Newbie help needed (surprise)

[playmarbles]

Hi

I've searched the forums but not really been able to find an answer to my specific questions. I have an HD TV and really want to get the BBC HD channel for as cheap as possible. I don't particularly want any other channels as I have a good freeview service, so SKY is out. My question is, what exactly do I need to purchase in order to get the BBC HD channel on satellite? How much would I be looking at spending for the cheapest possible option, and how easy is it to install myself? I'm reasonably technically able and I have seen that neighbours have dishes up on my side of the house.

Cheers!

Bruce

[nousernamesleft]

To save opening another topic, how do I get BBC HD? Sound but no picture in DVB Viewer, nothing but codec errors in DVB Dream and zip from ALT Dvb? Skystar 2, Sky dish pointing at Eurobird, (for now)..

[Jimdefruit]

Welcome to the forum Playmarbles. We hope you enjoy it here.

The cheapest way to get BBC HD is via a PC satellite card. At present the BBC channel is broadcast in dvb-s format and can be received on a Skystar 2 card. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that it will stay dvb-s when the present experimental transmissions are completed. It is possible that the transmission will change to dvb-S2 and that will require a HD satellite card.

However, at present you will need the following:

A sat dish with lnb, pointing at Astra 2 satellite 28.2 degrees east of south.
A PC with a Skystar 2 or similar PCI or usb card
The PC must have a reasonably fast CPU (preferably above 3500 MHz) and a good graphics card.
If the graphics card has a dvi output it can be connected to a HD TV via HDMI but it will need a separate audio connection since dvi is video only. The actual connections depend upon your setup.

Currently I can get a reasonable steady picture from BBC HD using the software AltDVB or Progdvb from my 3200+ AMD PC which has an ATI Powercolor X800GTO 256 MB graphics card and using Win XP Pro. If I try to run it on Vista I get a bit of breakup.

The actual decoding uses Elecard or CoreAVC codecs to read the transmission.

Hang around, there are a few experts who will get in from the pub soon and may be able to shed a bit more light for you.

[playmarbles]

Thanks Jim. I'm afraid that my laptop isn't up to the job and I don't have a separate PC. I was thinking more of one of the HD receivers that I've been reading about. Does any satellite dish work with one of those of is there a special HD one, and what cables etc might I need? I've been on the maplin website and they seem to have lots of cheap kits but I don't know if they're suitable and how easy they would be to set up.

Cheers

[Jimdefruit]

I dont have a HD receiver. I dont do things the easy way.

I am waiting for the Dreambox 8000 to come out. Hopefully before I pop my clogs.

I imagine that any of the HD receivers will open the BBC HD channel but dont quote me.

[BGonaSTICK]

The Humax HDCI2000 and Pace DS810 receivers do, and it's highly likely the Topfield TF7700 will too.

The Pace DS810 is a bit flaky, and I wouldn't recommend it.

You can buy a Sky HD box on eBay. This should work (technically it will, as BBC HD is FTA) but I don't know if you'll have any problems with Sky, their interactive discount nonsense or whatever. Most available boxes will be less than a year old, and may therefor be subject to the discounted hardware T&Cs.

The BBC have stated that it most definitely is their intention to go DVB-S2 at some point (if the trial gets an extended run) but it's all in the melting pot right now. The 'trial' was originally due to end this month IIRC, though there was talk that it had been given a stay of execution.

[Gav]

Well if I were you mate, I'd wait, a lot is happening with BBC HD by the end of the year, and your equipment may no longer work.

The BBC (sorta) are launching a new Satellite service (sorta), and are messing with HD a bit more.

For now, what you need is a dish (any dish works with any box normally) with a 'LNB' (thats the thing on the end of the dish that receives the signal and sends it down the c@ble) pointing at Astra2 28.2 east of NORTH (Same sat used by sky uk) . 43CM is good enough for the lower part of the UK.

You can then get ANY HD compatiable reciever and plug it in, the BBC HD channel is currently free to air (no encryption), but its a trial channel and is ending soon, but as I said - a LOT is happening on the HD scene this year, so it WILL pay off to wait.

[BGonaSTICK]

Originally Posted by Gav

...pointing at Astra2 28.2 east of NORTH

That should be East of South in the northern hemisphere...

Also, although the BBC HD transmissions are FTA, they are transmitted in a slightly odd format - using MBAFF interlacing, which isn't decoded correctly by all receivers - so beware.

[Gav]

Originally Posted by BGonaSTICK

That should be East of South in the northern hemisphere...

Also, although the BBC HD transmissions are FTA, they are transmitted in a slightly odd format - using MBAFF interlacing, which isn't decoded correctly by all receivers - so beware.

I do beg your puddin.

I held my google earth upside down.

Just out of interest, what happens if your sat on the equator?

[BGonaSTICK]

Then your arc is isn't an arc at all - it's a straight line East to West. Your dish will point straight up if you're on the same line of longitude as your target satellite too.