Total Newbie (am I in the correct section?)

[PhilipO]

I've just moved into a new house and we have 2 satellite dishes that are unused. One is the newer Sky dish and theres another dish that larger but pointing in the same direction. I assume this to be analogue?

My girlfriend speaks French and German and she'd like to be able to watch French and German news channels but these aren't available on Sky Digital (or so we're led to believe). TV5 is one of the channels. If theres any other free european channels that we might like that would be good also ;) nudge nudge.

I've also read about cams (Dragon being one) but again where do I start?

So where **do** I start? I'd also like to make use of Sky to get Sky One and use Sky+ but that woud mean two different systems? If anyone can offer some advice that would be great.

Apologies if this is in the wrong section but I really have no idea where to begin.

 

[Topper]

:-Welcome1 to the forum

Ok where do I start??
First keep the s*y digital dish and make good use but remember if you want s*y+ you will need a dual output or a quad lnb if your existing lnb is single output. The plus system needs the second lnb input to allow you to record one channel at the same time as watching a second channel.
There are lots os FTA channels German and French on 19deg East and 13deg East. If you click here you can see which channels are on 13 E and their type of encrytion if any. Click here for the same on 19E. NB the one's that say PAL are analogue channels not digital but their lifespan is unknown. I suggest you just ensure the unit you buy has a cam slot or is flashable but keep the S*y system completely separate unless you are going down the complicated road of a Dreambox.

 

[spiney]

all dishes can get both digital and analogue, but a bigger one will get weaker digital signals. The sky dish is ok for sky, the bigger dish would be needed for most other satellites.

For most non sky digital channels you'll need a "general purpose" digital satellite receiver.
For free channels only (including some French) there's free to air stuff at 13 and 19 deg east. For pay channels you'll need a CAM type receiver, with correct cam, and subscription viewing card.

French main terrestrial channels (1-5) are still currently available free, in analogue format (analogue sat receiver + secam tv), but nobody knows for how much longer!

For multisatellite viewing you'd need to motorise the bigger dish, ok depending on your DIY skills, but "setting it up" it can be fiddly!

 

[PhilipO]

Ok so if I get a general digital receiver and a dish (80cm?) I will be able to pick up the free foreign channels.

If I want to view the pay channels how do I go about that? I have seen Dragon Cams available - is this what I need?

 

[Rob]

:-Welcome1 philipO
Have a look at these two web-sites the first will show you all the free French channels and also what satellites they are on, and the second will show the free German channels. www.lyngsat.com/freetv/France.html
www.lyngsat.com/freetv/Germany.html

There are lots of free French & German channels, but do yourself a favour and get a Technomate TM-1500CI+ receiver (costs about £120-130) as not only does it have a magic card slot but a cam slot as well, and as an extra bonus it can be "patched" as well which at the moment will give you everything a Dragon cam can.
This will give you all the French TPS and Multivision scrambled channels on Hotbird 13 east.

 

[PhilipO]

Ok so lets say I get the Technomate TM-1500CI+ and 80cm (big enough?) dish.

Can I only pick up channels on 13 and 19 east? What if I want to watch Pay channels on other satellites or on the 13 and 19 ones? Can this be done?

There must be hundereds of channels available so where do I draw the line?

 

[Rob]

There must be hundereds of channels available so where do I draw the line?

That's a good question, so learn to walk first and fix your 80cm dish on Hotbird and see how that goes.
If you want even more then may be a monoblock with two lnbs (for two satellites) or may be you could but a motor on it and get all the satellites.
As for pay channels you have a patch, your magic card reader, and a cam slot.
It's up to you.

 

[Topper]

There must be hundereds of channels available so where do I draw the line?

At least 4000, everyone draws their own line and usually that has to do with the lining in your pocket. it is simply what you can afford and Rob is right learnt to walk first, just buy the Technomate and set it up on 13deg E see how long that keeps you happy or more importantly your girlfriend!!!

 

[PhilipO]

I see this company have that receiver for £99 (http://shop.directelectronics.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=129)

So this is def the one to get if I want future hacks, cams, cards etc?

What size of dish should I look at getting?

Thanks for the help guys

 

[PhilipO]

Ok thinking ahead, how do these work? And are they all the same item?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5794459630&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5791665055&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5794234710&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:UK:1

 

[closetosoton]

Ok thinking ahead, how do these work? And are they all the same item?

these are indeed the same item, the first two come with some subscriptions to p*rn channels. what ever tickles your fancy. you will have to check what satellites the channels mentioned are on (most probably 13E/19.2E).

a CAM is a Conditional Access Module, you stick it in a CI slot (make sure you buy a receiver with a CIT slot and not just FTA - no CI slots). The dragon cam is a multi CAM and deals with different encryption schemes, such as S*ca/Irdeto/Viacess/NDS etc etc. a normal CAM is one that does one per encryption scheme. a multicam will work with official subsription cards. but also there is available software which resides on the CAM and doesn't need any cards, because the keys for subscriptions are embedded in the CAM - sometimes these will open pay packages... things change on a weekly basis and what your CAM might let you view today, might not be viewable tommorrow - unless of course you pay for an official subscription.

back to your original question - it sounds like you would benefit from an 80cm dish with a monoblock (essentially two lnbs sandwiched side by side - a diseqc enabled receiver - read most modern digital ones - can switch between them) this will enable reception of 13E/19E channels.

