Lidl FTA Receiver, LNBF & 80cm Dish - €80 Thur 30 Aug

Zaphod

Mentioned already in another thread, but worth highlighting.

Digital Satellite System
80cm steel antenna
Coated mast bracket
High performance twin LNB 0.6 dB
In weatherproof casing
Twin LNB connections for 2 receivers
Technical specifications: Tuner rate: 2-35 MS/s, MPEG-2 & DVD compatible, 4500 storage channels, Pre-programmable up to 7 days in advance (EPG), Games including Tetris, Snake & Othello, Radio receiver, Teletext
€78.99 + €1.00 Producer Recycling Fund
Price per item



http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20070830.p.DigitalSatelliteSystem

mjsmyth

what does DVD Compatible mean??

mj

Tony

Good price if the dish is decent quality

Jr.Hero

i know that the small camping satellite kit was lidl was given a bad name, but i myself purchased it and have been using it for a fair few months now and it has been great for the not so great summers up here in donegal. but the dish is not exactly the highest quality, so this new deal seems very interesting seeing as i have already got one satellite receiver. might consider purchasing it.
also €20 cheaper than camping kit, but as tony says depends on dish quality

Ulsterman 1690

Lidl wall brackets are a pile of junk the dishes are just about OK (but still a bit flimsy)

The ones Tony sells will set you back slightly more but are built like a brick $%1*house

wil

Mention of Lidl seems to inspire technorage in some, but IMHO these receivers have a lot going for them. I got the Aldi version, its 12volt, half the size of a Harry Potter softback and works very well indeed. Its small size and lack of toasting ability allows it to easily vanish among the plethora of boxes under my TV.
I am really not a fan of the 42cm brick that many manufacturers seem to think is in vogue and see no reason why minaturisation should not definitely apply to sat receivers with no moving parts.
The menu is actually very easy to use and works exactly as I like it, not an accusation I could throw at some other receivers I have tried. The favorites/categories options are very functional, something I have found fiddly on some other machines.
I also found its search pretty sound, and is quite "sensitive" and apparently seems to handle high SRs better than some known brands. I have it disequed to 4 dishes with no lag between sats.
OK it doesnt have RGB or RF out but for the price and with decent size (admittedly probably flimsy) dish thrown in this time along with a 3 year warranty it is hard to knock it.
Combine it with a diseq, one output from your Skydish quad lnb and the 80cm pointed at Astra1 or Hotbird (etc) and it makes for a cheap multisat fta system.

conax

mjsmyth wrote:

what does DVD Compatible mean??

mj

me too.

christo82

wil wrote:

OK it doesnt have RGB or RF out but for the price and with decent size (admittedly probably flimsy) dish thrown in this time along with a 3 year warranty it is hard to knock it.
QUOTE]
What can't you do without a RF or RGB output? Does that just mean you can't run an analog aerial signal through it?
Does it only have scart? I don't know how i'd fit it up to my TV which has 2 scarts already in use by DVD Recorder and VCR.

Tony

christo82 wrote:

What can't you do without a RF or RGB output? Does that just mean you can't run an analog aerial signal through it?
Does it only have scart? I don't know how i'd fit it up to my TV which has 2 scarts already in use by DVD Recorder and VCR.

No rgb means slightly inferior picture quality. No rf output means you cannot watch the same satellite channel on another Tv unless you add an rf modulator or use a video or similar to convert the scart output to RF (radio frequency)

byte

mjsmyth wrote:

what does DVD Compatible mean??

mj

I think it should say DVB, and not DVD!

wil

[QUOTE=christo82
Does it only have scart? I don't know how i'd fit it up to my TV which has 2 scarts already in use by DVD Recorder and VCR.[/QUOTE]

You could loop it through one of the recorders scart inputs, you may have to experiment a little to see which is the best option in your case. Most people view their sky digibox via scart.
My digibox is my main box and the sl65 is a secondary fta multisat box.
On a medium size TV lack of RGB is not a big issue for me as difference in quality is not significant compared to the variation in channel broadcast quality.
I have digibox for Sky picture quality and the sl65 for multisatellite variety.

If RGB and RF output are preferred options then you would be better off going for one of the systems offered by satellite.ie (Tony) above.

christo82

Thanks for the info Tony and Wil.

