Receiving Cyprus Channels

jammy1 · 05-06-2008

Ok, I'm very new to all this, so please be patient!

I'm trying to get as many free to air Cyprus/Greek channels for my mum.

She has an east facing balcony on the 14th floor of a block of flats. Which satellite should she point to, what equipment is needed (cheap and simple, she's very old) and who can fit it?

She lives in NW3.

Please help! This would make her very happy.

**Analoguesat** · 05-06-2008

If you just want free stuff Hellas Sat 2 39E is probably the best bet - it gives you a decent choice of radio services as well:

http://www.flysat.com/hellassat.php

jammy1 · 05-06-2008

Is that the best for Cyprus? There are a lot of Greece channels, but not all the Cyprus one.

What equipment would I need? Can I get away with a discreet dish?

**satelliteman** · 05-06-2008

Cyprus will be ERT and RIK sat. I have done plenty of them. All you need is a 60cm facing Hellasat @ 39e, a FTA receiver and your away. Trnasponder 12606H, 30000, 5/6

**Robbo** · 05-06-2008

Yes, the 12606H transponder looks like it has a few Greek FTA channels on it.

Judging by the footprint _http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/hellas2_f1.html it should be possible with a Sky minidish. I will check later with mine.

Receiver wise you just need a FTA satellite receiver, there's no point in spending too much on it. I think one of the site sponsors was selling a Golden Interstar for about £35, don't know what it's like though.

Robbo

**Analoguesat** · 05-06-2008

There arent many Cypriot channels carried on satellite. Basically its RIK Sat or nothing.

There are a handful of channels with Cyprus as their base but broadcasting in Arabic though!

http://en.kingofsat.net/find2.php?po...rd=&ordre=freq

**Analoguesat** · 05-06-2008

Originally Posted by Robbo71

Yes, the 12606H transponder looks like it has a few Greek FTA channels on it.

Judging by the footprint _http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/hellas2_f1.html it should be possible with a Sky minidish. I will check later with mine.

Receiver wise you just need a FTA satellite receiver, there's no point in spending too much on it. I think one of the site sponsors was selling a Golden Interstar for about £35, don't know what it's like though.

Robbo

HellSat is an easy catch on even a 43cm zone 1 dish on a good day, although Id want a 60cm zone 2 dish for rain fade.

**satelliteman** · 05-06-2008

I have tried a Zone 1 on 39e Robbo and it's receivable but signal quality was marginal. A Zone 2 will cope with no problems

**Robbo** · 05-06-2008

Originally Posted by jammy1

What equipment would I need? Can I get away with a discreet dish?

If a zone 1 minidish were sufficient, you may be able to get away with it mounted below the level of the handrail, since you are going to be pointing roughly at 51 degree angle from the wall.

EDIT:
AS and satman, you posted while I was still thinking/typing

I think I'll try it anyway as the OP is closer to me than you Midlanders.

jammy1 · 05-06-2008

What's a zone 1 / 2 dish?

The walls at the side of the east facing inset balcony face north and south, so the dish will be attached there.

Is there someone who could fit it for me?

**Robbo** · 05-06-2008

They both look a bit like this:- (see below)

The zone 1 are about 50 odd cm wide, the zone 2 are about 70cm.

They are what Sky use, the larger ones are for the weaker signal areas up t'north.

Originally Posted by jammy1

What's a zone 1 / 2 dish?

The walls at the side of the east facing inset balcony face north and south, so the dish will be attached there.

Is there someone who could fit it for me?

Ahh, then, you should be OK, on the south facing one.

There is an installer list on the front page I believe. Shouldn't be too much of a problem to fit at all, you don't fancy a bit of DIY then?

http://www.satellites.co.uk/installers/

jammy1 · 05-06-2008

you don't fancy a bit of DIY then?

Well, I could give it a go, but how do I get the directions and elevation right?

**Robbo** · 05-06-2008

Originally Posted by jammy1

Well, I could give it a go, but how do I get the directions and elevation right?

I always use _www.dishpointer.com

Just enter you postcode, and the sat you want, and it will tell you the required azimuth and elevation.

And if you zoom into the Map, to your building, you can see where the yellow line points to, and point the dish that way.

Of course adjustments will be needed to actually pick anything up, but you can use the signal quality meter on the receiver, to wiggle the dish around for maximum signal quality.

jammy1 · 05-06-2008

Ok let's say I've grown some balls, I'd still need a list of all the equipment I need, including cabling, and somewhere to buy it all from.