most things are digital these days, but hardcore satellite fans still keep old analogue kit up & running (like me). the french national channels are all Free To Air available on analogue on atlantic bird 3 at 5 degrees west (5W).

my current set up is:
a fixed 60cm dish at 5W for french programs
a fixed 60cm dish with two lnbs hanging off it for 13E/19E

in theory you'll need an 80cm dish for the twin reception thing - but it depends on your location, i'm located on the south coast and it works for me.

a cheap analogue set up for example might be:
19E and 5W with two fixed dishes. most of the FTA stuff on 19E (40+channels) are german. you could do this with an old twin input analogue receiver. analogue receivers are dirt cheap:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=29784&item=5794349387&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

it all good fun & games.

-cts

ps - oh you're in scotland i see, most definatley 80cm for monoblock then
pps - alternatively you could go for a motorised system, then the world is your oyster. say a 1M dish + a diseqc motor + a receiver - most modern digital boxes come with control for diseqc motors and you don't need any 'specialist' motor driving kit.

 

[closetosoton]

ppps - my favrourite site for finding channels is www.kingofsat.net you can do a per satellite search with digital/analogue free/encypted channels search.... cts

 

[PhilipO]

Thanks for all that. Am I correct in thinking that they'll be no problem accessing digital channels as I don't really want to go down the analogue route. Are most/all of the channels available on digital?

So if I get the Technomate TM-1500CI+ and an 80cm dish that should get me off to a good start? i.e. I can do the 'fun and interesting' stuff later if need be?

With the CAMS that come with a free subscription, do I need to renew that subscription after it expires or can these be hacked? As the receiver I am thinking of getting can be patched is there any need to get a dragon cam?

In any case I will get the receiver ordeded unless someone knows of any reason that it won't do all I want it to now and in the future.

Thanks again!

 

[PhilipO]

And... ahem... assuming I want to get adult channels with this setup is this feasible? For me and the girlfriend of course!

 

[Rob]

If patching receiver don't buy Dragon Cam (at least not yet) as you will just end up with the same channels, and save £80.
Adult channels very feasible. ;)

 

[PhilipO]

So its definatley the Technomate TM-1500CI+ then?

I got my compass out last night and the only wall I can stick a dish on points east. So... is the best bet 13 and 19.2 east. Theres others on east like Eurobird 1 or am I best sticking with 2 LNBs at 13/19.2?

Cheers

 

[closetosoton]

Thanks for all that. Am I correct in thinking that they'll be no problem accessing digital channels as I don't really want to go down the analogue route. Are most/all of the channels available on digital?

not the french national channels - well not on 19.2E/13E FTA anyway (some digital ones on 5W but the rumour is they might not stay there as they are just a donwlink for french DVB-Terrestrial)... but most, if not all yes.

So if I get the Technomate TM-1500CI+ and an 80cm dish that should get me off to a good start? i.e. I can do the 'fun and interesting' stuff later if need be?

indeed, that's a good start point

With the CAMS that come with a free subscription, do I need to renew that subscription after it expires or can these be hacked?

don't quote me but i think you'll need to renew it - they will probably send the renewal in the form of a card.

As the receiver I am thinking of getting can be patched is there any need to get a dragon cam?

you've done some reading, yes you're right, your receiver will probably do as much by itself since it is patched - you won't need the dragon - sometimes you patches might not be as forthcoming (i.e. spped of updates) when encryption changes compared to the CAM, but you're off to a good start.

In any case I will get the receiver ordeded unless someone knows of any reason that it won't do all I want it to now and in the future.
Thanks again!

go for it, its a good box.

 

[closetosoton]

So its definatley the Technomate TM-1500CI+ then?

I got my compass out last night and the only wall I can stick a dish on points east. So... is the best bet 13 and 19.2 east. Theres others on east like Eurobird 1 or am I best sticking with 2 LNBs at 13/19.2?

Cheers

eurobird is co-located (28.5E) with astra2 (28.2E - sky's answer to your satellite tv viewing) ,there's lots of FTA stuff, some avialable on terresial Freeview, some not, check here for a comparison (this includes transmissions from eurobird and astra 2 - since you don't need to move your dish between them) _http://www.vowles-home.demon.co.uk/Sat/SkyFTA.htm

you may be able to get 13E/19.2E/28.2E all on one dish, with sidearms here & there tweaking your lnbs and the like. with a 1M dish most probably.

the other one of interest right now is 30W hispasat - some channels are 'open' over here too, but you'd need a dish pointing in its direction as you won't get them all on one dish, you may need a 1M/1.2M for this in scotland - anyone care to comment?

-cts

 

[PhilipO]

you may be able to get 13E/19.2E/28.2E all on one dish, with sidearms here & there tweaking your lnbs and the like. with a 1M dish most probably.

Hmmm I think a 1m dish might annoy the neighbours. 80cm I could get away with.

I think theres enough for now on 13E and 19.2E. Would you think thats the best to go for initially?

 

[closetosoton]

I think theres enough for now on 13E and 19.2E. Would you think thats the best to go for initially?

Yup that'd give you 1500 channels to start with. its done me for a while anyway. go for it, don't forget to tell us how you get on, post pics if you get the chance. - cts