Tony

Pleasure

christo82

Just got the Lidl brochure in the newspaper and it gives some more specs.
It turns out there is an RF out. From the picture, the receiver is the Silvercrest SL65. here's the link to their website with specs and manuals.

http://www.mysilvercrest.de/en/artikel.php?a=51


Lidl opens at 8am, right?

byte

The Silvercrest site doesn't mention an RF Output?

wil

christo82 wrote:

Just got the Lidl brochure in the newspaper and it gives some more specs.
It turns out there is an RF out. From the picture, the receiver is the Silvercrest SL65. here's the link to their website with specs and manuals.

http://www.mysilvercrest.de/en/artikel.php?a=51


Lidl opens at 8am, right?

I suspect that is a misprint (not the only one as Byte pointed out) and should probably read IF output. I have the same advert and it appears to have same outputs as mine. From the photo that looks like an f-connector as used for IF out,in fact I can make out "IF out" written over it.
It is possible but unlikely that it could have RF out. Not a lot of room in there for a modulator. There are several variations of the SL65/12 as GMI Taiwan supply the generic model with various options such as different faceplates, channel number LEDs, external IR remote receiver etc.

FYI "IF out" is a loop through for the lnb to supply a separate analog receiver. Dont think it's of any use for a second digital receiver.

Thanks for the link. Nice to see they now have some software on the site, looks like a channel editor. Might have to check out if it suits my machine.
Website description is a little confusing, but manual seems to state it now has RGB:cool: . But it also has :rolleyes: "stereo video" so I wouldnt guarantee it.
*************************************************************
D'oh
Sorry I have a major correction to my previous posts as I AssUMed it was the SL65/12 they were selling. On closer inspection of the photo, the relative size of receiver to remote (SL65/12 is same length as remote), the twin scarts, the optical out, the 7 buttons instead of 3 and the umm MAINS LEAD.
It is in fact the bigger brother SL65, mains voltage version of the 12volt camping receiver. Everyone is selling them (the SL65/12) now, even Satcure - (same faceplate as Aldis). Otherwise very similar looking (my excuse). Not so small though, almost as big as a Harry Potter. Perhaps it does have "stereo video"

weeder

im a bit of a sat noob( i know the basics like) but i was wondering if i could get this for camping and just stick dish on a pole and at every camp site point it at a sat( i know this is hard from experience at home!)

wil

My mistake as I corrected a few mins ago, this is not in fact the 12volt model SL65/12 but the mains voltage model SL65.
If you specifically need it for camping then the SL65/12 is better suited being tiny and 12volt.
If you have access to mains voltage on the campsite then this SL65 or any FTA receiver can do the job. The dish at 80cm might be a bit big to be lugging around but it will give a much better signal especially further away from the centre of the satellites footprint or bad weather. If you are willing to do this and have a suitable pole or tripod then why not, no different than setting it up it in your back garden

12bore

Just read the manual for this, there is something called autoscan.
Is this the same as blind scan? If so, how sensitive is the tuner?
Have a skystar 2 pci card, brilliant piece of kit but lacks blindscan.

byte

Blind scan and autoscan are two different things. I'm not sure if these Silvercrest STB's have blindscan.

Autoscan is usually where the box will automatically scan all the frequencies in its database. Most receivers usually have an option for Network search, which will add frequencies to the box that it doesn't know.

watty

Some versions of the Skystar will work with plugins for ProgDVB (free) for blindscan.

The FortecStar Beta (unfortunate name), does Blindscan, but VERY slow...
About €85 in Maplin.

As Byte Says, Autoscan is different. It just finds channels on the known Transponder and sometimes gets a list of payTv transponders.

Blindscan is more use with feeds and a motorised Dish. It (slowly) finds transponders not listed anywhere, then afterwards does an Autoscan to find the channels.

Autoscan is pretty much standard. The Sky Digiboxes only scan one transponder at a time (for other channels) so do not have true Autoscan, they are "told" what channels to receive by command from Sky via Satellite.

I believe there is a receiver that goes beyond blind scan, able to do a Sky Scan. i.e. you enter your co-ordinates and it self aligns the dish on a known satellite, then can find the other known and look for unknown. It has an elevation motor instead of polar mount. Usefull for Camper trucks I suppose.

conax

Auto search searches along known parameters within the Set Top Box defined by the user, such as search Astra 19.2, FTA only, NIT etc
Blindsearch on the other hand requires no user information (single satellite) no frequencies, symbol rates, FEC’s etc. It will scan through the entire IF band itself, it is similar to “detailed scan” on some FTA boxes. It is a very very slow process and rarely provides any new channels other than newsfeeds, links and test channels.
Blind search with a motorised dish just requires your current location and it will automatically calculate viewable satellites and automatically blind search all received satellites ( and satellites it thinks it can receive), or just stored positions, and will take half the day to complete.

Zaphod

AFAIK the SL65 'Auto Scan' is the same as a blindscan/powerscan in other receivers, while the 'Preset Scan' is equivalent to an autoscan.

