New User - First Satellite System

[sat-nubi]

Hi all, I've been fortunate to stubble upon this little community and from seeing the help and tips posted I'm hoping I can bend your ears for further advice.

If I'm posting in the wrong place mods please push it into the right area.

Firstly, as yet I have no satellite system whatsoever and practically no knowledge (apart from what I've learnt here).

It appears the Technomate 1500 is a popular model and I'm veering towards it due to reviews/cost.

I'm a big footy fan so I'm considering an ART Sport card also.

Obviously I want to maximise the return of channels I can receive from probably a fixed dish (too much to learn/spend on a motorised system) so I'll try and figure out as I go how to patch the receiver.

I think I'd be able to pick up Hotbird and Astra together as this seems a common setup - would it possible/worthwhile trying to get another such as Hispasat?

Another question I have is concerning the null modem cable. As I've not seen one I'm not sure what kind of connection it has - serial? I've ditched all my desktop PC's for laptops so would really appreciate any advice regarding the connection method I would use to the receiver.

Can somebody maybe list the common components required for a new install?

Sorry I lack the technical terminology to explain myself better but any pointers or advice you can offer would be most welcome.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by sat-nubi

Hi all, I've been fortunate to stubble upon this little community and from seeing the help and tips posted I'm hoping I can bend your ears for further advice.

If I'm posting in the wrong place mods please push it into the right area.

Firstly, as yet I have no satellite system whatsoever and practically no knowledge (apart from what I've learnt here).

It appears the Technomate 1500 is a popular model and I'm veering towards it due to reviews/cost.

I'm a big footy fan so I'm considering an ART Sport card also.

Obviously I want to maximise the return of channels I can receive from probably a fixed dish (too much to learn/spend on a motorised system) so I'll try and figure out as I go how to patch the receiver.

I think I'd be able to pick up Hotbird and Astra together as this seems a common setup - would it possible/worthwhile trying to get another such as Hispasat?

Another question I have is concerning the null modem cable. As I've not seen one I'm not sure what kind of connection it has - serial? I've ditched all my desktop PC's for laptops so would really appreciate any advice regarding the connection method I would use to the receiver.

Can somebody maybe list the common components required for a new install?

Sorry I lack the technical terminology to explain myself better but any pointers or advice you can offer would be most welcome.

Thanks.

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hi,
the technomate 1500ci is a good receiver, it's well supported with
patches so you dont need to buy anything else to open the channels.
it is very easy to patch, you need a [null modem cable] to download the patch a null modem cable is a 9 pin [female to female connections].
they are very cheap to buy, i paid £3-50 for a 5 metre cable.
you say you use a laptop, and if it does'nt have a 9 pin com port
to use the null modem cable you will also need a usb to serial convertor
to enable you to use a 9 pin cable. i would recommend you go for a motorised
system, then you will get the best from you receiver.
there is also a card slot with this receiver to use a art sports card.
i would speak to a sat dealer about getting the system fitted,
he will have fitters who will fit the system and tune the sats and channels in for you, the system will come opening the free to air channels, most
dealers dont patch the receivers for you to open the scrambled channels,
once your set up i will give you any help you need to do this.
and the null modem cables and usb to serial convertor you can get from
place's like maplins/pc world computer fairs etc: by useing a laptop
you will only need a two metre cable. as you can take the pc to the receiver to patch. if you meed any more info just ask we will always help.

[sat-nubi]

Hi Clipper, thanks alot for the advice I'll give it some thought.

A motorised option would be great - but being a complete novice there is no way I'd attempt to install that.

Can you recommend any installers in the NW/Merseyside area of the country - how much more would a system like that add to the cost.

After looking around and pricing dishes/receivers and the ART Sports card I reckon my outlay for a fixed system could be around £250-£300 (Card £125, Receiver £100 and dish anything from £40).

Do you know what a professional installer would charge to fit a motorised system? Can you recommend a particular motorised system and can I buy one myself and ask the installer to do the rest?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm just making sure I'm aware of all the options.

Thanks again for your help.

Originally Posted by sat-nubi

Hi Clipper, thanks alot for the advice I'll give it some thought.

A motorised option would be great - but being a complete novice there is no way I'd attempt to install that.

Can you recommend any installers in the NW/Merseyside area of the country - how much more would a system like that add to the cost.

