Non-Digiboxes for Astras

[jortheo]

I have a question, is it possible to receive the FTA channels on the Astras without a digibox i.e. using a Humax for example. And if it is possible which receivers are recommended?

Bare in mind that I live in Cyprus.

 

[Analoguesat]

Of course it is.

Anything with a sensitive tuner seeing how far away you are.

Dont forget you still wont get the Astra 2D unless you have a big enough dish.

 

[dave branson]

Most Korean manufactured receivers seem to have the most sensitive tuners.

 

[BadWithComputer]

is there any kind of marking on FTA box´s so you can tell if it is more sensitive than another?

 

[dave branson]

is there any kind of marking on FTA box´s so you can tell if it is more sensitive than another?

Dont think so,thats the problem,I am in a fringe area and have tried lots of receivers and LNB,s,from expensive ones like Triple Dragon and Manhatten,receivers and SMW LNB,s to cheapo,s like SAB 710 ci and Inverto
LNB,S most are crap,suprisingly the more expensive ones.
The best reception I get on Astra 2D is with a SAB receiver and an Invacom
quad LNB on a 1.8 IRTE pf dish.
A lot of it is trial and error.

 

[spiney]

But, remember that with non-Sky boxes, there's:

1) No epg information.

2) No text services on BBC/ITV/(Sky news) channels (apart from teletext subtitling on BBC), due to proprietry system. Otherwise, there's "standard" teletext on some Sky channels even without decryption - eg some sports - and CNN has a full text service.

3) Channels come and go, and without the Sky epg system you'll have to regularly "scan" for new channels, which is much easier using a "blind scan" capable receiver.

 

[rikksow]

Also bear in mind that in Larnaca you will require at least a 3.7m dish in Larnaca to pick up BBC & ITV, without that there isn't really much worth watching on FTA.

 

[Analoguesat]

But, remember that with non-Sky boxes, there's:

1) No epg information.

.

To correct this slightly - theres certainly basic epg info on a lot of the fta channels because I can see it on my fta box connected to the second 28E feed on my dish

 

[digi24]

True AS. I have a FTA box for the BBCi-streams of Astra 2B and I do get EPG info for M&M.

 

[jortheo]

There is already a large dish in the building which services successfully a Sky subscription.

 

[Cupart]

Why not get a used PACE 2600 or DN430?
You can get them quite cheap on eBay

 

[Zorba]

There is already a large dish in the building which services successfully a Sky subscription.

Do you know if the dish receives bbc or itv?You are better off getting a sky digibox with a ftv card as this would give you ch4, five and sky three because a fta receiver will not

 

[swiss_rocket]

Hi all,
Thought I would join this thread, as my Panasonic DSB30 is on it's last legs and I was also wondering what to replace it with. I have a standard Sky 45cm minidish and reception is usually okay. If I choose another receiver, could I lose signal quality?

 

[Zorba]

first choice pace 2600,if you can find any ,or the current pace d430.

 

[swiss_rocket]

Thanks for the suggestion Zorba. What makes the 2600 worth the extra £70 or so?

 

[spiney]

To correct this slightly - theres certainly basic epg info on a lot of the fta channels because I can see it on my fta box connected to the second 28E feed on my dish

.

Some 28E channels do have now/next info, that's true, but otherwise nothing, certainly not a 7 day epg (because - for Sky - that's all on the proprietry epg).
Where there's teletext, that can have prog listings, eg CNN, TRAVEL, etc.

 

[Zorba]

If you put the 2600 side by side with the 430 and you are in a fringe area,the 2600 is better eg if bbc is pixellating on the 430 then its fine on the 2600(in my experience)

 

[dxsat]

The 2600 has a better tuner but is slower than 430n. Can make a big difference in really weak signal areas.

I've put a couple of entry level FTA boxes in for customers here in Madrid and they were both less sensitive than a Pace. After testing two Pace boxes on a quad LNB, I tried a Technomate 1000 and it was very poor on Astra 2D, no picture at all on BBC 10847 V, whilst the Pace produced a perfect picture with no defects at all. I would hope that more expensive FTA equipment would be better, but I wonder if that is the case...??

 

[swiss_rocket]

Many thanks for the input Zorba and snap

I have ordered the Pace 430 from _www.thedigiboxshop.com

 

[spiney]

There is already a large dish in the building which services successfully a Sky subscription.

Meaning of this not clear!

Does it mean a communal system (multiswitch), in which case you could just "join on" your own Sky receiver?

Or, is it somebody's private installation? In which case - since already working - perhaps you could "share" the dish by using a dual or quad type lnb and running a 2nd cable? Would save installing a 2nd large dish!