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New Installation ?
Is there somewhere on the web an idiots guide to satellite?
We moved last year and reception for terrestrial channels is rubbish. With the present tv, a Sony Bravia, we can get a handful of the freeview channels, Film 4, E4+1, Dave, BBC3 and of course Sky3 and ITV2+1. Working on the theory that everything is repeated sooner or later this would probably do me but the rest of the family seem to think that entertainment ought to be available 24/7... The nature of the house [end of terrace, not far from the corner with higher properties in between it and the satellite] means that if I put a dish on the highest point of the back wall it would still not [quite] get a good line of site to the Astra group so the alternatives [as I see it] are either to run a cable to the bottom of the garden and install the dish on the shed, put the dish in the loft or stick it on a pole somewhere. Apart from that and assuming that the family just want the normal freeview channels, is there any advantage in getting anything other than a second hand Sky box off ebay? A Panasonic TU-DSB50 went for 25 quid including postage on ebay last night and, AIUI, will do the job fine. So there we are, comments gentlemen please... -- David Kennedy http://www.anindianinexile.com |
New Installation ?
David Kennedy wrote:
Is there somewhere on the web an idiots guide to satellite? We moved last year and reception for terrestrial channels is rubbish. With the present tv, a Sony Bravia, we can get a handful of the freeview channels, Film 4, E4+1, Dave, BBC3 and of course Sky3 and ITV2+1. Working on the theory that everything is repeated sooner or later this would probably do me but the rest of the family seem to think that entertainment ought to be available 24/7... If you can get some Freeview but not all then that suggests that you need a new aerial. What's your analogue reception like? You don't say where you are or what transmitter your aerial is pointed at. The nature of the house [end of terrace, not far from the corner with higher properties in between it and the satellite] means that if I put a dish on the highest point of the back wall it would still not [quite] get a good line of site to the Astra group so the alternatives [as I see it] are either to run a cable to the bottom of the garden and install the dish on the shed, put the dish in the loft or stick it on a pole somewhere. You can't put a dish in the loft unless you have a plastic roof, it actually needs to see the bird. -- Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks" |
New Installation ?
On 18/5/09 10:27, Phil Cook wrote:
David Kennedy wrote: Is there somewhere on the web an idiots guide to satellite? We moved last year and reception for terrestrial channels is rubbish. With the present tv, a Sony Bravia, we can get a handful of the freeview channels, Film 4, E4+1, Dave, BBC3 and of course Sky3 and ITV2+1. Working on the theory that everything is repeated sooner or later this would probably do me but the rest of the family seem to think that entertainment ought to be available 24/7... If you can get some Freeview but not all then that suggests that you need a new aerial. What's your analogue reception like? You don't say where you are or what transmitter your aerial is pointed at. I'm in Monmouth, the local transmitter is a non freeview relay so we have a second element pointed at Ross on Wye [10 miles for the average crow]. When the weather's good we get the freeview channels mentioned otherwise reception is patchy. Present installation has a masthead amp. The nature of the house [end of terrace, not far from the corner with higher properties in between it and the satellite] means that if I put a dish on the highest point of the back wall it would still not [quite] get a good line of site to the Astra group so the alternatives [as I see it] are either to run a cable to the bottom of the garden and install the dish on the shed, put the dish in the loft or stick it on a pole somewhere. You can't put a dish in the loft unless you have a plastic roof, it actually needs to see the bird. Well, we do have a window up there but checking now it doesn't quite line up. -- David Kennedy http://www.anindianinexile.com |
New Installation ?
On 18/5/09 11:25, Brian Gaff wrote:
Hmm, how steady is the shed, if it rocks in the wind a bit its no good either. If its a very stable beast and there are no trees in the direction you need to look then as long as its not a country estate you can probably get away with it. Fairly steady although, now you mention it, there is a tree next to it and in direct line of sight... You mention the relative closeness of the transmitter for Freeview, have you got a big hill in the way, it seems a bit close to need a mast head amp to my mind unless its one of those aimed in the opposite direction transmitters. Lots of hills, the local transmitter is Monmouth, the second antennae is pointed at Ross for the Ridge Hill transmitter. Hills, valleys, trees etc. all in between us and the transmitter. The system didn't work when we arrived as the nice old lady who lived here took the power supply with her when she moved... -- David Kennedy http://www.anindianinexile.com |
New Installation ?
Lots of hills, the local transmitter is Monmouth, the second antennae is
pointed at Ross for the Ridge Hill transmitter. Hills, valleys, trees etc. all in between us and the transmitter. The system didn't work when we arrived as the nice old lady who lived here took the power supply with her when she moved... Might be worth describing the set-up too. Is it the right aerial for the job, with good CT100 cable or one of those "looks loverly and big but couldn't catch a picture if it's life depended on it" jobbies. Even better, is it gold ;-)? Paul DS. |
New Installation ?
