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Simple Satellite for my Mother

  • 20-10-2009 06:16PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,031 ✭✭✭


    Hi,
    My Mother is with NTL.
    If she was to ditch them, get a satellite dish in power city or the like, what stations would she get?

    Are they difficult to install?

    Cheers


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,900 ✭✭✭Apogee


    Hi,
    My Mother is with NTL.
    If she was to ditch them, get a satellite dish in power city or the like, what stations would she get?

    Are they difficult to install?

    Cheers

    If you want a simple, user-friendly sat receiver as a replacement for NTL, then you should get a Freesat receiver (rather than a free-to-air receiver) which has a proper EPG and doesn't require tuning. You can purchase SD or HD versions depending on your budget. The sticky at the top of the page lists suppliers.

    List of stations http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=whatson.Main&PHPSESSID=lpcmap4usou12s66ttsv9lpvt0.

    The difficulty of installation depends on the person doing the installation.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 749 ✭✭✭waster81


    yeah freesat would be easiest option have a look on adverts.ie might pick one up there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,900 ✭✭✭Apogee


    As you mention Powercity, I see that they are still selling Goodmans Sat4Free receivers - these are pretty much Freesat receivers with a different sticker.

    http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-23


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 246 ✭✭pelisor2000


    Apogee wrote: »
    As you mention Powercity, I see that they are still selling Goodmans Sat4Free receivers - these are pretty much Freesat receivers with a different sticker.

    http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-23
    anybody know how mach powercity charge for installation of freesat??


  • Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 3,587 Mod ✭✭✭✭St Senan


    anybody know how mach powercity charge for installation of freesat??

    Why dont you give powercity a call to see but i am sure it won't be less than €100.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 958 ✭✭✭Trevord


    Before you cancel UPC you might just want to note that you will need to get irish channels through a TV aerial. If you have decent recpetion then that should not be an issue.

    To switch between the TV and Sat you will be switching from TV to AV mode. Some of the older generation find this fiddly and annoying so it may take a bit of gettng used to. Many of the freesat remotes come with a button that performs this operation so it should not be a big deal.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 295 ✭✭peneau


    Apogee wrote: »
    If you want a simple, user-friendly sat receiver as a replacement for NTL, then you should get a Freesat receiver (rather than a free-to-air receiver) which has a proper EPG and doesn't require tuning. You can purchase SD or HD versions depending on your budget. The sticky at the top of the page lists suppliers.

    List of stations http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=whatson.Main&PHPSESSID=lpcmap4usou12s66ttsv9lpvt0.

    The difficulty of installation depends on the person doing the installation.

    New or second hand sky box would do a similar job also and she wouldn't have the non Freesat channels (mode) to contend with.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,029 ✭✭✭um7y1h83ge06nx


    peneau wrote: »
    New or second hand sky box would do a similar job also and she wouldn't have the non Freesat channels (mode) to contend with.

    True, but her head would be wrecked when she can't view a lot of the channels.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,900 ✭✭✭Apogee


    peneau wrote: »
    New or second hand sky box would do a similar job also and she wouldn't have the non Freesat channels (mode) to contend with.

    It might do a similar job, but hardly as good because you'd have an EPG cluttered with useless subscription channels. And you'd have no Five either unless you went through "Add channels".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 215 ✭✭muchos04


    Hi Guys,
    I was thinking about getting this free sat set up for my father but also wished to ask about the complexity of flicking from RTE to a free sat channel. I note that one of the guys in this forum said that some of the boxes have a button on them that you can press and this allows you to change between the DTT channels and the free sat channels. Can you then use this free sat control to switch between the DTT channels themselves or do you have to use the TV remote?? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

    Regards
    Muchos04


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 447 ✭✭shinobi


    You can get a combo box which will do both FTA & DTT channels seamlessly. The entry level boxes start at ~ €180 - €200

    http://satellite.ie/acatalog/Terrestrial_and_Satellite__Free_to_Air_Combo_Receivers.html
    or
    http://www.saortv.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=58

    I have bought from both in the past & are both excellent to deal with & to give advise. I have a different combo box myself & have found it very easy to use, also, the EPG can be customised to display only the channels you want.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 215 ✭✭muchos04


    Many thanks Shinobi,
    What is involved in switching between DTT and Free Sat. I have a few more questions which would be great if you could enlighten me further.

    Do you have press a special button on the remote?

    Also what dish did you buy to go with this?

    How did you feed the cable to the box? Can it be attached to the DTT aerial cable in the attic via a splitter?

    Any info would be great shinobi.

