I have a cunning plan (again) but....

sonnetpete

sonnetpete

Grumpy Old Retired Moderator and quiz inquisitor..
My Satellite Setup
Laminas 1.2M fibre dish with an IBU, on a Clarke Tech USALS motor, covering 57E - 24.5W to an Octagon SX88. Displayed on a 20" Dyon LED TV.

Seperate 80 cm dish on 28E with a Humax Freesat for SWMBO.
Free Sat V8 meter. Sony Bravia 46" LCD, Sony BluRay and Home Cinema.
My Location
Normandy, France
Most of you will by now know that since June, I've had a new SWMBO. She's shown a proclivity for Sky News, Judge Judy and re runs of Morse and Matlock....in other words channels that are available on Freesat. Short of exchanging her for someone who cares about transmissions from 52E and has a keen interest in Turkmenistan I'm left to conclude that SWMBO would benefit from a Freesat STB.

So, given that I'll exchange the single LNB on 28E for a quad (in case we end up with a box which can record), what do I do with my multi sat set up?

Well, I have two possibilities which involve setting up a 'workstation' in the 'library' :

I can move my VU+ Solo and buy a cheap LCD monitor (one on offer locally for €99)....

Alternately, I was thinking of buying a USB tuner (probably a TBS 5922SE, though I'm open to other suggestions) and using my laptop in conjunction with the multi sat setup.

The latter would send the VU+ into partial redundancy which is why I'm dithering slightly..any thoughts?
 
Leave your kit set up & install the missus in the library??

Have two tellies in the main room so you can both watch what you want but still spend "hobby time" together (works for me & the OH - although Im dreading having to buy a new telly due to basically having to start again & redo 15 years of adhoc wiring and cross patching!) Wireless headphones make for harmony when Ive got the foreign stuff or my mp3s on!
 
Could you install a second, completely separate dish on the property, one that is - also - motorised ?
 
sonnetpete said:
So, given that I'll exchange the single LNB on 28E for a quad (in case we end up with a box which can record), what do I do with my multi sat set up?

Well, I have two possibilities which involve setting up a 'workstation' in the 'library' :

I can move my VU+ Solo and buy a cheap LCD monitor (one on offer locally for €99)....

Alternately, I was thinking of buying a USB tuner (probably a TBS 5922SE, though I'm open to other suggestions) and using my laptop in conjunction with the multi sat setup.

The latter would send the VU+ into partial redundancy which is why I'm dithering slightly..any thoughts?
Click to expand...

I've got a 19" Logik TV, about 10 yrs old but little used that's going begging. It's analogue so would need STB of some sort, but if you want it I'll bring it over next time we come (we're in 49, near Segre), but won't be until March - ish
 
I'm amazed you don't have a usb tuner already. DVB Sky and others are supported better in linux than TBS.

Hardware Device Information - LinuxTVWiki

DVB-S2 USB Devices - LinuxTVWiki

You could make a new computer and use PCIe cards though the convention is to use DVB Viewer etc in windows.

From what I have seen of your house it looks great but I thought the library was in the broom cupboard due to the lack of space. I like analoguesat's set up, it seems a good solution to me. I am intending to get another tv in the spare room but only because m8's will be getting rid of old ones replaced by christmas presents. If you did the same you could keep the VU+ and make life easier by making the least effort and still be able to hold hands on the sofa when you watch Horror channel.
 
I actually run the "second tv" through my desktop computer - its the tv card which I have up on my second monitor.

There is a second tv (a 14" portable) in the room which is used for breaking news or fascinating new channels when Missy wants to see too - eg when North Korea appeared a few years ago :D
 
We have "His & Hers" systems at Tivu Towers.

SWMBO has her own "Sky Analogue" dish with a 13/19E Monoblock an offset LNB for 5W and a feed from one of two dedicated 28E dishes. Using the original Humax Foxsat Rx (Which has a non-Freesat multi-Sat mode) and an A/B switch she can get Freesat and her choice of European Other Channels on a dedicated Monitor in her study.

My own kit also combines my Motorised dish plus umpteen feeds from the dedicated 28E dishes so I can do my thing in my own hobby room and we can both major on Freesat in the lounge, but with a feed from the motorised dish for occasional use (F1, New Years Eve).
 
I really need a new tv / monitor so I can get back to having fun in the spare room.

