Access to Finnish TV (Canal+)

[BGonaSTICK]

...or wait for me to finish my longwinded and boring essay on the subject!

Originally Posted by Jimdefruit

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned. If you go for the Channelmaster and maybe some others, the lnb really needs a feedhorn to make best use of the dish.

The feedhorn can be either a separate 20 mm mounting or a lnb with built in feedhorn. I think the Channelmaster comes with a 20 mm mounting bracket as standard. Most other dishes come with a 40 mm mounting bracket.

I am sure someone else will confirm if I am wrong.

ops: Sorry Jim, I didn't see your post above as it was at the top of page 2

@ mara - Jim and I both picked up on your mention of C120.

LNBs come in many types, sizes and configurations, but the main two for hobbyists like us are:

1) The standard 22/40mm neck 'universal' LNB which fits in the standard round clamp on the vast majority of offset dishes (dishes with the LNB arm protruding from the bottom of the dish face). These are more correctly called LNBFs. The 'F' standing for Feedhorn. The feedhorn is the 'funnel' at the front of the LNB which 'scoops' the signal into the business part of the LNB. I'm sure it's a bit more scientific than that, but hey!

2) The C120 LNB. This is pretty much the same as the above, but comes without a feedhorn. It has a flange at the face for you to add your own. Why? Because the feedhorn should be designed to match a given dish face. Clearly if it's built into the LNB it's going to be a one-size-fits-all compromise. This is the most common LNB/feed type on the larger 'prime focus' dishes - those with the LNB located right at the centre of the dish.

When you get to the larger and better quality dishes, you don't necessarily want to compromise on your LNB and feedhorn. The more professional dish manufacturers design and make a feedhorn specifically for their dish face, matching (or 'illuminating') it exactly for size and shape.

If the manufacturer goes to the bother of doing this, then it makes sense to take advantage unless you're on a tight budget. This is when you'd go for a C120 LNB.

The Gibertini's have a feedhorn option, as do the Channel Masters. I'll bow to Jim's knowledge on the CM dish being a 20/22mm fitting.

Does that make sense?

STICK

[imported_mara]

I'd like to thank you all.

On Monday, my Gibertini 1.2m dish, C120 Invacom LNB and Gibertini feedhorn arrived.

Today it was installed (I'm afraid I bottled out of a DIY installation, although given my new found knowledge, if/when I were to do it again, I would DIY) and I get a perfect picture on Finnish Canal+. (I left Sky untouched).

It's installed in the garden, my fear now is that there has been a severe weather warning for tomorrow (winds) and by tomorrow evening it could be several gardens away!

My wife is delighted with access to TV stations from her homeland, now I clearly need to route Sky to the upstairs TV as she is bound to win the argument over what channels we watch in the living room.

Many thanks for all your help.

[nanochickin]

If the installer has done a good job you shouldn't have anything to fear from the wind

Usually at most it may knock the dish out of alignment but thats about as bad as it gets



nano

[Analoguesat]

Excellent mara - thats great news

At some point nip outside and mark the dish positions on the mounting pole with a pencil or crayon or something that isnt going to wash off easily. Then if it does move in the future you can easily put it back. If its moves overnight get the installer back and shout at him!

You cant win against the women so you may as well start learning Finnish!

[BGonaSTICK]

Hey, fantastic stuff mara. What sort of reception strengths do you get?

What do you think of the dish? Any chance of a picture or two?

Glad to have been able to help.

70mph winds are forecast here for tonight, and that's enough to undo even slightly suspect installation work

[imported_mara]

Strongest winds since 1990, but the dish doesn't seem to have moved at all, certainly I still get a perfect picture - in fact we're now watching Graham Norton with Finnish subtitles on Nelonen. So I guess the installation was pretty good. It is attached to 6 concrete slabs with 3 sandbags for added balast, given the weather forecast, I picked up 4 more bags of sand to help pin it down - all in, it seems to be very solid.

I'd love to tell you what signal strength I am getting, but I have no idea how to find that out, do I need a meter?

I don't have pictures yet, but will take some and post them as soon as I can.

The receiver is the standard issue Canal+ box (came free with subscription) so I guess it's not the best (it's a CDC-7000 ST). It does have an open slot beneath the card slot that is labelled in the manual as a place for a CA-Module:
a) Does this mean I can insert a second "CAM" and card and then pick up more channel from Thor?
b) Would this enable me to pick up channels from any of the satellites on 1 degree west, or just Thor 3?

I was surprised by the variety of the new channels, there's a range of good movies most nights and more and varied sport, if possible, it seems sensible to get the most out of my recent investment.

You never know, one day I may move out of the "Biginners" forum.

[Analoguesat]

There should be some sort of basic signal strength/quality meters in the tuning menu somewhere. Every digital receiver Ive used has them in there somewhere. Just dont change anything if you go delving!

Theoreatically a cam slot will give you access to more channels with the right cam and subscription card

[BGonaSTICK]

Three satellites are co-located at what is generically known as 1 degree West - Thor 2, Thor 3 and Intelsat 10-02. You will be able to receive from all three because of your large dish size.

There are three packages spread across those satellites, Canal Digital (Conax encrypted), Focus Sat (Conax again) and Digi TV (Nagravision 2).

You might find that a Focus card will work in the existing card slot because it uses the same encryption type (but some providers do 'restrict' their free receivers to stop this). Digi TV would need a Nagravision 2 CAM to go in the CAM slot as well as a valid subscription card.

Good news your dish hasn't moved. That's as good a test as any I guess

[imported_mara]

Sorry it's taken a while to post come pics, finally got around to taking them. You will notice the sublety of the "blow over protection mechanisms", which could be tidier.

The picture is still perfect and the TV now dominated by my wide watching her "local" TV.

The installation guy told me I could paint it green so it stands out less in the garden, but I am frightened I will wreck the reception. Any tips on how to paint it? Wha kind of paint to use and whether this will impede performance?

Thanks again.

[Analoguesat]

Matt car primer in a suitable colour. DONT use lead based, or metallic or crackle finish.