Newbie trying to setup for Sky Digital and Hotbird. PLEASE HELP!!!

x416cfny

Hi everyone,

I am trying to set up for sky digital and Hotbird and was wondering what is the minimum size dish I need from 51.47699N -0.276E (Richmond, London, UK). I will be installing my sat dish right next to my neighbour so ideally the dish would be relatively small. From reading through posts and various websites, everyone seems to say that the setup will need a 80cm dish (been looking at Triax TD78 with multi LNB bracket). But I would prefer to install a TD64 or even better a TD54. Can I fit a multi LNB bracket for TD64 or TD54? Will they work?

And one last question. Can I watch channels off of Hotbird using a Sky HD box?

Thanks in advance for all your help.
PC

robbieb43

13e and 28e is quite a wide arc - I am sure you could do it with a standard dish with some fiddling about since they are both strong sats these days. However, I wonder how pleased you will be with results from a standard dish. My thought would to be use one of the purpose built eliptical dish which can take a 15 degree multi bracket by design. I don't think anything smaller than 80 cm would would work at all.

x416cfny

thanks for your input. what kind of equipment (specific models would be appreciated) would you recommend for my situation? sorry for asking so much... i am very new with all this satellite stuff.

wod

raven gemini 80cm dish with offset lnb bracket would work, as its an oval type dish so looks like a minidish

rolfw

I think Raven only do the horizontally eliptical dish in 70cm and 90cm, but either will pull in Hotbird and Astra 2. I have used the smaller Triax 64cm for the two Astras using the 10 degree flexiblock, but not Astra 2 and Hotbird.

Here's a picture of a 70cm Raven Gemini in Berkshire, receiving Astra 2, Astra 1 and Hotbird.

Attached Images

3satraven.jpg (60.2 KB, 33 views)

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x416cfny

I assume these are the LNB holders that i need?

_http://www.falconsat.co.uk/ravengemini-multi-lnb-holdereastwest-p-424.html
or
_http://www.falconsat.co.uk/ravengemini-left-hand-lnb-holdereast-p-422.html

Will I be able get Hotbird channels on my Sky HD box? I assume I will need one of these to manually switch the signal?

_http://listings.maplin.co.uk/Free_UK_Delivery/Satellite_signal_switch_17808_v2.htm

rolfw

The Sky HD box is not really very good for much other than Sky channels, as you can only save 50 channels from another satellite and then only those which have suitable symbol rates.

The Eastern sats bracket is the one you want and the A+B switch would do the job.

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x416cfny

I am particularly intersted in the Thai TV Global Network Channel on Hotbird 8 http://www.lyngsat.com/hb8.html

Will I be able to use Sky HD box for that?

I assume with the Eastern bracket I can also get Astra 1?

And for future purposes should I just get the Eastern + western Bracket combined since it is only 1 more quid?

Thanks for all the help. your responses are much appreciated.

rolfw

Yes, the box would work for Thai TV, it is 27,500 Ks and 3/4 FEC, so can be searched for by the digibox.

You would probably be better buying a cheap digital receiver, then you could have that set up with Astra 1 and Hotbird with a DiseqC switch.

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x416cfny

Any recommendations on LNBs? One quad( sky digital) and one twin(Hotbird 8) LNB are what I am looking for. Preferably from this website since I will be buying from their store.

http://www.falconsat.co.uk/lnb-lnbf-...7e0556e3daa96a


Thanks

robbieb43

I agree with rolfw, the Sky box is a real pain to use on other sats. It gets into a sulk and often takes a while to get locked when you go back to the Sky mux after you have had it locked to a non Sky. I can't help but wonder whether the only reason it works at all is to avoid some anti-competition critism. I saw a FTA box going for sub £50 the other day so once you start looking at the costs of switches etc it is not much of a leap. I see one well known dealer is flogging some Dreambox lookalikes (see Wotsat) that you can run the DM500 soft on for about £110 (and all that implies). That adds up to a lot of fun for your money.

BTW I have used manual switches in the past and they also become a pain.


Cheers

Rob