There are several computers here including the main HTPC (which is not connected to the net since the evil windoze 10 update molesting nightmare) but I keep getting thrown off the main computer for all sorts of daft reasons like printing crap and moronic games. I thought it was my computer - I built the ruddy thing :( At the moment I'm posting using an ancient laptop which flies on Tiny Core linux but I'm thinking of a new cheap laptop or possibly the silent 1.04 GHz N3000 ASRock Beebox. There are some hilarious reviews for the N3000 Beebox saying it is slow and crap when in fact the buyer has stuffed it up with windoze 10 and the poor box is choking to death. :-rofl2 :-rofl2
 
Analoguesat said:
There is a second tv (a 14" portable) in the room which is used for breaking news or fascinating new channels when Missy wants to see too - eg when North Korea appeared a few years ago :D
Click to expand...


Dear leader will be touched to know you have a special tv just for him.

:-rofl2
 
sonnetpete said:
Most of you will by now know that since June, I've had a new SWMBO. She's shown a proclivity for Sky News, Judge Judy and re runs of Morse and Matlock....in other words channels that are available on Freesat. Short of exchanging her for someone who cares about transmissions from 52E and has a keen interest in Turkmenistan I'm left to conclude that SWMBO would benefit from a Freesat STB.

So, given that I'll exchange the single LNB on 28E for a quad (in case we end up with a box which can record), what do I do with my multi sat set up?

Well, I have two possibilities which involve setting up a 'workstation' in the 'library' :

I can move my VU+ Solo and buy a cheap LCD monitor (one on offer locally for €99)....

Alternately, I was thinking of buying a USB tuner (probably a TBS 5922SE, though I'm open to other suggestions) and using my laptop in conjunction with the multi sat setup.

The latter would send the VU+ into partial redundancy which is why I'm dithering slightly..any thoughts?
Click to expand...
That what love does......it fuddles the brain and makes us mere men alter all our treasured pastimes. I would keep my set up and position it in another room because it is great to have your own space at times to do your own thing. no worries about cables everywhere, mugs of tea balanced on the desk, watch just what you want. His and hers is always best. I find it perfect at bed time, no hugging the duvet, no being prodded, no constant demands for nookie, no being woken up by snoring and breaking wind.
 
Thanks for all the advice and the offer of the tv.....I'll have to read through and follow up on the extended list of USB tuners, however I think the easiest (in some way) solution is to move the VU+ and acquire a small LCD monitor. As I have 28E as part of the multi sat, I can run a second cable from it's LNB (upgraded to a quad) for a Freesat feed.

hexah said:
....and still be able to hold hands on the sofa when you watch Horror channel.
Click to expand...

No, I've had enough of Judge Judy thanks....

TJExcalibur said:
no constant demands for nookie
Click to expand...

....and that's a problem??
 
Hello Pete.

If it is within budget I would get a TBS 5925. Well worth it for IQ constellation and blindscan as well as the other modulation types. I've got DVBSky and Sundtek devices here. You can use the Solo to control the dish and have the USB device on the second LNB port. That way you won't be leaning on the USB device to power the motor.

It you are after a box to record Freesat get an Xtrend et9500. Very cheap at WoS at the minute (129GBP) and has blindscan... or et8000, which is a more modern box for a few €uros more, also from WoS, but doesn't have blindscan.

Put an HDD in there and load OpenVix. Run ABM Freesat for channel list. EPG is automatic for Freesat channels so nothing to set up, but takes about 5 minutes to fully populate. You already know the image so that is a bonus. And with ABM you can automatically load a channel list from most providers. Probably about 40 providers now. So unlike a Freesat box it can be used in other roles as things progress.
 
Thanks Huevos, I'd looked at the TBS but really it's way outside my budget. Besides which I'm not into feed hunting etc. I don't use the VU+ on the motor, just the multi sat and I was looking for the simplest way of transferring this set up to another room. I'll have a look at the receivers you mentioned but I think I may go for a dedicated Freesat box.
 
If dedicated Freesat box, I always liked Humax - just watch for the crappy PSU capacitors that like giving up the ghost after a few years of server in the oven (TV cupboard with doors closed).
 
Dedicated Freesat Humax recorder is a lot more money than a budget enigma2 box. ET9500 is much superior spec than the Solo and at 129GBP, miles cheaper than the Humax. Probably around half the price. Anyway, just a suggestion.

DVBSky was a good addition to my hardware. I was lucky, a friend sent me the sample I have here. Nice bit of kit.

Also, if you use an enigma2 box you can plug in a device like the PCTV Nova-T stick and use the STB for receiving and recording terrestrial alongside your satellite stuff.
 
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