Best Digiboxes for Fringe reception

**simonskyman** · 08-06-2005

the 2600 and 430 look the same from the front but if you look carefully behind you will see that the input connector on the 430 is lower than on the 2600.the tuner on the 430 is the new single chip type or zero if.the 2600 is of the old can type.i had both running side by side and when say,bbc was at a level that it was pixellating on the 430,the 2600 was playing fine.This is important over here in cyprus when we have to use 2.7 or 3 metre dishes.This comparison was done when the 430 first appeared on the marketmore than a year ago.I dont know if this years models are better or not.

**maniacop32** · 08-06-2005

cheers simon.

***bignick*** · 18-06-2005

Hi

I've now upgraded my dish to 2.4m Famaval with Invacom C120 Quad and adjustable feedhorn (wider feed than my 2.2m dish). I am running both a Pace sky+ 3100 and a Pace minibox on it just now. Ever since I got the sky+ box I have been less than impressed with its fringe reception. This has been particularly noticable now that I'm getting some BBC reception - the minibox completely out performs the Sky plus unit. I realise that I won't get BBC for more than a few hours a day without putting extention petals on the dish, but I don't want to run a minibox just so I can watch some BBC and ITV (Swapping cards all the time is a real bore!).

Has anyone tried the Thompson Sky+ box for astra 2D reception yet?

Will it perform as well (or better than) the Pace 2600 or minibox?

Iceman, what size dish would you normally need to bring in a C4 reception north of the 'Border'? Round these parts I'd expect the kind of reception with nothing less than a 1.8m dish (and a quality one at that)

Cheers

Nick

Originally Posted by iceman

Just to give an example to prove THOMSON SKY+ 160's excelent tuner.
I noticed it clears channel4 on my 1.5cm motorised offset dish in the afternoons..the picture now & again breaks up but still watchable..
I've tested almost all makes & models of disgiboxes on this same 1.5cm offset Jonsa+0.4dB Sharp LNB...This is the only box clearing channel4..
I am really impressed with this box

iceman

Likvid · 18-06-2005

You don't need to hold to just Sky digiboxes, you can choose whatever box you like as NDS works in a dragon cam.

Originally Posted by bignick

Hi

I've now upgraded my dish to 2.4m Famaval with Invacom C120 Quad and adjustable feedhorn (wider feed than my 2.2m dish). I am running both a Pace sky+ 3100 and a Pace minibox on it just now. Ever since I got the sky+ box I have been less than impressed with its fringe reception. This has been particularly noticable now that I'm getting some BBC reception - the minibox completely out performs the Sky plus unit. I realise that I won't get BBC for more than a few hours a day without putting extention petals on the dish, but I don't want to run a minibox just so I can watch some BBC and ITV (Swapping cards all the time is a real bore!).

Has anyone tried the Thompson Sky+ box for astra 2D reception yet?

Will it perform as well (or better than) the Pace 2600 or minibox?

Iceman, what size dish would you normally need to bring in a C4 reception north of the 'Border'? Round these parts I'd expect the kind of reception with nothing less than a 1.8m dish (and a quality one at that)

Cheers

Nick

**maniacop32** · 18-06-2005

dragoncam and any other satreceiver with ci can play the sky card but won t upgrade keys so you constantly have to insert card back to the "dodgybox" to get new keys.Hey Nick,are you having any regrets for upgrating.....?

Grande_Assiette · 19-06-2005

Originally Posted by bignick

Has anyone tried the Thompson Sky+ box for astra 2D reception yet?

Will it perform as well (or better than) the Pace 2600 or minibox?

Iceman, what size dish would you normally need to bring in a C4 reception north of the 'Border'? Round these parts I'd expect the kind of reception with nothing less than a 1.8m dish (and a quality one at that)

Cheers

Nick

Dear Nick,

Obviously, I'm not Iceman, but I'm a BIG fan of the Thompson 160+ for "pulling in" all channels - not just C4 - so YES it is good as a fringe area unit to "pull in " BBC/ ITV stuff on 2D, but some units perform better than others for some reason I have yet to fathom... "Goods ones" are BETTER (IMHO) than the Pace 2600 or the Javelin Mini box.

