Kit & configuration recommendation please!!

BenEadir

Hi all,

I'm a very unhappy UPC customer and want to switch over to Freesat + DTT for RTE etc. The package outlined on www.byebyetvbills.ie/combo.html sounds like it will do the trick but they don't list the make and model of the satellite dish or receivers included in the package.

I read over on another thread that the Humax Foxsat HDR PVR 320GB is the mutts nuts in terms of receiver so I'm now thinking mabe the best thing to do is take advantage of the knowledge on boards (again) and spec up a system which matches my exact needs and then get someone to install it all.

I have two main TV's (kitchen/dining room and living room) and two bedroom TV's. The main living room TV is hooked up to an Onkyo amp and Jamo suuround sound system so that's where the Humax PVR would work best. The other three TV's don't need PVR functionality, just the freesat and DTT channels.

If I use the Humax PVR in the main room will I need another box there of some sort for the DTT channels? Will I also need on (or possible two) boxes for each of the other 3 TV's if I want them all to be able to receive the freesat channels and the DTT channels?

Any advice on what dish, receviers, DTT ariel etc to get and/or configuration advice gratefully received.

I live in South Dublin BTW in case that matters in relation to DTT signal.

Cheers everyone.

Ben

AstralTV

you will need a zone 2 sky dish & octo lnb(8 outputs), (2 outputs used for the humax, & 3 for the other boxes), for RTE DTT you will need a wide band aerial and MPEG4 decoders for each TV, or replace your tvs with ones with MPEG4 tuners built in, as RTE DTT is only a 'test' with no official launch date analogue RTE would be your best bet for now and reception would be good from 3 rock in s.Dublin

steve

Sam Russell

A 60 cm dish, not necessarily sky.

AstralTV

a sky dish looks better, & is the norm,

Apogee

A minidish rusts more quickly and has less rain reserve than a standard 60cm aluminium dish. None of the octo LNBFs that I've come across has a feedhorn which properly matches a minidish.

AstralTV

Apogee wrote: »

A minidish rusts more quickly and has less rain reserve than a standard 60cm aluminium dish. None of the octo LNBFs that I've come across has a feedhorn which properly matches a minidish.

http://www.ses-astra.com/business/en/support/media-library/Footprint-Graphics/Footprint-Graphics-28-2-East/index.php

technically correct, but as you only need a 50cm for most of ireland a decent octo (not sky supplied type) with a 60cm zone 2 dish aligned and skewed correctly works fine, I have an inverto 0.1db octo on a 7 year old (slightly rusted) zone2 dish that only drops signal in extreme weather conditions, as does my only zone 2 dish with a oval feedhorn single sky type lnb, from an aesthetic point of veiw personally I prefer the sky dish as opposed to a standard 60 cm.

Martin_F

AstralTV wrote: »

a sky dish looks better, & is the norm,

personally I think the basic 60cm FTA dish is better - and I'd rather not 'advertise' Sky by putting up a dish that makes it look like I am a subscriber. I've seen way too many rusted sky dishes.

BenEadir

Thanks everyone. Are there any specific makes models I should go for in terms of the dish and non PVR receivers?

Alternatively can anyone recommend an engineer/fitter who could offer a supply and fit service including an initial site visit to get an understanding of the house layout and cabling/installation challenges etc? I do want to get a value for money deal but I also want good quality kit and installation/cabling so am prepared to pay a little more for the right combination of kit and quality installation.

John mac

have a look at isaa

Satelite.ie is one mentioned above.

BenEadir

Thanks John, is the ISAA a new organisation? There only seems to be one member in Dublin and 5 or 6 in total around the country!!

John mac

yes it has been set up in the last ~6 months

Martin_F

BenEadir wrote: »

Thanks everyone. Are there any specific makes models I should go for in terms of the dish and non PVR receivers?

If you're after a Freesat receiver - take a look at www.joinfreesat.co.uk for reviews etc.
If you prefer a box that can also do Irish DTT - take a look in the sticky threads about combo boxes - there are a few of them around with various merits. Tony at www.satellite.ie has one at the cheaper end of the scale which might suit your non PVR requirement. Slegs also does some at http://www.saortv.com/shop/

personally I'm using Freesat receivers with RTE DTT via STB on the main TV, analogue in the kitchen & DTT built in to the bedroom TV. The right box for you depends on what you want.

AstralTV

i also cover dublin

ISAA

I would suggest a ISAA member, as all full members are fully insured and many years in the business.

This is a new association, and there is a lot of so called satellite installers out there.

A ISAA member will advise you with what is going on in this business, ie RTE digital.

Also I would advise a freesat receiver, instead on a FTA as freesat updates once a new channel comes on the EPG, also a Freesat receiver has a proper text service as FTA does not have one.