EDIT: Thinking back on this, the SL65 'Auto Scan' is more like a pseudo-blindscan - you define 3 different symbol rates, e.g. 6666, 22000, 27500 and it will then search from 10.7-12.7 GHz for any TPs with those SRs. I have a Dr Dish review somewhere which I'll post up on youtube.

EDIT2: Turns out it's a review of the related SL35 which has the same 'auto scan' function. No point posting the review as the other features are different to the SL65.

grahamo

Hi! This might sound like a stupid question but if I bought this receiver could I mount the dish in the attic or does it have to be mounted on an outside wall?
Thanks in advance.

Tony

outside south facing wall

Hellrazer

Tony-While youre at it could you answer something for me.

Current setup is Sky with a quad LNB.2 of these are used for Front room and front bedroom upstairs(feeding second bedroom upstairs through the RF as both are not used together)

Leaves me with 2 unused connections on the dish--am I better off buying a couple of FTA sky boxes or going with something like this system to feed the rear of the house??
Theres plenty of room to mount a dish at the back if needed.
Thanks in advance.
Richie.

Tony

Sure, I would just use the existing ports on the lnb and feed with good quality coax. You could use sky boxes and get the benefits of the epg and interactive or standard FTA boxes and edit the channel order to suit yourself.

Hellrazer wrote:

Tony-While youre at it could you answer something for me.

Current setup is Sky with a quad LNB.2 of these are used for Front room and front bedroom upstairs(feeding second bedroom upstairs through the RF as both are not used together)

Leaves me with 2 unused connections on the dish--am I better off buying a couple of FTA sky boxes or going with something like this system to feed the rear of the house??
Theres plenty of room to mount a dish at the back if needed.
Thanks in advance.
Richie.

Silvera

Apologies if this question is a bit simplistic, but....

Will this reciever/dish pick up all the BBC and ITV FTA channels??

(The LIDL advert only mentions BBC 1 2 3 and ITV News??).

BTW, has the 'Men & Motors' channel become a pay-per-view channel??
(We used to recieve it FTA but now it's gone??)

conax

Silvera wrote:

Will this reciever/dish pick up all the BBC and ITV FTA channels??
(The LIDL advert only mentions BBC 1 2 3 and ITV News??).

it will

Silvera wrote:

BTW, has the 'Men & Motors' channel become a pay-per-view channel??
(We used to recieve it FTA but now it's gone??)

its still there, 10.759 V 22000 5/6
you will other ITV channels on this transponder as well.

Silvera

conax wrote:

it will



its still there, 10.759 V 22000 5/6
you will other ITV channels on this transponder as well.

Thanks for the quick reply!
However, I have no idea what "10.759 V 22000 5/6" means ??

...and how do I retune my dish/reciever to pick up Men & Motors again???

DMC

Silvera wrote:

Thanks for the quick reply!
However, I have no idea what "10.759 V 22000 5/6" means ??

...and how do I retune my dish/reciever to pick up Men & Motors again???

He's just given you the frequency for the channel. 10.759 is the actually frequency, V is the polarisation, (vertical) 22000 the symbol rate and 5/6 is the FEC. If, after setting it up, and you've let the system scan, Men and Motors is still FTA should it should automatically tune in. If not, there are the details to manually tune it in and save it.

Whats your current set-up? Do you have a dish already or what? Is the Lidl device going to replace an old system?

Silvera

My father bought a 'Televes' FTA system about 6 months ago (cost c.€260 IIRC). He is now thinking of buying the Lidl system to use on another tv in the kitchen.


We had Men & Motors when we first set up the system ...then one day it just dissappeared ??!

mjsmyth

Details for channels change every now and again. Sky boxes automatically update themeselves. They use magic and elves to do this.

With a FTA box, you have to do it manually. I use www.kingofsat.net to keep up to date with new channels or changes to existing ones. Others prefer different sites.

mj

gar32

Thinking of get this dish but wondering what angle it is pointed? Due south or is it south east. The is a wall in my way to the south east & it would be a close call if I can get a singal?? Has any one set up the dish before?? will be getting in the morning so today answer would be nice

Tony

gar32 wrote:

Thinking of get this dish but wondering what angle it is pointed? Due south or is it south east. The is a wall in my way to the south east & it would be a close call if I can get a singal?? Has any one set up the dish before?? will be getting in the morning so today answer would be nice

Neither, astra 2 is at 28 degrees east of south

conax

Tony wrote:

Neither, astra 2 is at 28 degrees east of south

Ahem.
Orbitally speaking of course

irishgeo

got a 2nd sky box , 60cm dish, lnb etc all the mounts etc for €100 from england.

is there any FTV BBC cards still floating around. ill be looking for 3 in the next few weeks.

