broken box

[rita]

Hey guys! Hope you can help me. I've had a Grundig sat box for a few years, and I've been watching Hotbird from a 1m dish installed on my house. Problem is, the stupid box one day decided it wouldn't work anymore. it just kept switching off, and now there isn't even a light on it. Anyway, I'm useless with these things, and wondered what the best course of action would be for me:
- go and buy a new box, if so, where?
- go and get somebody to repair the exisiting one, and if so, who?
- in first option, will i still need to get somebody to set it up for me?
Sorry i'm so illiterate, and hope someone can help. I need to watch Russian, French and Arabic channels for language purposes, that's why Hotbird seemed like the best option at the time.Thanks a million!

[Robbo]

Are you only watching Free To Air channels?

If so, you can easily replace your box with a FTA one for between £30 to £50 .

[rita]

Thanks Robbo!
Well, that was the idea originally, and mainly because I was told by the satellite shop which installed my dish that I couldn't buy cards to view what I wanted. However, this was in 2004, and I guess things have moved on, so if there were encrypted channels out there for which I could buy a not too expensive card, then I would consider buying one.
What's a FTA box? And what kind of box would I need if I did want to watch paid channels?
Cheers!

[Robbo]

FTA, is Free to Air. You can only watch those channels with such a receiver.

For pay services it depends which ones. Some are expensive, some are cheap, some require dedicated receiver, some don't. Some foreign packages are not available for purchase in the UK, but many are.

Quite a few packages can run any any receiver equipped with a CI (CAM) slot, and the appropriate CAM (DigitAlb for example), for others it is not possible.

[footylad]

I wonder maybe the next port of action would be a Technomate to fullfill ur needs.

[rita]

Originally Posted by footylad

I wonder maybe the next port of action would be a Technomate to fullfill ur needs.

Thanks guys! What's a 'technomate'?

[rita]

Originally Posted by robbo71

Some foreign packages are not available for purchase in the UK, but many are.

Quite a few packages can run any any receiver equipped with a CI (CAM) slot, and the appropriate CAM (DigitAlb for example), for others it is not possible.

Is there a site where I can easily check which foreign packages are available for purchase in the UK?

And what's a CAM?

Thanks, and sorry such a ... whatever you call people like me!

[Robbo]

There are many sites that sell cards, from those you can guage what is available.

There is a short list here

A CAM is a module that fits into a CI slot on the receiver and let you insert cards into it.

Technomate is a fairly popular make of satellite receiver.

Here is their website.

[rita]

Originally Posted by robbo71

There are many sites that sell cards, from those you can guage what is available.

A CAM is a module that fits into a CI slot on the receiver and let you insert cards into it.

.

Thanks Robbo. Sorry didn't answer earlier - full time working single mum of two so life manic!