General
Advice & Help
What do I
need to receive British TV down here on the Costa Azahar?
Last Updated
12/02/2009
You need
a Satellite Dish, a LNB, a Digital Satellite Receiver. First thing you will
want to consider is, "what channels do I want to receive?". The easiest
way of receiving all of your favorite British TV Channels is either to use the
$KY television system or go for the new FreeSat system.
With the $KY system, you have three options.
Option
1. Free Channels. Use your $KY Digibox with no card inserted. You will
be able to receive all the FTA (Free To Air) channels, which include BBC1,2,3,4,
ITV1,2,3,4, BBC News 24, $KY News, Channel Four, Film 4, & some other odd
ball channels.
Option
2. Free Channels. Use your $KY Digibox with a $ky FreeSat Viewing Card,
to watch the FTA channels + Channel 5 and all the Channel 5 derivatives + $KY3
+ a few extra odd ball channels.
Option
3. Pay Channels. All of the channels in Options 1 & 2 + the $KY subscription
channels.
With the FreeSat system, you have two options.
Option
1. Free Channels. Use a Humax FoxSat HD receiver (no card needed). You
will be able to receive all the FTA (Free To Air) channels, which include BBC1,2,3,4,
ITV1,2,3,4, Channel Four, Film 4 +, Channel 5, some others channels, and the
FTA High Definition Channels, (needs a HD Television to view HD channels properly).
Option
2. Free Channels. Use a Humax FoxSat HD receiver with built in PVR (personal
video recorder). You will be able to receive all the FTA (Free To Air) channels,
which include BBC1,2,3,4, ITV1,2,3,4, Channel Four, Film 4 +, Channel 5, some
others channels, and the FTA High Definition Channels, (needs a HD Television
to view HD channels properly). In addition you will also be able to record programs
on the fly or in advance or series of programs, very much like the $KY+ system.
This system does not use tapes, it records programs onto a built-in, computer
style hardisk. This second option does require that there are two cables/feeds
coming from the satellite dish.
As said before,
for all the above options, you will need a Dish/LNB/Digital Receiver.
In
the Costa Azahar region the absolute minimum dish size required is 1.35M*
(when using a PACE 2600C1 Digibox or Humax Foxsat Receiver & Invacom Twin
0.3Db LNB). Different Dishes, Receivers and LNB's, have different signal sensitivity
properties, so no two systems are ever the same in weak signal area's. At all
times remember that the Astra2D ($KY) satellite were never designed to transmit
a signal to Spain, by the time it reaches here, we are squeezing some signal,
from a very weak footprint. This is why standard UK satellite equipment generally
speaking, will not work here. The golden rule is always, THE BIGGER THE DISH
THE BETTER*, with a 1.8 Metre dish being the 'Mercedes'
of all dishes. Unfortunately Dish size is not proportionate to Dish price, that's
why those of us on a budget, have to use some tricks of the trade, to get as
best signal as we can. First trick is to use a very sensitive Digibox, you can
use either the Humax FoxSat HD Receiver or the PACE 2600C1 the best $KY Digibox
of all time, giving the best viewing results. Unfortunately it is no longer
in production. They replaced it with another model, which looks identical called
the DS430N (now also discontinued), this is not the same beast by a long shot.
Many people selling secondhand Digiboxes for Spain, mis-describe the DS430N
as a 2600C1, IT IS NOT THE SAME (see
this web page pace2600). Both these Digiboxes have been superseded
by the DS440N, in my opinion the worst Pace box yet, for sensitivity. Second
Trick is to use a very sensitive LNB. Down here on the Costa Azahar, my preferred
choice is the Invacom 0.3Db range Twin/Quad versions, other professionals may
recommend the MTI, Sharp + others LNB's, but I personally have not found these
to be as good, as the Invacom in the field trials I have conducted. Other factors
in a good setup, are good quality cable and connectors. Please note that aerial
cable is NOT the same as Satellite cable.
