[jollyranchers]

Right I'm thinking of ditching sky and going for a motorised set up.

There a loads of threads on boxes etc but I can't find a definitive answer to all my questions any advice is appreciated

1) apart from the free to air channels is there actually anything worth watching on a motorised dish set up without paying for official viewing cards ? Ie. English channels with no subtitles similar to the general entertainment channels on sky ?

2) anyone ditched sky for a motorised set up and was really disappointed with the english content available ? and wished they had stayed with sky?

3) paid subscriptions - which viewing cards are worth purchasing for movies ? , I'm not interested in anything illegal , card shares etc.

4) can anyone recommend a motorised set up

5) with the purchased receiver , can I pick up all of the freeview, freesat channels?

6) if I did keep my sky subscription can I use this in a motorised receiver or does my sky card have to be paired to a sky box?

7) do aftermarket boxes have decent electronic program guide interface like sky ?

Sorry for all the questions

Any advice appreciated

[Elephant Man]

2, I have cancelled SKy, it was switched off yesterday. Yes I do miss the the ease of it, but I found it a waste of money £80+ per month inc phone & broadband. We dont watch much TV, just the main channels. Get yourself a motorised set up. You should be able to get freeview channels.

[pedro2000uk]

Originally Posted by jollyranchers

Right I'm thinking of ditching sky and going for a motorised set up.

There a loads of threads on boxes etc but I can't find a definitive answer to all my questions any advice is appreciated

1) apart from the free to air channels is there actually anything worth watching on a motorised dish set up without paying for official viewing cards ? Ie. English channels with no subtitles similar to the general entertainment channels on sky ?

There are loads (25-30?) of free 24/7 movie channels with decent & recent movies & some very recent including some that are still in the cinemas or 1st time on TV etc.. - they usually have subtitles in the country's language (mostly Arabic or Farsi) but the sound track is left in English.

2) anyone ditched sky for a motorised set up and was really disappointed with the english content available ? and wished they had stayed with sky?

Almost everyone reacts the same... something more like 'WOW... & as a totally free system it's pretty good anyway IMO before you add to it because you have all the English FTA on 28e now plus all the movies & then various gems around the arc- but people can & do add to it.

3) paid subscriptions - which viewing cards are worth purchasing for movies ? , I'm not interested in anything illegal , card shares etc.

For movies I'm not sure you even need to there's that many free movie channels- so many it would be better to see some swapped to English footy (not going to happen btw) - most subscriptions are for live EPL & others like JSC Sports.

4) can anyone recommend a motorised set up with receiver that's around £350

It depends if you want a Linux receiver or non Linux receiver & what SD/HD & record options you want & dish size.

5) with the purchased receiver , can I pick up all of the freeview, freesat channels?

Yes.. all the Freesat (& all the non Freesat channels that aren't on Freesat) & the bigger dish gives better rain margin. (Freeview is the term for those you receive on an aerial)

6) if I did keep my sky subscription can I use this in a motorised receiver (some - but you might need to put it back in the Sky box to keep it updated) or does my sky card have to be paired to a sky box?

7) do aftermarket boxes have decent electronic program guide interface like sky ?

They all have now & next & usually do have a 7 day EPG option for the UK & there are other channels on other satellites that the EPG works on- mainly movie channels etc.. in English too.

Sorry for all the questions

Any advice appreciated

Answered above in bold

... except when you go motorised with a decent setup IMO it opens up a lot more & gives you something else ...your autonomy back-Sky has a lot of channels but I think they are also good at lulling you into & locking you into their system & takes a lot more autonomy away in a more subtle way. Even the way they force you to have the channels in their order & if you don't subscribe to everything you have to keep jumping over all the ones you don't pay for ... quite different when you organise everything how you want it.

[logiciel]

It doesn't have to be motorised and can be on a fixed dish for several specific satellite groups with hundreds of channels between them.
1. On the many that are not in English some may be worth watching especially if you know the language, though of course it depends on what you like! There are the film channels in English, but not many "general entertainment".
3. Cards can be had, with more or less difficulty, but people get them more for sport than films.
4. There aren't any specific motorised setups to recommend. You can get a local installer to supply and fit the kit, or buy the components and fix them yourself or have it done.
5. The free channels yes, and many more than are just on FV or on FS. The FV EPG no as that's terrestrial, and the FS EPG only on a very few machines.
6. Some machines take it, some of those need it to be replaced in the Sky machine from time to time.
7. "Aftermarket"? Satellite receivers produce an EPG when the broadcasters provide it, and that varies from nothing, through Now and Next only, to maybe a week in advance.
It's OK to ask, and Pedro's already answered anyway.
Those options to arrange the channels the way you want ARE a big advantage of the machines.

