Freeview etc by satellite dish?
 

On Fri, 16 Jun 2006 19:46:09 GMT, Lobster
wrote:

Forgive what's no doubt a numpty question but never having owned a
satellite TV system or known anything about them...

I've recently acquired an old satellite dish

Anyway, I was just wondering about the possibility of putting it into
use: is it possible to do so without taking out a sub to Sky?

Yes, but the dish has to be set up precisely so you may need a
professional installer, a freesat box is about £100 so a freeview box
is a cheaper option.

There are more free channels available via satellite but in all
honesty they are specific interest channels, not documentaries etc.

There are more radio stations available via satellite though.

Geoff Lane

Freeview etc by satellite dish?
 

Forgive what's no doubt a numpty question but never having owned a
satellite TV system or known anything about them...

I've recently acquired an old satellite dish which google has ID'ed for
me as this: http://tinyurl.com/o5kvh (or
http://www.brittany-satellites.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=92).


Anyway, I was just wondering about the possibility of putting it into
use: is it possible to do so without taking out a sub to Sky? ie, are
there unencoded freeview-type channels available on it? If so, is there
stuff over and above what's available on terrestrial Freeview? - ie,
would it be worth bothering to do?

If so, what other kit would I need to get it up and running?

Thanks
David

Freeview etc by satellite dish?
 

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
Forgive what's no doubt a numpty question but never having owned a
satellite TV system or known anything about them...

I've recently acquired an old satellite dish which google has ID'ed for
me as this: http://tinyurl.com/o5kvh (or
http://www.brittany-satellites.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=92).


Anyway, I was just wondering about the possibility of putting it into
use: is it possible to do so without taking out a sub to Sky? ie, are
there unencoded freeview-type channels available on it? If so, is there
stuff over and above what's available on terrestrial Freeview? - ie,
would it be worth bothering to do?

With a Sky STB + £20 viewing card you can get the FTA channels + C4 and C5

Without the viewing card or a Non Sky STB you will only get the FTA channels.

Only Sky STBs can handle the interactive facilities.

Comparing with Freeview there is CNN and there used to be an Extreme Sports
channel but that is now encrypted (or has moved). - of the channels I view

--

Michael Chare

Freeview etc by satellite dish?
 

I've recently acquired an old satellite dish


Anyway, I was just wondering about the possibility of putting it into
use: is it possible to do so without taking out a sub to Sky?


Yes, but the dish has to be set up precisely so you may need a
professional installer

Not really. If you've plenty of time, a compass and preferably a DIY
inclinometer its easy to set up a Sky dish. The difference is the
professionals have to do it in 10 mins or less to make a profit on the job.


john2

Freeview etc by satellite dish?
 

Lobster
Anyway, I was just wondering about the possibility of putting it into
use: is it possible to do so without taking out a sub to Sky?

Yes.

ie, are there unencoded freeview-type channels available on it?

Unencrypted, but encoded in DVB-S.

If so, is there stuff over and above what's available on terrestrial Freeview?

Yes.

- ie, would it be worth bothering to do?

I think so.

If so, what other kit would I need to get it up and running?

A DVB-S decoder. Almost any will do. DIY installation is pretty
easy as long as you don't mind drilling 5 or so holes and have a
suitable site and compass.

--
MJR/slef
Free Sat FAQ: http://mjr.towers.org.uk/blog/2006/astefaq

Freeview etc by satellite dish?
 

MJ Ray wrote:
Lobster
Anyway, I was just wondering about the possibility of putting it into
use: is it possible to do so without taking out a sub to Sky?

Yes.

ie, are there unencoded freeview-type channels available on it?

Unencrypted, but encoded in DVB-S.

If so, is there stuff over and above what's available on terrestrial Freeview?

Yes.

- ie, would it be worth bothering to do?

I think so.

If so, what other kit would I need to get it up and running?

A DVB-S decoder. Almost any will do. DIY installation is pretty
easy as long as you don't mind drilling 5 or so holes and have a
suitable site and compass.

Like all things it depends how much you are willing to spend. I went
the whole hog and got a Topfield dual channel receiver with hard disk
recorder, dual LNB, Dragon cam, already had a SKY card that received the
"free" channels. Of course it cost a few quid, however I am now free of
Sky. :-))

Freeview etc by satellite dish?
 

In article , john2
writes


I've recently acquired an old satellite dish


Anyway, I was just wondering about the possibility of putting it into
use: is it possible to do so without taking out a sub to Sky?


Yes, but the dish has to be set up precisely so you may need a
professional installer

Not really. If you've plenty of time, a compass and preferably a DIY
inclinometer its easy to set up a Sky dish. The difference is the
professionals have to do it in 10 mins or less to make a profit on the job.


john2
Quite. In fact its one of the easiest satellite systems to line up. I've
done a few in 5 mins or less!.....
--
Tony Sayer

Freeview etc by satellite dish?
 

"Broadback" wrote in message
...
MJ Ray wrote:
Lobster
Anyway, I was just wondering about the possibility of putting it into
use: is it possible to do so without taking out a sub to Sky?

Yes.

ie, are there unencoded freeview-type channels available on it?

Unencrypted, but encoded in DVB-S.

If so, is there stuff over and above what's available on terrestrial
Freeview?

Yes.

- ie, would it be worth bothering to do?

I think so.

If so, what other kit would I need to get it up and running?

A DVB-S decoder. Almost any will do. DIY installation is pretty
easy as long as you don't mind drilling 5 or so holes and have a
suitable site and compass.

Like all things it depends how much you are willing to spend. I went
the whole hog and got a Topfield dual channel receiver with hard disk
recorder, dual LNB, Dragon cam, already had a SKY card that received the
"free" channels. Of course it cost a few quid, however I am now free of
Sky. :-))

Which Topfield satellite PVR do you have and how much EPG data to you get for
the BBC and ITV channels
(I am just curious!)

--

Michael Chare

Freeview etc by satellite dish?
 

Like all things it depends how much you are willing to spend. I went the
whole hog and got a Topfield dual channel receiver with hard disk
recorder, dual LNB, Dragon cam, already had a SKY card that received the
"free" channels. Of course it cost a few quid, however I am now free of
Sky. :-))
I wanted to put a Dragon CAM into a CI slot in my non-Sky satellite
receiver - particularly with the rumours that the two new "five" channels
coming this Autumn are going to require an FTV viewing card (even though
five described them as FTA). However, forum responses have suggested that
Sky cards won't work for long in a CAM without a regular visit to a Sky box.

Does your Sky FTV card work in the Dragon CAM without needing a "refresh"
sometimes in a Sky Digibox?

Freeview etc by satellite dish?
 

Michael Chare wrote:
"Lobster" wrote in message
...
Forgive what's no doubt a numpty question but never having owned a
satellite TV system or known anything about them...

I've recently acquired an old satellite dish which google has ID'ed for
me as this: http://tinyurl.com/o5kvh (or
http://www.brittany-satellites.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=92).


Anyway, I was just wondering about the possibility of putting it into
use: is it possible to do so without taking out a sub to Sky? ie, are
there unencoded freeview-type channels available on it? If so, is there
stuff over and above what's available on terrestrial Freeview? - ie,
would it be worth bothering to do?

With a Sky STB + £20 viewing card you can get the FTA channels + C4 and C5

Without the viewing card or a Non Sky STB you will only get the FTA
channels.

Only Sky STBs can handle the interactive facilities.

Comparing with Freeview there is CNN and there used to be an Extreme
Sports
channel but that is now encrypted (or has moved). - of the channels I view

A freesat card will get you Sky 3 too. (So that's Ch4, Ch5 and Sky 3)