Install FTA, or get Sky+?

jonno23

Satellite newie here, hoping someone can advise me what would be the best way to go as I’m getting totally confused. I’ve been reading threads here for the last six months but still a bit lost

I was considering getting Sky+, as the ability to record would be great, but I figure I could hold out for a Freesat PVR sometime in the future. And I’d prefer to stay away from being contracted to Sky.

So basically I’d like to get FTA channels and, if possible, some French FTA channels.
I contacted a local FTA installer who came to view my house and discuss what I wanted, he said he’d would have to mount the dish on the chimney as it’s a terraced house as no other way to get a good view for the dish. No problem there for me. However, he said I would not be able to get French TV, only FTA, or he could provide me with a Sky Free to View box and card for “red button” benefits. When I asked about the future possibility of hooking up a Freesat PVR box, he said he wouldn’t have a clue how to install a dish to cope with that and I would be better off ordering Sky+ directly from Sky. I have a feeling he didn’t really have a clue about Freesat.

So can anyone advise if I would be able to get English FTA, with the possibility of French FTA, with the ability just to plug in a Freesat PVR when they become widely available in the future and benefit from the Freesat HD etc? I’d also like to have a second connection in the bedroom, but I’m on a bit of a budget so if that’s a lot more expensive I’ll hold off on that.
If this is possible, any idea of good suppliers, who’d preferably do an install as well? and approx price? I’m in North Wicklow.
Thanks for any advice and help,
J

byte

If you've no wish to be stuck under a Sky contract, then hold out for the Humax Freesat PVR, in my opinion.

THe thing is, Sky and Freesat all use Astra 2, on which there are few if any French speaking channels (Euronews maybe). French channels would be mainly on a different satellite. This is where the Freesat box would suit better, as the Humax is to have DiSEqC, which will allow the box to use different satellites, which Sky box can't do.

You would need a seperate dish for French channels, or a good 80cm dish with multi-LNB rail to pull in two satellites simultaneously. Free french channels (TV5, arte, France24, etc) can be found on either Hotbird, Astra1, or Atlantic Bird.

http://www.lyngsat.com/freetv/France.html

jonno23

Thanks a mill, Byte.

I guess to use different satellites, you’d need a motorised 80cm dish and a DiSEqC. This is where I get a bit confused. If I just got a basic FTA system installed for the moment, would I be able to just get a Humax PVR in the future and hook it up, or would I need a double LNB to benefit from recording one channel whilst watching another? I’ve read so much about this stuff, and since I don’t really have a basic understanding, I’m just getting more and more confused. I was hoping the installer guy I’d contacted would set me straight, but he was as much in the dar as me…

watty

There are two kinds of fixed dish & Diseqc switch (fast) that will do it without a motor.

Regular dish (as byte says) with adaptor can get 13, 19, 23.5 and 28.2 simulatanously with a triax adaptor and 4 LNBs.

A Wavefrontier t90 can do nearly 45 degree arc and 3 degree separation, i.e. 13E, 16E, 28.2E and 5W is possible. A regular dish has difficulty with more than 15 degree arc and less than 5 degree separation.

Motorised is a different kind of diseqc. It can only feed one receiver. The fixed dish with multiple LNBs can feed easily 4 and be adapted for up to 1000 receivers. It will easily pickup about 22 satellites from 42E to 50W but is slow to change satellite (several minutes worse case).

dhaumi

What you want jonno23 is more or less what I want: The french and english FTA channels... if only it could be easier...
I'd definitely wait for the Humax PVR (HD channels + PVR), pity no irish channels are FTA...

As for the french channels, as a french man, I don't consider TV5, Euronews... as french channels, they're more like channels in french

The best way to get them is probably to get the french equivalent of Freesat (TNTSAT on Astra1, 19E), but to do that, you need to buy a pack (SAGEM receiver + card=valid for 4 years). This pack can be purchased in France (99 euros for SD, 229 for HD, no PVR and apparently very buggy!) or with this company based in Ireland:
http://www.freesat.ie/index.php?cat=TNTSAT_France&ActinicSID=71efdbefd0f9c8b901920af45b3fdbb9 does the SD pack for 299 euros (rip off!!)...

jonno23

Thanks for explaining that Watty, I was misunderstanding that completely, I didn’t realize you could pick up different satellites without a motor. Et grand merci dhaumi, that system is exactly what I want (wife is French, so it would be great for my inlaws when they are over. I could pick one up next month when I'm over there).
So finally guys, should I just ask an installer for a 80cm dish with a triax adaptor and 4 LNBs? And just get a regular FTA box for the moment, with which I could pick up all the various satellites watty mentioned. Would I then be able to upgrade when the Humax Freesat PVR comes out, (and benefit from being able to record one channel whilst watching another)? I could also have the French Freesat box beside the TV, and just connect that when necessary to the satellite cable.
I think I’m almost understanding it now!

Gadgie

For what you require I think it would be better to just get an 80cm dish with two LNBs, one (twin) for 28.2E to feed the UK Freesat box and one for 19E to feed the French box. That way you wouldn't have to keep swapping the cable between boxes.

Four LNBs seems a bit like overkill for your needs. From looking at the channel lists for 23.5E and 13E, they seem to be mostly Dutch, German and Italian channels.
23.5E: http://www.lyngsat.com/astra23.html
13E: http://www.lyngsat.com/hotbird.html

biologikal

I think Atlantic Bird 3 (5W) is one of the best for FTA French channels. There are a handful too on 13E and 19E, including France 24 Français, but to really get a good selection (for a native French person wanting lots of choice at least) you'd really need a subscription. When you think about it, I think we're quite spoiled with the concentration of FTA on 28E, and it may get better.

I find it hard to see the attraction in 23.5E, TBH; a couple of HD channels, a sports channel, and a heap of FTA and encrypted Dutch channels. Someone want to enlighten us? Are there any feeds on this satellite?