Complete idiot needs Satelite buying advice - Techwatch: Satellite TV forums, FTA, Cable, Hardware, & Tech forums

Gerald227 · 11-06-07, 05:08 PM

Hello,
I wonder if anyone could give me some clear simple advice? I am thinking of purchasing a satelite system. I want to be able to watch free content so I'm not bothered about SKY. I am thinking of a mobile dish so that I could get the widest choice of stations. I would like to be able to get Freeview but I understand this is a paid for service until the BBC launches FreeSat next year, Dolby surround would be nice to get so I could use it with my home cinema, I'm not bothered about HD picture quality at present. I have been given a quote by a local shop of somewhere in the region of £550 which is outside my budget, will it cost me this amount or can I do it cheaper and what do I need where do I get it from, soory to ask such a lot of questions but I'm a complete novice. I would be grateful for any advice.
Kindest regards
Gerald
:?

nanochickin · 11-06-07, 06:03 PM

Hi Gerald :welc3: to the forum mate

Right basically the only thing you would pay for by getting FreeSat from sky is Ch4 Ch5 and Sky3 so like you said your better off with a free to air system

Do you really need Dolby Surround Sound? If you do it would probably be cheaper to get a receiver that is capable of a Digital out put and buy an amp with an inbuilt Dolby Decoder, Thats how i would do it anyway

Your local shop is trying to rip you off in my opinion. You can get a starter kit for under £100 off ebay to do the basic stuff. When you say a mobile dish do you mean motorised or mobile?

You can get off ebay an 80cm dish, Lnb and mount for under £50, £45 upwards for a motor, £10-15 for your Coax, and for about £50 upwards a fairly Decent receiver like a Technomate TM1000D which is primarily FTA but can be patched to open some of the Pay TV from other providers around Europe

You could go for a better receiver like a Vantage or Dreambox later on when you are fairly competant.

At the moment TPS, TV Cabo, DMC & Digital+ are open on the Technomate plus a few other bits and pieces on other birds. Just in case your wondering Sky is completely locked down and its doubtful if it will ever be opened

Nano

Unknown user #1 · 11-06-07, 09:02 PM

I guess for simple setup with mobile dish Aldi kit (50 quid or so?) should be alright?

BGonaSTICK · 12-06-07, 11:37 AM

Welcome to the forum Gerald. Ask as many questions as you like - we're here to help everyone - including complete beginners.

Gerald227 · 13-06-07, 09:02 PM

Hello,
I just wanted to say a big thank you for the great advice which I have taken onboard, you are correct that I meant to say a Motorised dish. As for Dolby Surround I do have a very nice Dolby surround amp which I use for my home cinema but I wasn't sure if different receivers didn't allow reception of dolby surround signals and I wanted one that would allow me to hook it up to my present amp I shall start looking at Ebay and start buying bits as finances allow, unfortunately I'm disabled so my income is pretty low, but the way you have suggested it means I can purchase it a bit at a time. I can't tell you how grateful I am for your help. I wonder if you might know if there are any stations broadcasting Old Rock Concerts? I believe VH1 used to, do they still do it and are they free to air?
Once again my deepest gratitude
Kindest Regards
Gerald

11-06-07, 05:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gerald227 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Complete idiot needs Satelite buying advice Hello, I wonder if anyone could give me some clear simple advice? I am thinking of purchasing a satelite system. I want to be able to watch free content so I'm not bothered about SKY. I am thinking of a mobile dish so that I could get the widest choice of stations. I would like to be able to get Freeview but I understand this is a paid for service until the BBC launches FreeSat next year, Dolby surround would be nice to get so I could use it with my home cinema, I'm not bothered about HD picture quality at present. I have been given a quote by a local shop of somewhere in the region of £550 which is outside my budget, will it cost me this amount or can I do it cheaper and what do I need where do I get it from, soory to ask such a lot of questions but I'm a complete novice. I would be grateful for any advice. Kindest regards Gerald :?

11-06-07, 06:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
nanochickin Satellite Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Today i'll be mostly up a ladder Posts: 3,552 Thanks: 16 Thanked 133 Times in 123 Posts	Re: Complete idiot needs Satelite buying advice Hi Gerald :welc3: to the forum mate Right basically the only thing you would pay for by getting FreeSat from sky is Ch4 Ch5 and Sky3 so like you said your better off with a free to air system Do you really need Dolby Surround Sound? If you do it would probably be cheaper to get a receiver that is capable of a Digital out put and buy an amp with an inbuilt Dolby Decoder, Thats how i would do it anyway Your local shop is trying to rip you off in my opinion. You can get a starter kit for under £100 off ebay to do the basic stuff. When you say a mobile dish do you mean motorised or mobile? You can get off ebay an 80cm dish, Lnb and mount for under £50, £45 upwards for a motor, £10-15 for your Coax, and for about £50 upwards a fairly Decent receiver like a Technomate TM1000D which is primarily FTA but can be patched to open some of the Pay TV from other providers around Europe You could go for a better receiver like a Vantage or Dreambox later on when you are fairly competant. At the moment TPS, TV Cabo, DMC & Digital+ are open on the Technomate plus a few other bits and pieces on other birds. Just in case your wondering Sky is completely locked down and its doubtful if it will ever be opened Nano __________________ Dreambox 7020Si, 1m Orbital Dish, Mti Blueline Twin 0.2dB lnb, Technomate SG2200 Motor

11-06-07, 09:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Unknown user #1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 541 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Complete idiot needs Satelite buying advice I guess for simple setup with mobile dish Aldi kit (50 quid or so?) should be alright?

12-06-07, 11:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Super Murderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 10,631 Thanks: 3 Thanked 62 Times in 36 Posts	Re: Complete idiot needs Satelite buying advice Welcome to the forum Gerald. Ask as many questions as you like - we're here to help everyone - including complete beginners. __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

13-06-07, 09:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gerald227 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Complete idiot needs Satelite buying advice Hello, I just wanted to say a big thank you for the great advice which I have taken onboard, you are correct that I meant to say a Motorised dish. As for Dolby Surround I do have a very nice Dolby surround amp which I use for my home cinema but I wasn't sure if different receivers didn't allow reception of dolby surround signals and I wanted one that would allow me to hook it up to my present amp I shall start looking at Ebay and start buying bits as finances allow, unfortunately I'm disabled so my income is pretty low, but the way you have suggested it means I can purchase it a bit at a time. I can't tell you how grateful I am for your help. I wonder if you might know if there are any stations broadcasting Old Rock Concerts? I believe VH1 used to, do they still do it and are they free to air? Once again my deepest gratitude Kindest Regards Gerald


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