With a 1.35M
dish* In
the Costa Azahar region, you can
expect all/most of the FTA channels up until about 8pm when, depending on your
set up, you may lose the odd channel. The weather plays a part in reception
as well, with heavy rain clouds causing loss of sufficient signal. Loss of channels
may be noticed at different times of the year as well, this is because the Satellites
sending the signal, are pulled about by the forces of the moon and sun. These
movements of the Satellites do not affect reception in the UK, because there
is plenty of signal to compensate, but down here they are more apparent. I have
given you this information so you can make a semi-informed choice of which size
dish you want, although its all not as bad as it sounds, but I have warned you
of the possible problems. As I said before, the bigger the dish the better*.
Because the TV companies change which Transponder they transmit their channel
on from time to time, it is hard to predict what is going to change next, so
a lot of installers recommend a 1.8M dish or even a 2.4M dish, to cover themselves.
We have found a happy medium for people using either a PACE 2600C1 or a Humax
FoxSat HD Receiver and a Twin/Quad output LNB, who do not mind losing the odd
channel at different times of the year/weather/day, for them a 1.35M*
dish is adequate. If you do find that you lose certain BBC/ITV regions, they
you could try region hopping.
* do not use a petalised dish (one made up from
pressed steel sections, which you bolt together to form one big dish), like
the Faultec Star, sold by Maplains, these dishes are rubbish, save your money.
Region Hopping
Not
all transponders (the thing that sends the television signal down to us here)
on the Astra2D satellite have the same output power as the others. Different
ITV/BBC region channels are on different transponders. Generally speaking the
BBC and ITV channels are on the weakest transponders, that is the reason why
they are the first (before the $KY channels) to be lost in the evening. The
other BBC region channels can be found on the channel listings, up in the 900's.
By experimentation I have found that the strongest regions are as follows. BBC1
London, BBC2 NI and ITV Anglia South. You will not normally find the other ITV
regions on the channel listings. These have to be added to your system as follows.
Go to "Services", "System Setup" & "Add Channels".
From that screen, type in or select the following information 10.714, H, 22.0,
5/6. At the bottom of the screen, select "Search for channels". You
should then be presented with a list of channels available on that Transponder.
Highlight the "ITV1 Anglia South" option, use the yellow button on
your remote to select it, and save and backup/exit. From now on the "ITV1
Anglia South" channel should be available from the "Services",
Other Channels" options with your remote control.
Cards
Option 1.
You can buy $KY FreeSat cards from us. Remember that 'Virgin' $KY FreeSat cards
have to be "activated" in a Digibox by phoning $KY, once activated
the card will then work in any Digibox.
Option
2. We can supply Digiboxes with a $KY FreeSat card already "married"
to the Digibox, this can save a lot of time and trouble on your part.
Option 3. Use a an old $KY card (one with a yellow
house printed on a blue background (others will not work!)) these can be cards
where the subscription has expired, these revert to being a $KY FreeSat card
and do not need to be activated by $KY, just leave them in the Digibox, set
to receive $KY News. It should start working within a few hours, if it does
not, then the card have been barred by $KY and cannot be reactivated (throw
it away).
Option 4. If you want some or all of the $KY channels,
get a friend who lives in the UK, to order you a card/subscription (not multi-room),
and to pay your monthly $KY subscription from their UK address. You will have
to go through a one off procedure, of marrying the card to the box, with your
friend phoning $KY to activate the card. Refer to this document for marrying
a card to a Digibox, from abroad. Click
Here For Card Marrying
Please note that "$KY
FreeSat", is totally different from "FreeSat".
"$KY FreeSat" is run by $KY Television.
"FreeSat" (orginated by the BBC & ITV) is run by a company called
Aquiva.