    Regards
    Muchos04


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,058 ✭✭✭slegs


    For a Combo there is no switching between DTT terrestrial and satellite once setup. It is seamless to the user and the channels can be organised in whatever way you wish e.g. 1 RTE1, 2 RTE2, 3 TV3, 4 TG4,5 BBC1 NI, 6 BBC2 NI,7 UTV etc. There are 2 feeds to the box - one from the aerial and one from the dish. You can get a combinor that will combine the sat and aerial feed in the attic and then demerge with another one or a special wall plate in the living room. If you are in Dublin then an internal aerial will generally suffice for DTT from Three Rock.

    The main difference with Freesat is that you get a 7 day EPG whereas with Satellite FTA on the combo its just now and next. You will get a 7 day guide for RTE however.

    A standard 60cm dish or a Sky satellite dish will work fine for Astra UK channels.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 215 ✭✭muchos04


    Thanks for useful info Slegs,
    Thanks for pointing this valuable piece of info out. Also i have made a mistake calling out RTE, TV3 DTT as my house is in Galway and we only have a UHF/VHF aerial for receiving the Irish channels.

    Do you know of any boxes which are free sat and UHF/VHF combos??

    Regards
    Dave


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,058 ✭✭✭slegs


    muchos04 wrote: »
    Thanks for useful info Slegs,
    Thanks for pointing this valuable piece of info out. Also i have made a mistake calling out RTE, TV3 DTT as my house is in Galway and we only have a UHF/VHF aerial for receiving the Irish channels.

    Do you know of any boxes which are free sat and UHF/VHF combos??

    Regards
    Dave

    You can get DTT in Galway too from your existing UHF aerial if pointing at Meghera. Many, many people do already


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    muchos04 wrote: »

    Do you know of any boxes which are free sat and UHF/VHF combos??

    Only free to air and terrestrial combos are available so far. You get all the channels but no 7 day programme guide

    Owner: satellite.ie



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 215 ✭✭muchos04


    Thanks for the info. Can I bring the cable from the Satellite to our old TV aerial in the attic, then use a combiner (splitter) here, use the old coax cable in the wall down to the wall plate downstairs and then use the splitter again. Will this allow both the combo unit and the DTT to work?

    If so what type of splitter would I need?

    Regards
    Muchos04


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    That really depends on the quality of the cable and the aerial. You need to use a pair of diplexers/combiners and take the wallplate out of the cable run as it may not pass the voltage needed for the satellite dish.

    muchos04 wrote: »
    Thanks for the info. Can I bring the cable from the Satellite to our old TV aerial in the attic, then use a combiner (splitter) here, use the old coax cable in the wall down to the wall plate downstairs and then use the splitter again. Will this allow both the combo unit and the DTT to work?

    If so what type of splitter would I need?

    Regards
    Muchos04

    Owner: satellite.ie



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 215 ✭✭muchos04


    Thanks Tony,
    I think someone mentioned that I would have DTT in Galway if i point the UHF aerial at Meghera. Do you think this is a DTT reception that I am already receiving as I live in Oranmore? Apologies if this is a silly question but I am a complete novice at this and am looking to get as much info as possible before i start meddling with my fathers things!

    Regards
    Muchos 04


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    There is no way of knowing this without testing either with a terrestrail Dtt box or a spectrum analyser. Not to be smart or anything but its like asking do I have tv reception before I connect a Tv to the aerial. The guys on the terrestrial forum could probably give you a good indication though.


    muchos04 wrote: »
    Thanks Tony,
    I think someone mentioned that I would have DTT in Galway if i point the UHF aerial at Meghera. Do you think this is a DTT reception that I am already receiving as I live in Oranmore? Apologies if this is a silly question but I am a complete novice at this and am looking to get as much info as possible before i start meddling with my fathers things!

    Regards
    Muchos 04

    Owner: satellite.ie



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 237 ✭✭docmartin


    i read the subject and thought this was a swap!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    docmartin wrote: »
    i read the subject and thought this was a swap!

    :D Could also be a home made rocket project

    Owner: satellite.ie



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 447 ✭✭shinobi


    Found this on Terresterial Forum http://www.mpeg4ireland.com/map .
    It lists all transmitters around Ireland & reports of reception from them. Maghera has 4 reports from around Galway.
    Also worth giving the Terresterial forum a look http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=56 .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 215 ✭✭muchos04


    Thanks for the info guys! I think i could just feed the satellite cable in to the tv in my spare room which has rabbit ears and straight into the combo box! let the rocket project begin!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    good luck

    Owner: satellite.ie



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