Before buying sat equipment...

[Analoguesat]

The face of the dish probably needs to be tilted back very slightly in Portugal - remember the lnb arm is offset from the dish so signals arrive from above the "main plane" of the dish.

The dish will be far easier to set up if you have a tv connected to the receiver - can you borrow a portable set?

Something like this - heres a typical afternoon in the garden playing with one of my dishes (an old BSB dish with a circular polarity lnb on it!)

[Robbo]

Originally Posted by ozzietiro

The other problem is that the receiver does not work, apart from showing it's 'on'. Do I need to buy a TV set to get the receiver working. I don't want to get a box unless I sure of getting Beeb.

It may be impossible to tell if the receiver is working or not unless you connect it to a TV. It may be stuck in a menu somewhere.
Can't you buy a cheap 2nd hand one from a boot fair or somewhere?

[will-in-estoril]

Originally Posted by robbo71

It may be impossible to tell if the receiver is working or not unless you connect it to a TV. It may be stuck in a menu somewhere.
Can't you buy a cheap 2nd hand one from a boot fair or somewhere?

You can buy furry slippers, dodgy DVDs and lace doilies from our 'feiras' here, but not 14'' Sanyo portables, unfortunately!

The alignment, including the skew, is going to have to be spot on to get Astra 2d and 2A (northern beam). I would imagine that the callout charge in Aveiro for an installer who normally does TV Cabo satellite would not be more than €20-30. Labour costs in Portugal (outside the Algarve and big cities) are minimal. It depends how much your time is worth.

Get the dish roughly set up, then go to your nearest TV Cabo agent: all you would effectively then be paying for is an adjustment.

[ozzietiro]

Hello savvy fellas... again, looks like we are here for the long haul! I just discovered that my LCD monitor (from Australia) doubles as a TV set but has no SCART socket, only the usual F-type coaxial socket. I wonder (I'm always looking beyond the square) whether there is a gadget or adaptor to link the monitor to the receiver: SCART plug on one end and F-type on the other. I've been checking the prices of TV sets (14" LCD 300 euros)and I don't want to buy one unless I am sure of getting Beeb. To tell you the truth, I'm infatuated with Aunty, being a loyal follower of her offspring downunder, ABC, all my life.
By the way Will, I did ask around for a quotation, for the whole job (materials and installation) 1200 euros!; installation only 120 euros, extra for post set in concrete. Not cheap considering I put everything together in about 4 hours! I got my fingers burnt a few times in this economy and don't want to be taken for a ride again if I can avoid it, a tall order here.

[Robbo]

What is the F-type socket on your TV for?

Is is for terrestrial or cable TV.

If for terrestrial it might work with the rf out of the sat box.

[ozzietiro]

Hello Robbo,
That was amazingly fast! Never used it as a TV, didn't even know, the sockets are hidden under the stand. It's the usual one, terrestrial I suppose. I tried using the rf (yellow cable) connection but no luck.

[ozzietiro]

Sorry Will, I forgot to thank you for your suggestion re: calling a technician to do the fine tuning. I'll do it if I can't do it myself. So far, the satfinder indicates and beeps madly pointing in the direction of Astra 2D.

Thanks for your suggestion Robbo. There are no flea markets around here; the ones I'v seen are more reminiscent of medieval fairs with cheapo Chinese trinkets and stuff added in.

[nanochickin]

Sounds like you need an RF modulator mate

Can't see why you can't just plug the receiver straight into it. Most receivers have an RF output. You will have to make sure the receiver is set for the right picture and sound output

I think Australia use the same as the UK which is PAL I & 6.00 Mhz for the sound. The receivers probably set at PAL D/K & 6.50 Mhz on the sound so you won't get a picture from it.



Nano

[ozzietiro]

Thanks to Analoguesat too!
I like your garden set-up. And wonder whether the stand is a recycling a an old Singer sewing machine!
Unfortunately I put my dish on top of a chook pen trying to get some height to overcome a very daunting obstacle in the way of Astra 2D. I'll send pics when Aunty visits.

[Analoguesat]

The stand in the picture is my Black and Decker Workmate

I dont normally use that particular tv - I use a 30 year old B&W portable. Its about on its last legs (the focus is shot on it) so will soon be replaced by a scruffy old colour portable Ive been given which is sitting under my desk at work.