Receivers
You really
only have two choices, either the Humax FoxSat FreeSat HD Receiver or a $KY
Digibox (unless you have a very big dish). The best $KY Digibox of all time,
with the most sensitive LNB input is the pace2600
(printed on the base of the unit). Unfortunately this model is no longer in
production, so the only way to get one, is to buy secondhand. We do get these
in stock on a regular basis, so its worth ringing us to see. With a 2600C1 you
can use a 1.35M dish and get very reasonable reception, only losing the odd
channel now and then (weather dependent). PACE replaced the 2600C1 with the
DS430N, it is not quite as sensitive as the 2600C1 so will need a bigger Dish
to compensate. In the Costa Azahar region you will
need absolute minimum of 1.8M and this setup will give the same results. Even
with a 2600C1 always go for the 1.8M dish, if you can afford it. If you require
$KY Digital+, you must use at least a Twin Output LNB, one output is used for
the channel you are currently watching, and the other is for the channel that
is being digitally recorded. This applies also to anybody wishing to use a Humax
FoxSat FreeSat HD Receiver with built-in PVR.
Please
be aware that the "TV Guide" on a FreeSat receiver functions in a
very similar way to a $KY Digibox, but does look and feel different, which some
long term $KY users, need time adjusting to.
Dishes
Offset
or Prime Focus are your two choices, generally Offset is available up to 1.35M
and Prime Focus for the bigger dishes. Do NOT use a petalised dish (one made
up from pressed steel sections, which you bolt together to form one big dish)
they are rubbish. The difference between an Offset Focus Dish and a Prime
Focus Dish is, a Prime Focus Dish has the LNB mounted directly in the centre
of the dish, normally on three arms/rods. Offset Focus Dishes, normally have
a boon arm/s emanating from the bottom of the dish, with the LNB pointing slightly
upwards, towards the centre of the dish. Be warned that the LNB's for the two
different types of dish, are different. The Prime-Focus dish also requires a
Feed Horn (which the LNB bolts onto), generally making them more expensive in
total. Dishes must be fixed as rigidly as possible, any movement in the dish,
will cause loss of signal. It is not difficult to set a dish up, and normally
you can find somebody "who knows somebody", who can help you set your
dish up. Firstly ask around your neighborhood, and see who else has a $KY television
setup. Check the rough direction their dish is pointing in, and point yours
the same way (no trees or other objects to block the signal path). As a rough
guide on the Costa Azahar, the Astra2 satellite is directly out to sea. Take
into account young trees, that might not be in the signal path now, but will
be when they have grown. We sell a simple Satellite finding meter, which allows
you (with a little patience) to find the strongest signal position of the dish.
The only thing it wont do, is help you set the "SKEW" of the LNB (the
rotational position of the LNB within its holder), this is best done with the
$KY Digibox connected, set to the "Signal Test" menu, making minute
turns of the LNB, to get the best "Signal Quality" reading, ignore
the "Signal Strength" reading, it has no real relevance.
LNB's
Your easiest
choice by far. Select either Prime Focus or Offset Focus (dependent on which
dish you have). Don't bother with the Single Output model, go straight for the
Twin or Quad output Invacom 0.3Db models, these are the best. A twin output
LNB simply means it has two output connectors, to feed two standard Digiboxes
(neighbors can share a dish) or one $KY+ Digibox. For some reason the Quad has
a slightly higher output than the twin (but not by much). If you are using a
Prime Focus dish, then you will either have or need a FeedHorn, which the LNB
will bolt onto. The Invacom LNB's have a C120 fixing flange.
Cable &
Connectors
Only use
proper Satellite cable, the cable we supply is all copper, yielding the best
signal transfer. The cable will need to be terminated with "F" connectors.
"F" connectors are very simple, they use the center solid core of
the cable, to act as the center connector. Once the cable has been stripped
back about 10mm, the outer screen folded back, the "F" connector is
simply screwed onto the end of the cable. Once the connector has been screwed
onto the LNB, the joint should either be wrapped in Self-Amalgamating-Tape or
covered with a rubber boot, this is to stop rain getting into the joint. This
is very important, do not use insulating tape to cover the joint, this will
soon lose its tackiness, due to the heat over here.