Spanish and Latin American channels

[tomphillips66]

Hi

I just read a thread called 'FTA, Freeview and Spanish channels Set-up?'.

It sounds like the sort of thing I am looking for.

However, I got a bit lost as the the thread got longer and more technical.

My wife is Colombian and we would like access to Spanish speaking channels (especially, Latin American Spanish).

We are prepared to pay a professional to install the equipment but would really appreciate some independent advice.

Here are our basic requirements
-a clear picture
-all the kit (we have a TV and electricity! )
-once installed would require no technical maintenance/expertise
-access to Freeview UK Channels
-preferably free access to Spanish channels
-preferably free access to Latin American (Spanish) channels
-ability to record programs?
-willing to have a dish up to 1m (but prefer small rather than big)
-possibly add Sky subscription channels on at a later date
-we live in South East London
-not spend more than £500 (including installation)

Are we living in cloud cuckoo land with such a list?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks
Tom

[BothyBhoy]

Hi Tom :welc1:
I've just installed a motorized system with a 1m dish. Cost of dish, receiver, motor, wallmount and bolts, connectors cable etc was £300 but you may pick up cheaper.
You may be able to install yourself, I did and I hadn't a clue when I started - the guys a on here are very knowledgable and helpful. If going motorized you would be able to pick up freeview uk channels on Astra 28.2 degrees East and lots of Spanish stuff on Hispasat 30 degrees West. Of course you would need a clear view from dish to these satellites. The other main satellites for free stuff are Hotbird 13 degrees East and Astra1 19 degrees East. You would need a sky digibox later to add sky subscription channels.
Have a look here,
http://www.satellitehelp.co.uk/forum...php?topic=99.0
Hope this helps.

[Analoguesat]

There was a subs package called Olisat which carried 7 or 8 south American tv channels (and included TV Colombia).. They went bust a few months back!

I dont think theres anything else available in Europe at the moment, although there is plenty of European Spanish channels transmitting from the skies above Europe, both free and pay.

[Jimdefruit]

A very big welcome to the forum tomphillips.

A nice clear answer bothyboy, even I understood it.

Tom, from what you say, you really need something foolproof and easy and in the UK that would normally be a Sky digibox. However, that would only get the UK channels and would leave you without the Spanish programmes. It may be that your best option is a combination of two receivers fed from one or two dishes. A fixed dish for the UK system and a motorised dish of about 90 cm for the continental (Spanish speaking ) channels. It could all be done with one motorised dish but I am biased, I have two

One of the channels guys will be along soon to advise you on the best satellite(s) for you. I believe it is best to motorise because programmes change and move around.

As far as receivers are concerned I will leave that recommendation to others because I am also biased on those and my recommendation is not for a simple system.

[Robbo]

A motorised dish for the spanish channels (~£100)
plus a fixed dish for 28.2E ( The sat that _sky uses) ( get it free if subcribe)

Two receivers:-
A _sky one (free if subcribe)
A General purpose one such as the Technomate TM1500 super. (£90)

Separate PVR with built in freeview so you can record from either box. (£100-£300?)

Total cost about £300 to £500.

I think you are going to struggle to get it all under £500 including installation,
unless you do it yourself, or use a really cheap DVD recorder.

Motorised will give you the option of getting Hispasat (30W) and Astra1 (19.2E) as well as any others
that may have Spanish on them.

[remlap]

30w has a selection of South American channels but of course they are "international" versions.

[tomphillips66]

Hi All

Thanks for all your replies so far - I am getting the hang of this....but

What is PVR? If recording was a low priority could I do without the PVR ?

And what is an 'international' channel?

Thanks
Tom

[Yorks]

PVR stands for Personal Video Recorder. Usually they contain a hard-drive, but some of the cheaper ones don't and only record to writable or rewritable DVD's.

I think that Remlap is referring to channels which are aimed more at the global population, rather than at South America. In other words for South American ex-pats. The UK cannot receive broadcasts intended for Latin America, as the satellites that they broadcast from are not visible to us in the UK.

Yorks