Complete newbie set up advice please!

[phatjap]

Hi all,

I was originally thinking of getting a Starview box as I am on cable, and then I had a nostagic moment to when I had D2Mac about 15 years ago. consequently I've decided that satellite is the way to go and now I am looking for some help with my set up! Sooooo, I am looking for some assistance in choosing and from look around here you guys might be able to help out there!

My budget is about £200 for the whole shebang. I have no idea what I need, apart from the raw materials(box, dish,cable, tape etc etc), and tbh I'm not too sure what I actually want from it all! To explain, I'm a bit of a gadget freak, enjoy a challenge and using power tools! I guess I want to get a good range of channels, movies, but no interest in sport though!

I have a concern with where I want to locate the dish. I really only want it on the wall that is out of view as far as poss, this is, I beleive, north-ish facing and which the Sky dish is currently mounted. Is this possible?

Secondly, will I get any of the regular channels? BBC etc?

Lastly, for now, what box would I need? I guess something more than the FTA boxes as I want a good range of films ? so with card capability?

Sorry for the complex inquiry...

Phatjap.

[Robbo]

This system should be up your street for the budget:-

Technomate Motorised £150!


You would get some of the regular channels but not ch4 and ch5 at the moment.


Although ideally you need a south facing wall. But if your Sky dish is on that wall it may be OK.

Robbo

[phatjap]

Thanks for the pronmpt reply Robbo.

The kit looks good, as far as my novical eye can tell!

I've looked at the installation guide and seems straight forward, how much benefit would a cheap sat finder be? Also, the sky dish as about 5 inches clearance before it touches the wall facing right, I am guessing a larger dish and withthe movement of it, it may not have enough clearance, is there any way around this?

Regards.

[Robbo]

It depends which way your wall actually faces. Can you post a photo of your existing dish?

You may find the satellite finder useful, I used to use one at first, but now I find using the meter built into the receiver is better.

What angle is the dish to the wall at the moment roughly?

Robbo

[phatjap]

Originally Posted by robbo71

It depends which way your wall actually faces. Can you post a photo of your existing dish?

You may find the satellite finder useful, I used to use one at first, but now I find using the meter built into the receiver is better.

What angle is the dish to the wall at the moment roughly?

Robbo

Hhi Robbo, not entirely sure of the direction the wall faces currently, I've taken a piccy though, unsure how to put it here but found a free hoster. It is at:

ImageShack - Hosting :: 28032008092wj1.jpg

Will try to find out which way the wall faces if need be later....I do have a compass somewhere.

This is so exciting.

Regards.

[Robbo]

Ahh I see, we can see which way your wall's facing from the photo. Your sky dish is pointing at 28.2E, and the dish is almost 90 degrees to the wall.

You probably have just a few more degrees you could go eastward, maybe 33E or perhaps 42E at the absolute maximum.

Westward you have plenty of room for the dish to move.

That position would do OK, you would get most of the satellites worth having in that position.

Robbo

[phatjap]

Thank you Robbo,you really are a star!

Do you think that the mount that is there for the sky dish will be satisfactory for the new dish? Would there be any advantage to me upgrading to a 1 meter dish at all?

Regards,

Phatjap.

[Robbo]

Yes, an upgrade to a 1m motorised dish is very worthwhile.

Forget the Sky dish mount it will be useless.

If you need to keep sky, it is best to put a separate dish up.

Robbo

[Jimdefruit]

Hi phatjap, if you go motorised then that wall mount will definitely not be suitable. It is 99.9% certain that the mounting part of the pole is not truly vertical and 'vertical' is an absolute must. Also the bracket will not support a larger motorised dish.

You should allow for T&K brackets and a good steel mounting pole. The dish size very much depends on which sats and channels you want you receive. Having said that a 90cm ish dish should be ok for most and wont require anything special in terms of a motor and mount. From your picture you should have no trouble in receiving signals from all the satellites from 28.2 east to 30 west and that covers most of the useful sats.

[phatjap]

Originally Posted by Jimdefruit

Hi phatjap, if you go motorised then that wall mount will definitely not be suitable. It is 99.9% certain that the mounting part of the pole is not truly vertical and 'vertical' is an absolute must. Also the bracket will not support a larger motorised dish.

You should allow for T&K brackets and a good steel mounting pole. The dish size very much depends on which sats and channels you want you receive. Having said that a 90cm ish dish should be ok for most and wont require anything special in terms of a motor and mount. From your picture you should have no trouble in receiving signals from all the satellites from 28.2 east to 30 west and that covers most of the useful sats.

Hi there


Thanks for all the useful info. I've just been in contact with someone from southernsatellite.co.uk and ordered a kit with an upgrade to 5400. Hopefully all being well it should arrive on Sat. but looking at the weather forecast there may not much opportunity to put it up. We shall see. I have a feeling I will be here again quite soon with some further q's !!

Regards,

Phatjap.