"David Kennedy" [email protected]*******s .invalid wrote in message ... On 18/5/09 11:25, Brian Gaff wrote: Hmm, how steady is the shed, if it rocks in the wind a bit its no good either. If its a very stable beast and there are no trees in the direction you need to look then as long as its not a country estate you can probably get away with it. Fairly steady although, now you mention it, there is a tree next to it and in direct line of sight... You mention the relative closeness of the transmitter for Freeview, have you got a big hill in the way, it seems a bit close to need a mast head amp to my mind unless its one of those aimed in the opposite direction transmitters. Lots of hills, the local transmitter is Monmouth, the second antennae is pointed at Ross for the Ridge Hill transmitter. Hills, valleys, trees etc. all in between us and the transmitter. The system didn't work when we arrived as the nice old lady who lived here took the power supply with her when she moved... Ridge Hill is a pain because it needs a wideband aerial. I presume you have a wideband up there and not an old group A aerial? Same with the amplifier is it wideband and not just group A? How is the Ridge Hill aerial combined with the Monmouth aerial? Monmouth is group C/D and so are some of the RH digitals. A combiner fitted for analogue will not work as it will be filtering out the RH muxes. If the aerials are combined, try running a CT100 type cable straight from a wideband aerial via the masthead amp, to the power supply and on to the receiver. Height could well be essential to help it "see" over the bumpy bits between you and Ross. Some parts of Monmouth receive Ridge Hill quite well, others not at all. If you're up by the girls school you can also receive a vertically polarized group B West region transmitter exactly on the same bearing as the Monmouth relay, but coming in over the hill above it. I can't recall which relay but likely to be analogue only - and Mendip reaches the higher parts of the town, but unlikely to be as good as Ridge Hill. It was always a popular move to get good English region reception in Monmouth for those who didn't enjoy S4C. Taking the PSU when you move house happens all the time! |
New Installation ?
On 18 May, 16:55, "Doctor D" wrote:
"David Kennedy" [email protected]*******s .invalid wrote in ... On 18/5/09 11:25, Brian Gaff wrote: Hmm, how steady is the shed, if it rocks in the wind a bit its no good either. If its a very stable beast and there are no trees in the direction you need to look then as long as its not a country estate you can probably get away with it. Fairly steady although, now you mention it, there is a tree next to it and in direct line of sight... You mention the relative closeness of the transmitter for Freeview, have you got a big hill in the way, it seems a bit close to need a mast head amp to my mind unless its one of those aimed in the opposite direction transmitters. Lots of hills, the local transmitter is Monmouth, the second antennae is pointed at Ross for the Ridge Hill transmitter. Hills, valleys, trees etc. all in between us and the transmitter. The system didn't work when we arrived as the nice old lady who lived here took the power supply with her when she moved... Ridge Hill is a pain because it needs a wideband aerial. I presume you have a wideband up there and not an old group A aerial? Same with the amplifier is it wideband and not just group A? How is the Ridge Hill aerial combined with the Monmouth aerial? Monmouth is group C/D and so are some of the RH digitals. A combiner fitted for analogue will not work as it will be filtering out the RH muxes. If the aerials are combined, try running a CT100 type cable straight from a wideband aerial via the masthead amp, to the power supply and on to the receiver. Height could well be essential *to help it "see" over the bumpy bits between you and Ross. Some parts of Monmouth receive Ridge Hill quite well, others not at all. If you're up by the girls school you can also receive a vertically polarized group B West region transmitter exactly on the same bearing as the Monmouth relay, but coming in over the hill above it. I can't recall which relay but likely to be analogue only - and Mendip reaches the higher parts of the town, but unlikely to be as good as Ridge Hill. It was always a popular move to get good English region reception in Monmouth for those who didn't enjoy S4C. Taking the PSU when you move house happens all the time! Bear in mind also that Wenvoe and all its relays (which include Monmouth) will be switching off analogue next March and changing to digital only. From that time on you will get the freeview service from the Monmouth relay, albeit only the public service multiplexes. |
New Installation ?
On 18/5/09 16:55, Doctor D wrote:
Ridge Hill is a pain because it needs a wideband aerial. I presume you have a wideband up there and not an old group A aerial? Same with the amplifier is it wideband and not just group A? I'd have to check that, I'm not at home at the moment and apart from noticing that it's a fairly new installation, which compares with others roundabout and that it points in a similar direction I didn't take much notice. How is the Ridge Hill aerial combined with the Monmouth aerial? Monmouth is group C/D and so are some of the RH digitals. A combiner fitted for analogue will not work as it will be filtering out the RH muxes. I imagine that it was fitted simply as a terrestrial set up to give both HTV and Central rather than to cope with Freeview etc. If the aerials are combined, try running a CT100 type cable straight from a wideband aerial via the masthead amp, to the power supply and on to the receiver. Height could well be essential to help it "see" over the bumpy bits between you and Ross. Also the row of houses across the other side of the street which are pretty much the same hight as the roof apex here... The aerial here is on the chimney stack on a 2 meter [ish] pole. Some parts of Monmouth receive Ridge Hill quite well, others not at all. If you're up by the girls school you can also receive a vertically polarized group B West region transmitter exactly on the same bearing as the Monmouth relay, but coming in over the hill above it. I can't recall which relay but likely to be analogue only - and Mendip reaches the higher parts of the town, but unlikely to be as good as Ridge Hill. It was always a popular move to get good English region reception in Monmouth for those who didn't enjoy S4C. St James Square, yesterday reception was ok, last night it went down the pan again. Taking the PSU when you move house happens all the time! It never even occurred to me that the set up might need one as the incoming cable had been fitted with a standard co-ax plug... -- David Kennedy http://www.anindianinexile.com |
New Installation ?
On 18/5/09 17:06, wrote:
Bear in mind also that Wenvoe and all its relays (which include Monmouth) will be switching off analogue next March and changing to digital only. From that time on you will get the freeview service from the Monmouth relay, albeit only the public service multiplexes. March 3rd IIRC, I've been thinking about that and wondering if it's worth spending now for something which will arrive free in 9 months time... -- David Kennedy http://www.anindianinexile.com |
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