After looking around and pricing dishes/receivers and the ART Sports card I reckon my outlay for a fixed system could be around £250-£300 (Card £125, Receiver £100 and dish anything from £40).

Do you know what a professional installer would charge to fit a motorised system? Can you recommend a particular motorised system and can I buy one myself and ask the installer to do the rest?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm just making sure I'm aware of all the options.

Thanks again for your help.

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hi,
in the nw erea there are a few dealers i will give you a pm on that.
i think you should get a technomate 1500ci motorised system fitted for about £300. i think you need a 90cm dish with the system i know of a dealer in liverpool, iv'e never used his service's.
but a phone call for his best price might help.

[lincsat]

I guess you would be looking for something like this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TECHNOMATE-150...QQcmdZViewItem

and this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-months-ART-...QQcmdZViewItem

You could try setting the dish up yourself following this simple guide - http://www.tech-tronix.com/satellite...way-usals.html

Astra 1,2 and Hotbird are very close together, so you should be able to get those satellites without having the dish too accurately set - you could always get a professional to allign the dish after you've instaled it.

BTW, I'm not reccomending those particular ebay sellers, I just found those links as examples.

[sat-nubi]

Thanks guys for the advice, links and PM's - I'll sift through it and check if the prices are better than those I've found on the web.

Cheers.

[sat-nubi]

Hi again clipper/lincsat, today one way or another I'm going to make a decision.

I'm plumping for a motorised system (but will almost certainly need a pro to install it).

Clipper I ordered a load of gear off your cable man and forgot to put a null-modem cable on the order. Doh!

Lincsat the URL's you supplied have been useful in giving me a guideline price but I've got a couple more questions.

Firstly the TM1500 or the TM1500 Super, I can see that the Super can blindscan quicker but how much slower is the TM1500? It appears that the TM1500 is a more sensitive receiver - is this true and would this improve the picture quality in some cases or just the range compared to those available on the TM1500 Super?

Secondly, I've found one website that does a complete package for £200 with a 80cm dish and an extra £10 if you want a 1m dish.

https://www.satscan.co.uk/merchantma...d823a198f60de5

Given that I'm interesting in accessing these 4 satellites primarily:

Hispasat 1C/1D 30.0°West
Astra 1 B - 2 C 19.2° East
Eutelsat Hot Bird 13° East
Astra 2 A - 2 D 28.2° East

Would a 1m dish be necessary, would it give me a better signal or can you think of any other satellites I might be able to jump onto which maybe I've overlooked?

Finally, I've found a link to a receiver (complete satellite package) that looks to me (not knowing much about the specs of receivers) very similar to a TM1500 Super - can you advise if it's the same but just rebadged?

It's about £50 cheaper than the Technomate.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=9740319146

Just one last question regarding the motor, is there a particular model which is better than others. Alot of the packages don't name brands but the pictures all look similar, are there any I should avaoid?

Thanks again for the advice, so many questions but this really is quite engrossing and I know I'm going to get into this in a big way. Just looking forward to getting the first system working and building my knowledge from there.

hi,
i think your going the right way with a motorised system
and i would go for the 1 mtr dish, then you wont suffer signal loss
in bad weather, and then even though your mainly interested in the
four sats you stated. you will be able to scan in most sats from
45e to 45w and get the best out of the system. as for diseqc motors
i cant give you any info on them, as for a tm 1500 ci and the super, lincsat
might know the difference between them and offer some info on this. dont forget to add the set-up costs. to what it costs you to buy, you can save on installation, by doing some off the set-up yourself if you can.
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[lincsat]

I really don't know the difference between the 1500 and 1500 super. The clarke-tech may be a clone of the technomate, but if it isn't I don't know where to get patches from when needed - the TM patches are readily available.

ATM, hispasat is not available with a patch, so you'll only get the free channels on there. I would go for a 1m dish too and the cheap stab/usals motors are all very similar.

[Realist]

The 1500 has no cam where the 1500 CI has a inbuilt cam.

TM1500 has Multikrypt slot, MULTIKRYPT card reader you can use all types of Original Viaccess 1&2 Irdeto 1&2, Mediaguard (SECA), Conax, Firecrypt, Cryptoworks, Cards as well as Opos, Titanium, Fun Cards, K3 many more...

No need for cam as Multikrypt reads Viaccess