All 160's are better than the Pace 3100 in the same way that all 2600's are better than DS430Ns.. WHY did Pace change this unit? :-(

GA

***bignick*** · 19-06-2005

None at all maniacop, cheers for all the help

Originally Posted by maniacop32

dragoncam and any other satreceiver with ci can play the sky card but won t upgrade keys so you constantly have to insert card back to the "dodgybox" to get new keys.Hey Nick,are you having any regrets for upgrating.....?

**jin6x** · 19-06-2005

Originally Posted by bignick

Hi

I've now upgraded my dish to 2.4m Famaval with Invacom C120 Quad and adjustable feedhorn (wider feed than my 2.2m dish). I am running both a Pace sky+ 3100 and a Pace minibox on it just now. Ever since I got the sky+ box I have been less than impressed with its fringe reception. This has been particularly noticable now that I'm getting some BBC reception - the minibox completely out performs the Sky plus unit. I realise that I won't get BBC for more than a few hours a day without putting extention petals on the dish, but I don't want to run a minibox just so I can watch some BBC and ITV (Swapping cards all the time is a real bore!).

Has anyone tried the Thompson Sky+ box for astra 2D reception yet?

Will it perform as well (or better than) the Pace 2600 or minibox?

Iceman, what size dish would you normally need to bring in a C4 reception north of the 'Border'? Round these parts I'd expect the kind of reception with nothing less than a 1.8m dish (and a quality one at that)

Cheers

Nick

This may not help you but I'm on a 2.4m Famaval, feedhorn unknown with a 0.3 quad Invacon LNB, using 2 Panasonic DSB30's. Weather permitting, I get BBC 24/7, with an occasional slight drop out around 9-10 pm. Ch4 and others are OK. I live in Peyia. I am about to upgrade to a Pace DS430n as one of the Panasonic's is on the way out.

***bignick*** · 19-06-2005

I wouldn't bother with the DS430n if I were you! Reports of its fringe reception seem over stated to me. Just cos it looks like a 2600 it don't mean it acts like a 2600. See if you can borrow one to test first - it may save you some money and hassle!

Originally Posted by jin6x

This may not help you but I'm on a 2.4m Famaval, feedhorn unknown with a 0.3 quad Invacon LNB, using 2 Panasonic DSB30's. Weather permitting, I get BBC 24/7, with an occasional slight drop out around 9-10 pm. Ch4 and others are OK. I live in Peyia. I am about to upgrade to a Pace DS430n as one of the Panasonic's is on the way out.

***snap*** · 10-08-2005

Originally Posted by bignick

I wouldn't bother with the DS430n if I were you! Reports of its fringe reception seem over stated to me. Just cos it looks like a 2600 it don't mean it acts like a 2600. See if you can borrow one to test first - it may save you some money and hassle!

I have both the Panasonic 30 and the Pace 430n and their performance is identical, apart from the frequent crashes on the Panasonic.
I tested a 2600 in Madrid recently and was surprised how good it was- slightly slower of course but showing clear picture on a very weak signal, better than you would expect on the current model.

**jin6x** · 07-09-2005

Originally Posted by bignick

I wouldn't bother with the DS430n if I were you! Reports of its fringe reception seem over stated to me. Just cos it looks like a 2600 it don't mean it acts like a 2600. See if you can borrow one to test first - it may save you some money and hassle!

You convinced me, I went for the Pace 2600 and there is a significant improvement in reception between that and the Pan 30. Thanks for your advice.

***bignick*** · 16-09-2005

I just got my thomson 160 sky plus yesterday and have noticed an immediate difference in performance compared to my pace v2. It is bringing in some itv now on a 2.4 famaval near limassol. I think it is about the same as a 2600 but I will test them side by side soon and let you know.

I'm definately impressed

Nick

**simonskyman** · 17-09-2005

Originally Posted by bignick

I just got my thomson 160 sky plus yesterday and have noticed an immediate difference in performance compared to my pace v2. It is bringing in some itv now on a 2.4 famaval near limassol. I think it is about the same as a 2600 but I will test them side by side soon and let you know.

I'm definately impressed

Nick

How much do the Thomsons go for?I was going to order one,but my man in UK says they have problems but he wasnt specific.
Is your pace v2 model number 3100?

