Lidl FTA kit 18/05 €100

Zaphod · 2006-05-10 22:38:19

http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20060518.p.Satellite Dish looks to be small. Digital Camping Satellite System Easy set-up guide Sat reciever and remote control Automatic channel finder Electronic programme guide Antenna can be installed in casing or be mounted onto a car roof, table etc. Most of the common…

10-05-2006 11:38PM

#1

Zaphod

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,733 ✭✭✭

Join Date: October 2002

Posts: 1516

http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20060518.p.Satellite
Dish looks to be small.

Digital Camping Satellite System

Easy set-up guide
Sat reciever and remote control
Automatic channel finder
Electronic programme guide
Antenna can be installed in casing or be mounted onto a car roof, table etc.
Most of the common broadcasting stations are pre-programmed
4,500 program storage locations
10m antenna cable included
Computer games included
Durable hard case and all necessary accessories included
3 year guarantee
€94.99 + €5.00 Producer Recycling Fund
Price per item

0

Comments

#2 11-05-2006 12:14AM

Tony

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,372 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: May 2001

Posts: 11152

good deal even with a small dish

Owner: satellite.ie

0
#3 11-05-2006 12:20AM

Sparky

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,227 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2004

Posts: 21303

Id assume I would have to be up early to catch this offer?

0
#4 11-05-2006 12:47AM

Mossy Monk

Closed Accounts Posts: 28,128 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: May 2001

Posts: 27559

they always have these when i work earlies :mad: :mad:

0
#5 11-05-2006 11:43AM

JohnBoy

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,343 ✭✭✭

Join Date: August 2000

Posts: 2197

whats the deal with these systems?

what sort of channels will they pickup?

We live down in a bit of a hole and are looking for better reception on tv3 and tg4 but wouldn't mind the bbc channels either, not massive tv watchers so don't want to go down the sky route and pay a subscription. might this suit?

0
#6 11-05-2006 01:23PM

Blaster99

Closed Accounts Posts: 2,630 ✭✭✭

Join Date: July 2004

Posts: 2531

You'll get BBC1-4, ITV1-4, news channels, and 200 shopping channels. No Irish stations.

You'll get a Sky system for about €200 for a year with lots of stations including installation, paid in monthly instalments. After the year you can quit the sub and keep the setup and just watch free stations. You can also get a UK FTV card that in addition gets you Ch4, Ch5, and Sky 3 for a reasonable penny.

I'd say that Lidl system is worth getting if you're into camping and stuff. Didn't someone mention a very similarly priced system from Maplin as well?

0
Advertisement
#7 11-05-2006 01:55PM

watty

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,460 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: May 2001

Posts: 31562

The Maplin one seems to be the same system. Maplin will have it when Lidl sold out.

You can add a larger dish later. the dish is too small for wet weather.

0
#8 11-05-2006 04:43PM

mcgeeney

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19 ✭

Join Date: February 2006

Posts: 17

Is there any difference in price between the Lidl & Maplin offerings?

Presumably I could stick a dual/quad lnb on my existing dish and use the FTA system in the other room.

Anyone know a typical price for getting an independent installer to fit a quad lnb and run a second cable from the dish to the FTA box (cable wouldn't need to be any more than 5 or 6 metres)?

Galway city area (if that makes a difference).

0
#9 11-05-2006 09:26PM

snaps

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,138 ✭✭✭

Join Date: May 2004

Posts: 6492

mcgeeney

You could do that yourself, its an easy job. Just look at some of the threads for suppliers and you can get the gear. Your dish is already set up which is the hard bit, Just purchase the lnb and cable and away you go.

0
#10 11-05-2006 11:51PM

jonnygee

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 605 ✭✭✭

Join Date: November 2005

Posts: 554

I have found these cheap fta reciever's (whether lidl or not) to be ideal for feeding a video or dvd recorder, when connected to a quad as they enable me to watch one channel while recording another.

0
#11 12-05-2006 01:03AM

hawthorn

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 278 ✭✭

Join Date: December 2005

Posts: 186

Hi

Im totally ignorant of satellite dishes especially when it comes to installing. I have Sky and thats it. But Im wondering about the Lidl package for a different room. I mean, for 100 + installation (how much appx?) you have another complete setup, with the Irish channels on the old ariel.

Also youd have all the BBCs and ITVs where you could see them. i find I almost NEVER look at BBC3 and 4 or ITV because theyre not on the EPG.

Also i believe you can delete any channels you dont like on the Lidl type dishes, whereas with Sky you have to keep on trawling through them.

Does it pick up anything extra that Sky doesnt?

Regards

h

0
Advertisement
#12 12-05-2006 12:00PM

watty

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,460 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: May 2001

Posts: 31562

On the dish pointing as at Sky maybe the odd in store radio or one or two Czech channels if they haven't moved already, otherwise the FTA reciever gives the channels that work on a Sky box with no card. (Go 501, press red or text, when iteractive loads remove ROI sky card, press backup. Wait for UK EPG to load).

