What do i need to set up freesat tv.

[scotmac]

Hi i have had a freesat tv for about 18 months, did not and still don`t know what would be the easiest way to set it up.

1. I have an old Sky analogue dish still on wall, will it be pointing in right direction or can it be moved ,if so would fitting new LNB be ok.

2. Would it be easier just buying new dish and LNB.

3. If 2. is there anything else i would need ( not counting cable which i will need for any option).

Please try not to be technical, any advice would great thanks.

[Mick Fisher]

Just plug in the existing dish I would have thought.

[Kymmy]

Analogue will be pointing in the wrong direction (19.2E instead of 28.2E) also the LNB might be a non-tone switched one so even if it was pointing in the right direction you would only get some of the channels..

A new LNB is less than a tenner and all you need to do is move the dish slightly to the left about 3 degrees and about half a degree down....

[scotmac]

Thanks for the replies will check out ebay for quad LNB and cable ( Cabletel cut cable off the dish when they installed their system ).

[daycartes]

Buy one of the ross fressat units from B & Q. I did a couple of years ago and have never looked back.
Then join the thread above for help in setting it up.
daycartes

[Chris]

Crumbs no, don't buy a Ross kit. You get exactly what you pay for - bargain basement kit with no EPG worth speaking of and no possibility of additional services like iPlayer.

For the sake of a few quid, you are far better off with branded Freesat kit.

Have a look at Maplin online for satellite extension kits - I got a quad lnb, connectors and cable for IIRC £20. The only thing I would recommend in addition is a reel of self-amalgamating tape to make the connections on the lnb properly weatherproof.

[roger skillin]

Crumbs no, don't buy a Ross kit. You get exactly what you pay for - bargain basement kit with no EPG worth speaking of and no possibility of additional services like iPlayer.

For the sake of a few quid, you are far better off with branded Freesat kit.
.


The OP said that he has a Freesat tv, he would only need the kit for the dish and LNB which has nothing to do with EPG, that's in the freesat built into the tv

[Chris]

I know. I was replying to daycartes who posted above me to recommend Ross.

Ross is not Freesat in the same sense that a Dyson is not a Hoover. Ross gives you access to free-to-air satellite signals but it is not Freesat, which is a branded service with extra bits added.

[daycartes]

I'm quite happy with Ross thanks very much:). A complete system for about 80 quid (even less now I think). Of course it depends on what you want. I did take note that scotmac wanted a non techie solution /advice.
I did think of upgrading to a humax receiver or someting similar, but then I thought to myself. WHY? does it improve the actual programme? No of course it doesn't.
However I'd be quite happy to accept your advice on why I should upgrade notwithstanding the fact that I do have a perfectly good copy of the Radio Times (updated every week) which works without annoying other people's view of the programme that you're watching whilst checking out later programmes.

[Kymmy]

If you'd read he original post Scotmac didn't even want a receiver as he's already got one :rolleyes:

As for the freesat v FTA arguement it's simple.. If you want to scan multiple sats and/or have a mix between freesat and some of the sky FTA channels then go for a FTA, other than that if you want an alternative to freeview then freesat wins hands down especially with the EPG and extra features (like iplayer)

The Ross SD system is a cheap receiver.. even my 4 yo relook mutant with it's linux firmware beats it hands down for it's updateable firmware and modular add-ons.. even gives me a full EPG as well as streaming directly to VLC on my PC.. The Ross system is though a cheap easy to use system that is a great starting point for those wanting a base FTA system.. but that's simple all it is ;)

---------- Post added at 14:36 ---------- Previous post was at 14:27 ----------

Thanks for the replies will check out ebay for quad LNB and cable ( Cabletel cut cable off the dish when they installed their system ).

A suggestion is before you do anything to the dish is to mark the elevation and declination before you do anything, that way you always have a set point which you know is 19.2E.

Be careful with the LNB mount as the plastic tends to go very brittle with age and the screws can be rusted in place..Also note what the LNB itself is rotatable and needs to be set to the correct angle.. Try http://www.dishpointer.com/ to give you all the correct details for the Astra 2 sats at 28.2E including the magnetic compass reading and the LNB skew.

[daycartes]

So. you're saying that I should spend how much? on a receiver to get ( a better) EPG and iplayer?

Sorry you have completely unconvinced me and your last paragraph contained technical words linux, streaming, vlc etc.

I have in the meantime read this article

http://www.heyrick.co.uk/ricksworld/digibox/fswhatis.html

which attempts to explain freesat. It is quite informative. What do you think of it. I note the number of posts you have both written and your technical expertise, however using sarcasm doesn't endear yourself to new posters.
daycartes

[Kymmy]

I never said you should spend anything else and definitely wasn't trying to convince you of anything.. If you're happy then you're happy.. but just because you're happy with a limited system it doesn't mean to say that it's the best solution for everyone..

I've had FTA receivers since the mid '80's (before Sky became popular) and it's progressed greatly since then with a lot of advancements that I won't mention as you'll just complain again that I'm being too technical.. With that experience I've learned that everyone wants to get something different out of it and they seems to think that their first FTA system is the bees knees without realising that there's a lot more to this than their own simple receiver..

Freesat (btw that link is very outdated and a bit basic) is a self contained system designed for those that want a simplified easy to use package without having to trawl through weird foreign channels destined for a country a few hundred miles away and also want some features designed for the UK market) FTA for those people is a plain and simple waste for time and money and for a more wanting analogy is the same between the usual computer Windows V Linux arguments..

