Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Lidl Home Satellite System €80 from Thursday 11 September.

  • 07-09-2008 12:51PM
    #1
    Oracle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,630 ✭✭✭


    Back on offer from Thursday 11th. September is the SilverCrest Digital Home Satellite System for €80. This system comes with an 80cm dish, satellite receiver, satellite finder, twin LNB and 3 year guarantee.

    For anyone who's not familiar with these systems they allow you to receive hundreds of free to air (FTA) satellite channels, plus the UK terrestrial channels (BBC, ITV and C4) free of charge. All you pay is the cost of the kit (€80), plus installation, there's no on-going monthly fee. That's a huge saving against paying every month for a cable or satellite service such as Sky, NTL or Magnet.


«13

Comments

  • #2
    April Raine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 363 ✭✭April Raine


    Oracle wrote: »
    Back on offer from Thursday 11th. September is the SilverCrest Digital Home Satellite System for €80. This system comes with an 80cm dish, satellite receiver, satellite finder, twin LNB and 3 year guarantee.

    For anyone who's not familiar with these systems they allow you to receive hundreds of free to air (FTA) satellite channels, plus the UK terrestrial channels (BBC, ITV and C4) free of charge. All you pay is the cost of the kit (€80), plus installation, there's no on-going monthly fee. That's a huge saving against paying every month for a cable or satellite service such as Sky, NTL or Magnet.
    Every time they come up they seem to get a bashing for being rubbish. What is the installation like for someone no good with nuts and bolts, would I have to hire someone? What does work permit required at the end of the advertisment page mean?


  • #3
    Oracle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,630 ✭✭✭Oracle


    April Raine wrote: »
    Every time they come up they seem to get a bashing for being rubbish....

    These systems do come up regularly but they do not get a bashing for being rubbish. Although some may have a bad experience with them in general they're an perfect starter system and great value for money: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055264903&highlight=Lidl+Satellite+System

    There's a thread on these sytems on the staellite forum: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054982781

    As a matter of interest April, how would you know these systems have come up before, since you only registered on Boards.ie in March?


  • #4
    mgadget
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166 ✭✭mgadget


    Columbo you ain't. You did know that one can access and read these forums without ever having to register to join or login?

    Oracle wrote: »
    ....

    As a matter of interest April, how would you know these systems have come up before, since you only registered on Boards.ie in March?


  • #5
    mgadget
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166 ✭✭mgadget


    Has anyone used this system to tune into the Freesat service or does Freesat require specifically a Freesat decoder box?


  • #6
    April Raine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 363 ✭✭April Raine


    Oracle wrote: »
    As a matter of interest April, how would you know these systems have come up before, since you only registered on Boards.ie in March?
    did you not know you can read posts without registering? I just logged out went to http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055371185 and logged back in to post this update.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    TheDriver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,178 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    requires a freesat box. The set up is good except the brackets and dish are crap if in a windy place, better off spending a few quid for a decent bracket and dish that will last 10 years at least, but for the box and lnb its handy money. However, with freesat coming along, I'd hold off for that alone.


  • #8
    MunsterCycling
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,864 ✭✭✭MunsterCycling


    mgadget wrote: »
    Has anyone used this system to tune into the Freesat service or does Freesat require specifically a Freesat decoder box?


    Works perfectly, been using one for about a year and a bit no problems at all.

    MC


  • #9
    April Raine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 363 ✭✭April Raine


    Oracle wrote: »
    These systems do come up regularly but they do not get a bashing for being rubbish.
    Well, anything i have read is negative but as you say i only regd in March and i don't know much about these things or pretend to undestand


  • #10
    April Raine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 363 ✭✭April Raine


    MunsterCycling wrote: »
    Works perfectly, been using one for about a year and a bit no problems at all.