***bignick*** · 17-09-2005

I've heard a couple of things that they had the odd problem mainly on DS forum. I got mine on Ebay

a little cheaper but they generally go for about £300 sterling. As for my old box, yes it is a 3100 only 10 months old, good as new, and available

But thats a PM job. I am now certain that the tuner isn't as good as the thomson 160. I suppose that the technology in it is similar to Pace D430N the reception is similar to it but definately not better, but then I never tested it on anything bigger than a 2.4 famaval! on that it gets everything on Astra 2b and nothing on 2D what more can I really ask for?

Originally Posted by simonskyman

How much do the Thomsons go for?I was going to order one,but my man in UK says they have problems but he wasnt specific.
Is your pace v2 model number 3100?

sos chris · 22-09-2005

Originally Posted by rolfw

I'll open this one, but cannot speak from experience, as I live in the middle of the footprint.

Feel free to add your experiences, both positive and negative for your fringe location.

Please do not ask questions here (start a new thread), this thread is meant for reports and reference only.

the best afordable system for sky digital in portugal algarve is as follows
1.3 dish, o.3 sharp LNB, pace ds430n sky box, high quality cable, sky card
with this you will get all the channels, no problem with itv ch5 ch4 etc
good luck

**silvernet** · 26-09-2005

I have used a variety of Sky Digiboxes near Valencia in Spain, including Pan 30 and 31...Grundig 3000, Amstrad 100, and Pace 2600.

On my last trip I decided to take out a Thomson ( new slim model ) cannot remember the number !! It is far superior to any of those listed above.

The best of my previous bunch was a Pan 30 that had had a new tuner fitted at some time. Sadly the Pace 2600 wasn't what I expected, perhaps I was unlucky.

The newer Pace 2600 replacement model D340 ?? I tested was no better than my old Amstrad 100, so I sold it on E Bay for more than it was worth.

silvernet

***snap*** · 29-09-2005

Originally Posted by bignick

I just got my thomson 160 sky plus yesterday and have noticed an immediate difference in performance compared to my pace v2. It is bringing in some itv now on a 2.4 famaval near limassol. I think it is about the same as a 2600 but I will test them side by side soon and let you know.

Nick

Have you done the side by side test yet? Do you have a Pace DS430n to compare the Thomson to? Any software problems? (these boxes are supposed to have bugs recording Sky Movies with Dolby Digital soundtracks)

***bignick*** · 29-09-2005

Hi

I've now tested it side by side against a 2600. I have not yet tried swapping around LNB ports or anything like that but I think its fair to say that it isn't quite as good as the Pace 2600. I would however add that I think its still a whole lot better than the DS430n. I could never get any BBC or ITV on my 2.4 Famaval with that receiver but I can with the Thompson! Hope that helps.

So far I haven't noticed any issues with the software etc (but I don't subscribe to movies)

Originally Posted by snap

Have you done the side by side test yet? Do you have a Pace DS430n to compare the Thomson to? Any software problems? (these boxes are supposed to have bugs recording Sky Movies with Dolby Digital soundtracks)

***snap*** · 29-09-2005

Thanks for the info. There are very few reports of reception with this Thomson model- I suppose because it is so expensive compared to the Pace Sky+ boxes.

Mike4t · 02-10-2005

Anybody got any experience of the Pace 470N, with 80G HD,,,,, thinking of replacing my DS 430 with it ,,

as to 430N,, have compared directly to 2600 (In my lounge on SKY full package), and with a Pan 40, on a Free card,,, without a doubt the Pan appears more sensitive,, with reception of the fringe areas before the pace boxes, IE ITV Midlands comes in at about 1700, and BBC2 about 1830 to 1900,,, the pace boxes are still pixelating about for up to an hour later at times,,,, and the 2600 seems to be slightly better than the 430N, but must admit I do like the speed of the 430N,, and it forgives a lot better in no locks at all!!,. There is an oddity I noticed in that the 430N default transponder goes back to 11778(from 12120) for no apparent reason, sometimes within seconds,, any ideas???

***iceman*** · 02-10-2005

Originally Posted by Mike4t

There is an oddity I noticed in that the 430N default transponder goes back to 11778(from 12120) for no apparent reason, sometimes within seconds,, any ideas???

