Can my old Sky dish do anything else? - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

RogerAndOut · 24-02-06, 11:39 PM

Evening gentlemen.

We have just been swallowed up by the growing cable network, which means that I've cancelled my Sky subscription.

I still have all the kit, i.e. digibox, dish etc. and was going to put it up in the loft until a friend at work suggested that I could move the dish to another satellite?

He said that I could view some FTA channels on 'Hotbird' (OMG my wife is going to read this over my shoulder any minute and get the wrong idea!!!) or 'Hispasat'.

Is he right? Is it worth doing, and what would I need?

I'm pretty hopeless with things mechanical, so I could maybe get an installer to move the dish, or even persuade my friend to give me a hand based on the fact that he started all this!

What do you think?

What sort of channels could I expect to receive, if any?

Sorry for so many questions. It does sound quite interesting :clap:

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Roger

Analoguesat · 25-02-06, 12:15 PM

There are various options available to you.

1) Leave the dish where it is and use it for the free tv and radio channels

2) Re-align the dish onto one of the other satellites and watch the European programming.

Assuming you want option 2 just slacken the mounting bolts a tad and swing the dish around. HOWEVER, a digibox is about the least suitable satellite receiver for use away from Sky UK programming. You are limited to 50 ADD CHANNELS (Services 4,4) and have to go through the OTHER CHANNELS faff every time you want to change channel (services 6).

One word of warning - Never try to move a satellite dish unless you have completely safe access to it.

BGonaSTICK · 26-02-06, 01:03 PM

Try and rope in your m8 at work, and get him to bring his receiver over. Then you'll see what you're really missing out on

As you're now getting all the main channels you want via cable, you'll not be under any pressure from the wife/girlfriend/family to keep them available, leaving you to have a play with the dish.

As AS said, your old digibox is not much cop for any of this. They will fetch a few quid on eBay though, and pay for at least half the cost of a nice new FTA box.

The BBC and ITV are also starting a new Free To Air satellite service this year (hopefully) which an FTA box could receive.

Hope this helps.

STICK

24-02-06, 11:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
RogerAndOut Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Can my old Sky dish do anything else? Evening gentlemen. We have just been swallowed up by the growing cable network, which means that I've cancelled my Sky subscription. I still have all the kit, i.e. digibox, dish etc. and was going to put it up in the loft until a friend at work suggested that I could move the dish to another satellite? He said that I could view some FTA channels on 'Hotbird' (OMG my wife is going to read this over my shoulder any minute and get the wrong idea!!!) or 'Hispasat'. Is he right? Is it worth doing, and what would I need? I'm pretty hopeless with things mechanical, so I could maybe get an installer to move the dish, or even persuade my friend to give me a hand based on the fact that he started all this! What do you think? What sort of channels could I expect to receive, if any? Sorry for so many questions. It does sound quite interesting :clap: Thanks for any advice you can give. Roger

25-02-06, 12:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
Analoguesat manic midlander retired mod Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 11,668 Thanks: 21 Thanked 1,339 Times in 990 Posts	Re: Can my old Sky dish do anything else? There are various options available to you. 1) Leave the dish where it is and use it for the free tv and radio channels 2) Re-align the dish onto one of the other satellites and watch the European programming. Assuming you want option 2 just slacken the mounting bolts a tad and swing the dish around. HOWEVER, a digibox is about the least suitable satellite receiver for use away from Sky UK programming. You are limited to 50 ADD CHANNELS (Services 4,4) and have to go through the OTHER CHANNELS faff every time you want to change channel (services 6). One word of warning - Never try to move a satellite dish unless you have completely safe access to it. __________________ Basic forum rules for both satellite & cable: no keys no patches no offering or asking for card shares Anyone pm'ing me for details of card sharing or anything to do with hacking cable will be banned immediately Analogue forever!!

26-02-06, 01:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718 Thanks: 3 Thanked 166 Times in 60 Posts	Re: Can my old Sky dish do anything else? Try and rope in your m8 at work, and get him to bring his receiver over. Then you'll see what you're really missing out on As you're now getting all the main channels you want via cable, you'll not be under any pressure from the wife/girlfriend/family to keep them available, leaving you to have a play with the dish. As AS said, your old digibox is not much cop for any of this. They will fetch a few quid on eBay though, and pay for at least half the cost of a nice new FTA box. The BBC and ITV are also starting a new Free To Air satellite service this year (hopefully) which an FTA box could receive. Hope this helps. STICK __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W