free TV and cheap internet and where to get a DVR

Tech, TV, Mobile, Internet and Geek Corner
1
We just got the keys to our apartment and were thinking about TV / Internet.

My FIL claims that his TV service is free.... (which I thought almost impossible in CH) as in he does not subscribe to any packages and get the service from the town. I scanned his TV channels yesterday and he gets all the UK ones that Swisscom would sell except Sky and CNN. We are in Spreitenbach.

We don't have a TV yet to plug in and see what comes through so I can't test it, but can it really be true??

THEN we were talking about internet and the local town hall gave my hubby a 'flash cable' price list and we can get fiber 50 (50000 Kbit/s download and 5000 Kbits/s upload) for only 40 CHF per month. This is apparently what my BIL has with his family and he works in IT and said its more than enough to watch TV online..... I can't believe its so cheap.... am I missing something?

If not then I suggest everyone gets in touch with their local Gemeinde to see what they offer.....

SO what I now need to ask is if it is possible to just buy a DVR in the way we used to just buy a video recorder and set it to record the TV ??does anyone do this ?? is it just something I can get at Füst / Migro ??

Also, my husband asked at the Geminde about the TV license and was told it was included in our rent ..... this seems a bit bizarre too but as I don't speak Swiss German and couldn't understand who am I to argue.... maybe it is just our rent as we also get water and electricity included. !!!

I am just a bit suspicious about all of the above as it all seems a bit too good to be true......

2
It probably is too good to be true...I dont know how your FIl is getting free TV. It seems possible that your rent includes the tv license. Most renters leave it out because it makes their rent appear lower

Im not sure what gemeinde is offering internet...but I got my privately. The DVR and Internet I get from Cablecom and if you are looking for both, a really good package is Cablecom's Fun Duo . It gives you 50MB surfing plus a DVR with 115 channels (24 HD). There you will have the UK channels.

The cost is 69.90 CHF

3
There might be charges you may not be aware of:

Fernsehgenossenschaft

Cable Anschluss Fee

Fees for analog signals might have been included into your rent.

Billag compulsory fees

4
As jrspet is saying above (I think), it's likely (in fact, it's usual) that you have cable TV, supplied by your Gemeinde, included in your rent. If you don't want it, you have to have the outlet sealed (physically) by someone from the Gemeinde, and you will then get a reduction in your rent. However, you're usually charged a fee (of course) to seal the cable TV outlet ....

It's very unlikely that your TV licence fee ("Billag") is included in your rent. You need to pay this directly to Billag.

I can't help on the question about internet connection -- but that figure of CHF 40 sounds about right.

Enjoy your new apartment!