straight away was ideal. their app still continue to have updates though so what actually is the point of it when you cant record the suggestions? My harddrive was on it's way out and I was about to get it fixed.. going to move to something entirely different now.

I have to add my disgust at Freesat removing the ability to record from the app. Sometimes when I'm stuck in a hospital bed and can't watch TV I would use this facility. It was also useful if I wanted to record a programme or series without turning the TV on.

The reason for this? My Humax box takes around 2 minutes to get through the opening process and I can successfully access the programme guide.

Shame on you Freesat for not even consulting the users.

Freesat have removed the remote recording function that I used all the time. It's now useless. Very disappointed.

Getting less channels repeating programs is constant, for the price of the box without the dish is a joke for the rubbish! that's in it ,there's more selling channels than programs, the film channels are crap now as well if I could afford to get rid I would.

awful company to deal with, terrible customer experience, ordered a refurbished free box from these, started off okay, then their delivery company lost my box, and it could not be found in the warehouse or anywhere contacted Freesat regarding this found they did not want to take ownership of the problem at first, Had to phone them numerous times to get a refund in the end, spoke to one of their staff Who informed me that they could not issue a refund until they receive the box back, when I’ve been previously told by them and the delivery company that the box has been lost,?!, Also found certain members of their staff very flippant about my concerns, Had to then send them an email with my concerns as a complaint with a reference to contacting the financial ombudsman If I did not receive a refund shortly, this then seem to achieve the desire result as I got a refund a couple of days after, this is a ridiculous situation just to get a refund, and I will not purchase Their products again due to this, I would also give a 0 Star if I could as I feel my concern should’ve been dealt with straightaway and I should not have had to chase this, They also need to sort out their app, as this still does not record on my Current Freeview box, what I have at present,,

I bought a Freesat 4k recordable box in December. Since then I have had nothing but problems. After a couple of months, it wouldn't turn on and I had to disconnect all the cables and leave it for 10 minutes before I could reattach the cables and it would then turn on but I had to do this frequently. Then the Recording menu item kept disappearing. Again I had to detach the cables, wait 10 minutes, then power it back up. The next problem was that the Recording menu item vanished so although it was recording, I couldn't watch any of my recordings. Contacted Freesat who said to do a full initialisation of the box. Did that and the Recording menu item reappeared however, when I selected a program there was no method of recording it. I could set a reminder but that was all. Freesat said that the box was faulty and they would replace it. However, since I had taken the box to use on my holiday in France they said it invalidated the guarantee and they would do nothing.
I had a Humax box before which never had a problem. Unfortunately they don't make them anymore. I would never ever recommend a Freesat box to anyone. The build quality seems ok but the software is appalling.

I switched to Freesat in August 2023 as I have no aerial and my free to view Sky box and remote were faulty. I just bought a basic Manhattan SX box and remote control which was easy to set up.
I registered it on 31/8/2023 so it still has 14 months left on the warranty. I am fed up though with the low quality box and remote control and the repeated glitches, channels disappearing, and repeated ' no signal' message on loads of previously watched channels. Also having seen the awful customer service reviews I plan to simply 'bin the box' and invest in a reconditioned sky box and remote control.
If you are thinking about Freesat maybe just think again.

My Arris Freesat PVR started playing up a few months ago after about 4 years. The drive finally failed to respond to the reboots and left me with solution options which all failed. I rang Freesat and spoke to a helpful guy who suggested I buy a replacement drive through “Freesat Spares”. It took time for them to come back to me, so I range Freesat’s helpline again to check I had the right details. The 2nd Freesat rep I spoke to was clearly furious I had heard about “Freesat Spares” from his colleague, and started asking for my details: But why should I spend £239 for a new box after only 4 years when a new drive would cost me only £43? So, I hung up on him. Clearly, Freesat don’t want you to know their rubbish Toshiba disk drives will fail after 4 years – and they want you to replace you Arris box, because that makes them money. “Freesat Spares” solved the whole problem and I changed the drive easily to a better quality Seagate drive with the tool kit they included in the £43 price!

