Final pointers on satellite set-up

DavisBXL

Hi,

I've been doing my homework before setting up our first satellite system; hopefully someone could help me with a few remaining questions and I'm not way off.

The plan is a single 80cm satellite (based in northern Europe) with multiple LNBs to pick up both Hotbird 13 and Astra 28 (i.e. southern European & UK channels together).  For the UK channels, I've bought a Humax Freesat receiver, and I gather I'll need another cheaper model for the Hotbird signal as I can't combine both on the receiver end.

Rather than doing this completely DIY for the first time, I have found this TechniSat dish that already has 4 LNBs positioned for the above satellites (and others).

Qs:

- The LNBs included in the above are quattros - which I understand can be very handy for a multi-room or apartment block setup.  However we don't need this - just the one TV.  Am I right in thinking the convenience of this dish is going to force me to buy a multiswitch which I dont need?  

- Would people suggest buying a different brand of dish and buying a standalone multiple LNB holder instead?  They seem to mostly be cheap holders and not very resistant, as well as trickier to align.  But if so, any pointers on a good brand of dish or LNB?

- Is there a brand of cable or F connectors people would recommend?  Are there different levels of waterproofing to look for?  Is 4-times shielded cable ideal?

- Finally, do people have current recommendations for positioning apps?  A lot of the info out there is outdated, as are the apps people suggest.

Thanks a lot for the help!

DavisBXL

Anyone?
Really hoping someone has already gone the experience of setting up a single dish with multiple LNBs and could recommend a brand or have some suggestions on how best to proceed.
Thanks

STB.

Northern Europe ? Whereabouts ?

The importance of your location dictates your dish size. Freeat, the free UK stations are now on a spotbeam that concentrates on UK and Ireland. Reception outside this means your dish size goes up.

If you are not going to motorise the dish and its only for one room you need normal LNBs (not quatros) and a disec switch. As LNBs go the Inverto Black Ultra are excellent. As dishes go the Triax TD series of satellite dish are excellent and have a sturdy multisat bar that sits on the front. They are all at reasonable prices.

A good thread to read Its in the Foreign Satellite Forum. Its where many of the people using multi satellite set ups would hang out and probably why you didnt get a response here.

Gerry Wicklow

sugarman wrote: »

Would a motorized dish not be cheaper and more straight forward?

Absolutely not. the beauty of a multi-sat dish is that you can watch/record from different satellite positions at the same time. You also have instant access to any position, no need to wait for the dish to turn.
Motorised dishes are grand for enthusiasts but are not family friendly.

Capt'n Midnight

You need two cable to be able to watch and record at the same time.
Only one cable is needed if you just want to watch, if the main receiver can share then you can view recordings on it - more homework.

One option is to have the Freesat recorder with two cables to a Quad LNB.
And a second box for the other satellite. Some cheap HDMI switches will automatically swap to the input.


The Freesat box will have to change mode just to give now/next on anything that isn't Freesat. But it has the Freesat EPG and that's kinda important if you want to record or schedule. Unless the Hotbird box is a Linux box with customisations then it will NOT have the UK EPG.



What do you want to watch on Hotbird ?

If you want to watch Italian channels then for a one off payment anyone with an Italian Codice Fiscale can buy a Tivusat free to view card. The catch is you have to buy with a bundled satellite box (don't think any have dual tuners?) or with a physical CAM (a softcam will work - NB. Only saying this because you can't actually buy the card without also purchasing decoding hardware AND it doesn't use keys or sharing or anything you haven't already paid for). You get the main terrestrial channels, a good few in HD and some with English as a second audio language on some programs.


Instead of the LNB multiswitch + quattro LNB you could get some of these + quad LNB's - but only if using one box for more than one satellite. you'd need one per satellite input https://www.adverts.ie/satellite/smart-4-x-1-way-diseqc-satellite-switch-water-resistant-outdoor-cover/8389700

if just freesat and hotbird then you don't need switches just regular LNB's and direct cables. Like any cabling the main cost is the work , it's easier to use an LNB with more outputs than you need now and run the cables in one go, makes it much easier to hookup a TV or new box later on.


Yes you could add Saorsat to the dish and feed into the non-freesat box, but as it's 9e you'd need a bigger dish , a Ka LNB, the Diseqc switches , and you only get RTE + TG4 with some programs blocked, usually live sports, due to rights issues :mad:

Zardoz

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Absolutely not. the beauty of a multi-sat dish is that you can watch/record from different satellite positions at the same time. You also have instant access to any position, no need to wait for the dish to turn.
Motorised dishes are grand for enthusiasts but are not family friendly.

Not to mention the fact that motorised dishes are completely impractical in a country as windy as Ireland ,you will be forever realigning them.

Get a T90 dish OP ,they are the business.