0
#13 15-05-2006 01:00PM

Zaphod

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,733 ✭✭✭

Join Date: October 2002

Posts: 1516

More info on receiver:
http://www.mysilvercrest.de/en/artikel.php?a=82

List of FTA channels available from Astra 28E:
http://bytelive.com/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=Free+To+Air+on+Sky

0
#14 17-05-2006 10:59PM

Zaphod

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,733 ✭✭✭

Join Date: October 2002

Posts: 1516

In a belated effort to rescue this thread from the deluge of FTV card, Sky, Sky+, SkyHD queries, these go on sale tomorrow.

Pointy elbows are a considerable advantage in Lidl queues.

0
#15 18-05-2006 10:58AM

Vireo

Closed Accounts Posts: 13 ✭

Join Date: November 2002

Posts: 13

Had about 20 in the store in Finglas when it opened at 8 am. Then they brought out another pallet full - must have been at least another 20 on it :eek:

I need not have queued :rolleyes:

Zaphod is right - I made sure that there'll be some people suffereing the effects of sharp elbow syndrome this morning

0
#16 18-05-2006 01:43PM

DMC

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,732 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: May 1999

Posts: 10092

Any news of any left around the shops??

0
#17 18-05-2006 08:00PM

ro1798

Closed Accounts Posts: 1,320 ✭✭✭

Join Date: February 2005

Posts: 1137

loads left in finglas

0
#18 18-05-2006 08:36PM

Ulsterman 1690

Closed Accounts Posts: 1,242 ✭✭✭

Join Date: January 2005

Posts: 1196

Lidl in NI are doing them for £70

Slightly dearer but there seems to be more stocks/less demand

0
#19 19-05-2006 09:31PM

rahtkennades

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 615 ✭✭✭

Join Date: May 2006

Posts: 579

Anybody got any hints on tuning this camping dish in?
We;ve been at it for ages. Signal intensity never goes above 38%. We even put the the LNB on only a metre's cable from the decoder, and still the same. Have we got a duff box/LNB? Is there ANY chance of a replacement in Lidl now?!

0
#20 20-05-2006 01:05AM

tippguy2

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 98 ✭✭

Join Date: May 2006

Posts: 91

prolly the smalll dish thats the prob...can u hook up the receiver to a sky dish ? i got one of those, brill picture, has pip 6 screens and can be motorised (disec)

0
#21 20-05-2006 10:17AM

eoinkennedy

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29 ✭

Join Date: September 2005

Posts: 21

Hi,
Same here, can't get above 38 signal using its own dish.

I hooked the receiver into the feed from a sky dish and it works very well, but of course the sky dish is looking at astra 2.

I reckon it'll be a return to lidl next week.

Now I know why there were so many left.

Eoin

0
Advertisement
#22 20-05-2006 12:07PM

ciarann

Closed Accounts Posts: 60 ✭✭

Join Date: October 2001

Posts: 31

:cool:

0
#23 20-05-2006 12:12PM

Zaphod

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,733 ✭✭✭

Join Date: October 2002

Posts: 1516

If you've never aligned a dish before, it can be very frustrating, especially if you don't have a signal meter of some sort and you may well end up eventually thinking the box is faulty. Digital channels are either 'on' or 'off' and do not fade in or out gradually like analogue signals, further adding to the difficulty.

The dish being as small as it is will make alignment trickier. However, the last time these went on sale someone here posted pictures of reception of BBC channels IIRC with the dish.

Firstly your best chance is reception of BBC etc as Astra 2D 28E has the strongest signal over Ireland. Set the elevation angle for Astra 2D at about 22 degrees.
http://bytelive.com/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=Where+to+point+the+Dish%3F

As you face the dish, rotate the LNB about 15-20 degrees clockwise.
http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Installation/Picture_306.jpg

The frequency settings for BBC might not be in the receiver, so you may have to "Add Transponder" in the settings menu.
10773GHz, Horizontal, SR = 22000, FEC = 5/6

Aim the dish in the direction of the Sun at 11.40am. Then slowly move the dish east or west until you observe some activity on the receiver meter settings.

If you get a signal, then readjust the elevation of the dish to optimise it.

Before you start, it's best to ensure the F-connectors are properly fixed on the cable - the outer braid and the inner core must not connect at any time.
http://homepage.eircom.net/~watty/satellite/sathowto-p8.htm

On overview of dish alignment is here:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/de.sullivan/

Reports of reception using this kit from last year:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=250525&page=3

0
#24 20-05-2006 06:13PM

Galway

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2001

Posts: 607

isnt the problem these rec are only 12v or 24 dc cannot be connected directly to mains?? loads left in Galway this morn and not much interest either

0
#25 20-05-2006 06:13PM

rahtkennades

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 615 ✭✭✭

Join Date: May 2006

Posts: 579

Thanks for that zaphod.
we got ours working, by trial and error.
for anybody trying to do it, test it first in the case it came in.
Big tip though. Throw away that useless "guide" with the sticky compass:) .

