newbie easy questions

[smokeyone]

Hello

As a newbie I have a small list of easy questions (if you know the answers). A mate has given me his Sky+ digi box (no dish). I have been doing some research and I understand that without a subscription you can only pick up BBC1 & 2 plus ITV 1 - is this correct.

I am trying to avoid the subscription route so if this is true next year I'll invest in a box that can pick up the extra channels.

As I need to purchase a dish I was thinking of going down the multi LNB route so that it might be possible to pick up astra 1, astra 2 & hotbird.
I understand astra 2 has the usual BBC1 etc etc but do the other two satellites actually transmit english speaking prgrammes that we might want to watch if you see what I mean. Not 400 shopping channels but news programmes are fine.

One last thought, any hd no subscription channels out there !

Thanks very much

[Robbo]

Hi Smokeyone,
Welcome to the forum.

Yes off Astra2/Eurobird 1 at 28.2E/28.5 east you can pick up a large number of FTA channels.

There are also some English Language channels FTA on some of the other satellites too:-

FlySat United Kingdom TV Channels

A multi LNB setup yes , could be used for 28E,19E and 13E.

A motorised dish would give you even more channels.

Not sure about HD, The BBC do one, and I think there are some on 19.2E as well.

Also, do a forum search for patching.

Robbo

EDIT, and as KEV says below, for multisat, the SKY Digibox is a waste of space.

[Mship]

Hi smokeyone,

If you're going down the multi-LNB route you really need another, non Sky FTA receiver

The Sky receivers are vitually crippled so that their only real use is on 28E

For HD, have a look here:

HDTV channels - KingOfSat



Kev

[smokeyone]

Thanks very much for the advice & the links. I think I'll stick to a fixed dish for now but a decent quality one, any suggestions please.
However, if there is a particular satellite that you cannot get on one and the same dish, very worthwhile and english speaking programmes, please let me know.

[Robbo]

It depends how much you want to spend and what size you want to get.

For 28E any old thing will do.

Most of the English channels are on there.

[wod]

80cm triax dish would do well and then allow you to add a motor or extra lnb later on if you wish

don't bother with a minidish as they are useless in case you want to add extra things later

[madrat]

I can recommend the Fortec star dishes, available at maplins.

[smokeyone]

Thanks for the help. Is there english stuff on the extra satellites worth watching !
I have a mate in Canada, big dish, 2000 channels and he watches just four !

[Robbo]

Originally Posted by smokeyone

Thanks for the help. Is there english stuff on the extra satellites worth watching !
I have a mate in Canada, big dish, 2000 channels and he watches just four !

Errm, plenty yes. But not free to air.