newbie with dumb question or dumb newbie with question?

[Buffalo Bill]

Hi every body. As this is my first post to any board I would like to apologize for any fooops that I make.

I would like to get away from the 4 channels that we receive but don’t like the idea of Sky. I have been given a dish about 86cm dia, but was informed that it’s rubbish as it was for an analogue sat.
The dumb question I have. Is it really scrap or is just a case of fitting a digital LNB, will this dish support an LNB with 4 outputs. And finally what sats should I be able to receive
(from google earth my location is 56,02,38N 04,49,59W)

Thanks BB

[Analoguesat]

Hi BB, the dish will be fine, although it will need a "universal" lnb on it

56N, 4W puts you up in north western Scotland somewhere, which should give you a good selection of satellites to play with. Have a look at my web site

www.digitalsat.co.uk

which lists all the satellites I can get on an assortment of 80 cm dishes in the Scottish Borders.

Yes you can fit a 4 output lnb to it quite easily (as long as the screws that hold the lnb clamp in place havent rusted solid!)

[BGonaSTICK]

Hi Bill

You're in the right place for a total beginner. We'll give you all the help you need! You don't have to apologise for not knowing stuff here - we'll fill you in whatever your level of experience.

Do you have a receiver yet, or are you still mulling it over?

What sort of things do you want to watch?

The common satellite choices once you move away from Astra 2 at 28.2E are Hotbird at 13E and Astra 1 at 19.2E, but it's not easy to get both of these as well as Astra 2 on a single dish - though it can be done.

If you want all three, a new dish with multi-LNB arm is probably a good investment at maybe £80 incl LNBs.

There are some good quality Free To Air English channels on Astra 2, such as film4, Sky news etc. Check here.

If you're happy to forgo the predominantly English stuff on 28.2E then it's relatively simple.

Tell us more about what kit you have and what interests you, and we'll be able to advise you better.



STICK

[Buffalo Bill]

Thanks for the very prompt replies, I’m impressed.

Analoguesat, Your spot on, West coast of Scotland, Helensburgh to be a little more accurate.
Unfortunately all the screws on the arm are solid. Can these not be replaced?

BGonaSTICK. What have I done to deserve “filling in”.
Hope this is my misunderstanding of your local colloquialism. Had to look that up on the internet.
The only gear that I have is a dish, some digi sat cable and an old LNB which I think will be an analogue one.
What is required to watch 1. rubbish soap things.
2. sport
3. documentaries
It sounds like Astra 2 is a good place to start with.
I was thinking if I got a multi output LNB and a modest receiver to start with, then the boss can watch the brain numbing stuff.
Later with the addition of another receiver the rest of the household can be satisfied.
Lastly what interests me is the technology, how, why etc.
Please fill me UP with information.

Still impressed

Buffalow Bill from Maryhill never worked and never will ! ! !

[barr6868]

Howdy billy boy.
Another from Jockland.
I'd start of with a monobloc for 19e and 13e and follow the guides on here for installing it (type monobloc in the search box on the main page).
Follow the advice about receivers (particularly technomate 1000 series) and make your choice after some reading, depending on how much you want to spend.
Loads to watch on both sat's at the moment with patches and updates available for the techno's
Not too difficult either.
Premiere package (German) on 19E has loads of films, football, golf etc and naughty stuff if your so inclined, Digital+ package (Spanish) pretty much the same, and TPS package (French) is updating automatically at the moment with the Darkman's latest patch on the Techno's.
I'd remember though that nothing is guarenteed in this game and you have to appreciate what's open at any particular time, or else subscribe to sly.
Hope this helps.
Regards.
S

[Analoguesat]

BB Yes they can be replaced - or possibly forced open

Give the screws that hold the lnb in place a damn good douse in WD40 a few days before you need to change the lnb. If you wreck the top CAREFULLY drill them out and replace them with steel ones

I know Helendburgh - I lived near there for a few months 15 years ago

Filling in as used by Stick isnt Glasgae for thumping you

[BGonaSTICK]

LOL, no - it means getting you up to speed

Your choice - either 19.2E/13E for movies and sport (not particularly legal) or 28.2E for a few movies and a load of soaps and daytime-type tosh

A photo of your current LNB would help us, but I guess you'll be needing a standard 40mm collar type Universal quad LNB if you go for Astra 2.

[Buffalo Bill]

Tnx for the info and leads. (also tnx for not punshing my lights out Stick)

From the plate on the LNB its a Cambridge single output Type AE19
Until I get deeper into this, the way forward and keep other household members happy seems like FTA (think that means free to air) but on which sat may best left until we have a system not just a pile of wire and steel!!!

Have removed the LNB from the dish but the holder came off as well, it just happened when I cut its nuts off. Still the holder is all in one piece and awaiting a replacement.

Question time?
Am I right about FTA? Whats the difference between FTA and FTV?
For Astra2 without any fiddling once its set up whats a good STB to go for?

[Analoguesat]

The AE19 is an old 9750MHz enhanced type LNB, and will definiely need swapping out when you go digital

In September 1998 it would have cost you 25 quid!

http://www.newchannels.demon.co.uk/ncweb/pricelst.htm

As the holder has snapped you will probably be able to lash it together with zip ties and duck tape - Ive had one patched like that for years!

[BGonaSTICK]

For a definition of FTA and FTV look here:

FTA & FTV satellite TV

Loads of good cheap receivers out there these days. How much do you want to spend?

Entry level from as cheap as £40, good basic models are around £60, and top quality FTA's with upgradeability via CAM slots are around £100.