just a few questions

[judster]

hi all,
Have been looking for a while to get into satellite, have cut down a huge conifer tree to do so as this was blocking loads of satellites.
I am considering going motorized, how easy is it to install and setup and is there any preference on the motor?
I want to go HD. I am wondering what good boxes there are out there. I spoke to southern satellites on the phone he suggested the new Octagon SF918 HD PVR Ready, single card reader, twin CI, Patchable - just £249.00.
I will be getting a digital alb subscription and will be keeping my basic sly package for now any way.
cheers

[cauliflower69]

Hello judster.

Definatley go for the motorised approach. Its not that difficult to install as long as you remember to have the satellite facing true south and the most important thing is make sure the pole you are securing your dish to is perfectly plumb. (check check check then tighten).

i have a technomate 2100 which has served me perfectly well pulling a 1m. If you do want to go one step further you can get the dark motor which uses metal cogs instead of nylon.

If your interested in HD try and have a look at the DM 800 HD. The dreamboxes are great as they unlock all the goodies but they are a pain in the rear end to get used to.

I started of with a dark box SD which you can also get a HD model of and switched to dreambox because of its many wonderful features including an ethernet port.

Hope this helps

[Robbo]

Hi Judster, welcome to Techwatch.

Yes a motorised system is the best way forward. Relatively easy to setup too, if you follow the basic rules as already suggested. Also have a look in the FAQs section, there are a couple of guides there too.

Another option is the Technomate 6800 for HD, not sure what the differences are between that and the Octagon though.

The moteck sg2100 is one of the most popular motors.

Robbo

[Jimdefruit]

Hi Judster, welcome to the forum.

If you are going HD and Digitalb, then be careful because Digitalb are locking cards to their own issued receivers. Any old HD receiver will not work in the future. It is not clear yet which receivers will be able to be modified to read the cards but it is probable that the software controlled Dreambox will be ok.