Which digital Satellite?

dave82

I'm looking to get a digital statellite to get as many FTA channels as possible. What are my options?

What are the pros and cons of dishs such as the Fortec Star ones sold by maplin? What do I need to be looking for in a dish?

ethernet

This sticky may be of some use to you.

If you want mainly English-language channels, then you want a satellite aligned to 28 degrees SSE. There are actually two satellites here but that won't bother your receiver. Sky uses the same position for their digital services. Many of the channels on Sky's line-up are actually free-to-air [not scrambled] and can be received by any free-to-air receiver. Among these are channels from the BBC and ITV, lots of radio channels, shopping, music and even religious.

Depending on your location, you'll need a satellite of a certain size. 65 cm seems to work well for me. You'll also need an LNB of course.

You could buy a complete free-to-air kit in Maplin. This would enable you to receive all the free channels [no subscription channels]. If you'd prefer to have a system installed for you, you may get a better deal by contacting an installer who could provide you with the kit you need as well.

dave82

New to this so here's a few more questions:

Is a bigger dish always better than a smaller one or is there a reason why a smaller dish is better?

Is there anywhere cheaper to get a fta kit than maplin such as an online site or some electrical wholesaler or somewhere?

Is it possible to run satellite tv over the same coaxial cables that my terrestrial tv runs around my house on? obviously I need decoders for each tv that uses the satellite but do I need to run new coaxial.? It would be good if I could use my existing coaxial through the splitter that is there already

watty

Mostly a bigger dish is better. A smaller one has less wind loading.

A 80cm to 90cm size is a good compromise unless you want more exotic satellites.

No. Do not use TV coax. In fact I use Sat coax for TV aerial cable.

Also each satellite receiver needs its own connection at dish, up to four on a Quad LNB or any number via multiswitches on a Quattro LNB.

A PVR (Hard Disk Dual Tuner) Satellite receiver uses two cables.

ethernet

Avoid TV coax like the plague, as Watty has said.

Listings of satellite channels are widely available online. You might like to visit the Lyngsat website to see such listings. It'll tell you what channels are free, frequencies, polarity, etc. [should you need to edit the transponder listings on your receiver].