If I could rate it a 0 I would. Terrible company with horrendous customer service. Hard drive broke in box in less than 2.5 years. Absolutely no help at all just started sending me links to their supposedly great reviews not realising there were 20 pages of 1 stars. Incredibly rude and patronising didn’t respond to any emails except when chased. Stated it was really odd for boxes to break so soon but refused to do anything to help me. No way am I spending another £200 on one of their products for it to inevitably break again. Avoid at all costs.

This could be an excellent Freesat receiver but only if you set it to Stereo Sound rather than 5:1 Surround. As far as I can tell, this has been a long-term problem and has yet to be fixed.

Ringing Customer Services doesn't inspire any confidence of an early fix and the advice is to set it to Stereo rather than Surround.

The software is comprehensive but not very ergonomic, particularly in navigating recorded programmes.

I have in the past bought 2 other boxes for the family but this is the first required to be set to Surround sound. I shall keep the box but don't hold out much hope for an early fix, hence only 2 stars.

Update - 17th May 2024 - For anyone with an Optical Input for their Surround Sound amplifier, I tried this as opposed to using the HDMI sound option. Amazingly, this worked flawlessly without any dropouts so far. It still doesn't excuse the long-term HDMI sound problem but at least, it is a usable solution for some. What a pity Customer Services didn't suggest this but one star added to my review making 3 stars.

4K 1tb box was terrible. The slowest thing iv'e ever used. Just constantly hot and freezing between each operstion i wanted. Slow epg and kept returning to normal tv whilst watching a recording. I could keep going but can't be bothered. Absolutly awful box. Avoid at all cost!!!!

I bought the Aris box in September 22, it failed in July 23. They replaced it under warrantee (which took too long and I wasn't back up and running until end of August 23). The replacement failed today so it lasted 7 months.

They wont replace it as the warrantee is only on the first box so their replacement only needed to last 7 days and it was out of warrantee.

I asked about approved repairers or YouTube fix video links and apparently it's against their company policy as it would break the seals... so the answer is to bin it and buy another one... how green!

I'll have to find another option as £250 for 12 months is like paying for Sky with none of the benefits.

Ho ritenuto che ci fosse una valida alternativa a HUMAX invece: sui canali abituali mi compare "segnale criptato" tranne che RAI 1, non riesco ad avere i canali nell'ordine che preferisco. Già questo mi dice che ho acquistato un aggeggio inutile e che ho buttato i soldi.

-EDIT- The app has now been removed and remote recording setup is no longer available.
The app is awful. It doesn't scan for my box and it overheats my iPhone 15 and drains the battery.
-EDIT- Since the October '24 software update the box is now even worse. The EPG is hopeless, more often than not showing 'no data'. It doesn't move around properly and I often now have to type in a channel number to get it to move to the previous/next screen of channels.
Time-shifting hangs when it gets close to 'live' TV.
Two recording that start at the same time now fail.

The 4K 1TB box is also very poor. The surround sound output does not work on HDMI or optical. It cuts out intermittently and this has been an ongoing issue for several years with no sign of a fix. You have to leave it set to 'Stereo'

I bought a 4k hdr box from freesat directly on 21st Feb 24, plugged it in turned it on, picture was fuzzy and yellow, then went into boot loop... they collected it the following saturday.. had to keep chasing to find out if a replacement was going to be sent.. I was told that it would take 14 working days for someone to check the returned faulty
box (even though we had established it was faulty). They said it needs to be checked just incase I have damaged the box with a hammer prior to sending it back. I requested a refund in full then was told that it would take 14 working days for a refund. I politely pointed out that UK law states all refunds are to be made with in 14days of returned items being received. They received it on 28th Feb 24 therefore being a leap year I should have the refund latest 13th March 24... STILL NO REFUND! So they're breaking the law and distance selling regulations. Now my emails are being
ignored. SHOCKING CUSTOMER SERVICE, COMPANY POLICIES ARE OUT OF DATE. SHAME ON YOU JOHNATHAN THOMPSON *****AVOID FREESAT, EVERYONE TV****

After 5weeks of intermittent tv,overcoming several policy hurdles finally agreed there was a fault with the box. Alas more delay when you actually atempt to return faulty box and you have to go with out any television at all! Even some television is better than no television at all!
Eventually told them to keep the replacement I shall purchase a replacement from a more reputable, reliable company. Please note no after hours support strictly 9to5 and no weekends. AVOID At all costs, no thought for consumer, even when their equipment is at fault.