Newbie Here Is this going to do what I want it to do? (basic setup)

[CharlesEssex]

Hi all,

I'm new to the satellite game, I am a geek and a tinkerer no doubt, into my computers and things like that, so I'm not a total technophobe, I just appreciate that I am kinda out of my comfort zone with satellite TV.

So, I have just brought my first house and I fancy having decent (and just different for differents sake) TV, I have kinda got so confused by reading stuff on the net that I just wanted to run buy my plans to you folks as you can quickly stop me from wasting a bunch of time/money if I am way off base.

So my theory is, buy a skybox f5s for like £45 (I just chose them because the price was cheap and they don't look as janky as some of the other boxes I saw, if this is a completely gash box, what would you recommend?) - get a separate dish, I believe 80cm, and two LNB's on there and be able to get Astra2 and Hotbird13 (I really have no idea what I am talking about with those two names, but we are talking 'freesat' channels from the same sat as sky and then other channels from europe on hotbird13 right?).

I am in Essex if that makes any difference (I know smaller dishes are ok in the south of england right?).

So I got quoted £160 for supply and install of a dish and two lnb's, now, I am not averse to boshing some bolts into the side of my house myself, so is this something I could realistically do my self? am I going to save enough on buying the dish and LNB's to make it worth doing it myself?

So thats the 'install' questions.

The next question is, what channels am I likely to actually get from Hotbird? I have looked at the massive list on Lyngsat, but I kind of lose the will to live looking at that site, I am a genuine member of the DNA (thats National Dyslexic Association) and I dunno if its that or what, but I can't get on board with big grids of info like that. Am I likely to actually get enough channels (and I am an HD snob) to make it worth doing?

I saw on some thread on HUKD some dude in the comments said you could get RTL and some other german channel in HD for free so you could watch the MotoGP and F1 in HD for free, but with german audio, is that true? (If thats 'not allowed' then don't answer me, I am not trying to pirate anything) - I am aware that comments on the internet are about as reliable as a young lady when she says she'll be ready in five mins, so I just thought I would ask the guys who know before investing money and time doing this - but the idea of just having channels that the next man doesn't have is kinda appealing to me.

Bit of a long one, but I have been reading so many conflicting and confusing things on the topics and I'm itching to get stuck in, but I just don't have the budget to get it wrong first time if you get me?

Nice one chaps and chapettes.

Chaz

 

[sonnetpete]

Hi Chaz and welcome to the forum. I think doing your own install is more enjoyable but equally for the novice quite frustrating at the beginning. You'll find the Skybox has a lot of supporters on here (though don't be tempted to get one with a 'free gift').

If you'd rather watch HD channels there's hardly any that are FTA on Hotbird. Go for 19.2E where there are considerably more. You can get the F1 including the ones not covered by the BBC from RTL, (with German commentary and occasional adverts) however the HD version of RTL is tied into a subscription card.

A two LNB set up is fairly easy to do and we'll support you and offer advice on here. You'll get the 'bug' no doubt and you'll be fitting a motor to the dish before long!! Any other questions fire away....

 

[CharlesEssex]

Ones with free gifts are like double the price, I dunno what 'free' gift they are giving me, but unless its another box, I think they can keep it!

Is there a better way of doing it other than a big dish and two LNB's on it? I mean, my house already has a sky dish from the last owners, I could connect that up to the little switcher thing (I forget the acronym thing for it) and then get another sky mini dish to do the other satellite? I am just a little worries about how massive this dish might look on the front of my house (my house is only a little terraced one, don't really want to make all the neighbors hate me straight away!).

Chaz

 

[sonnetpete]

The 'free gift' is an illegal way of accessing $ky scrambled services and we don't talk about that on here....just keep well away from it...

If it's a small Zone 1 dish it's impractical to use for a two LNB set up because of the LNB mounting on the dish arm. You can do it on a Zone 2 dish, see here :

http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/adding-a-second-lnb-will-this-bracket-fit.161172/

However a larger non $ky dish will be more flexible for fitting the extra LNB. (You can go mad with extra LNB's, I have 16 on four dishes) You'll need a 2/1 Diseqc switch and set up the second LNB offset from the one at focus. You'd do well to read through the thread I've linked to. If you get stuck or want more advice please just ask...

 

[purplemarina]

i would go for a motor, plenty of help on the forum on how to set it up. it will give you the greatest choice of channels from around the world because once you've got hotbird or astra or whatever it will never be enough, also things change all the time sats come and go. also go for the biggest dish you think you can get a way with! 80 cm being the minimum.

 

[Vipersan]

I too live in a terraced house ...and my backyard is full to burstin' with dishes ..mostly motorised.
Once the bug bites ..it bites good ...
A word of advice ..love your neighbours ...if you choose to motorise..
I may just be lucky in this respect ..but most of 'em will even help me with my dish projects.
Good luck buddy ..and welcome to the forum.
You learn so much more doing it yourself than paying an installer.
rgds
VS

 

[Archived-1]

Hi and welcome to the forum Chaz, my personal choice would be a 1mtr dish motorised, but all good advice above, don't rush have a good look round/read before you make your mind up, I am sure you will have lots of support from here whatever your choice ,