[kevkbuk]

1) Plenty of FTA movies, and some general entertainment series on 26e/7w. See www.purplesat.com for an idea of which channels can be received in the UK then www.etfarag.com for listings.

4) You won't go wrong with a Triax dish, Dark Motor and Black Ultra LNB, again see purplesat.com for ideas, even if you want Pedro to install it, lots of info on there. YOu'll want 26E and 7W if possible at your location so get the biggest dish you can.

7) Some do, linux based boxes like the Dreambox/VU+ in particular. They do not handle series linking very well though and only offer repeat timers.

Also don't forget you'll have the ability to pick up some broadcast feeds. See satelliweb.com. These are mainly live broadcasts from events rather than general entertainment as such but will include music concerts and theatre shows/operas etc.

Also with a DM/VU etc you can view live TV on your PCs, search EPG and setup recordings via web interface, record to NAS and stream this content around the house. You won't be doing any of that with Sky, even if they did it would be riddled with copy protection.

[kevkbuk]

Originally Posted by logiciel

It doesn't have to be motorised and can be on a fixed dish for several specific satellite groups with hundreds of channels between them.
4. There aren't any specific motorised setups to recommend. You can get a local installer to supply and fit the kit, or buy the components and fix them yourself or have it done.

A fixed dish is not the answer here, unless you want recording/watching different sats at the same time. You'll not be able to get 26E and 7W that have the most english FTA content.

There are specific setups to recommend, see above. Lots of retailers, both online and off, will supply cheap tat packaged together to keep costs down. It's very important to get a feel for the quality kit available that has a proven reputation. If you seek out specialist installers such as PurpleSat and others you'll see the same brands used again and again, there is a reason for this! Even these good components are sometimes modified by decent installers to improve strength and reliability.

If getting an installer you need to be sure they know what they are doing and are experienced. Some of the larger installers in my area told me not to expect 26E, let alone 7W, even though I'm in a very good area for receiving it... then Pedro comes along and tells the real story.

[logiciel]

If he wants 26E and 7W - and you tell him that he will want them - then of course a fixed dish isn't the answer.
If he doesn't - which is just possible - then it's a perfectly reasonable answer.
Eutelsat 7 West A / Nilesat 101 / Nilesat 102 / Nilesat 201 (7°W) - All transmissions - frequencies - KingOfSat
Badr 4 / Badr 5 / Badr 6 (26°E) - All transmissions - frequencies - KingOfSat

[kevkbuk]

Originally Posted by logiciel

Eutelsat 7 West A / Nilesat 101 / Nilesat 102 / Nilesat 201 (7°W) - All transmissions - frequencies - KingOfSat
Badr 4 / Badr 5 / Badr 6 (26°E) - All transmissions - frequencies - KingOfSat

Note you'll only get Badr4 on 26E, and E7WA and some NileSat transponders depending on location for 7W. Purplesat.com gives a much better indication of what can be received in this country than such lists.

[logiciel]

What size dish for the TPs on 7W and 26E that can be received in the UK?
Purplesat certainly lives up to its name - it's that and every other colour!

[pedro2000uk]

Originally Posted by logiciel

What size dish for the TPs on 7W and 26E that can be received in the UK?...

Minimum dish size there is ideally a decent 90cm (Triax TD88)... or 1m & 1.1m to increase rain margin on the popular 7.3w & they help with 7w reception, 26e is stronger than 7.3w... those sizes are in area (the diagonal measure of the reflector excl' rim) & with a decent sensitive tuner. Nilesat (101/102) @ 7w is weaker & has progressively weaker transponders plus varies at times of the day so what channels & how much of Nilesat you can get varies & at those sizes more of a nice bonus unless you are in a very good reception area or really want to go much bigger.

Most other satellites are OK to very strong on a 90cm there except perhaps the odd one like 4w which doesn't get used much.