The reason your 430N reverts back to 11778V could be that it possibly detects that transponder...You cannot force skyboxes to use alternative transponders if default is present...Any Skybox will do the same if the tuner detects 11778V..

**makum101** · 03-10-2005

I have a Thomson 160 plus box here in Tenerife as well as a version 1 plus box (pace?)connected to a 3.1metre dish

The 160 box pulls in C4 (and BBC /ITV) most of the time, whereas my V1 plus box will not pull in C4 at all!

However i have found a problem with the Thomson box...

If the signal goes for a second or two, the picture pixilates, no problem there. However when recording it "cuts" the pixalated section out completely! This means that when i watch the recording back it jumps as it is now missing chunks of the program it cut out while the signal dropped out momentarally!

I've been offered a loan of a Pace 2600 receiver to see if its any better. If it is i might swap my Sky+ V1 box for one.

Question:- I have been told to try a Pace 2600 to see if its any better. Is this box a different box to the pace DS430N?

***bignick*** · 03-10-2005

YES. VERY VERY Different

It may look the same but thats where it ends!

I'm not saying the DS430N is bad for fringe reception, but it just isn't as good as the 2600

Hope that helps

Cheers

Nick

Originally Posted by makum101

I have a Thomson 160 plus box here in Tenerife as well as a version 1 plus box (pace?)connected to a 3.1metre dish

The 160 box pulls in C4 (and BBC /ITV) most of the time, whereas my V1 plus box will not pull in C4 at all!

However i have found a problem with the Thomson box...

If the signal goes for a second or two, the picture pixilates, no problem there. However when recording it "cuts" the pixalated section out completely! This means that when i watch the recording back it jumps as it is now missing chunks of the program it cut out while the signal dropped out momentarally!

I've been offered a loan of a Pace 2600 receiver to see if its any better. If it is i might swap my Sky+ V1 box for one.

Question:- I have been told to try a Pace 2600 to see if its any better. Is this box a different box to the pace DS430N?

**nopfusch** · 10-10-2005

Hi there,

I'm living down in the south. Very interesting your chat about good and not so good tuners. As we have here a very limited selection of receivers on the market, it would be very informative to give a bit more details, at least from the tuner of the receiver that impressed you most or to the contrary. This would enable some comparison to select may be another available product.
The sensitivity of the tuner (able to receive weak signals), is measured in -dBm.
Paging through of some specifications, I found that -65dBm is an ordinary tuner sensitivity. A -70dBm input sensitivity is a lot better and the highest input sensitivity I ever read was -78 dBm. And the lowest -60dBm.
Of course, to round-off the judgment of a tuner is stability and picture and sound quality, which is not so easy to define in numbers.
Basically what for me would be of great interest, what tuner input sensitivity have the as "good" judged receivers?

Has the iceman some data?

regards
nopfusch

***bignick*** · 10-10-2005

Hi

For me tuner sensitivity is measured in results! Its very interesting that sensitivity is measured in any other way, which means that we should be able to see the best tuners just by the spec sheets. I will check next time.

You are right to ask iceman....I think he has far more knowledge in this area

Cheers

Nick

Originally Posted by nopfusch

Hi there,

I'm living down in the south. Very interesting your chat about good and not so good tuners. As we have here a very limited selection of receivers on the market, it would be very informative to give a bit more details, at least from the tuner of the receiver that impressed you most or to the contrary. This would enable some comparison to select may be another available product.
The sensitivity of the tuner (able to receive weak signals), is measured in -dBm.
Paging through of some specifications, I found that -65dBm is an ordinary tuner sensitivity. A -70dBm input sensitivity is a lot better and the highest input sensitivity I ever read was -78 dBm. And the lowest -60dBm.
Of course, to round-off the judgment of a tuner is stability and picture and sound quality, which is not so easy to define in numbers.
Basically what for me would be of great interest, what tuner input sensitivity have the as "good" judged receivers?
Has the iceman some data?

regards
nopfusch

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Best Digiboxes for Fringe reception Sky digital support forum at Sats UK, Everything involved on the hardware and software side of reception of the channels from 28.2/28.5 East BskyB, special focus on fringe reception of Astra 2D for UK free to air channels

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