Communal System FAQ's
Q. What is the best $KY Digibox for Spain?
The best Digibox for Spain is the PACE 2600C1, sadly no longer manufactured. We supply professionally refurbished 2600C1's with 1 years return to base warranty. Because these receivers are known in the trade for being the best for Spain, this unfortunately is reflected in the price.Q. What is the best "freesat" Receiver for Spain?
The best "freesat" (not to be confused with "free to air") receivers for Spain are the HUMAX Foxsat freesat receivers. These are available from Argos, Comet, Curry's and other good retailers. Do not let them talk you into buying a fancy HDMi connector lead, you do not need one, as a perfectly serviceable one comes with the receiver.Q. What if I use another make and model of Digibox or freesat Receiver?
We only guarantee very good reception of the BBC and ITV channels, when using the Pace 2600C1 or a Humax Foxsat receiver. If you use another make and model of receiver, then you may well be lucky, and get good reception all day and night.Q. What guarantee comes with the system?
We guarantee and maintain the system free of charge for two years, with the exception of Acts Of God.Q. Who maintains the system after the initial 2 year free period?
After the first 2 years of the initial installation, we carry on with maintenance of the system. We charge each apartment connected to the system, €40* per year (payable in advance on the 1st of January) to maintain the system in tip top condition and to police the system (making sure nobody tampers with the system etc). This maintenance charge covers re-alignments and general repairs to the system.
For major repairs required to the system through Acts Of God etc, we expect the community buildings insurance to cover the cost of these repairs. Any Acts Of God etc damage will be invoiced to community, who pay us on completion of the works and then recover the monies from their insurer.
Anybody not paying their yearly maintenance charge, will eventually be disconnected from the system, with a reconnection fee payable in advance, if they later decide they want to be reconnected.Q. The administrators say we cannot have a secondary communal satellite dish?
Firstly, if ANY other dish (no matter what size) has been erected without community approval, after the original communal television equipment was installed, and nothing was said by the community, then they cannot deny you permission to have your own dish, but you should still seek permission from the administrators, and the community president, as a matter of course. If they still deny you, then at the next community general meeting, you can seek to have all other non approved dishes taken down. If no other dishes have been erected, then you will need to seek approval at the next general meeting (normally bi-annually) of the community. Please make sure that when presenting your application to the community, you make it absolutely clear that this secondary communal dish installation, will NOT in any way be connected to, or interfere with, any existing TV equipment already in the building. Only those who want it, pay for the connection. All wiring and dish placement, will be discreet, safe and installed by a professional registered company. If you need a representative from SatSeekers to explain the technicalities (in English) at the next meeting, then please contact us.Q. Will there be a load of wiring running around the outside of the building?
In Spain for about the last 10 years, the building regulations, stipulate that builders must fit spare tubing/ducting in apartment blocks, to allow for the connection of addition services like TV and Internet, so nearly always, we can run our cables through these tubes making a very neat job.Q. What is the difference between a Communal System and a Standard System?
Communal Systems work in a different way from a standard system. A standard system consists of a dish and a standard LNB (the thing on the front of the dish), with up to four separate outputs (there are 8 output models, but they do not work properly here). Each of these outputs can be used to feed separate Digiboxes which all work independently of each other. A standard system can never have more than four outputs. A communal system uses a different type of LNB, and the signal from this is routed around the complex, using some fairly complex and hence, expensive electronics. A communal system can in theory have as many outputs as is required, 100's if necessary. It can also in most cases, have more outputs fitted to it at a later date, assuming the system is correctly planned in the first instance.
It is absolutely imperative that communal systems are planned correctly, if they are to be added to, without detriment to the existing customers. Always use a professional Satellite Television Installation company to plan and install your communal system.
Q. Who Owns The System?
In essence we do. Why you might ask? The price we charge for a connection to the system, is not anywhere near to the cost of installing the system in the first place. If the community was to pay for the whole installation, it would cost thousands of Euros, and hence would probably not happen. We basically invest in the community system, and wait for a profit from the system in the years to come, this profit coming from new customers wishing to connect to the system later and we make a small profit from the yearly maintenance charge of the system (2 years down the line). We in theory legally own the system, so that we have a legal right to stop any other party making a connection to it, or tampering with the system. We of course undertake never to remove the system, nor deny any paying customer a connection to it (assuming they do not breach our general terms & conditions).General Terms & Conditions
No feed from our system shall be used to supply another apartment with TV or Internet.
No signal/data from our TV or Internet systems, shall be redistributed or resold, by any means.*€40 per year charge each, for up to 25 paying apartments
*€25 per year charge each, for up to 50 paying apartments
*€15 per year charge each, for up to 75 paying apartments
*€10 per year charge each, for over 100 paying apartments.Information Believed To Be Correct As Of 10/01/2012