Tony

irishgeo wrote:

is there any FTV BBC cards still floating around.

No such thing

conax

irishgeo wrote:

got a 2nd sky box , 60cm dish, lnb etc all the mounts etc for €100 from england.

is there any FTV BBC cards still floating around. ill be looking for 3 in the next few weeks.

This is your lucky day!
I have got 3, €800.00 each + P&P

BBC is Free To Air, you do not require a card in order to view it.

irishgeo

conax wrote:

This is your lucky day!
I have got 3, €800.00 each + P&P

BBC is Free To Air, you do not require a card in order to view it.

ahh the ill informed. i am looking for the cards from england that let you watch channel 4 and channel 5 for free in ireland.

They were around before the BBC went FTA. i have one right now. but need 3 more for a job i am doing.

conax

irishgeo wrote:

ahh the ill informed. i am looking for the cards from england that let you watch channel 4 and channel 5 for free in ireland.

They were around before the BBC went FTA. i have one right now. but need 3 more for a job i am doing.

Ahh Ahh the ill ill informed,

first it was a joke, 2nd as Tony has already posted there is no such thing as a BBC FTV card, (stopped long ago)
what your looking for is a freeview card.

irishgeo

sorry.

i know the card has stopped but there was loads of them on the internet for sale. cant find any on ebay now.

have not heard of the freeview card.

weeder

i got myself one of these. lidl here was basically a queue outside the door and everyone ran in to get one lol
i think everyone in the queue got i tthough

ambasite

weeder wrote:

i got myself one of these. lidl here was basically a queue outside the door and everyone ran in to get one lol
i think everyone in the queue got i tthough

same in Galway, was funny to see, gone in 60 seconds ;-)

watty

conax wrote:

Ahh Ahh the ill ill informed,

first it was a joke, 2nd as Tony has already posted there is no such thing as a BBC FTV card, (stopped long ago)
what your looking for is a freeview card.

Freeview is UK Terrestrial Digital TV (via aerial). No card is needed.

Sky do sell a card for Ch4, Five and Sky3, Freesat-from-Sky, a "Free To View" (FTV) card. One of £21 payment and only sent to a UK post code (inc N.I.). It's the same card scheme BBC & ITV used to be in, but they decided it cost too much and are now "Free To Air" (= no card needed).

Tony

Think we need a sticky to explain these terms which are confusing for a lot of people

christo82

Got mine this morning in Balbriggan. About 20 people in queue. I was at back of queue, but while most people walked down the aisle, I jogged.:D

Just need someone to install this for me though.

What would be a reasonable price to pay for installation?

trap4

My brother in law got one of these kits today and I was amazed at how much better they're packaging the whole thing now compared to when I got one 18 months ago when all the bits were separate and I had to go buy cable separately from a hardware shop.

He's hoping to get the signal to his sitting room using the existing cable from the RTE aerial so he went and got the cable extension set at Lidl too. I don't know anything about cabling so can someone tell me if that will do the trick? Basically all I think he needs in the 'combiner' in the package? But won't he still need to get another combiner for the other end? Something like the one here -

http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Satellite_UHF_VHF_Cable_Combiner.html

Or does he a second one at all? Is there some way of running the one cable from the wall socket into the receiver and then daisy chaining to the TV (yup, I'm clueless about cabling!).

wil

You are referring to 2 completely separate noncompatable items.
1 - The cable TV extension kit from Lidl.
2 - A splitter combiner option obtained from satellite.ie also referred to in a recent post to allow delivery of both analog Terrestial TV signal and satellite IF signal from dish to stb via one cable.

It is extremely doubtful that the cable provided in the Lidl extension kit would be suitable for satellite signals so combining these 2 kits will not work.

You will either need proper satellite cable with the splitter and combiner
or
use the extension kit (Lidl or wherever) to relay the UHF signal from
(a) the back of the receiver (if it has RF out)
(b) the video recorder/DVDrecorder UHF out
to the rest of the house.

wil

Freewotsit
Agree with Tony, this could do with a sticky
especially as BBC own the trademark "Freesat" and Sky have only recently being emphasizing the "from Sky" portion of their offering. Wonder if they might change the name completely.
Along with Freeview, FTV, FreeToView, FTA and FreeTheSenegalOne;) the names are so generic that the ill-acquainted are likely to keep using them interchangably.

beer enigma

Could you pick up Hispasat in Cork from one of these ??