Replacement equipment compatibility ??

[Paul Williams]

Satellite Requirements
I live in South Wales and have 2 analogue tv’s at present and a pc with a tv card and I am very confused to what’s compatible now digital equipment is on the market.
I want to pick up astra 19e and Hotbird 13E sats so I can watch eurosport and some free greek tv channels from the same dish and receiver and maybe if possible link the TV via a cable so the programmes can also be viewed in good quality on my pc while watching others on the tv at the same time in order to avoid disputes with the family. I assume that my pc card will play digital (It is less than a year old)

Satellite Questions
1.Would I be able to receive and view on my analogue tv all the channels on the Astra and hot bird sats? in particular eurosport. It’s not clear from what I have read whether a digital receiver will play through my analogue tv.
2. If not could I buy a box to convert the tv so it does?? I will have to buy a box in a few years anyway and will this box convert my tv also to receive digital Sat. signals.
3. Or would I be better buying a duel type receiver that will pick up both digital and analogue signals up. If so would my analogue tv still restrict the channels I could view.
4. Can I still buy an analogue only receiver to work with my tv. So I can get eurosport and pick up greek tv . And would this restrict the number of channels available on these sats.??
5. Would this be the best option open to me with the tv that I have?? As it would probably be better to upgrade to all digital when 6.I get a digital tv or when my analogue tv is upgraded to receive digital.as there would be better more advanced models out by then.
Could you please advise me on the best and the cheapest option for my requirements?? although I am prepared to pay more if if I need to.
7. I need to know what receiver to buy and what type of dish I need for this I understand that I would at least an 80cm dish with duel LNB offset 6 degrees apart for astra 1 and hotbird. Is or has the astra 1 satellite moved or is moving to another location, In which case the 6 degree LNB will be useless??
8. Would this type of LNB work with my tv?
What is the best rust proof one to get to wall mount and which duel LNB would you recommend. I live in a very windy spot and would need a good strong bracket like the original one.
9. Would I have to upgrade the tv card in my pc for a card that receives sat. signals. I assume that the pc will still have to be connected to a dish or via a link cable from the tv.
10. What does DVB mean I think it is Direct Visual Broadcast, which means the receiver picks up analogue signals.
11. Is there a good cheap receiver that would just replace my analogue Amstrad SRD 400 I could buy to use before upgrading everything to digital? Also my LNB input freq. is 10.95 to 11.70GHz, output is 950 to 1700MHz local oscillator 10GHz does this mean I have to change it to one with a higher freq. output if I want to receive programmes that broadcast at a higher freq. In the past I tried to get greek tv on hot bird but could not get them because they were broadcast at a higher than 1685MHz which was the limit of my Amstrad SRD 400.


Existing system
60cm dish one of the first Amstrad Fidelity SRD 400 Receiver not working properly after 15 years and smells when plugged in time for a new one I think. Also wall bracket rusted though at one end although still working to the first astra sat. at 19E I could pick up a lot of the channels until it blew up.
As you can see the new current technology has left me behind and I would be grateful if you could advise on my best options as to what to buy and install . It would be much appreciated if anyone can help.
Thanks in anticipation
Paul Williams

[Mship]

Hi Paul, that's one hell of a first post m8

I'll have a go at some of them, in no particular order

Firstly, you're analogue TV's should be fine, it's the receiver which does all the fancy stuff and then passes it on to you're TV. The only thing I'll ask is if they have any scart sockets, as this is what most receivers use.

For 13E and 19E, something like a Triax TD78, LNB multibracket, 2 x twin LNB's and 2 X 2 way DiSEqC switches would do. This would give you both satellites on one TV and you're PC. You would obviously need a digital satellite receiver, which would generally cost from £60 - £100 for a Technomate model, depending which model you wanted. Something like a 1000 or 5000 series would do fine. Also, you would need something like a Skystar PC satellite card at around £40 for you're PC.

A quick run through on how the above works:

A coax from each 13E output to each DiSEqC switch, and the same with the 19E LNB. So each switch should have two cables, one from 13E & one from 19E. Then, one cable from one switch to a satellite receiver, and one from the other switch to you're pc satellite card (Skystar).

Have a look on Ebay if you want an analogue receiver, you should be able to pick one up fairly cheaply.

I know it doesn't answer all you're questions, but it's a start

Kev

[Paul Williams]

Dear Kev

Many thanks for getting back to me with your excellent clear advice, which is much appreciated. I have done some more research, but this has rasied other issues so it another long one I'm afraid.