    MC
    would i need to get someone to install it? A friend of mine said he got one from lidl and it worked fine but i have not seen it i presume it is this. he did say there was not as big choice of channels as with paid but good enough for him and reception was ok

    I looked thru some old threads and apparently the size of the dish was an issue. This is 80 cm so would it be worth it? It has a 3 year g'tte anyway


  • #11
    ongarite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,865 ✭✭✭ongarite


    MunsterCycling wrote: »
    Works perfectly, been using one for about a year and a bit no problems at all.

    MC

    You are picking up FTA (Free To Air) channels with the Lidl, Sky box with no subscription.

    You need a Freesat box (only on sale in UK & NI) to pick up the Freesat stations.


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    Bluetonic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,588 ✭✭✭Bluetonic


    Oracle wrote: »
    All you pay is the cost of the kit (€80), plus installation, there's no on-going monthly fee. That's a huge saving against paying every month for a cable or satellite service such as Sky, NTL or Magnet.
    What a strange comparison in saying it's a huge saving. Your not comparing similar products, the stations you get on SKY for instance can't be received by buying this 'kit'.

    Buying a book would also be a massive saving, you'd not have to watch TV at all.


  • #13
    podgeandrodge
    Site Banned Posts: 5,975 ✭✭✭podgeandrodge


    ongarite wrote: »
    You are picking up FTA (Free To Air) channels with the Lidl, Sky box with no subscription.

    You need a Freesat box (only on sale in UK & NI) to pick up the Freesat stations.


    that's not true. All the freesat stations are available (same channels anyway more or less) ., its just the Freesat EPG you don't get AFAIK.


  • #14
    ongarite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,865 ✭✭✭ongarite


    Not all the stations are available without Freesat box, ITVHD and Freesat versions of Ch4 require Freesat box.


  • #15
    MisterAnarchy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,411 ✭✭✭✭MisterAnarchy


    April Raine wrote: »
    I looked thru some old threads and apparently the size of the dish was an issue. This is 80 cm so would it be worth it? It has a 3 year g'tte anyway

    The brackets are quite lightweight,will shear if exposed in high winds.
    The 80cm dish gives a good signal,far better than a Sky Minidish .


  • #16
    podgeandrodge
    Site Banned Posts: 5,975 ✭✭✭podgeandrodge


    ongarite wrote: »
    You need a Freesat box (only on sale in UK & NI) to pick up the Freesat stations.

    is a bit different from
    ongarite wrote: »
    Not all the stations are available without Freesat box, ITVHD and Freesat versions of Ch4 require Freesat box.

    Either way, given that this discussion is about a standard definition satellite system, ITV HD is not relevant. As for "Freesat versions of Ch4" I don't know what you're talking about, maybe others will, but the Ch4 you get FTA is "normal" Ch4.


  • #17
    bittihuduga
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,950 ✭✭✭bittihuduga


    is this 60cm or 80cm?
    i can't find the size on the link


  • #18
    podgeandrodge
    Site Banned Posts: 5,975 ✭✭✭podgeandrodge


    80cm according to newspaper ads.


  • #19
    homer911
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,070 ✭✭✭homer911


    MisterAnarchy wrote: »
    The brackets are quite lightweight,will shear if exposed in high winds.
    The 80cm dish gives a good signal,far better than a Sky Minidish .

    +1

    Bracket is very lightweight aluminium and literally got pulled through the mounting bolts on my installation when it was windy. Guarantee does not cover wind damage - I tried and got nowhere. Replaced dish with a sky style mesh dish - completely different kettle of fish: Steel construction, very solid. My personal advise would be to go straight for a freesat receiver and solidly built dish. That being said, I've no regrets over the initial €80 and will probably reuse the receiver in another location when I get freesat


  • #20
    mjsmyth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,108 ✭✭✭mjsmyth


    There is a slight bit of misinformation going on here.

    The Lidl boxes are fine, they generally work well, but like all things, those who have problems shout loudest. I have installed 4 of the units for friends and they work fine.

    As for freesat, freesat is an EPG, the channels you receive on a freesat box are the same as those you can receive on a FTA (like the lidl) box.

