Need advise - want to replace old analogue Satellite system

techeng

Fristly apologies for posting a query which has probably been answered a number of times before.

I need some advise on an appropiate satellite system. I currently have an old analogue receiver and dish which has just packed up. I used it primarly to watch Eurosport. Its now due a replacement. I would also like to avail of Sky's freesat offering of BBC, Ch5, Ch5 etc. I can get a card from the UK.

I am a bit bewildered with the different jargon and technology that is currently associated with satellites. I have tried to summarise the current queries I have.

1. Is my dish and LNB redundant if I migrate to a digital receiver system
2. Will Sky's freesat card work with any receiver do does it have to be a digibox
3. If it must be a digibox can I pick up Eurosport from another satellite by moving the disk
4. Does the digibox support the use of a motor
5. If I purchase a receiver that is not a digibox can I use the Freesat card with it.
6. How do I receive other free to view channels on other satellites if I purchase a Digibox.
7. What is a CAM and how is this used.

I would appreciate any advise or information. I have looked at some systems on Ebay but am not sure whats going to work and whats going to leave me with an expensive mess.

Lennoxschips

1. Is my dish and LNB redundant if I migrate to a digital receiver system.
Usually not. The only thing you have to do is rotate the dish to they new Sky location at 28 east. I say usually not because some older LNBs from the analogue days are a bit iffy. But you can buy a replacement universal LNB for about 20-30 euros. But chances are your existing LNB will do.

2. Will Sky's freesat card work with any receiver do does it have to be a digibox
It has to be a digibox, because these are the only boxes licensed by Sky to do their decoding. Apparently there are some third party Sky boxes out there but they are not fully supported and/or guaranteed to work with the Sky system.

3. If it must be a digibox can I pick up Eurosport from another satellite by moving the dish
Yes, but the Digibox support for non-Sky channels is made as difficult as possible. (For marketing reastons) You have to go into a special menu and hit "other channels," it's not as easy as flicking channels.

4. Does the digibox support the use of a motor
Nope.

5. If I purchase a receiver that is not a digibox can I use the Freesat card with it.
Probably not, see 2.

6. How do I receive other free to view channels on other satellites if I purchase a Digibox.
You have move your dish manually or with an external motor controller, seeing as the digibox does not support a motor. The digibox also only supports up to 50 "other channels" for viewing on other satellites.

7. What is a CAM and how is this used.
A cam is a card-reading/decoding module that can be plugged into third party satellite receivers so that the receiver can use and understand the card. Sky does not support CAMS because they want us all to use digiboxes.

greg-h

I think you should buy a new dish as your diish is old and is probally full of rust go to lidl today and buy the package better value