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What is it about satellites? :)
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<blockquote data-quote="timo_w2s" data-source="post: 754632" data-attributes="member: 196043"><p><strong>When did you start to use satellites?</strong></p><p>As a kid in the 80s I'd always been in to picking up the "wrong" radio and TV stations. I liked to listen to some of the few distant commercial radio stations we had in the UK at the time because I knew none of my mates would be listening to them. Then later on I discovered I could get another ITV region on my portable TV (TVS) which back then showed quite a few extra programmes or similar programmes at different times, I thought at the time it was useful if I'd missed something earlier on. A bit like an early +1 service. I'd also heard about something called satellite TV (pre Astra and Sky days) and how it showed lots of channels from other countries. At the time I thought it was a system for DXing existing terrestrial stations.</p><p></p><p>It wasn't until my grandmother in Finland got a communal dish system in her block of flats that my interest really peaked and I began to understand what satellite TV was all about. The Astra 1A satellite had just been launched and was broadcasting a few English language channels. At that time in Finland a lot of flats where being converted to cable TV but my gran's block decided to go the new satellite route and save on monthly cable TV service bills. They had a 1.8m dish on the roof and piped three extra channels via UHF to all the TVs in the flats meaning no extra kit was required by the TV. In addition to the local terrestrial channels they could get Sky Channel, MTV Europe and Eurosport. We used to spend our winter and summers in Finland and it was really exciting and mind blowing to be able to watch English language TV there. However, my gran doesn't speak a word of English so she had no interest in the channels.</p><p></p><p>When we got home back to the UK after the summer holidays I pestered my parents in to getting Sky. Eventually they gave in and they decided to rent a Sky satellite system because my dad wasn't sure this satellite thing would really take off. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite13" alt=":-rofl2" title="roll on floor :-rofl2" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":-rofl2" /></p><p></p><p>Later on Astra 1B was launched and I remember scanning the band every day after school looking for the test transmissions. After experiencing this I had a desire to get even more so saved up for my own 80cm dish and LNB and built my own portable stand in the garden which I used for several years to manually tune in to other satellites such as the new higher power Eutelsats that where being launched. Luckily our Grundig rental satellite receiver had 2 LNB inputs, a sensitive tuner with filtering, and loads of spare channels so was ideal for messing about it.</p><p></p><p>A few years later when we moved to Finland permanently I think everyone started to appreciate satellite TV even more...</p><p></p><p><strong>What do you enjoy most about the past time?</strong></p><p>Mainly being able to receive new and exotic TV channels and radio stations. Most of it I don't watch but it's nice to know it's there if I did suddenly get an urge to watch Hungarian TV. Of course now that I spend quite a lot of time out of the UK it's also nice to be able to watch TV from home too.</p><p></p><p><strong>Have there been any highlights over the years?</strong></p><p>Finding my first satellite and seeing the faint flicker of a signal (Discovery on 27.5W). </p><p></p><p>Picking up BFBS radio in Finland in the 90s was one of the closest things to hearing "proper" UK radio.</p><p></p><p>Seeing digital TV for the first time (1997 in South Africa of all places - DSTV Multichoice).</p><p></p><p>Being able to see UK TV in Finland and Finnish TV in the UK.</p><p></p><p><strong>What is your set up?</strong></p><p>In the UK I currently have a 60cm dish for Sky 28.2E, a 60cm dish for 13E, a 45cm dish for 19.2E, and a 90cm dish with multiple LNBs for 1W/5E/9E all connected to a Technomate TM6900.</p><p></p><p>In Finland I have an 80cm dish with multiple LNBs for 28.2E/23.5E/19.2E/13E/9E/5E connected to a Technomate TM6900.</p><p></p><p>My parents in Finland have a 1.8m dish for 28.2E, my original 80cm from when I was a kid for 1W, and a 45cm dish for 19.2E.</p><p></p><p><strong>What do your friends and family thing of the past time?</strong></p><p>Most friends think I'm a little nuts but I think the family appreciate my technical skills since I've set up most of their satellite systems to be able to receive UK and Finnish channels.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="timo_w2s, post: 754632, member: 196043"] [B]When did you start to use satellites?[/B] As a kid in the 80s I'd always been in to picking up the "wrong" radio and TV stations. I liked to listen to some of the few distant commercial radio stations we had in the UK at the time because I knew none of my mates would be listening to them. Then later on I discovered I could get another ITV region on my portable TV (TVS) which back then showed quite a few extra programmes or similar programmes at different times, I thought at the time it was useful if I'd missed something earlier on. A bit like an early +1 service. I'd also heard about something called satellite TV (pre Astra and Sky days) and how it showed lots of channels from other countries. At the time I thought it was a system for DXing existing terrestrial stations. It wasn't until my grandmother in Finland got a communal dish system in her block of flats that my interest really peaked and I began to understand what satellite TV was all about. The Astra 1A satellite had just been launched and was broadcasting a few English language channels. At that time in Finland a lot of flats where being converted to cable TV but my gran's block decided to go the new satellite route and save on monthly cable TV service bills. They had a 1.8m dish on the roof and piped three extra channels via UHF to all the TVs in the flats meaning no extra kit was required by the TV. In addition to the local terrestrial channels they could get Sky Channel, MTV Europe and Eurosport. We used to spend our winter and summers in Finland and it was really exciting and mind blowing to be able to watch English language TV there. However, my gran doesn't speak a word of English so she had no interest in the channels. When we got home back to the UK after the summer holidays I pestered my parents in to getting Sky. Eventually they gave in and they decided to rent a Sky satellite system because my dad wasn't sure this satellite thing would really take off. :-rofl2 Later on Astra 1B was launched and I remember scanning the band every day after school looking for the test transmissions. After experiencing this I had a desire to get even more so saved up for my own 80cm dish and LNB and built my own portable stand in the garden which I used for several years to manually tune in to other satellites such as the new higher power Eutelsats that where being launched. Luckily our Grundig rental satellite receiver had 2 LNB inputs, a sensitive tuner with filtering, and loads of spare channels so was ideal for messing about it. A few years later when we moved to Finland permanently I think everyone started to appreciate satellite TV even more... [B]What do you enjoy most about the past time?[/B] Mainly being able to receive new and exotic TV channels and radio stations. Most of it I don't watch but it's nice to know it's there if I did suddenly get an urge to watch Hungarian TV. Of course now that I spend quite a lot of time out of the UK it's also nice to be able to watch TV from home too. [B]Have there been any highlights over the years?[/B] Finding my first satellite and seeing the faint flicker of a signal (Discovery on 27.5W). Picking up BFBS radio in Finland in the 90s was one of the closest things to hearing "proper" UK radio. Seeing digital TV for the first time (1997 in South Africa of all places - DSTV Multichoice). Being able to see UK TV in Finland and Finnish TV in the UK. [B]What is your set up?[/B] In the UK I currently have a 60cm dish for Sky 28.2E, a 60cm dish for 13E, a 45cm dish for 19.2E, and a 90cm dish with multiple LNBs for 1W/5E/9E all connected to a Technomate TM6900. In Finland I have an 80cm dish with multiple LNBs for 28.2E/23.5E/19.2E/13E/9E/5E connected to a Technomate TM6900. My parents in Finland have a 1.8m dish for 28.2E, my original 80cm from when I was a kid for 1W, and a 45cm dish for 19.2E. [B]What do your friends and family thing of the past time?[/B] Most friends think I'm a little nuts but I think the family appreciate my technical skills since I've set up most of their satellite systems to be able to receive UK and Finnish channels. [/QUOTE]
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