    As for ITV HD, well obviously you cannot get it as this box is not a HD receiver. ITV HD is receivable on some other non freesat HD boxes.

    Channel 4, E4, More 4 and Film 4 are all available free and you can receive them using the Lidl box.

    The main channels you will get are:

    BBC1
    BBC2
    BBC3
    BBC4
    ITV1
    ITV2
    ITV3
    ITV4
    CH4
    E4
    MORE4
    FILM4
    BBC News
    Sky News

    There are also many music channels, other news channels, film channels and general viewing channels.

    Installing the dish and getting it set in the right direction takes patience, but it is possible. I did it by looking at where my neighbours dish was pointed and from that point tweaked the horizontal and vertical position till I got it right.

    Take a look at the satellite forums on boards.ie for more help and info. One caveat, the dish is fine, the bracket however... well it is way too lightweight. If your house is anyway exposed, buy a stronger one.

    MJ


  • #21
    gip
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 96 ✭✭gip


    Have to agree with mjsmyth, bought one of these systems about year and a half ago, think it may have cost about €100 then, installed it myself, it had everything needed to do so, although I did have to buy a satellite finder as the one supplied wasn't great but that only cost me about €15 or €20. I had never installed one of these before and installation instructions were good, it was set up and running in a couple of hours. Now I'm not living on top of a mountain or the side of a seashore cliff but there has been plenty of galeforce winds and truly terrible weather since and it has never moved and I have had no problems with receiver box either. I have since installed two more and would recommend them to anyone. In my opinion money well spent.


  • Advertisement
  • #22
    johnnyboy4711
    Closed Accounts Posts: 795 ✭✭✭johnnyboy4711


    when is rte,tg4,tv3 becoming freeview?freesat?
    thanks
    john


  • #23
    MunsterCycling
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,864 ✭✭✭MunsterCycling


    johnnyboy4711 wrote: »
    when is rte,tg4,tv3 becoming freeview?freesat?
    thanks
    john

    The END of never, Ireland is so far behind on the digital front its not funny.


    MC


  • #24
    Henry's Cat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭Henry's Cat


    bit of a dummie here when it comes to these things, but if I already have Sky dish and box, can I just cancel my subscription and then connect the Lidl box to the Sky dish connection to get all the free to air .. or is there more to it than that?


  • #25
    ongarite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,865 ✭✭✭ongarite


    If you cancel your Sky subscription, you can still use it to receive the FTA stations listed above. No need for the Lidl receiver to do this and you will still a functioning EPG.


  • #26
    MunsterCycling
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,864 ✭✭✭MunsterCycling


    Think it should work but best to ask this over in Satellite forum for a more informed answer.

    MC


  • #27
    Oracle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,630 ✭✭✭Oracle


    I'm glad there's being a positive response to this thread about the Lidl Satellite System. It's disappointing that some people feel the need to criticise without foundation. I'll leave it to the intelligence of the Bargain Alert forum readers as to their reasons and motivation.


  • #28
    Tony
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,372 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    I'm not sure its without foundation. Its an excellent deal for sure but the dish bracket really is poor , I know this as I've replaced lots of them that failed.



    Oracle wrote: »
    I'm glad there's being a positive response to this thread about the Lidl Satellite System. It's disappointing that some people feel the need to criticise without foundation.

    Owner: satellite.ie



  • #29
    Ron DMC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,297 ✭✭✭Ron DMC


    /makes note to attach a decent bracket before climbing out on the side of the house.


  • #30
    JimiMac
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 237 ✭✭JimiMac


    TheDriver wrote: »
    ... However, with freesat coming along, I'd hold off for that alone.

    Is freesat not already here now or is it better to wait?
    Wait for what? Is there something imminent?
    Vaguely interested but don't know a lot about it.


  • Advertisement
  • #31
    jayteecork
    Site Banned Posts: 5,676 ✭✭✭jayteecork


    so roughly which and how many English channels does this yoke pick up?

    Could i just stick the thing out the window and hope to pick up something?


Advertisement
Advertisement