I will also try and send this to you through the Forum on your website if I
can, the kids have now gone to school after half term so I can claim my computer back to continue my research.

I can confirm that both my Tv's have scart sockets the main one has 2

I was hoping that it would be possible to transfer a picture from an output on the back of my receiver to my pc through the pc's tv card. Since you tell me that I need an extra set of LNB's and a sat pc card it's alot more difficult and much more complicated than I thought. I will now just run a second tv aerial lead down to the pc so we can pick up all the terrestrial channels through the normal tv card, which will still allow the required choice between these and sat channels in the house. Once I get the new sat working I will look into radio controlled signals to see if this will make life easier and cable free.

The very good news for me is that you told me was I can buy a digital receiver, which will perform all the tricks to convert the signal to play on my annalogue Tv(s), which means I don't have to buy an extra kit to convert my tv to digital if I also pick up the Astra 28E sat, which has all the normal
uk channels. This should also ensure the best signal.

Having taken on board your recommendations I have decided therefore that the best option for me is to go for the 3 sat option on the TD 78 Sat dish, which I need to mount on a chimney below top of roof level.

From what I have found out to install this system you aim the dish at the
weaker Hotbird Sat at Whole Circle Bearing 161 degrees form where I am and elevate the dish at just over 29 degrees. position the first LNB in the
centre for the HB 13E sat. to get the best signal. On the 20 degree
aluminium LNB rail fix 2 other LNB's on the east right hand side of the
first centre one. (as you look at the dish and back of the LNB's) to get 19E and 28E. Please confirm if this is correct. Hopefully the aluminium LNB rail is graduated so you can position the 2 Astra LNB's in the correct offsets
positions 6 and 15 degrees from the centre 13E HB.

http://www.satellitesuperstore.com/3satsystems.htm are selling the dish and kit for £114-95 + £18 del. if I order a receiver also that looks a good deal.
Do you know of any better??


Add a Triax 80cm dish with
Triax 20 degree Multi LNB kit

This is the new Titanium second Edition LNB that is widely praised on many web sites.
It has the gold connections and is very low noise. An ultimate performance
LNB.
Triax TD 78, 80cm dish with 3 LNBs, Triax perfect fit rigid multi bracket, 4
way Diseqc switch,
wall mount, instructions. Unlike flexible difficult to set up, universal fit
brackets, this is
a dream to use as it is well engineered and designed by Triax for their own
TD dishes.
We have tested this ourselves. Using a Lacuna / Wolsey meter, a ground stand
and Triax TD 78
with the Multi LNB kit. They were set up it our testing area. It took 10
minutes to get prefect
results from all 3 satellites including setting up the stand and dish!
The kit comes with our own specially prepared dish/LNB setting up
instructions.
as usual manufacturers instructions are poor and best ignored. Use ours as we have worked out all
the shortcuts.
To summarise, it is possible to receive from Astra 2 to the Hotbird on one
fixed dish.
A 3 satellite programming option is available above.

When you add a receiver to this dish kit, UK, select the "by weight delivery
option, it will be £18.00
Order Code ADDULT8
Add only £114.95

Regarding your advice regarding receivers this firm also sell the

TECHNOMATE TM 1000 CI super.

ONLY £84.99

I do not need to pay extra for CI Slots hence I feel my choice
is between the models below which are alot cheaper.

They also sell the Manhattan Plaza XT-F
blind search free to air receiver.

These are the latest Plaza receivers with the new fast processor for even
faster blind search.
We are authorized Manhattan dealers. At the
Satellite Superstore
we know you want us to do things right and provide good support.
These excellent blind search receivers are able to scan low symbol rates
Fantastic FAST blind search capability.
6000 channels. Fast channel change. Sensitive tuner. Low symbol rate
scanning. Small and neat.
IF loop through, UHF loop through, 2 scart sockets and phono outputs
Dolby Digital output for the sound.
Dolby Digital.
Many manufacturers have a digital output for the sound on their more
expensive models.
What manufacturers do not tell you is they have not paid for the "Dolby
Digital" license and
the digital output IS NOT Dolby digital surround sound. All Manhattan Plaza
receivers ARE
Dolby Digital surround sound from the digital output (providing the channel
actually transmits
in Dolby Digital. (Some do and some don’t) Diseqc 1.2, USALS.
Order Code MANHXTF
ONLY £49.95

This will suit my needs is cheaper than the Technomates below and above,
looks good and has Dolby Digital Sound.

