Wanna get free to air

GrumPy

But have a few questions that I didnt see in the sticky. Can they pick up any HD channels, and what type of box and dish do I need?

newbusiness

Sorry if I'm thread jacking but I'm looking for similar.

Is it worth trying for more than one bird (satellite)?
If so is dual/triple LNB or motorised dish the way to go?

What's the best quality decoder and dish for reasonable money?

Mossy Monk

Irish GrumPy wrote: »

But have a few questions that I didnt see in the sticky. Can they pick up any HD channels, and what type of box and dish do I need?

You will need a HD stb. It will receive any HD channel that is FTA. Any dish will do so long as it is big enough to receive satellite signals.

TheDriver

Wait on for few months for HD as the BBC freesat thing is coming on stream soon and boxes will be morewidespread and possibly cheaper

Tomas_V

newbusiness wrote: »

Is it worth trying for more than one bird (satellite)? If so is dual/triple LNB or motorised dish the way to go? What's the best quality decoder and dish for reasonable money?

That's a bit like asking "what's the best car?". If you only want to watch up to 3 satellites and they're close enough together to make a multi-LNB solution possible, that's the best as the channel changing is quicker. A motorised system is slower but can receive many more satellites.

As regards the tuner, what features do you want?

watty

Or the in between is a Wave frontier T90 dish to get either more than 4 or more than 15 degree spread or 3 degree spacing. (Regular non-motorised is limited to minimum of 5 degrees)

If you want more than one receiver, then a fixed multifeed, T90, or multidish system is needed. A motorised dish only suits a single receiver.

I have 4 satellites via a distribution system (4x quattro LNBs on bracket 28, 23, 19, 13E, 90/95cm Triax) feeds up to 16 tuners (expandable) and a 110cm triax motorised for about 22 satellites and feed hunting etc.

I may swap this year the 4x quattros onto a Wavefrontier and add a couple of other fixed LNBs on it.

Tuners vary from basic for ordinary Free To Air use, to Blind Scan for feed hunting to dual input with Hard Drive (and even DVD writer) for full media centre / recorder to High Definition (HD TV > 42" with 1920 x1080 recommended).

Currently you need a Sky Digibox for Interactive, Satellite Text and full program guide (no sub needed). This is expected to change in Spring with BBC/ITV freesat boxes.

Mayo Exile

Originally posted by watty: Currently you need a Sky Digibox for Interactive, Satellite Text and full program guide (no sub needed). This is expected to change in Spring with BBC/ITV freesat boxes.

It seems that not all the "Red Button" stuff will be there from launch day on BBC/ITV Freesat. Looks like text first then other interactive services such as extra coverage of tv events later.

From the Freesat info page:

What about interactivity/red button?
The BBC will offer a wide range of red button services on freesat. From launch you'll be able to read the latest news and sport stories 24 hours a day, check out what's happening in the world of business, enjoy entertainment news and quickly access the official lottery results.

From Summer of 2008, you will be able to get a wide range of news in video at any time you want it, with weather information for where you live. During the Beijing Olympics, you'll be able to choose between coverage of different sports and highlights to get the whole BBC Olympics package.

Coming later will be enhanced coverage of many other sporting and music events, children's games, plus all of the interactive content you have come to expect from your BBC digital TV channels.

Link: http://www.freesat.co.uk/help.php#q16