Regards,

stevethesatguy

Look to be honest you can listen to ISAA to admits his organisation has only been in business for 5-6 months or you can listen to the likes of me who has been doing this for 10 + years ,,,,

PM me if you like

stevethesatguy

Gerry,

BTW do not even think about pouring distain on those of us who do not want to join your organisation,,,,naughty and definetly not nice!,,,,,I am surprised at your comment above!

ISAA

Steve,

Just making a point, and by the way I,m in this business since 1984, when 1.8 metre dishes where in use, so plenty of years to comment about.
Plus I was not getting at you, just so many cowboys out there, and giving free advice to all who want it, as you can see just pointing people in the right direction.

Companies with experience,
Companies with PL,
Companies with the correct equipment,

The customer always decide themselfs, and the ISAA is there for who every want to use it, or not.


And Rome was not builted in a day, nor will the ISAA be.


Regards,

Gerry


At least I did not asked to PM me.

STB

BenEadir wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm a very unhappy UPC customer and want to switch over to Freesat + DTT for RTE etc. The package outlined on www.byebyetvbills.ie/combo.html sounds like it will do the trick but they don't list the make and model of the satellite dish or receivers included in the package.

I read over on another thread that the Humax Foxsat HDR PVR 320GB is the mutts nuts in terms of receiver so I'm now thinking mabe the best thing to do is take advantage of the knowledge on boards (again) and spec up a system which matches my exact needs and then get someone to install it all.

I have two main TV's (kitchen/dining room and living room) and two bedroom TV's. The main living room TV is hooked up to an Onkyo amp and Jamo suuround sound system so that's where the Humax PVR would work best. The other three TV's don't need PVR functionality, just the freesat and DTT channels.

If I use the Humax PVR in the main room will I need another box there of some sort for the DTT channels? Will I also need on (or possible two) boxes for each of the other 3 TV's if I want them all to be able to receive the freesat channels and the DTT channels?

Any advice on what dish, receviers, DTT ariel etc to get and/or configuration advice gratefully received.

I live in South Dublin BTW in case that matters in relation to DTT signal.

Cheers everyone.

Ben

Ben,

I'm not an commercial installer, but I have installed a few for family and friends and have my own setup.

To answer your question. That site you linked to doesnt say what box it is, but I would imagine that the setup is very basic ie for one box, for one room only through a sat dish and an aerial install. Your expense would go up for each room because of the need for the extra boxes. I cant second guess what that site is quoting for.

Doing it yourself - the basic costs
Here are the basic costs of each unit for any setup. (Why dont you do it yourself, you'll save yourself money and get the enjoyment of getting it to work if you are a DIY enthusiast.)

DTT/Sat HD Combo receivers with PVR functions - these boxes receive HD sat stations and DTT stations which you can order in one channel list. They also have ability to record one station onto a USB flash drive/USB drive. NB: You can only watch an other station if on the same sat transponder or if recording DTT then watch any other station on DTT). This would be an issue if you had one a few rooms anyway.


DTT/Sat Combo Box
A Sat Combo box - Edison Argus 2 n 1 - €149 from Saor TV

There are similar boxes on the market that do the same but are more expensive, this is the cheapest available on the market at this time. If you want all rooms to be set up for both DTT and sat then you will need one of these for each room.

NB: The HUMAX HDR box will not allow you receive nor record RTE - it is strictly a sat receiver/recorder. So you would have to make up your mind on how important RTE is to you for your main room or any room. You couuld get a basic sat receiver for the bedrooms
for €50.

There is a list of HD Combo boxes in the terretrial section in a sticky.
Satellite Dish

This dish and quad lnb will allow you to connect four rooms up for satellite.

€49 from your nearest Power City Again this the cheapest dish together with quad lnb that I am aware of in Ireland. Quad LNB allows you to connect 4 cables - most dishes come with just a single lnb for the samish price. I would imagine that this would be your minimum requirement you sat that you want to record on one and have sat in the other 3 rooms (well thats five connections - but you could loop a sat cable off one box assuming that not all boxes will be on at the same time!). And that might be a good idea because an octo lnb doesnt come with dish and will be significantly dearer.

There is a cable and connectors pack also available in power city for €12.

An Aerial

As you are in Dublin, for DTT you can stick one of these up - a wideband UHf aerial.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?TabID=1&ModuleNo=36354&doy=3m7

They are about €25/30 from your local maplin or you could shop around for one.

Install

Depending on where you are and you do not necessarily have to be climbing roofs to install a sat dish or aerial. For a sat dish - Its all about the having a south facing direction ie you can install them as low as you want off a south facing wall. With the aerial you should try and mount it on a pole and face it towards three rock.

There are plenty of youtube videos to help you install both.

The advantage to the DIY way is you can install the basics and then build on your install in your own time.

For wiring all rooms internally you could use your existing NTL cabling within the house if you understand where the cable run starts etc. Its not ideal but could save you doing a rewire.

There are plenty of posters here that will help you anyway if you decide to DIY it.

Get this basic setup and you can add to it gradually - the boxes are the most expensive.