Ready for stage 2

[Belmus48]

Hi

I am ready to move on now. I have a dish with 2 LNBs and can receive Astra 1 and Astra 2 fine. I have just bought a new FTA receiver with a CI slot. How can I best exploit the CI facilty? Would it enable me to recive extra channels?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[kerrywez]

Hi Belmus48,
It is not possible to help you without knowing what receiver you have got and what Cam you have or are intending to get. Some FTA receivers don't need a Cam, but have their software updated, called patching, this then allows the receiver to decode the channel and clear it.

Very best regards Wez

[robbo71]

Stage 2 I think should be motorising the dish, this would certainly increase the number of channels you could watch.

With a CI slot you have additional choices, you could purchace a Conax CAM and subscribe to DigitAlb (16E) if your dish is big enough, or get one of the super-CAMs, like the Diablo or TRex, which serve the same purpose as a patch in a non-patchable receiver.

Robbo

[Belmus48]

Hi again

Thank you for your replies.

My receiver is a Silvercrest SL80/2 100CI. I bought it in Germany - I don't think it is available in the UK. It has 2 tuners and a 80GB hard drive. It cost me the equivalent of about 100 pounds which I thought was not bad. The Germans seem to be very keen on satellite TV judging by the amount and variety of kit on sale there.

Motorising my dish is not an option I’m afraid – too many trees around. I don’t think that 16E is an option either at the moment as my 2 LNBs are on a Zone 2 dish. I might consider getting a bigger dish if I can get it past “The Management”.

Is it worth my while getting a CAM and, if so, what sort would you recommend and would I be able to get the German or French encrypted channels?

Thanks again for your time.

BM48

[robbo71]

The French channels that you could possibly open on a Diablo or Trex are on 13E.

The German Channels will open with one of the CAMs at the moment, the problem is the encryption will change soon, then the only way to watch these channels will be to subscribe.

The cost of a Diablo CAM and suitable programmer such as the CAS 3 is around £100. So it is not cheap, and doesn't seem worth it for just one package for a limited period.

It may be possible to patch your box, you can some of the SL65s but for yours I don't know. I imagine there would be support on some of the German forums.

Robbo

[kerrywez]

Cheer up mate, we did not mean to upset you. You can always look forward to freesat and if you have to keep the receiver, it will do to receive freesat, but you will only get the now and next EPG, but that is no problem, you will get most listings in the free mags with the Saturday papers.

I see from a post in another section, that free view will be selling PVR sets with HD and all channels will be free. Sly charge for their HD broadcasts, not sure about the BBC, at any rate if you can get your money back for that receiver and then get a freesat HD PVR box you will be streaks ahead.

If you care to go to this thread you will learn more about freesat.

Waiting for freesat but.......

Also this one.

Freesat

Hope these links are right, but if they are only for one post then just go through all the posts and you will find much more information.

Very best regards Wez

[Belmus48]

Hi again

Thank you both for the info and advice. I am not at all unhappy with what I can get already and I managed to install the dish and the two LNBs myself. My STB records very well and I am enjoying both radio and TV from both satellites.

I am looking forward to freesat because it means that ch.4 and (eventually) ch.5 will be available. As for HD - I am happy to wait a while and see how prices settle down.

Thanks again

BM48