First time satellite install - advice please

[Ansifatcat]

Hi all,

I've almost completed a complete refurb on a house we're going to move into in about 10 days, and we've decided we want satellite TV. I can still run some cabling (carpet not laid yet) though I can't really chase anything in without a lot of trouble but running it round carpet edges (or behind skirting boards) should be hidden enough for me.

We've got Freeview at the moment, but the additional channels appeal. My understanding is that we can get a cluster of satelites at 28.2-28.5 E that will provdie plenty of channels for the time being and the orientation of the house lends itself well to this (plus we're on the top of hill).

I gather a 60cm dish will probably be OK for Astra/Eurobird (we're 2 miles south of Sheffield, just on the NE Derbyshire border), but the idea of additional channels later appeals (foregin language ones mainly - I'm a bit of a polyglot).

If I'm correct I can probably get Greek and German channels using additional LNBS using a Disceq (sp?) switch?

So questions abound:

1) What's a good box?

PVR would be useful, though not essential; so would being able to record one channel and watch another though I think budget will rule out the latter.

I would want HD (are they all HD?) and Linux doesn't scare me (I'm writing this from a Linux laptop and when I get settled in I'm going to have a play with MythTV and my then redundant DEC2000T freeview box).

Was looking at a Technomate 600 and 6800 but I wouldn't profess to be able have an informed opinion on the subject (ask me anything you like about beer, pinball and lithographic printing/design though -but with the emphasis on beer!).

2) What size dish to future proof for foreign/additional satellites, 95cm?

3) Do I just need normal coax to future proof for Disceq switching? Am I right in saying that the co-ax is used to control the LNB and not an additional control cable? What cable(s) should I use (I ask because I want to run the cable under the back of the hearth - and would like to do this tomorrow or Saturday.

And is there a good supplier near to Sheffield/Chesterfield.

Many thinks for any help.

[Robbo]

Hi,

There are two main options for multisat- motorised and multi LNB.

If you are running to just one room, motorised will give the greatest flexibility.

If you need to supply more than one room, multi-LNB is better suited.

For recording and watching a different channel, you need a twin tuner PVR, the TM7100 would suit, or theVU+ DUO, which is Linux based. There are others too, speak to Ian at Southernsatellite, he's not local to you, but will offer you good advice and service.

Cable -wise, use wf100 or similar, eg pf100 from screwfix. Best to run 2 cables to each room. You can run it just inside the gripper.

For Multi-LNB, a 90cm is about the best size, for motorised you can get away with smaller if size is an issue, or go for a 1m.

For multi-lnb, a diseqc switch is used, the coax feed is used to send a control signal down the cable to the switch (very easy to configure)

[Ansifatcat]

Originally Posted by Robbo

motorised and multi LNB.

How much would a motorised setup cost over and above a multi LNB setup (I would think I would have at least 3 LNBs in total - that might be all I you can have I don't know).

I'm only doing one room (can think of better things to do in the bedroom), but I don't want anything too complicated. I'm a competent DIYer but I don't have unlimited time to maintain things.

Originally Posted by Robbo

For recording and watching a different channel, you need a twin tuner PVR, the TM7100 would suit, or theVU+ DUO, which is Linux based. There are others two, speak to Ian at Southernsatellite, he's not local to you, but will offer you good advice and service.

Probably a bit more than I want to spend at the minute, maybe in a few months time. What would the options be without multichannel recording. PVR woudl be nice, but not a necessity.

To be fair, a gadgety all singing all dancing thingy isn't necessary tp start with, all I want initially are the freesat channels, but if a motorised setup can be done cheaply enough then I may consider it.

Originally Posted by Robbo

Best to run 2 cables to each room.

Why? Not doubting, just so's I understand.

[Robbo]

A multi LNB setup and a motorised setup, there's not much in it really, maybe a tenner more for the motorised.

Its possible to have up to about 6 LNBs on a standard 90cm dish. 3 seems to be the norm, maybe 4.


I'm not interested in receivers, so can't advise much , but many of the single tuners have PVR capability via external USB, my TM6800 does.

Two cables means you can upgrade at some point to a twin tuner. Now is the best time to run the extra cable as it will be a PITA or ugly once the carpet is down.