New member saying hi+a few questions

Oily

Hello all!
First thing to do is wish everyone a Merry xmas&a prosperous new year
I'm a complete novice when it comes to satellites etc so please bear with me.
I'm sure these questions have been answered before,i did a quick search but theres so much info+not knowing what to look forThe last time i had sly was in the late 90's but got rid of it due to the rising costs which i don't want to fall into that trap again(hence the questions)I only watch a few channels like discovery,eurosport(which was free when i had i sly!!)

1. I've just been given a Sly digibox(model BSKYB2500)+satellite dish from a friend at work which i was hoping to set up so any info on how to do that would be great,what cable to use etc,i've got a sat finder which i've just bought to aid installation(not sure if they're any good?)
2.I've seen programmers,cams&different cards for sale,is there a guide on here that tells you what to buy,how to use it etc but in laymans terms

Sorry for the long first post,if i've posted this in the wrong section,please feel free to move to the right section.

Cheers
Darren

spiney

Oily, You're in the UK?

1) 2500 is a Pace Sky digibox, oldish but good make!

(user guide on Pace website, product archives).

2) Sky signal come from Astra2, from UK roughly 25 degrees east of south, and 25 degrees up from vertical, check there's no obstructions in the "line of sight", from where you intend to fix the dish.

(43 cm minidish ok for south england, 60 cm for scotland, check for other countries!).

3) You must use satellite grade cable, "normal" tv cable won't work. (use ct100 "type" or better specification, which attenuates 27dB/100m at 1.7 Ghz). Best obtained from specialist shops. "sat cable" from DIY shops is usually RGu6, usable, but not waterproof, not recommended. Maplin sell sat cable, and mail order shops, see our links section.

f plugs just "screw onto" the cable, check there's no "wire whiskers" between the conductors.

Fixing bolts from places like Wickes, etc. The dish fixing bracket is spaced so you can drill into the mortar between bricks, ok for a small light minidish (less damage!).

Ideally, you should seal the lnb connection with special self amalgamate tape, otherwise there's slow corrosion due to volts along the cable.

4) Then it's "find" the sat signal, which means moving the dish around - pointing in approximately the right direction - while checking reception. Can be done on digibox "signal strength" indicator, but much easier if you use a "sat bleeper", which gives audio indication of signal strength, most cheap sat meters can do that!

5) There's 3 "strong signal" satellites in UK (Astra2, Astra1, Hotbird), Astra2 for SKy is the one furthest left! Start from "just to right of" direct south, first find Hotbird, then Astra1 (strongest signal!), and finally Astra2 (weaker). Each will show a signal, on both beeper and box, but the Sky box will only "lock into" Astra2.

Dish must point 25 degrees upwards, but due to beam offset looks as if it's pointing straight forwards (look at dishes on other houses!), that's the rough starting position, then adjust on received signal.

When you've got Astra2, box should say "signal lock". Adjust dish for best signal. Then press "guide", you should get channels list.

6) no card needed for the free channels. Otherwise, it's subscriptions, you'll need a card form Sky (currently, ch4 and ch5 on Sky only via Freesat card, £20 I think).

7) Sky receivers can't use any non-Sky CAMS. You can get some free channels from Astra1 and Hotbird on a SKy box, but that's awkward, most people use a separate non-Sky receiver.

Oily

Last time i looked,Manchester was in the UK!!
Cheers Spiney,thanks for the info.
Is there any info on the cards,cams etc or do i have to do some sort of secret handshake/initiation to be given access to it

Oily

I was given a Pace PRD800 aswell,i've looked on t'internet and it says it's obsolute.Will this be any use?

jimbo

Oily

spiney has pointed out in paras 6 and 7 that you need to order a card of some sort from Sky and this goes into the card slot on your receiver and will be 'married' to your receiver by Sky. There are no cams for sky receivers and you will not be able to pick up any encrypted channels other than those available on the level of subscription you buy.

Jimbo

spiney

yes!

You don't need a card at all for the free channnels.

I think the PRD800 is an older analogue Sky box? Not much use now!

(sorry, I missed Manchester (!), yes the small 43cm dish should be fine).

Oily

OK,thats that plan outa the window,was hoping to view eurosport/discovery channels without the subs
Cheers guys for the info

Analoguesat

Thats an old analogue receiver, so you could get Eurosport in English with it off 19E.

www.analoguesat.co.uk

Oily

So what boxes can you use with these 'cams' so i can get the encrypted channels

Analoguesat

Many receivers have a CI (cam) slot - you slot the cam home, put a card in and away you go.

Some packages are open, but not many.

Theres plenty of info scattered across the forum - have a browse.

Oily

Any particular section/s i should be looking in?

Oily

For the channels i want to watch,its going to cost me £21 per month,half price for the 3 months.Just had a look at sky,for the sky digibox its a free box,free installation etc so its not really worth me putting up the stuff i have if i have to subscribe to them.
Hmmm,this is not going to plan at all,ah well you live and learn

Analoguesat

You can use the old analogue box for Eurosport International - thats still free and carrying english commentary.

gameboy

EuroSport analogue - I bought my first receiver to watch it.

After a while it closed (wasn't part of S*y) I have a video of the last night broadcast - it was then bought over by the French and started again.

In my opinion, it's never been as good - it did have F1 in those days!

Having said that I still think it;s better that the EuroSport UK channel.

Only he who does nothing, does nothing wrong.

Oily

Not sure if its worth the aggro fitting it for just 1 channel but your info is much appreciated.
Cheers guys

gameboy

You may just catch the bug - even in analogue you will get more than one channel and you could connect your digital box and mess about a bit.

Try using an old dish without fixing it to the wall or anything - you have a satellite finder so finding the signals should be no problem.

Only he who does nothing, does nothing wrong.

Oily

Its already catching,i've just had a quick search and found this
Ebay.co.uk/ws/EbayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5844136303&fromMakeTrack=true" target="_blank">_http://cgi.Ebay.co.uk/ws/EbayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5844136303&fromMakeTra ck=true
A Technomate tm-1500,will i need anything else apart from a dish?What does a 'patch' do?

gameboy

No - add a dish and you have a first class set up - you may want to add a motor to the dish to get more satellite - but that can be done after you've mastered the basics.

Patching a receiver uses a PC to send data that allow you to watch encrypted channels you would otherwise need a CAM / Card to watch.

But remember - there's no guarantees with this hobby - what you can watch today may not be available tomorrow - but others may appear!

You will have to put a bit of work in and have some PC knowledge.

All the information is here just spend some time searching. We all started doing that and if you have a question just ask.

Only he who does nothing, does nothing wrong.

Oily

Thanks
Will the standard sky dish not do?What dish would would you recommend?
I'm ok with PC's having built this one i'm using at the moment so i should be alright on that front

Analoguesat

Using a non Sky box and standard Sky dish aligned onto 28E will only give you the fta channels. No matter how you patch the receiver you only get the free stuff.

If you have a sky dish , then by all means use it to begin with, although the zone 1 dishes are really a bit small for anything except the strongest satellites.

Oily

Will this dish do the job?
_http://cgi.Ebay.co.uk/ws/EbayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5843112414&rd=1&sspage name=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Analoguesat

Yes, although setting a motorised dish up can be a little tricky, and is probably not advised for the vary first project for a complete novice.

Having said that - if you want to have a go, there will be plenty of folks to give you help & advice here on the forum!

Oily

So,can anyone recommend a dish which i could add a motor to at later stage?
60cm,80cm,90cm or 100cm?

Analoguesat

Buy that package and put the motor on later!

Oily

Right,let's see what Santa brings