Any suggestions?

jammy1 · 05-06-2008

What's this kind of stuff like?

Ebay

140237225316

**Robbo** · 05-06-2008

I'm not familar with that make or receiver, one of the others may be.

Technically it will do the job though, it is a Digital FTA satellite receiver, just what you want. And at that price who's complaining.

Incidentally, I decided to try my zone1 minidish on 39E, looked at the transponder 12606H and getting a good signal at the moment, 71% in fair whether, which is only 1% lower that one of the main channels I get from Eurobird1 (Tiny Pop). So if discreetness was the utmost priority I think you would get away with it, but since these are the only channels you are after really, for peace of mind the Zone 2 would provide it.
(see screenshot below)

As for equipment, you could either pick it all up from Ebay

Zone1/zone2 minidish and LNB
wf100 coax
Receiver.

Or check out one of the site sponsors for example, Southern Satellite has the TM3100D and both minidish sizes. CDTronics also does a full FTA kit, but you may want a dish upgrade.

Robbo

plus any fixings, I have used coach bolts and rawlplugs on my minidish, but for extra strength you you should use sleeve anchor bolts.

**satelliteman** · 05-06-2008

Good result Robbo for Zone 1

jammy1 · 05-06-2008

WOW, thanks for all your effort. I've found a complete kit for 90 quid that looks like it will do the job.

What do you think?

Ebay

310054948378

**Robbo** · 05-06-2008

Yep it should do. The receiver make is not given though.

I'd be more inclined to go for a well known brand if I were going to pay that much for it. The TM3100 as mentioned before is about £40, and the Dish/LNB is about £30, good cable (wf100) or the Televes equivalent is usually about 50p a metre.

BTW, the site admins prefer that no direct links to Ebay

items are posted, just the word Ebay

and the item number.

jammy1 · 06-06-2008

Originally Posted by Robbo71

Yep it should do. The receiver make is not given though.

I'd be more inclined to go for a well known brand if I were going to pay that much for it. The TM3100 as mentioned before is about £40, and the Dish/LNB is about £30, good cable (wf100) or the Televes equivalent is usually about 50p a metre.

BTW, the site admins prefer that no direct links to Ebay items are posted, just the word Ebay and the item number.

Oops sorry for posting Ebay

stuff... Could you advise somewhere that sells that receiver and a 60cm dish for a good price? I can't seem to find a good shop.

Thanks in advance!

**satelliteman** · 06-06-2008

Try here

jammy1 · 23-06-2008

Ok, I need more help PLEASE!!!

I have fitted the satellite, connected the LNB and receiver, but I am unable to get a signal. In fact, the lack of signal strength doesn't seem to change even when I detach the cable from the receiver.

1) How accurate does the dish have to be?

2) Is there anyone willing to physically help me in setting this thing up (I will pay!)

I have an Octagon SF118.

I'M DESPERATE!

**Robbo** · 23-06-2008

The dish has to be accurate within a degree or so in both aziumuth and elevation.

Could you post up a picture of how you have it set up right now. There might be something obvious wrong.

Also tell us the receiver settings, and how you are going about trying to find a signal.

jammy1 · 23-06-2008

Originally Posted by Robbo71

The dish has to be accurate within a degree or so in both aziumuth and elevation.

Could you post up a picture of how you have it set up right now. There might be something obvious wrong.

Also tell us the receiver settings, and how you are going about trying to find a signal.

This is how it's setup, I didn't think to take an actual photo whilst I was there this weekend (see attachment)

What receiver settings do you need?
I was trying to line it up using the information from _www.dishpointer.com and then moving it up, down, left and right to see if the signal strength would move. I got nothing.

MR SOUTHERN SATELLITE --> Does the LNB you sold me require power?

I tried all the available settings on the SF118 installation screen (on and off) with no joy.

I really want this thing for my mother, and I am willing to pay for a home visit.

**rolfw** · 23-06-2008

The setting which most first timers get wrong is the elevation setting, they normally point the dish way too high, for 39 East, the dish face will appear to be pointing slightly downwards.

Also check the fitting of the F connectors, see my little pictorial tutorial here, the LNB does require power, it is delivered via the coax cable.

Also make sure that your receiver is set on a frequency which carries an easy to receive channel, 12606 H is a good one.