Digital Receiver help!

E

ebyard

Member
My Satellite Setup
Pace Prima + 60cm dish (bring back the 90s! :-)) oh and a Sky Digital dish which I never use
My Location
Oxfordshire
Hi Folks

I'm new here, and I need a bit of help! I used to be well into my satellite TV years back, but work and life got in the way. I only have an old Pace Prima now, after my old box blew up.

We only watch Eurosport Germany (with an English audio subcarrier) which is still FTA on Astra 19.2E. We love the live winter sports & stuff, you see.

Now I believe that analogue services at 19.2E are to be discontinued in 2012. This gives me a dilemma. Eurosport UK doesn't have what we want, and by the looks of it, Eurosport German is available as a subscription service. But only in Germany.

So, is it FTA anywhere else that anyone knows of? Also, I'd like to get a load of FTA channels, can anyone recommend a reasonably priced receiver which can support either dual LNB (do they still do that, or am I showing my age??) or that can drive a motorised dish?

I am thinking 19.2E and 13E - but glad to hear comments from those more up-to-date than me!

Cheers

Ed
 
German Eurosport in digital is FTA on Astra 19.2, but with no English soundtrack.
 
Hughes said:
German Eurosport in digital is FTA on Astra 19.2, but with no English soundtrack.
Click to expand...

It is FTA with an English soundtrack (I am watching it right now) - but it will go off analogue in April 2012..................
 
Apologies - I missed "digital" in your reply! Sorry!

So yes, it's FTA on digital in German - is it anywhere else in English?
 
I also watch it in English on my trusty Pace MSS 138, along with the French channels on 5º West, all in analogical PAL and SECAM. However the digital version of Eurosport on 19.2º only has the German soundtrack.
 
ebyard said:
Apologies - I missed "digital" in your reply! Sorry!

So yes, it's FTA on digital in German - is it anywhere else in English?
Click to expand...

Its +occasionally+ fta in digital on 13E but basically once the analogue service closes you will be paying for access if you want it in English
 
I don't think Eurosport is FTA in English anywhere else, but there is stuff to be had in English on other satellites, for example the Dubai Racing Channel on Badr, 26º East, that is if you like horse (and camel) racing or are into Show Jumping! A much larger dish would be needed however. Winter sports are also carried on many of the German stations as I'm sure you've noticed.
 
OK, well I'm going to email Eurosport and ask them nicely to provide an English audio (if you don't ask, etc!) and if that fails then I'll have to get a subscription somehow.

What receiver is good for FTA digital with a card slot? Those Technomates look nice. Ideally I don't want to spend more than £150 ish.

Cheers
 
Forgot to ask - will I also need a new LNB? If so, what kind?

The existing one is a Grundig, circa 1997.

Thanks
Ed
 
For the digital stuff, yes, a universal LNb. You most probably have a 10Ghz or maybe an enhanced.
 
Yes.

Universal LNB ((not Sky type), very cheap.
 
Thanks for the help guys.

I am now looking at either a motorised or a triple LNB system. If I want to watch Astra 19.2E, 28.2E and 13E, am I better getting a motorised system, or triple LNB?

I guess if I get a motorised system then I can get a lot more satellites, but it'll be slower to change channels, surely?

Also, can you operate a triple LNB system from a single receiver?!

So many questions! :-)
 
Motor system would be better, more choice.. but yes, an offset LNb arrangement would work just as well. If the latter then a single receiver will switch between satellites using a DiSEqC switch.
 
The great thing with a non-motorised system is that channel changes are instantaneous, seamless, but even more fun would be to have a fixed set-up for general viewing, and then add a motorized system for the rest. The possibilities are infinite...
 
Roughly how long does it take to change channel between something on, say, 1W and 19E ?

Couple of seconds?

Cheers
 
Depends whether you select a Horizontally polarised or a Vertically polarised target! (Different polarity selection voltage = different motor speed)

Work on 3-4 degrees per second, roughly, for a DiSEqC motor.
 
Yes, certainly less than 10 seconds using 18v/horz. May depend on the motor also.
 
Choosing a Vertically polarised channel, from 1°W to 19.2°E took 14 seconds. However, that is driving a 1.2 metre dish.
 
Cripes, that is slow!

You could nip out for a brace of Pastis while it shifts.
 
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