Question for the experts

Firewalkwithme

I bought my house last year and it had a Sky Digital dish on the roof left there by the previous owners.

My question is, how could I make best use of the dish cheaply to watch a few more channels? I already have NTL digital so I know whatever system I buy would probably have a lot of the same channels on it but I don't mind. I hear all about these FTA boxes you can buy but would they work with the Sky dish? If I got a second hand Sky box could I watch some extra FTA channels?

seano

Despatch wrote:

I bought my house last year and it had a Sky Digital dish on the roof left there by the previous owners.

My question is, how could I make best use of the dish cheaply to watch a few more channels? I already have NTL digital so I know whatever system I buy would probably have a lot of the same channels on it but I don't mind. I hear all about these FTA boxes you can buy but would they work with the Sky dish? If I got a second hand Sky box could I watch some extra FTA channels?

I dont know if I am an expert but I do have the answer.

Yes you can watch all the FTA channels with a SKY box or any FTA receiver.
Channel examples: BBC 1-2-3-4 ITV3 etc and a load of shopping channels

weehamster

Since you already have NTL digital, I really see no point.

So I wish to be different and point you to a different use for it. Sky is one of many digital packages available. You can pick up several from all over Europe. But this involves either you or an installer to get on the roof and point the dish at a different satellite. Here’s just a few of them. And here And here’s a few digital packages that are available.

If you like your football, then this might be an option. Many European packages show Saturday football which RTE/Setanta or Sky Sports don’t show and many pubs in Ireland do this to get punters in on Saturday Afternoon. But if your like me and don’t like drinking in the afternoon, then you can watch this at home.

One package I recommend is a Arab one called ART. You can buy 6 month official (and legal) card for a reasonable price. Just do a Internet search for ART or ART sports as I won’t be allowed to give you a link here. Since the card is for 6 months, wait till the next season to avoid the summer break.

Next you need a Satellite receiver. This receiver will be different than the one Sky use and can cost from around €250 upwards. Click Here for shops that will give you info one what to get and what you'll need.

Firewalkwithme

Thanks for the advice I'll look into it.

byte

Hmm, assuming it's a Sky minidish on the chimney, it would ideally need to be changed to something a bit bigger, if you are to consider channels on Astra 1, or Hotbird (or both, considering it's not too expensive to achieve). A Sky dish WILL pick up either of the above, but signal levels could be too low for some transponders in inclement weather.

Of course, a bigger dish on a chimney could have issues. Bigger means catching more wind, harder to access to fix, and strains on the chimney stack.

intersplat

weehamster wrote:

One package I recommend is a Arab one called ART. You can buy 6 month official (and legal) card for a reasonable price. Just do a Internet search for ART or ART sports as I won’t be allowed to give you a link here. Since the card is for 6 months, wait till the next season to avoid the summer break.

ART have not confirmed coverage for next season . Most likely the hotbird feed will be pulled and football will continue only continue on 7w .