Technomate TM 5200 D USB
Hard Drive Ready (external)

FAST BLIND SEARCH.

Please note that we are official distributors for Technomate
Free to air receiver.
This receiver van be connected to an external hard drive via the USB
connection
for the recording and playback of programs.
LNB loop through. UHF modulator loop though. 10,000 channels.
Digital output for the sound.
If you want a complete system based on this receiver, add the dish kit of
your choice.
There are many dish kits, 60cm, 80cm, 90cm, Astra and Hotbird, Astra 1, 2, and Hotbird, transparent dishes,
all of these are lower down the page below the receivers. Add a dish kit of
your choice.
Order code TE5200D
ONLY £69.95

Is there any good reason why I should pay an extra £20 over the Manhatten
for the Technomate model TM 5200 or even more for the TM 1000 which appears
the same as the TM 5200 apart from the card slots.??????

How do these receivers know which sat. you want to watch. Many channels are
at the same frequency. I assume that they can be programmed to switched
between sats. automatically via the auto switch supplied with the dish kit,
depending on the channel number allocated for each channel.

Could you please confirm if this is the case????

This firm will also programme the receiver for you to receive all channels
on the 3 sats I require for £14.75 If I pay for this I assume that I will
have nothing to worry about including programme selection and their auto
switching. Is this correct and worth doing since I will not have a clue as
to where to start when I receive the receiver???

Finally would I have to buy a meter to set the 3 sat system up or could I
just use a small tv by the dish side until I get a perfect picture on
hotbird, lock dish and work on from there?

That's how I managed last time, but with 2 extra sats to tune in it might
prove much more difficult.

As you can see I have learnt alot since your first reply.

Again many thanks

Regards Paul

[robbo71]

Hi Paul,
My! That is a long post and you have been busy!.
I think I'll let Kev answer most of your questions though

But here's the answer to a couple:-

It's not worth paying more for the TM1000D over TM5200D, as basically the TM5200D is by the looks of it a replacement for it, with more channel storage and the USB port.

The advantage of the TM receivers is the errm 'support', they have one of the best availability and most updated unnoficial firmware available.

Not sure about the Manhatten.

Satellite superstore, is also not the cheapest place to get stuff, but there is a lot of good info on their site.

If you do a search for the Triax TD78 dish, you might able to find somewhere cheaper.

As for the receiver, I'm pretty sure you would find them cheaper from the site sponsor www.southernsatellite.co.uk. He might be able to get hold of the Triax= multibracket also.
Robbo

PS. I have merged the two posts you made together and deleted one of them, your first post was caught by the site spam filter, because of the live link to satsuperstore but I have released it.

[Mship]

Hi Paul, welcome back

The first thing to mention is that you will not be able to watch CH4 & CH5 using any of the receivers you mention above Both channels are encrypted through satellite and require a valid Sky card (Freesat card for around £20 or subscription), which non of the above receivers are capable of reading. I would imagine you're best bet would be to get hold of a Sky receiver (Ebay possibly?), spend £20 on a Freesat card, and run a cable straight from that to the 28E LNB.

I don't own a Manhattan receiver but, if all you want is FTA satellite TV, then it should do fine. The main reason we recommend Technomate's is, as Robbo said, due to the availability of unofficial software (i.e. ability to 'open' some pay TV channels). Also, you can attach an external hard drive to the the TM5200, giving it the ability to record. Again, if you don't think you'll need that then by all means go for the Manhattan

The receiver will switch satellites automatically via the DiSEqC switch

I wouldn't bother with the £14.75 channel programming All them receivers have a 'blind scan' feature, as well as a preprogrammed transponder list, so keep that money firmly in you're pocket. Besides, we should be able to talk you through any channel programming you may need to do

As regards setting actually setting up the 3 LNB's, then one of the guy's who have one of these kit's will be better off answering those questions as my kit is motorised so I'm not 100% sure about the exact fitting details for them You are correct though in saying that the 28E LNB will go furthest to the right (looking from behind the dish), followed by 19E and finally 13E.

It isn't essential to have a sat meter, using a portable TV is quite acceptable. Many folk on this forum (including moderators) have used this method successfully. Personally, I find using a meter slightly easier as most have an audible alert, saving having to constantly look down at the TV.

HTH,

Kev