Receiving other channels with digibox

finnpark

I am thinking about buying another sky digital digibox and 80cm dish second hand. Can any1 tell me whether or not i would be able to receive digital free channels on Astra 19.2 degrees east if of course i direct my 80cm dish in the correct direction?.

Do i need any special cards or permission from sky?

thanks.

Greenman

Hello finnpark,
For 19.2 degrees forget your $kybox and buy a FTA box for under a 100E's.If you buy the FTA box you'll have much more fun. One question, what do you want to watch?

Zaphod

Yes, but the digibox will only display those FTA channels with symbol rates of 22,000 and 27,500. You'd be better off buying an FTA receiver instead.

finnpark

Thanks for that. I don't want to sound stupid but what is an FTA box? Is it just a different type of free receiver? Could I possible see Eurosport on 28 degrees east on this?

I just want to experiement to see hat free tations ar eavailable throughout Europe, just a hobby really. I mentioned Astra 19.2 degrees east as thats the one Im most familar with from analogue days!!

Zaphod

An FTA box is a satellite receiver which is capable of receiving Free-To-Air (ie non-encrypted) digital channels.
More info in the FAQ:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=73425

Eurosport is encrypted in Videoguard on 28E, so only a Sky digibox with card will suffice. Eurosport is clear in analogue with English soundtrack on Astra 19E.

Mossy Monk

it is also FTA in digital on 19.2° East but only in german

Greenman

Hello Finnpark,
This might be worth a read!!! http://www.satelitska-tv.com/
Let us know what you do.

finnpark

Thanks every1. You have all been very helpfull. I will look about for a good cheap FTA sat receiver(digital) and will try to get a 1.2m dish to see whats out there. Its cool to be able to pick up foreign soccer channels when Irish sides/Ireland are playing away and no match on Irish TV. Every1 wants to come to your house to watch the game and have the craic. Also it's an interesting hobby and good experience. I will let ya all know how I get on!!!

Smeagol

Congrats on your decision.
Take a day off next week and go over to britain thursday next: Lidl offer Hope they'll have them over here pretty soon.
And on yer way back get a Diseqc motor for it.

Tony

finnpark wrote:

Thanks every1. You have all been very helpfull. I will look about for a good cheap FTA sat receiver(digital) and will try to get a 1.2m dish to see whats out there. Its cool to be able to pick up foreign soccer channels when Irish sides/Ireland are playing away and no match on Irish TV. Every1 wants to come to your house to watch the game and have the craic. Also it's an interesting hobby and good experience. I will let ya all know how I get on!!!

1.2m can be expensive why not start with an 80cm which will give you a good indication as to whats available

finnpark

Thanks for advice everyone again. Just one more thing. Symbol Rates aside would I be able to receive Astra 19.2 degrees east digital TV if I move my Sky Digital dish? How would I go about tuning the channels in? Would I need to pretune my Sky box 1st? Also is my mini-dish too small to receive most channels-German, eurosport, austrian etc.??? How best to do it?

finnpark

Anyone got any advice?

Zaphod

finnpark wrote:

Anyone got any advice?

You could use your existing dish, but it would probably only work in dry weather conditions with clear skies depending on your location, and perhaps would be a stretch even at that. A Sky digibox is good for Sky and that's it really. Buy an 80cm dish and an FTA receiver.

finnpark

Zaphod wrote:

You could use your existing dish, but it would probably only work in dry weather conditions with clear skies depending on your location, and perhaps would be a stretch even at that. A Sky digibox is good for Sky and that's it really. Buy an 80cm dish and an FTA receiver.

Advice taken. Thats what I will do. Can you reccommend a cheap but good FTA receiver?

Pal

talk to Tony. He's the man.
Sorted me out with Hotbird and Astra on the same dish.

It's great.

NB
Be sure to get a cam

PS
Yes you can get Eurosport in English free

Capt'n Midnight

Zaphod wrote:

You could use your existing dish, but it would probably only work in dry weather conditions with clear skies depending on your location, and perhaps would be a stretch even at that. A Sky digibox is good for Sky and that's it really. Buy an 80cm dish and an FTA receiver.

SKY Digiboxes don't give good signal strength indicators - so real pain to align.
Also while there are 100's of channels out there the Digibox won't search for them and won't store more than 40 and to change channel you have to go though a sub menu and scroll down - not easy to channel hop.

