France: UK and French TV:

[Dumbo]

My first time so be gentle with me, please!



Whilst I ave quite a wee bit of experience with Telecom, Datacom, IT etc, I've never actually played with Satcom before.

Have a house in Northern France: newish Thompson flatscreen TV (PAL and SECAM), so that bit in the chain is fine.

What I need to achieve (To keep her indoors who must be obeyed quiet!) is the following:

Access to the French TNT Free TV channels, via satellite:

Access to the UK Free satellite channels.

Done some homework.

Some critique from your experts would be most welcome.

Sourced a De-Coder from CPC I think should work, as ithandles the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 H.264 protocols; supports video formats 1080i, 720p, 576p and 576i protocols and has support for DisEqc 1.2 and 2.00.

_http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/module.jsp?moduleId=cpc/612268.xml

Plan to use this LNB, as it supports DisEqc 2.0/Tone Burst, with an 80 C.M. dish.

_http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/module.jsp?moduleId=cpc/547908.xml

Only first prob is that apparently Astra 2D lies at 28,2 Deg East whereas France's Tntsat site states Astra TNT is 19.2 Deg East; which seems to indicate 9 Deg separation.

Possible with one dish please and a different duplex LNB??

Moderation note: Please do not post live links to other sites.

 

[satelliteman]

Welcome.

Astra1 and Astra2 have indeed a 9° separation. Have you considered a single dish with an LNb offset bracket for reception of both satellites.

 

[Dumbo]

See: that's why I called myself "Dumbo"!


No I hadn't.

Is this Two Separate LNBs, on a single bracket?

Will an 80 C.M. dish work?

many thanks for you kind and valued assistance.

 

[pgh13]

You do realise that you'll need a TNTSat decoder with access card?

 

[rolfw]

Yes, 80cm should be fine, focus the dish on 28.2E and put 19.2E on the offset. Or if you use something like a Triax TD88, use their multi lnb bracket.

Also, can you not receive French digital TV via an aerial where you are?

 

[pgh13]

Also, the receiver that you've chosen looks like a Philex box (same as the Tevion that I got from Aldi). It's OK, but it won't get the Freesat EPG (electronic program guide), you'll just get now and next for UK TV - you'd need a genuine Freesat box for that. This may not be a problem for you but since at least some of the motivation for this project comes from SWMBO, you may need the EPG to ensure high WAF.

 

[Dumbo]

pgh13ou do realise that you'll need a TNTSat decoder with access card?

Nope!

Thought it was just Plug 'N Pray?

Thing is I have a complex Analogue aerial array dans le grenier ( In the loft) -VHF/UHF, however last November, those d******ly Frogs switched off the terrestrial analogue without telling me: I'm still paying the license fee, natch!

Only discovered this last week when we turned on the box.............

rolfw: Also, can you not receive French digital TV via an aerial where you are?

I can: however since SWMBO wants UK TV too, I thought one sat system would be the optimal solution.

pgh13: Also, the receiver that you've chosen looks like a Philex box (same as the Tevion that I got from Aldi). It's OK, but it won't get the Freesat EPG (electronic program guide), you'll just get now and next for UK TV - you'd need a genuine Freesat box for that. This may not be a problem for you but since at least some of the motivation for this project comes from SWMBO, you may need the EPG to ensure high WAF.

I really wanted to somehow avoid the added complexity of skads of different boxes, skart switches etc.

She can sport out for a TV times or some such from W H Smiths Esqs at Eurotunnel!


Me: Happy to toddle after to my workshop and continue making things, mending things and restoring old stuff. Or reading or getting bladdered on good French vin.



After many years of dealing with complex technology, nowadays I love and adore Simples. Still struggling to understand and set up my newish Blackberry 3G mobile phone!

Many thanks for all your valued assistance, guys.

(You can see why and how I chose my username now!)

 

[PaulR]

I thought one sat system would be the optimal solution.

It might be if they were both on the same satellite but they're not.

Can I suggest you go the Freesat route for UK TV and terrestrial TNT for the French TV - assuming you have enough scart or HDMI sockets on your TV. It's far simpler in the end!

 

[Dumbo]

Thanks, Paul. I was already, regretfully, headed in that direction.

I can pick up a new French Terrestrial Digibox and multi-array Hi-Gain aerial and masthead amp in la belle France for circa € 70,00.

Later on I'll install a UK Freesat system via satellite.

Luckily the Thomson TV enjoys two Peritels (Skarts).

Personally, I do find the major French channels very good since I can use the Fast Text for Sous Titres (Sub-Titles) which is extremely useful for language and particularly pronounication.

 

[pgh13]

What about your existing 'complex Analogue aerial array dans le grenier?' There's nothing magical about what "they who wish to part you from your money" refer to as a digital aerial. have you tried that with a French TNT box?

 

[PaulR]

What about your existing 'complex Analogue aerial array dans le grenier?

Indeed, the TNT transmissions will surely be coming from the same mast site as the analogue ones.

The first step is a simple TNT adaptor and only upgrade the aerial system if it needs it.

 

[rolfw]

Is the fairly recent TV not capable of digital reception?

 

[Dumbo]

What about your existing 'complex Analogue aerial array dans le grenier?' There's nothing magical about what "they who wish to part you from your money" refer to as a digital aerial. have you tried that with a French TNT box?

Don't worry: that's the logical first step!

 

[Dumbo]

Is the fairly recent TV not capable of digital reception?

One never ever knows with the French!

Seriously, the Thomson TV is not digital-ready.

The last of the line before the consumer electronics products company went into liquidation.

Good call, huh?

It's model 28 WM 100: Flat Screen CRT: wonderfully crisp pic. Big ol' brute.

Will do for the moment.

 

[Dumbo]

Just to let you know, bought French digibox; connected to existing aerials (UHF and VHF via diplexer) brilliant crisp pics and 20 free French channels!

Many thanks for all the help.

 

[Lazarus]

Nice. Good outcome.

 

[Analoguesat]

Nice one mate - thanks for letting us know.

 

[PaulR]

Good result.

Most times the simplest solution is the right one.