Newbie Question

Delphi91

Ok, apologies if this has been covered elsewhere, but I'm new to this area!


Anyway, I'm thinking of getting Sky Digital and I have a few questions:

1. ITV and C4 are not available (yet)?

2. I gather that the BBC channels will be going "free to air" soon. According to the guy in the TV shop, that means I won't be able to recieve them on the sat dish. Correct? He says I would need a separate dish just for BBC as its a different satellite.

3. With a standard Sky Digital installation, I'm limited to the output of one satellite? Guy in shop says I need a motorised system to receive more than one satellite but that the cost of this is crazy.

Any advice would be welcome before I shell out €100 for installation and sign up for a 1yr contract.

Mike.

chernobyl

Originally posted by Delphi91
2. He says I would need a separate dish just for BBC as its a different satellite.

I wont take the píss today.
He is wrong. If the BBC go truely FTA [no conditions like STB/viewing card region limits etc] then you will be fine.

Originally posted by Delphi91
3. With a standard Sky Digital installation, I'm limited to the output of one satellite? Guy in shop says I need a motorised system to receive more than one satellite but that the cost of this is crazy.

....with sky, you are limited to one orbital position which is 28.2 but certainly not to a single satellite. 28.2 has 4 satellites alone and you have access to them all with a fixed setup.

There are several options to recieving multiple positions. You could use diseqc switches or go motorised.
A motorised setup will cost a fortune if the coyboy above is installing it for you but someone with experience shouldnt charge too much..but certainly €200 for the installation.

DMC

Hiya, welcome along... to answer....

1. No. Still no sign. (Grits teeth)

2. He's wrong. You will still be able to recieve the BBC channels, the satellite the BBC are moving to are at the same position as the existing one, just more focused on these islands. The BBC are going from Sky's encrpytion systems, but not the Astra satellites they are on at present.

3. With a Sky installation, you are stuck to what you get from the Astra satellites, you could invest in a quad LNB (i.e. 4 individual receivers on the arm of the dish) and point to the main European satellites of Astra at 19E and Hotbird at 13E. Others here will be able to tell you about pricing and the other gubbins you'd need. A motorised setup is not really necessary.

Aquos76

Dont pay €100 euro for Sky installation.

Wait until you see Ireland on Sunday this weekend there is going to be an offer in it in relation to sky. The cheapest ever installation in ROI €15.00. The ad has been running on todayfm all day today. Hope this info saves you a few euro.

Delphi91

Originally posted by DMC
You will still be able to recieve the BBC channels, the satellite the BBC are moving to are at the same position as the existing one, just more focused on these islands. The BBC are going from Sky's encrpytion systems, but not the Astra satellites they are on at present.

Will I need to do anything to be able to recieve them???

Mike

DMC

A standard Sky Digibox will do, or a Free-to-air reciever.

Delphi91

Originally posted by Sky Digi Kid
The ad has been running on todayfm all day today. Hope this info saves you a few euro.

Today is April Fools Day - always slightly suspicious of this kind of post!! Is it serious?

Mike