Does SKY Box work in other Eurpoean countries ?

cnocdara

Hi, I am new in here so please forgive any errors
I am currently on holidays back home in Ireland (Mayo). Most of the year, I am living and working in Switzerland. Given the fact that I live in the francophone part of Switzerland but don't speak much French (don't really like it :rolleyes:), I am not connected to Sat-TV although I have a SAT-Dish on the roof and use my flatscreen to watch the occasionally DVD.
SKY Box is very expensive in Switzerland. Friends told me that it much cheaper in UK and Ireland.
My question: Does anyone know wether a SKYBOX bought in Ireland would actually work in Switzerland ? I suppose I could subscribe to the usually available packages and ensure monthly payment, but my main concern is whether the stuff would actually work.
Secondly: As the local French TV guy obviously wouldn't be interested, adjusting the sat dish of someone who isn't even a customer - is it very difficult to adjust the dish ? Is there any equipment that could help ?

I don't know how quickly folks on boards.ie actually respond - I'll be in Eire until 20 March, so may be someone has the time to give me some advice ? :) (Even if it is to say NO)
Many thanks in advance
GERT

tomslick

Hello.
In short your answer is YES, no problem. The box will work fine and you'll be able to pickup the signal with a 60cm dish but I'd go for a 80cm.

You'll be able to adjust the dish quite easily. You'll need a "sat finder" (e10 in maplains) and you should be fine.

Tony

It does work but be careful with Swiss customs, any I have sent there have charged a fortune in duty and been severely delayed.

watty

You won't get Astra 2D (BBC, ITV, RTE) on 60cm in Switzerland. May need larger than 1.1m

see here:
http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/astra2d.html

and here to see which beams are which
http://www.lyngsat.com/28east.html

you can see the "fixed" beam will work with 60cm in Switzerland
http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/eb1_fixed.html
(but it doesn't have BBC/ITV/RTE)

Spot is good too
http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/eb1_s1.html

2A north & south OK too
http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/astra2a_north.html
http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/astra2a_south.html

mjsmyth

Lets not forget that the OP (thats you Cnocdara), could walk in to most electrical shops in Switzerland and pick up a FTA receiver cheaply. The last time I was there, a lot of the supermarket electrical depts. stopcked a range of cheap receivers.

If you did it this was cnocdara, you would not get RTE1, 2, TV3 and TG4, but you would get all the main British channels (BBC1,2,3,4, ITV 1,2,3,4, Ch4, E4, More 4, Film 4, 5.... the list goes on...)

Alternatively, you could pick up a freesat box either off one of the supplers here on boards or from Argos in Northern Ireland.

mj

cnocdara

Hi - and many many thanks to all of you for your valuable advice(s), Swiss Customs wont be a problem as I am travelling by car Yes, the boxes are available indeed in CH but I had one extremely negative experience with Swiss after sales service.
Again, many thanks - yoo have helped me a lot - cheers and care-
GERT