Newbie after LOTS of channels

[Ben]

Morning all, my first post, so go easy

Looking for some advice on my first install. I'm not really sure what's out there in the way of channels, so would like to install a single dish solution that allows me to receive as many channels as possible. I like to keep my options open! Am I correct in saying that the biggest dish I can put up without planning permission is the UK is 98cm? What's the maximum number of LNBs that can be installed on a dish this size?

I've read that having a motorized dish can help. Can someone briefly explain the benefits of this & how it's wired up? Does it not mean that whilst the dish is pointing in one direction to receive one set of channels, when I try to change to a different set of channels, I have to wait a few seconds/minutes for the dish to move-? Sorry for the newbie confusion ops:

I'm interested in sport, especially football. I'm also interested in HD, movies & new series including Lost, 24, Nip/Tuck, Heroes, etc - most of which Sky1 seem to have poached over the seasons (I take it there's no way around this ).

I will be going for an HD receiver. Probably the Pace, Humax or Topfield. Am I correct in assuming my choice of receiver will not affect the channels I receive? (i.e. that's purely down to what's on the roof).

Finally, not sure it's relevant, but my location is approx 51.1, 0.2 (Tunbridge Wells, Kent). Thanks in advance, Ben

[BGonaSTICK]

Hiya Ben.

We've never savaged a first-time poster yet - or anyone else come to that, so welcome to the forum m8!

It's pretty much true that the HD channels you can receive are the same on all the latest receivers - certainly the three you mention. That's no guarantee, as the odd channel can be elusive if they are using strange transmission protocols etc. These oddities usually get addressed in firmware updates over time though.

We don't have much experience of these receivers yet, but the Topfield certainly looks the best of the bunch at the moment. One of our members speaks very highly of it. It will take a CAM such as the Diablo too, so if you buy a CAS3 programmer to take care of the updates to that, you'll be able to get everything that's available be it legal or otherwise.

You have to take what you're given in this game - and it can change regularly.

Yep - you can have a dish up to 1m diameter - no restrictions on the number of LNBs. If you want to be flexible though, you'll definitely be wanting a motor. You'll just about get away with a DiSEqC motor with a dish of that size - as long as it's not high-up or in a windy location.

The 1m Gibertini alloy dish is probably the best performer at this size, and a Moteck SG2100A is my favourite motor.

Doubt you'll get to see many of the shows you mention, but there are plenty of movies and sporting events available at the moment. As I say, that might not be the case tomorrow - none of us know what will happen in the future.

I edited your location to be a little less specific, otherwise some of the fellas will be popping in for a beer

[Analoguesat]

Originally Posted by BGonaSTICK

Hiya Ben.

We've never savaged a first-time poster yet

Apart from the spammers And they deserve everything they get :roflmao:

[Yorks]

Hi Ben, :welc1:

There is lots of stuff out there, as BGonaSTICK says. If you want all of the channels all of the time, then you need a $ky subscription. If you are willing to take what comes and goes, and are willing to invest a little time and money in this hobby (or obsession for some of us ), then there are plenty of knowledgeable folks around to point you in the right direction.
They help me all the time (especially when I hear the voices).

Have fun.

Regards,

Yorks

[Ben]

Hi again & thanks for the replies. Looks like I've come to the right place

I like to keep my options open, so it sounds like a motorized dish is the way to go. STICK, thanks for the suggestions, both the Gibertini dish & Moteck SG2100A look good . Any suggestions for a decent LNB? How many should I fit to get me started & where should I point them?

Originally Posted by BGonaSTICK

It will take a CAM such as the Diablo too, so if you buy a CAS3 programmer to take care of the updates to that, you'll be able to get everything that's available be it legal or otherwise.

I'm afraid you've lost me slightly here ops:

Is the Diablo a device that can emulate other CAMs simultaneously? Do I have to buy a CAS3 programmer to update/modify the Diablo - i.e. is there no freeware that can do the same job? Is the Diablo considered the best CAM out there? Any info on this subject would be gratefully received (FWIW, I'm normally fairly confident with this kind of stuff & enjoy a good tinker )

Thanks again guys & keep up the good work

[Jimdefruit]

Hi Ben, if you have a motorised dish then you only need one lnb.

If you want to get as many channels as possible then I would suggest you go for a Dreambox receiver. More money than a basic receiver and a cam but you wont have to keep spending money everytime a cam becomes obsolete.

[BGonaSTICK]

If you really want HD, then a Dreambox is no good - unless you wait for the DM8000.

It is the most flexible of all boxes though.

The Diablo is a single CAM. It can handle multiple encryption systems (i.e. carry cards from many providers using different encryption systems) - so you don't have to buy loads of different official CAMs.

It can also emulate cards too (which is the illegal bit, obviously) but you need to physically program it. This is why you need the CAS programmer. You need both hardware and software to get this done - the software comes with the programmer, and you download the software which goes onto the CAM from the Internet - this is the bit that changes when the providers close a 'hacked' system.

The Diablo is by far the best CAM at the moment - it's only £50ish (nearly half the price of anything else) opens the most stuff and has the best support. It's a great piece of kit, though there is no guarantee of continuing support. I have a feeling that it'll be around for quite a while yet though.