General questions for the hobbyists

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My story is I've just started installing Sky for a sub-contractor (within the last 3 months or so), and work has dried up majorly of late, so it's made me realise that considering the technology behind industry I've enetered actually piques my interest, it would make sense to broaden my horizons, and open up new avenues for work with sat systems other than Sky/Freesat.

Having been poking around here and there on the internet I've learnty a few bits and bobs, but to be fair the amount of information, and sometimes the level of detail is daunting, so I just had a few questions for all those that post here.

It would be greatly appreciated to receive answers.

• How long have you been messing about with sat systems?
  
• What was the catalyst for you to begin messing about with sat systems?
  
• Are you strictly a hobbyist, or is this a profession as well?
  
• How long would you say it took you to become (if you are) competent at installing non standard (more than single sat) systems?
  
• Where is the best place to learn about how to install and service non-standard systems?

Possibly posting this in the wrong place, so feel free to move this if I have

Analoguesat

1) Ever since my folks got Sky analogue about 15 years ago. I found the German programming much more interesting than the UK stuff! Started building up my own system with my own kit in 2000

2) Interested to see what I could find

3) Hobby only

4) You soon learn how to do none standard stuff - Im well known around the forums for my over elaborate dish farm. (Why go motorised when theres plenty of scrap dishes lying around?)

5) Playing with it yourself when you have time to sit and think about it when something doesnt work.

Analoguesat's message to the world Analogue forever!

ynotdu

The best installer of all is the person who wants it,It,s not just that it is a learning curve,It is fun getting it exactly right,dish pointing exactly where it should,especially if you use unorthodox methods

I am sure A/S will sell you at a Very high price!his back issues of wotsat Lol ;-)
Paid installers often do a shoddy job,NEVER agree to an install on a Monday morning!!!!!!! Lol

PaulR

How long have you been messing about with sat systems?

It must be since the early 90s, just after BSB stopped tramsmitting.

What was the catalyst for you to begin messing about with sat systems?

See above! I have been an electronics enthusiast (dabbler I like to say - messing around and wasting time according to my wife) and satellites were the next logical step. I bought a Squarial and Ferguson BSB DMAC receiver at a radio rally. The Fergy was converted to a D2MAC receiver with a replacement chip and then I watched channels on TDF1/2 at 19W until they disappeared.

I then moved on to Astra 1 at 19E using a very second hand Amstrad SRX 100. 16 channels. Luxury!!

Are you strictly a hobbyist, or is this a profession as well?

Hobbyist although I have installed a few systems for friends in the UK and France.

How long would you say it took you to become (if you are) competent at installing non standard (more than single sat) systems?

If you class France as non standard it was just a progression from "normal" sized dished. The dish size in the area of france that I go to is only 80 - 90 cm for reception of Astra 2D so it's not really exotic stuff.

Where is the best place to learn about how to install and service non-standard systems?

Well, I did a lot or reading of magazines. What Satellite was a good magazine in those days (and looks to be on a resurgance now). It helped to have radio knowledge from my electronics dabbling as well.

PaulR As I get older I find myself thinking about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Robbo

Hi,


1. About 2-3 years,

2. When I cancelled Sky.

3. A bit of both, Installations as logical progression of my hobby.

4. Quite a short time, if you have been messing about with your own setups for a while.

5. There are courses run by the CAI for example. But the practical approach is good, actually try and set the systems up you want to install yourself, and get them working, see what can be achieved.

dago

hi, I got into it before sky,I used to watch tv 100 on hot bird, I still
missed that chanel!
any way, its a great learning curve. right now I'm trying to master
my dreambox, a great piece of kit.
be lucky.

Channel Hopper

Subbing for a sub ?

What were you doing before you got into the install business ?

Have you now got a head for heights (sorry) Sky height limits ?

Do you have your own vehicle,ladders, tools and insurance to go fully alone, and what would you actually like to do, or achieve within the industry ?

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

Robbo

Insurance is pretty easy to sort out About a tenner a month for £1 million cover.

image

Subbing for a sub ?
Something like that.

What were you doing before you got into the install business ?
Window cleaner.

Have you now got a head for heights (sorry) Sky height limits ?
Provided I have the relevant safety gear, height isn't a problem at all.

Do you have your own vehicle,ladders, tools and insurance to go fully alone, and what would you actually like to do, or achieve within the industry ?
Van yes, insurance yes, tools... partly.
What do I want to achieve? Well what can I achieve? With all the recent changes, IRS systems seem a good path.

HB13DISH

• How long have you been messing about with sat systems?
• Since 1998
  

• What was the catalyst for you to begin messing about with sat systems?
• Adult channels and Classical Music
  

• Are you strictly a hobbyist, or is this a profession as well?
  
• Hobbyist
  

• How long would you say it took you to become (if you are) competent at installing non standard (more than single sat) systems?
• Only in theory. This forum has given me a lot of knowledge.
  
  
• Where is the best place to learn about how to install and service non-standard systems?
• By reading a lot of threads in this forum
  
  

Channel Hopper

Well you have the advantage over others in that you are used to outdoor work, and probably in all seasons and weather.

Next you should find out why the work has trailed off, and if your area/plot is affected by the economy, saturation or other conditions.

How do you class your workmanship, and do you think you could improve on systems you have already installed. If not you might find it useful to fire off a mailshot to customers of yours asking if they need anything further, or can give you recommendations.

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"