I am an absolute beginner...for French FTA

[swieder]

Hello,

First of all a big thanks to all the clever people gathered around in this forum eager to answer all the questions people might ask! Thumbs up!

I know this question has been asked before but I am just too much of a complete beginner to be sure I have all the answers to my questions in the previous threads.

I am a French resident and I would like to know how to setup a fixed dish to receive FTA French Satellite TV.
What could be the others FTA channels I might be able to pick up?
And would it be possible to have it all done under a £100?

Could you break the budget down with the following parts?

- How much should I expect for the installation.
- How much for the components themselves: the dish, the LNB and the digital/analogue receiver.

Could I find an independent installer to do the installation if I were to buy the satellite kit somewhere else?

Should that be too expensive how easy is it to setup by myself and how?

Do I have to take a Sky subscription if I want to receive some of the English channels and if so is the Sky setup compatible with French channels?
(I already have a freeview and I currently receive the FTA channels such as BBC3, BBC4, ITV4, Film4 etc...)

And last question what type of satellite dish and receiver would be able to pick up those FTA English channels if I were to move and setup the kit in a French home?

Many Thanks.

[robbo71]

Hi, there a are two ways to get french satellite TV, digital and analogue.

Normally receivers are not compatible with both, so you would either need a digital satellite receiver and an analogue receiver or choose bewteen the two.

Here is a list of all the French FTA channels:-
FlySat France TV Channels

You won't be able to get them all, and note that some are analogue. Take you pick from there.

A motorised dish system would cost in the region of £150 with a digital receiver.

A fixed dish system probably about £100 total.

I suggest you have a look at the Flysat list, and decide what channels you want, then someone could advise further.

Most of our members install themselves, it is not too hard.

With a motorised dish setup with a digital receiver you would be able to get both the English FTA channels from 28E and the French ones. With the addition of an analogue receiver you could get the French analogue channels too.

Robbo

[swieder]

Thanks Robbo for the quick reply,

I would be interested in the FTA digital channels from Atlantic Bird.
Does that means I would need a motorised dish?
Also what are the others channels available from Atlantic Bird?

Thanks a lot.

swieder

[kerrywez]

Hi mate welcome to the forum. You will not get that many free channels from Atlantic Bird other than the French ones.

Your sly dodgybox is useless for anything other than Sly, because it has only two symblo rates in it, 27500 and 22000, and loads of transponders use rates different to them.

You would be far better to get a motorised set up, as Robbo says, that way you will be bale to receive countless channels and if you get a receiver that can be patched you will be able to get the French encrypted one too. I should tell you that T*S are moving and there is, like all open channels, no guarantee of them being open after they change over, but there are always the free ones. It is just that you will have a far better chance of receiving everything that is open at any given time with a motorised system.

Very best regards Wez

[swieder]

Thanks kerrywez.

What sort of kit should I get for around a £100 and where to look for a good deal?
I would still be interested in Atlantic Bird as it has the main French channels.
Are motorised dishes not too complicated to set up and what brand of receiver should I look for?
Thanks
Best regards
swieder

[lincsat]

Any basic FTA receiver with get the free Digital channels, something like the TM5200D will suffice. I would recommend getting a Motorised system though so you would get much more choice. At least get an 80cm dish that could be motorised later.

Another option would be to get a fixed dish with an Analogue receiver, something like a Pace MSS100, MSS200, MSS500 or MSS1000 (there are many other options too) - they go for peanuts on ebay. Just remember that the Analogue signals use SECAM colour which may not be compatible with some UK TV sets.

[sphen]

Hello,

I have had for a good few years until recently a dish at 5W Atlantic Bird to receive the French analogue channels. As others have stated this is a good option if you only want (TF1, Fr2, Fr3, Arte/Fr5, M6 et Tele Monte-Carlo). You can also receive the Bis TV package at the same satellite position which is a digital package from ABSat with the standard channels and more for a subscription fee. The viewing cards can be obtained quite easily for around €99. You can also get the Bis TV package on Hotbird at 13e which is handy if you must have Sky as you may be able to go for a multi-lnb setup.

The TNTSAT service at 19e which is a Canal+ service comprising of the Tele Numerique Terrestre channels but on satellite.

If you must have Sky, there are many different permutations, so motorised is the best option, it keeps it simple. I might even write a list of these permutations some day.

If I have only confused then I apologise

[swieder]

Hi sphen and thanks,

No you didn't confused me...

I would like to thanks many times all of you guys for your sound advices in this forum, one's might feel wiser after a few good browse through the threads!

I have seen the following receiver on ebay:
Technomate 5500 DACI Digital/Analogue at £49 from Worldwide Satellite.
Is this a good deal?

The same seller is offering a full system for £110 with the following components:

1. Original Triax 64cm Dish (Facing Hotbird)
2. Technomate TM 5500 DACI OR TM-5000 DAPCI (DIGITAL AND ANALOG RECEPTION) Satellite Receiver fully tuned and ready to receive French Channels (USED IN VERY GOOD CONDITION)
3. Best Universal Single 0.2 dB LNB
4. 20m of Quality RG6 Satellite COAX Cable
5. 2 * F Connectors
6. 4 * Original Hilti Screws & Rawl Plugs
7. Wall bracket

Any good?

Cheers