As for my posting style I'm not known for flowering my responses.. I spent far too long as a technical problem solver and find that people would rather have the correct answer than a sweet fluttering of my eyelashes whilst pretending to be a dumb blonde who is fascinated by all this techie talk by the men... :D

[daycartes]

It is scotmac who wanted an untechie solution not me.

You were probably a techie problem solver in the same game as me!! So please tell me using as many technical expressions as you wish what these advancements are.
Are you saying that freesat does not pick up foreign channels? and what are the features you mention that are designed for the UK?

I would like to upgrade but need a reason for it.

[Kymmy]

If you have a question ask it in another thread as otherwise we're hijacking Scotmac's thread..

[daycartes]

We're not hijacking anything. I proposed Ross. You rubbished it. State your reasons so that Scotmac may make a reasoned decision.

Unfortunately KYMMY despite your wealth of technical expertise 'tu parles beaucoup sans rien dire' at least up to now.

Challenge open...

[Kymmy]

Scotmac doesn't need to make a decision, he already has a receiver and wanted to know about the dish.. You're the one who brought into the conversation an alternative receiver..

So stop being childish with this challenge and if you want to talk in an adult manner about the differences between a freesat and FTA boxes and new sat technology then open a new thread as I simple won't bother answering you in this one any more :doh:

[daycartes]

As for my posting style I'm not known for flowering my responses.. I spent far too long as a technical problem solver and find that people would rather have the correct answer than a sweet fluttering of my eyelashes whilst pretending to be a dumb blonde who is fascinated by all this techie talk by the men...

Like a lot of the techies I used to know you're just not up to it and faced with a real challenge of facts you just buckle at the knees.

Sorry to go on Scotmac but there seems to be a snobbish attitude to the use of Ross satellite systems. If you want a simple solution then Ross is fine. If you want a more complicated system with epg and iplayer functionality then go for what these supposed super techies are suggesting. I know that you have a freesat telly but the cost of the package 'as a whole' is really not that much.
Hope that I have helped and I did only respond to sarcasm rather than initiate it.
daycartes

[Chris]

Any branded Freesat box - any one of them, from the cheapest to the most expensive - is easier to install than a Ross box. End of. Once you get past the dish installation, which is the same for both, the Freesat box requires no more skill than to know what your home postcode is. It does everything else for you.

Once you have your Freesat box installed, you have a 7-day EPG and, if you bought one of the higher-end ones, you have the iPlayer and other on-demand services in the pipeline.

Once you have your Ross box installed you have a poxy now-and-next EPG and a range of channels from all over Europe and the near east to tune and sort through.

I feel sorry for the victims of your 'problem solving' service if you have a habit of confusing the sort of plug-and-play functionality you get from Freesat with the get-the-manual-out-and-earn-it approach you have to take with non-Freesat boxes such as the Ross.

[daycartes]

I do apologise. We are obviously talking about a different system here. My Ross system was definitely plug and play, the only hard thing was to line up the satellite and I would have thought ( and you agree) that was the same for any system unless you have a motorised one.

I feel sorry that you also need to resort to slagging people off instead of being rational. How can you possibly make a value judgement about what I used to do when you have no idea what I did. Classic.

As it stands you still only have the epg and iplayer argument which, whilst valid, is hardly a reason to pay quite more for a freesat system.

My final point is that my system has been rock solid and has never failed despite the weather we had over xmas.

[Kymmy]

@ Chris you forgot to mention the following......red button, multi-screens, interactive, youtube, web browsers, more enhanced PVR, local settings..... and the most important thing for all freesat receivers is a fully supported firmware that will be updated as the systems and features change.. Unlike ross and most other cheap manufacturers who'll expect you to buy a new system

@ everyone else: Weather shouldn't effect a DVB-S system unless the dish is off.

The SPARKLY IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE SPARKLY...

[daycartes]

Well at last you have come up with some advantages. I've been waiting all day though. Lets have a look to see what you came up with:
red button, I've always wanted one of those.
multi-screens, Yeah great i've always wanted to see 4 pictures at once. Is there 4 audio channels as well? (I use 4 as an example of multi)
interactive, yeah OK what can we do with that then?
youtube, computer does that without affecting other peoples enjoyment of the telly,
web browsers, computer does that without affecting other peoples enjoyment of the telly,
more enhanced PVR, OK this is a good advantage.
local settings..... not really sure what you mean by this - care to elucidate?
and the most important thing for all freesat receivers is a fully supported firmware that will be updated as the systems and features change. Good but i've not needed it as the Ross system is ok out of the box.

Oh and I'm rather puzzled why you both are SO angry when someone has an opinion different to yours.

---------- Post added at 23:01 ---------- Previous post was at 22:40 ----------

Oh Kymmy could you explain why this is the case:

@ everyone else: Weather shouldn't effect a DVB-S system unless the dish is off.

I certainly remember from my electronics training that during inclement weather we used to switch from linear polarisation to circular as circular was less affected by raindrops. Now this was a long time ago and things may have changed.

Please try to back up your assertions with some sort of technical know how instead of making blank(et) statements.

Honestly I'm here to learn more Please baffle me with science.

[Kymmy]

If you know so much then you should already know why the Sparkly is dead and hence the reason behind the statement. Unless of course you're franticly googling worthless out of date facts ;)

<< off to bed, will laugh at the dead sparklies in the morning :rofl: :rofl: >>

[scotmac]

Hi lads sorry my post caused so much bother , would have been on earlier but had to get my appendix removed. Anyway having got a quad LNB I was going to ask about freesat boxes ,but reading Chris and Kymmy`s posts I have sent for the Humax Foxsat 500GB to put in spare room. Thanks again for all your help.

[Chris]

I know a couple of people with that box ... They are all happy with it. A good choice I think.