[jollyranchers]

Thanks very much for all the replies guys , will have a good look
on purplesat options , just soaking up all the information no doubt I will have more questions to come !

How do your other family members find switching from sky to motorised, I know sky has an excellent channel search etc , how did they find operating the new equipment ? Searching for channels etc

Did you all get branded 'pornlords' with the 1metre dishes ?! From family and friends and have to give a full explanation of why you have such a big dish ?!

[pedro2000uk]

Originally Posted by jollyranchers

..

How do your other family members find switching from sky to motorised, I know sky has an excellent channel search etc , how did they find operating the new equipment ? Searching for channels etc

It can be easier / faster to use with say the popular Technomate TM5402HD receivers- you can have the channels in the order you want & not spread all over plus there are multiple favourite's lists you can program for any member &/or any subject etc.. plus things like alphabetical search etc. are there too.

Originally Posted by jollyranchers

..
Did you all get branded 'pornlords' with the 1metre dishes ?! ..

The dish size is dictated by 26e/ 7.3w (& 7w) reception for movies & some sport/footy -channels ..... porn is on many other strong satellites that a smaller dish can get.

[logiciel]

Originally Posted by jollyranchers

How do your other family members find switching from sky to motorised, I know sky has an excellent channel search etc , how did they find operating the new equipment ? Searching for channels etc
Did you all get branded 'pornlords' with the 1metre dishes?!

I'd expect any family would still want what they've been used to - the channels from 28E either free or subscribed.
In what sense does Sky have any channel search - do you mean the EPG?
As Pedro says the many Favourite channels lists are an advantage of the machines for that.
There are such channels on 13 and 19E that I could get on my fixed dish, but no-one has referred to the possibility.

[kevkbuk]

I'd give the family a Freesat PVR on your fixed dish then have the motorised for yourself!

[logiciel]

Agreed - or the multiple.

[jollyranchers]

when you a flicking through channels on sky you can see from the banner at the bottom of the screen what channel it is , the name of program you are watching at what's on next, can you also do this on the likes of the technomate or dreambox range from a similar banner , or do you have to go into a menu and look at a full screen view ?

[jeh1968]

Originally Posted by jollyranchers

when you a flicking through channels on sky you can see from the banner at the bottom of the screen what channel it is , the name of program you are watching at what's on next, can you also do this on the likes of the technomate or dreambox range from a similar banner , or do you have to go into a menu and look at a full screen view ?

press the ok button on remote it shows channel and whats on next, with the time when the next programme is on. this is with the dreambox, i would of thought it would be similar with technomate

[kevkbuk]

All receivers should show now/next, but they will only show the DVB EPG data if it is broadcast, some don't bother. You'll get it on all the UK Freesat stuff and some of the movie channels on 26e/7w. Some providers, such as Sky and Freesat use different formats for the 7 day EPG. Only open source linux (DM/VU etc) receivers and a few closed source receivers (like the technos) can read these. You either tune to the EPG channel and let the receiver update or download them from online sources. On the DM/VUs this can automated to run overnight and supports Sky UK and a few other foreign providers too.

[logiciel]

Originally Posted by jollyranchers

can you also do this on the likes of the technomate or dreambox range from a similar banner , or do you have to go into a menu and look at a full screen view?

It entirely depends on the broadcaster.
If they provide Now and Next - and information about the programmes - then you'll get that.
Some will have EPG data within the channel so you'll get that in the full screen view.
Others will have it on a specific channel and you may be able to access it that way.

[jollyranchers]

A couple more questions guys

I have been reading good things about the technomate 5402hd I've seen on the purplesat site.

Just to confirm a few things

Can I use my sky subscription card in this receiver ?
Can I move around all channels I.e pick what channel goes channel 1-20 etc
I know it records 3 channels at once on the same transponder but in reality how useful is this ? I'm assuming the only way to record on multi transponders is to have a fixed dish with lnb's pointing at different satellites?

So if the mrs wants to record a sky tv program I'm stuffed for recording on hot bird etc ?

I'm assuming I can connect a magic eye type system to this box for multi rooms like I do with sky now?

Is there a better box for the motorised dish novice ?

