new to this

[ste11]

hi everyone,just cancelled my sky and am looking to get a new system,can anyone help with the stuff i need(i am a complete novice and have no idea what i need) i have seen a reciever on ebay with 5 cams for £125 but not sure what else i need(i want to watch premier league games and films)any help is really appreciated
thanks ste11

 

[PaulR]

If you're looking to use the receiver to watch $ly channels then it can't be done as their encryption is unbroken and secure. You will have to use it to watch foreign channels and TBH you can't guarantee full time reception of those by nefarious means.

 

[pgh13]

As PaulR said; also, you need to be aware that some vendors of receivers and cams may paint a glowing picture of their capabilities but this is a game of cat and mouse with the broadcasters making their systems more secure to safeguard their income and the hobbyists trying to crack the encryption. There will always be a 'must have' cam, but most of us who've been here a while have several of those in the drawer that have been superseded so that after a while you view these claims with a pinch of salt. Having said all that, there is some entertaining stuff around - check out the forum - questions are regularly asked as to what you can see. Also check Lyngsat to see what is on the various sats, but like PaulR said; if you need guaranteed viewing then you need to subscribe.

 

[rilo]

Hi,
As an also new from Africa, here are a couple of suggestions which I guess can apply to your situation:
Assuming you use a Desktop running preferably Vista, a PCI card such as VisionPlus 1020a seems adequate. Beware that these are sold both including and excluding remote - Bid on E-bay for around US$ 25 including remote - mine came from Toronto AirMail (extra US$25)
I am also expecting another much cheaper card with remote from another on-line (non E-bay) source for US$ 27.17 including AirMail, but can't comment on its compatibility & performance yet.
For a laptop, a USB box such as the "clone" Newmi DM22s (complete with remote) goes for around 15 UK pounds + 13.5 for Airmail out of HongKong, also on E-bay. (ebay.com seems to have greater choice than .co.uk - same log-in name & password)
A word of warning, the USB interface doesn't seem to like USB2.0 on older machines, even when they are so equipped. Just couldn't get mine working satisfactorily on any of 3 different P4 2G4 512Mb RAM & XP pro (fresh - clean hard-drive setups with latest SP3 & drivers).
Watch programs on PC screen, or feed from analog video output of graphic card & PC audio to regular tv AVI connector. Same applies if using a video projector, a plain UHF modulator or a "short range" video-sender (don't know if legit in UK).
Software options seems to confuse newbies like me. Busy concentrating on ProgDVB + Vplug until I throw my toys out of the cot.
I am contemplating a new PC assembly into a 1996 vintage IBM Aptiva "horizontal" box I have gutted out and "replated". M/B will be the Intel Mini-ITX (170x170mm) with on-board 1G6 ATOM dual-core cpu. Purpose: keep the missus happy by locating the PC in place of the now very vintage VHS recorder in existing custom furniture.
Hope the above is of some help.