Please help a n00b!

[TomWatts]

Hi all,

Looking into buying a motorised system - well, actually I'm going to get one in the next few days...

Anyway, I would get this - _http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=221438&doy=15m2#overview - kit if it wasn't for the lack of a card slot on the receiver.

What do you think to a combination of (all at Maplin)...

Satellite Motor - A16FB - £49.99
Satellite Fixing Kit - L63AU - £24.99
so far...

What receiver and dish do you think are appropriate (under £80ish for both), and indeed compatable with the motor - OR shall I just go with the first option and forget the card slot, for now?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[TomWatts]

I should try eBay maybe?

 

[Robbo]

Hi Tom,

I wouldn't buy the Maplin Kit as the receiver is not much cop. It has bugs in the software and is free to air only.

The dish with it is good though, if its the 90cm,

A16FB, this is a good little motor, I'm currently using it with 1 Triax 110cm dish and it seems to be coping OK, even though it shouldn't. At £50 it is quite pricy, the Moteck SG2100 is a popular motor and costs about £35.

As for the fixing kit, it would be totally useless for a motorised setup. You need a short strong 2inch diameter pole and a couple of T& K brackets.

For a receiver I would suggest a Technomate TM5400CI+, it will do most things you want for a beginner, they cost approx £70-80.

Have a look at one of the site sponsors, like southernsatellite for example, he does motorised kits, or you can buy the bits separately.

My personal reccomendation would be:-
90cm Fortec star dish,
Moteck Sg2100 motor,
TM5400CI+ receiver

total cost approx £140-160 (guestimate)

Robbo

P.S if you bought the receiver that maplin sell (Fortec star Beta) you will be wanting to get shot in 3 weeks time. I should know, I had one, and did just that!

 

[TomWatts]

Thanks Robbo - this set up looks great... I may hold off for a few weeks (the time isn't quite right financially!). When I do get a package though, I think I'll go for this.

I actually have an exchange student from Germany coming next week and I wondered what you thought to this - ebay 270210316015

Not bad for £40? I just want to pick up the German channels on Astra 19E for
the next few weeks.

Cheers, Tom

 

[Robbo]

What receiver and what size dish is it? ( Ebay is blocked by my firewall)

Is it like this one from Maplin

_http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ITAG=SPEC&ModuleNo=48737&doy=15m2#spec

If so, you might find the dish is a bit small for Astra 19.2E, and get picture break-up/loss when it rains.

 

[TomWatts]

It simply says "Portable Satellite Receiver + Dish DVB-S SL65/12". The description goes on to say... "RECEIVER SPECIFICATIONS

* 4500 channel storage locations
* Software update available via satellite
* Installation wizard
* Super fast videotext, 800 pages
* Digital tuner with loop-through function
* Multi language screen menu
* 8x multi functional timer
* EPG - Electronic Program Guide
* Timer Programmable via EPG
* DisEqc 1.0, 1.2, USALS
* Child Lock
* Diverse programmable favourites Lists
* Channel Swap Function
* Help for each menu item
* Volume Adjustment via Remote Control
* Aspect Ratio Selection 4:3/16:9/Letterbox

CONNECTIONS

* 2 Scart Connections
* Coaxial Digital Sound Output

EXTERNAL UNIT

* 35 CM Steel Antenna, coated
* Mast Support
* 10m Universal Connection Set
* High Performance converter, single-lmb 0.6 db

Compatible Satellites

* Astra
* Hotbird
* Sirius
* Hispasat
* Hellasat

SCOPE OF SUPPLY

* 1 * Digital Satellite Receiver 220/12 volt
* 1 * 35cm Steel Antenna with Mast Support
* 1 * Remote Control Unit
* 1 * External Power Supply
* 1 * 12V Cable for Cigarette Lighter
* 1 * Scart Cable
* 1 * 10m Antenna Cable
* 2 * F-Connectors
* 1 * Single Universal LNB 0.6 bd
* 1 * Rubber Cover"

Shame about the firewall - sorry to bother you if you're at work!

Presumably I need a satellite finder with this?

 

[Robbo]

Yes, I'm pretty sure it is the same one. The dish size is a bit on the small side for uninterupted reception on Astra 1.(19.2E)

Why not get the £69.99 FtA kit A85GU( 85cm dish)

Then upgrade the receiver and to the motor later.

 

[TomWatts]

I think the 45cm portable dish is the one for me (at least financially) for what I need at the moment...

Before I order it, do you think there are going to be any significant issues with picking up, at least the UK channels on Astra 2?

I will then just sort out the motorised set-up separately and use this as a portable kit.

 

[Robbo]

The one you posted that was on ebay was a 35cm dish.

A 45cm dish would probably have been OK for 28.2E as that is roughly the same size as a Sky minidish. Not sure about a 35cm, it would probably be OK most of the time.

 

[TomWatts]

Thank you for all your help!

I am a little concerned about picking up a signal from Astra 1 on 19E and Astra 2 on 28.2-5 with the 35cm dish. Are you aware of any way I could use a slightly larger dish with this receiver without screwing anything into the wall - not a tripod - but a clamp - maybe suction pads (that work!)??

 

[Robbo]

Most of the larger dishes have a clamp on the back that will fix to a pole.

Suckers would't work very well, due wind-loading, and the dish needs to be reasonably well fixed. A ground stand would probably be the best option, or and old car tyre, one of our Admins Analoguesat is fond of this method.

 

[TomWatts]

Sorry to bother you AGAIN! I was looking at this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....rkparms=algo=CRX&its=S%2BI&itu=UCI%2BSI&otn=4

If you can't look at it, it's a 45cm dish on an extendable tripod - would 10cm make a huge difference?

 

[Robbo]

It is just a Sky zone1 minidish, with a tripod.

The zone 1 minidishes are used all over the south for Sky and they are fine almost all the time, also OK for Astra (19.2E) when it's not raining too much.

That is very expensive for a minidish though, but if the Tripod thing is ideal for your needs , go for it. Personally I would just mount it on a patio base , or a fence post or something.

 

[TomWatts]

Yep - Patio Base at Maplin - _http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=47227&doy=16m2#overview
- looks ok...

Then, presumably, a cheap (maybe used) dish.

 

[Robbo]

Yes, that should do the job, presumably you would just bolt it to a paving slab or a lump of concrete or something.