Satellite TV - basic steps

Red Pepper

Hi,

I currently just have an aerial giving me RTE, TV3, TG4 and 3e. I want to get BBC, C4 as well. What is the best way to do this? Note: I am not technically savvy so keep it simple.

I am thinking I just go to B&Q and buy one of their satellite box/dish setups (100 euros?), I attach the dish to an outside wall and point it the correct way (?) and run the cable thru the wall to the TV box and hey presto?

muffler

Depending on what part of the country you are in there's always a possibility of getting the UK freeview channels via a rooftop aerial which plugs directly to your tv. The UK freeview channels can be picked up easily along the border area and I've read of people along the east coast being able to do so also. It is the cheapest way but may not work for you.

Failing that then you will need a 60cm dish and a Freesat box with cables, fittings etc and if you're capable of setting it up yourself then fine otherwise you should get an approved installer to do it for you. Getting the dish set at the correct angle is a delicate enough operation for the novice and if not properly aligned can result in poor picture quality or no reception at all.

Red Pepper

muffler wrote: »

Depending on what part of the country you are in there's always a possibility of getting the UK freeview channels via a rooftop aerial which plugs directly to your tv. The UK freeview channels can be picked up easily along the border area and I've read of people along the east coast being able to do so also. It is the cheapest way but may not work for you.

Failing that then you will need a 60cm dish and a Freesat box with cables, fittings etc and if you're capable of setting it up yourself then fine otherwise you should get an approved installer to do it for you. Getting the dish set at the correct angle is a delicate enough operation for the novice and if not properly aligned can result in poor picture quality or no reception at all.

In Galway. Where would be the best place to buy a dish and freesat box? What make/model do you recommend? I would like to be able to record programmes too. I probably will get an approver installer to set it up.

muffler

Red Pepper wrote: »

In Galway. Where would be the best place to buy a dish and freesat box? What make/model do you recommend? I would like to be able to record programmes too. I probably will get an approver installer to set it up.

Ah, the old recording issue. Thats a different ball game.

It depends on what you want to record i.e. Saorview and/or free to air channels. If you have a look at the threads posted here just today and yesterday there are quite a few of them about this topic.

iba

Red Pepper wrote: »

Hi,

I currently just have an aerial giving me RTE, TV3, TG4 and 3e. I want to get BBC, C4 as well. What is the best way to do this? Note: I am not technically savvy so keep it simple.

I am thinking I just go to B&Q and buy one of their satellite box/dish setups (100 euros?), I attach the dish to an outside wall and point it the correct way (?) and run the cable thru the wall to the TV box and hey presto?

What you buy depends on what you want.

Do you want a HD box or just a SD box?

Do you need a combo box?

Is your aerial currently plugged directly into your TV?

I find this guy pretty cheap for sat gear: http://sat-planet.ie

and also a guy on ebay who is based in Kimmage - sorry dont have the link but just search ebay.ie

Or if its just a SD box non-combo box, I think Lidl or Aldi kits are very very hard to beat

As for recording, there are 2 ways to do this - one you buy a box with an internal hard drive like Humax (this is expensive) or buy a box like Ariva 150 where you can connect an external hard drive to it. Not sure if this is possible with the lidl/aldi ones.

Red Pepper

iba wrote: »

Do you want a HD box or just a SD box? What is HD/SD?

Do you need a combo box? What is a combo box?

Is your aerial currently plugged directly into your TV? Yes

I find this guy pretty cheap for sat gear: http://sat-planet.ie

and also a guy on ebay who is based in Kimmage - sorry dont have the link but just search ebay.ie

Or if its just a SD box non-combo box, I think Lidl or Aldi kits are very very hard to beat

As for recording, there are 2 ways to do this - one you buy a box with an internal hard drive like Humax (this is expensive) or buy a box like Ariva 150 where you can connect an external hard drive to it. Not sure if this is possible with the lidl/aldi ones. What do mean by expensive roughly?

Answers above in bold

iba

Red Pepper wrote: »

Answers above in bold

HD = High Def
SD = Standard Def

Combo Box = a STB that receives both Terrestrial and Satelite signal

Expensive £300 Sterling plus

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Humax-HDR-FOX-T2-Freeview-Recorder/dp/B004BMB2XC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359487637&sr=8-1

swoofer

that box is terrestial only so dont buy it.

iba

GBCULLEN wrote: »

that box is terrestial only so dont buy it.

Woops, didnt spot that - anyone the point Im trying to make to the OP is that some boxes can cost €50 ad others can cost more than €400