Tony

Pal wrote:

PS
Yes you can get Eurosport in English free

is it possible on digital? any idea of freq etc ?

byte

Eurosport in English was only free on analogue last time I checked.

Greenman

Tony wrote:

is it possible on digital? any idea of freq etc ?

I'd be interested too on that!!!!

finnpark

Thanks for all the help lads! Must get shopping soon.

Eurosport in Greek on: Hotbird 3 at 13.0 East, 12558 V, SR 27500, FEC 3/4

Pal

I was watching eurosport in english last night on hotbird.

Will check the frequency and post it.

finnpark

Also, forgive my ignorance , but what do I need a CAM for. I briefly read about this in a satellite mag but what exactly would I use a CAM for and where does it fit in?? Cheers.

Darren

CAM - Conditional access module.

A CAM allows the decryption of encrypted channels usually with the addition of a subscription card. There are laods of cams about for example to get Canal + on 1W a conax cam is required. There are also some multicams about, Magic module, Matrix reloaded/revolutions and Dragon etc.

finnpark

Do the CAMs be built in or are they external? Why CAM over usual encryption methods?
Whats the cost?

Darren

finnpark wrote:

Do the CAMs be built in or are they external? Why CAM over usual encryption methods?
Whats the cost?

Some CAMS are built in, some are not. For example I have a Samsung DSR9500 via ci. It has a built in CAM (Viaccess, I think. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong) but I have patched the box and am running an emulator that emulates lots of other CAMS via this cam. I also have a Magic Module which is an external CAM. This CAM is a PCMCIA card.

Don't worry too much about CAMS at the moment. As I said before, A CAM is a piece of hardware that enables the decryption of an encrypted signal.

For example - A sky digibox has a built in Videoguard (NDS) CAM. You put your SKY card into the card reader slot which connects to the CAM and depending on your subscription level certains channels will become decrypted.

To reiterate, a signal is decrypted by a CAM and a CARD. I hope this clarifies things.

Smeagol

Do the CAMs be built in or are they external?

Yes!!
How about googling for Conditional access module?
CAM
CAM
Cam

finnpark

Spot on. Yes, CAM is just a fancy name for all encryption techniques. Happy Days

Darren

finnpark wrote:

Spot on. Yes, CAM is just a fancy name for all encryption techniques. Happy Days

No. An encryption method is a method or type of encryption. A CAM is the peice or electronic kit that is compatible with a type of encryption technique.

Smeagol

It has a built in CAM (Viaccess, I think. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong)

It has two via card readers, if I'm not mistaken.
But not too much software avaiable. Otherwise good box.

finnpark

Thanks again. Yes I defo now understand.

Darren

Smeagol wrote:

It has two via card readers, if I'm not mistaken.
But not too much software avaiable. Otherwise good box.

You have got to be kidding me. The amount of software available for the patchable sammys is amazing. Probably only to be outdone by the dreambox.

Smeagol

Well, if you'd be used to as much software avaiable for the boxes I own you'd probably reconsider.
But the good thing about CI-boxes is that you have the choice and that you are not restricted as with $ky/NDS Videoguard. (If people only knew )

Darren

Smeagol wrote:

Well, if you'd be used to as much software avaiable for the boxes I own you'd probably reconsider.
But the good thing about CI-boxes is that you have the choice and that you are not restricted as with $ky/NDS Videoguard. (If people only knew )

Seeing that i don't know which boxes you own I can't really argue this point but www.sammyfilez.com gives a good indication of some of the s\w available for the sammy. please alos bear in mind that running EMU 4.6 it is possible to decrypt an awful lot of packages between 30W and 19E without needing to spend money on additional CAMs cards etc

Smeagol

Humax 5400
Nokia D-Box2
Galaxis Easy World,
those are the ones where one could install an emu on.
Same with some cam's I have.
But would't do that because its illegal. :cool:
Must go now, work is calling.

Pal

Eurosport in English is available on Hot Bird at

12558V



( I think you need a CAM to get it. I am using MR with no card)

Pal

Eurosport in English is available on Hot Bird at

12558V

Darren

Smeagol wrote:

Humax 5400
Nokia D-Box2
Galaxis Easy World,
those are the ones where one could install an emu on.
Same with some cam's I have.
But would't do that because its illegal. :cool:
Must go now, work is calling.

I agree. I think the EMU sw was originally written for the humax and ported to other boxes.