0
#26 20-05-2006 09:06PM

eoinkennedy

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29 ✭

Join Date: September 2005

Posts: 21

Do you reckon the case could act as though its a dish as well? I'm presuming you're trying it indoors first?

The compass does look pretty useless, so I'll try it without a compass.

Zaphod, why twist the LNB?

0
#27 20-05-2006 09:29PM

cast_iron

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,447 ✭✭✭

Join Date: March 2006

Posts: 2411

eoinkennedy wrote:

Do you reckon the case could act as though its a dish as well? I'm presuming you're trying it indoors first?

Well i'm not entirely sure i understand what you mean, so all i'll say is neither of those will work!

eoinkennedy wrote:

The compass does look pretty useless, so I'll try it with a compass.

Read that again to yourself....

eoinkennedy wrote:

Zaphod, why twist the LNB?

With a weak signal off such a small dish, everything has to be pretty accurate to get a signal. With a standard sky (60cm) dish, i find the lnb orientation is largely irrelevant.

Zaphod is right in saying you set the dish to a 22 degree elevation. But note that this in actual fact means the dish should be pretty much vertical as you look at it side-on. The 22 degree arises from the setting on the dish. Best of luck!

0
#28 20-05-2006 11:51PM

netwhizkid

Closed Accounts Posts: 3,558 ✭✭✭

Join Date: September 2002

Posts: 3313

I got this Set-up today in Lidl in Killarney and aren’t really impressed. I hooked the tiny receiver up to my Sky Dish (60cms) and it didn't get as good a readout as my Grundig Digibox. I reckon the Dish is total cack, I plan to try do some aligning tomorrow (too busy today watching Munster win ) The receiver is small and let me down on that.

However it works ok and there is a handy LNB and some cabling alongside a type of clamp, which might be handy to Diy-ers. The "compass" is thrash but points south nonetheless. I bought it on an impulse really and with I having my own "Yellow Brick" Satellite meter it shouldn't be too tricky for me to get value from it. I doubt if the plasticy "dish" will get a good enough signal to work but I will try it anyway. Maybe in South East England yes but I doubt it for here. My final thought is that it is an overpriced too small receiver but I will get value from it as I will use the receiver in another piece of property I occasionally spend time in that has only terrestrial TV.

Oh yeah there was 17 left after I bought mine in Killarney today. I also bought the power cube there for €20 so I might be able to work something with that and the FTA receiver if the power goes out or if I ever actually go camping :eek: My plan when I saw it was Christ I can have my Sky wherever I go in Ireland now as I have the Meter and the "portable" dish in its case would take up little room alongside the digibox the next time I decide to rent a house/cottage for a week or fortnight. (rented holiday homes usually have crap TV stations)

0
#29 21-05-2006 10:47AM

eoinkennedy

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29 ✭

Join Date: September 2005

Posts: 21

Hi,
what I meant by the case acting as the dish was:
if I left the dish in the case and angled it (the case lid can be tilted and locked at a certain angle with the dish still in it and the lnb connected), would the case then act as though it were an extension of the dish and reflect more of the signal to the lnb?

rahtkennades, do you have any compass readings that we can use to align the dish, and what sort of elevation are you using?
I'm going to be using a standard orienteering compass to get bearings from.

Thanks so far guys.

I'll give it a try in a few days, but Lidl seem to be pretty good on returns anyway.

0
#30 21-05-2006 11:15AM

St Senan

Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 3,591 Mod ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: January 2006

Posts: 3252

eoinkennedy wrote:

Hi,
what I meant by the case acting as the dish was:
if I left the dish in the case and angled it (the case lid can be tilted and locked at a certain angle with the dish still in it and the lnb connected), would the case then act as though it were an extension of the dish and reflect more of the signal to the lnb? .

Every time Lidl sell the camping system we get lots of calls from people asking the same question, Can you call and fit our Lidl dish our answer is no you will need a bigger dish. For roughly the same price as Lidl people can buy systems here in Ireland which would be better quality. It will be interesting to see how many returned satellite systems will be in lidl next week or in a few weeks time how many of those dishes will either be pointing to the ground or hanging loose on houses around the country.

0
Advertisement
#31 21-05-2006 11:20AM

Zaphod

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,733 ✭✭✭

Join Date: October 2002

Posts: 1516

eoinkennedy wrote:

Zaphod, why twist the LNB?

Without going into too much detail, most sats over Europe use linear polarisation of signals (Horizontal and Vertical). As the sats appear to be positioned on an arc from our perspective, the signals are slightly twisted or skewed as you move east or west of true south. By skewing the LNB you ensure it's aligned with the signals from the sats and improve reception.

eoinkennedy wrote:

would the case then act as though it were an extension of the dish and reflect more of the signal to the lnb?

No.

netwhizkid wrote:

I hooked the tiny receiver up to my Sky Dish (60cms) and it didn't get as good a readout as my Grundig Digibox.

Comparing the 'readout' from different models of receivers is pretty much pointless and is not an indicator of receiver performance.

0