Cheapest way to get BBC/ITV/Channel4?

Cherrycola

What is the cheapest option for receiving these channels, and whats the chances of getting set up before Christmas?
All the companies online seem to be charging 200-250euros upwards for equipment and installation, surely its possible to get it cheaper than that? :eek:

ScrubsfanChris

200 is pretty good for both equipment and installation in a basic setup, ie: normal sat reciever and one lenght of cable from dish to box.
Don't think you will have it before Christmas I'm afraid.

Cupart

It's not half difficult to set it up yourself. You just need a little patience and you'll be more than fine.

There is a pretty big chance that one of your neighbours have a dish up (a black mesh oval type) which will most likely be pointing towards 28.2E where you will be getting the Free To Air (FTA) channels such as BBC1, 2, HD, Ch4 etc.

The direction of the dish is compass heading 28.2dge East of South so the actual compass heading should be 157.8 dgrs relative to true North -> Compass needle heading).

If you are located in the Dublin area the elevation (the up/down movement of the dish) should be around 42-43 dgr. and the LNB skewed around -16 dgr. Sounds much more complex than it really is! Trust me!

I think you should give it a go, and if any problems ever should arise while setting it up there are loads of people here who can help you out :-)

This way you can buy a sat system as a Technomate receiver (in my opinion a very versatile piece of kit and quite future proof) for around EUR 60-80, A 60 cm mesh dish for around EUR 20 and cable at around EUR 1 pr meter as well as a LNB for around EUR 15-20.

Just my two pennies...

Cherrycola

I was thinking about this;

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

They even have a video on how to install, looks idiot proof, but...:p

Any thoughts?

Cherrycola

Or, my parents have a spare sky box, and i think my BIL has a sky dish, it just needs an LNB, how easy is it to install a sky dish and box yourself?

Or does anyone here know anyone who can do it for the cheapest possible rate(well, it is nearly christmas, and we're in a recession )
Im in Biffo country...yeah, that in itself is bad enough! :rolleyes:
If i have to sit through christmas with rabbit ears and 4 fuzzy channels i'll cry.

Please, make a poor girls christmas wish come true this year....;);)

Tony

The sky dish can be installed in exactly the same way as in the video you saw. There is a signal and quality readout on the sky box just wait 5 secs or so when adjusting the dish until it says "locked" and you have signal and quality readings.

Cherrycola

Cheers mate.

Now, what should i expect to pay for an LNB? and will they all fit a Sky dish?

Jimmyireland

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=171836&cat=all

This might help

Tony wrote: »

The sky dish can be installed in exactly the same way as in the video you saw. There is a signal and quality readout on the sky box just wait 5 secs or so when adjusting the dish until it says "locked" and you have signal and quality readings.

coffee to go

Cherrycola wrote: »

Cheers mate.

Now, what should i expect to pay for an LNB? and will they all fit a Sky dish?

If you head over to http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Lnb_Sky_Digital_.html you'll pick one up for €15 minus the discount given when you quotes Boards.ie during the order process.

This is assuming your BIL has a minidish supplied by Sky with a rectangular arm protruding from the front that the LNB slots into. Also you'll need to see if he has the appropriate mounting bracket and arm bits for it. If not, you might want to pick a new dish altogther.

You'll also need a good length of decent grade shielded cable to connect the dish to the box like this: http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/RG6_Digital_coaxial_cable_CT_100_.html. No brown aerial cable please.

Cherrycola

coffee to go wrote: »

If you head over to http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Lnb_Sky_Digital_.html you'll pick one up for €15 minus the discount given when you quotes Boards.ie during the order process.

This is assuming your BIL has a minidish supplied by Sky with a rectangular arm protruding from the front that the LNB slots into. Also you'll need to see if he has the appropriate mounting bracket and arm bits for it. If not, you might want to pick a new dish altogther.

You'll also need a good length of decent grade shielded cable to connect the dish to the box like this: http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/RG6_Digital_coaxial_cable_CT_100_.html. No brown aerial cable please.

Thanks a mill for all that, yes he says the dish has everything apart from the LNB, so i will order that and the cable. Fingers crossed we will be up and running soon, for the pricely sum of E27 and a few pints for my very helpful BIL's who will attempt to install it. Lucky husband isnt home til Christmas Eve when all the hard work is done. :rolleyes:

Thanks a lot guys.

Tony

Because its almost x mas and you mentioned you were on a tight budget I am going to send you a quad lnb in case you want to add extra boxes later. Hope this helps

wait4me

Cherrycola wrote: »

........ for the pricely sum of E27 and a few pints

Best leave the pints until he's down off the ladder tho'

Cherrycola

Ah, thanks a million, thats really nice of you!

Just ordered, added a signal finder too, just to make it easier for the lads.

Honestly, i should be used to crap telly after living in the UAE for 3 years but i was sooooooo looking forward to all the BBC repeats and ITV reality shows this Christmas,:D:D
Thank you sooooooooooooo much Tony.

Tony

My pleasure

Whatsyourface

Ever hear of 4OD??
Its on channel 4's website.
You can watch programs you've missed there online for free..

Cherrycola

wait4me wrote: »

Best leave the pints until he's down off the ladder tho'

For sure!! tea and ham sandwiches til then! :D

Cherrycola

Whatsyourface wrote: »

Ever hear of 4OD??
Its on channel 4's website.
You can watch programs you've missed there online for free..

yeah but i also have crappy mobile internet at the moment too, so it would be unwatchable.

Apogee

Tony wrote: »

Because its almost x mas and you mentioned you were on a tight budget I am going to send you a quad lnb in case you want to add extra boxes later. Hope this helps

Jaysus, these satellite installers must be rolling in so much money, they don't know where to put it! Sure I've heard they barely get a decent night's sleep what with all the bumps in the mattress from the wads of €50s and €100s stashed underneath.

Tony

I guess no good deed goes unpunished

Apogee

Not here anyway, that's for sure!

Fair play, Tony, it's great to see the xmas spirit in action even in a recession.

But I'm getting my bid in early for a Chaparral Corotor dual band setup for next year.

Tony

Thanks hope you get one

Apogee wrote: »

Not here anyway, that's for sure!

Fair play, Tony, it's great to see the xmas spirit in action even in a recession.

But I'm getting my bid in early for a Chaparral Corotor dual band setup for next year.

smodgley

Fair play to ya tony . nice one well done you !!!!!!:D

Tony

Thanks

smodgley wrote: »

Fair play to ya tony . nice one well done you !!!!!!:D

Cherrycola

Hey guys

Just wanted to check back in and say a HUGE thank you for all ye're help, and especially to Tony.
The stuff arrived the very next morning after i ordered them(with the quad LNB ), and after a few days trying to get a fire under the BIL's @ss, i am now sat in my living room watching my free to air channels!!!:D:D

Thanks a million for everything, i will think of you often over the Christmas as i merrily channel hop to my hearts content.

Thumbs up for Tony at Satellite.ie, cant fault yeez at all. Fair play, and Merry Christmas, Everyone! :D

Tony

Thanks for the kind words, glad its worked out for you.