DavisBXL

Thanks for all the replies especially @Gerry & @Zardoz confirming the motorized option may not be the way to go; I'd suspected as much.

@STB: Between NL and Belgian border so signal is strong. I've read plenty about people using 60cm dishes no problem; just opting for 80cm to preempt bad weather interruptions.  Appreciate the link to Triax; happy to start there and buy it from Germany.

Italian Sat
Hotbird is for the Italian channels, and I appreciate the reminder about the Tivucard; i'd kinda dismissed it given the italian FTA I saw listed, but it's clearly a better longer-term option. I've no issue with getting it or activating, thanks.  

One thing that's popped up (and perhaps you know given your info above) is the benefit of moving the signal to 12.5 or even 5W instead of Hotbird?  People implying it's better somehow, although at that point I'd probably be stretching my luck for one dish with multiple LNBs.

Also, I'm confused how I can find standalone Tivusat cards for sale on Amazon or in Italian electro shops, but everywhere I read you need to buy the hardware with it. How's that possible?  At least if I need a 2nd receiver due to having opted for the Freesat UK box, it's less painful to be forced into buying it.  

Saorview

Not sure I follow - Saorview is so narrow it's impossible to get on the continent? Am I missing an opportunity to get the signal outside of Ireland?

DavisBXL

Zardoz wrote: »

Get a T90 dish OP ,they are the business.

Wow, that's some dish.  If those 16 LNB positions covering 40 degrees work, seems like a great option for a non-Motorized setup. Will look into it more.  A bit less discreet but hey...
Perhaps the dumbest question yet, but is there any reason I couldn't run a quick test before fixing this on the roof by simply putting the dish on a tripod/stable base, point it outside an open upstairs window and running a short cable into the receiver, and into a small TV (or even a laptop with HDMI in)?

DavisBXL

DavisBXL wrote: »

Also, I'm confused how I can find standalone Tivusat cards for sale on Amazon or in Italian electro shops, but everywhere I read you need to buy the hardware with it. How's that possible?  At least if I need a 2nd receiver due to having opted for the Freesat UK box, it's less painful to be forced into buying it.  

I think I've answered my own question on this part - they must be packaged with CAMs that I just didn't realise having not looked closely enough. Doh.

Capt'n Midnight

DavisBXL wrote: »

Saorview

Not sure I follow - Saorview is so narrow it's impossible to get on the continent? Am I missing an opportunity to get the signal outside of Ireland?

yes Saorsat is on a tight beam and only visible over Ireland or very close to.

Tivusat, yes people sell them, with a large markup , after activating them. It's the sort of thing that gets you on Santa's naughty list.

Zardoz

DavisBXL wrote: »

Wow, that's some dish. If those 16 LNB positions covering 40 degrees work, seems like a great option for a non-Motorized setup. Will look into it more. A bit less discreet but hey...

The T55 might be an option too considering your location.
Its much smaller and the quivalent of a 55cm dish across the range.

STB.

DavisBXL wrote: »

@STB: Between NL and Belgian border so signal is strong. I've read plenty about people using 60cm dishes no problem; just opting for 80cm to preempt bad weather interruptions. Appreciate the link to Triax; happy to start there and buy it from Germany.

Ok. You should be ok for the UK Spot beams according to the satellite pattern for 28.2E spotbeams.

Dish
There are lots of 80cm dishes some are plasticy crap.

You dont need a T90 for what you want to do. You should look at the Triax TD88 dish (about €60) comes in 2 colours light and dark grey. Its a good dish, rust proof and most importantly you can buy a decent multi LNB bar for it which will allow you to expand your satellite positions easily. You can add more as you like.

Dish mount

There are various dish type mounts from simple to advanced depending on where you want to install the dish. A dish does not have to be on your chimney. It can be on a wall or a concrete shed. Once you have semi decent view of the sat positions (without immediate obstacles such as a wall blocking the signal). A basic dish mount to hold a TD88 will cost about €20. You need four wall bolts and plugs and an SDS drill.

Your post about trying it somewhere else like pointing out a window. No. This is how satellite works

You will then need a little box called a diseqc switch which can be bought be in various sizes depending on how many satellite positions you have. (A 4 position one will cost about €8)Your lnbs connect to this and one cable goes back to your box. Your box then controls everything and does it seamlessly

(what type sat box do you have ?? - do not get a freesat box for multi satellite reception). Get an enigma2 box of some sort.

LNBs

There are plenty of LNBs ou there. They start at about €5 each. The inverto black ultras are good though, but are €12. I'd get one of those for 28.2E position. Get a cheap one for 13E. I use them on my dishes.

You then need some satellite cable and f connectors to connect between your lnbs and diseqc switch and then a long length back into your house to the receiver.

There are plenty of german, dutch and belgian shops that you can pick up all those items cheaply (https://www.hm-sat-shop.de)

Forget about Saorsat.