[logiciel]

Yes to the Sky card.
You organise your channels into up to 16 Favourite Lists and assign their positions within them.
If it can record more than one channel at a time they would have to be on the same transponder.
The number of channels on a transponder varies but isn't many so it's not likely to be much use.
I don't get the point about multiple LNBs making it possible to record from multiple transponders.
Being on the same transponder does of course rule out recordings from separate satellites!
You can send the channel, but "magic eyes" are normally only for Sky and won't work to get the remote control back the other way. You can use an IR extender for that, or the better alternative of a wireless videosender for both channel and control.

[jollyranchers]

Thanks for the replies

Question about when your watching foreign channels with adverts top and bottom of the screen , can these be cropped out ?

[pedro2000uk]

Originally Posted by logiciel

..
There isn't an aerial-out socket so you'd need a modulator ...

They do have modulators & pretty decent quality ones that still don't look bad on bigger screens (& better than sky modulators) .. most Technomate models do (your's should)- I swapped one with a Sky box last week in minutes (seamless) - .. the magic eye replacement, I think, is best with something like the Powermid or similar - then you can control other media devices in the lounge & the TM will allow AV in & switch them in/out so it also saves on buying (or running electric for) several duplicate media devices or another modulator as the TM will modulate the other device/s - especially good with a DVD/BR/PVR.

[pedro2000uk]

Originally Posted by jollyranchers

...

I know it records 3 channels at once on the same transponder but in reality how useful is this ?

several movie channels are on single transponders ... as are a number of sport/football channels, the triple record option can be really useful .. recording up to 3 movies at once or up to 3 matches at once & while watching another ...

if one is on 13e & one on 28e the most popular is to retain the Sky dish with a quad - that covers most situations

I'm assuming the only way to record on multi transponders is to have a fixed dish with lnb's pointing at different satellites?

So if the mrs wants to record a sky tv program I'm stuffed for recording on hot bird etc ?

I'm assuming I can connect a magic eye type system to this box for multi rooms like I do with sky now?

as above


Is there a better box for the motorised dish novice ?

IMO - the Technomates are the best for motorised control for the new user, but they are very popular for the experienced.

[jollyranchers]

Thanks for the replies pedro , will be in touch in a few weeks regarding sorting me out with an installation, just been scouring the net the past week or so educating myself on options !

For the people on the forum who have their receivers connected to other tv's via a powermid , I'm assuming you are buying replacement remote controls for each room ? Or are you using universal remote controls ?

[1080 jawbreaker]

only time i have used the multi transponder recording is bbcone HD and 1tv hd.

[logiciel]

Originally Posted by pedro2000uk

They do have modulators

I was using a 5402 recently for a couple of weeks and vaguely thought that it didn't have an aerial out, but that was obviously a mistake, and as you say my normal Techno has it.
What was that about using other devices with a Techno?

Originally Posted by jollyranchers

when your watching foreign channels with adverts top and bottom of the screen , can these be cropped out ?

Another one that I don't understand - How can anyone crop out anything on a satellite receiver?
You don't connect receivers to TVs with Powermids, which are IR extenders, only for sending the remote control.
It's videosenders that connect to both, for sending the channel one way and the remote control back the other.
Either way some people take the original remotes with them and others have separate remotes in each location.
Universal remote controls are for controlling more than one device, nothing specifically to do with extending.

[kevkbuk]

Originally Posted by logiciel

Another one that I don't understand - How can anyone crop out anything on a satellite receiver?

Some receivers have zoom modes so you can zoom into the picture and so crop some of it out. All widescreen tvs can do the same also.

[pedro2000uk]

Originally Posted by logiciel

..
What was that about using other devices with a Techno?

If you put AV 'into' a TM from another device (DVD/PVR/BR/ other STB etc..) & press the TV/SAT button, it flips to that device for it's 'output'. so you can flip to several devices in the lounge from remote TVs on a TV system round a house. A decent universal remote would actually be very handy.

[jollyranchers]

Originally Posted by kevkbuk

Some receivers have zoom modes so you can zoom into the picture and so crop some of it out. All widescreen tvs can do the same also.

It was this that I meant , I read it on another forum about cropping the screen

As I have my whole house linked to my current sky box with coax cables and magic eyes I was hoping to use the coax network to connect to my new receiver probably the technomate.

I was also hoping I could use a different type of magic eye on the end of the coax which I could control the receiver just like my sky box.

I'll just use an ir extender instead.