Analogue Satellite Receiver

greenfinger

NEW for £18.99, dont tell me you can beat this?

http://www1.uk.conrad.com/scripts/wgate/zcop_uk/~flN0YXRlPTM5NDQ0MjA0MA==?~template=PCAT_AREA_S_BROWSE&glb_user_js=Y&shop=UK&p_init_ipc=X&~cookies=1

if the above link fails try this http://www1.uk.conrad.com and search for Analogue Satellite Receiver.

curtlyb

thought they were phasing out analogue, ie a lot of channels no longer available ???

ma6jrp

There are currently German channels on the old Astra sat that sky used to used, but I believe they are being turned off, and the sats they host they channels are getting near to there end of life as they only work for 10 - 15 years.

Maplin had a full free sat kit with receiver and dish for £50 last week reduced in store in Cambridge. A much better deal.

Xav

greenfinger wrote:

NEW for £18.99, dont tell me you can beat this?

http://www1.uk.conrad.com/scripts/wgate/zcop_uk/~flN0YXRlPTM5NDQ0MjA0MA==?~template=PCAT_AREA_S_BROWSE&glb_user_js=Y&shop=UK&p_init_ipc=X&~cookies=1

if the above link fails try this http://www1.uk.conrad.com and search for Analogue Satellite Receiver.

I wouldn't buy it though. Most analogue signals are turned off. I have a analogue/digital system and really I'm thinking of ditching the former.

tin

Hmmm. if you need a new analogue reciever it's worth it. But if you're not actually specifcially looking for an analogue reciever I would not bother.

Kentish

One use for an analogue receiver is if you want to install or reposition a satellite dish for a digital receiver. Analogue and digital channels are broadcast from the same satellites but the positioning of the dish for digital channels has to be very precise. Because there is a lag until you can see a picture on the TV, you can't just point and hope. The analogue signal, on the other hand, is much broader and works very much like a terrestrial aerial - the picture will get gradually clearer until it's positioned perfectly.

So, all you need to do is position the dish with the analogue receiver until the picture is good, and then switch to the digital receiver to finetune the position! You'll struggle to find even a basic satellite finder/signal meter for £18.99! Granted that this will not be much use after they switch off the analogue signals though...

ChemicalBrother_2

The two main satellite postions are Astra 1 @ 19e and Hotbird @ 13e. There's loads of analogue channels on Astra 1 still (almost all German but there's also CNN and Eurosport) but on Hotbird there's only six left and one of them is going very soon.

Compare that to what is available digitally on those two satellites (completley FOC) and we're talking hundreds of channels. And a cheapo digital satellite receiver costs from as little as £35/£40.

I agree with Kentish that it's a good way to find a satellite as it's way harder with digital but some satellites don't have any analogue channels on (the cluster with "Sky" on hasn't had an analogue channel in eons). So an analogue receiver isn't going to help anyone find that satellite position. And no one should underestimate the uses of the signal meters "built-in" to digital receivers! There's a lag but they still work pretty good on some receivers.

shown73

The sad thing is that analogue pictures are often miles better than digital. We still watch many german channels, and the diffrence with sky can be quite marked. also seem to get lots of picture break-up on sky. Of course, this is from an old f---t who also believes that analogue records give far better depth of sound than cd's. Digital is, of course, much cheaper for the providers...Just as front wheel drive power units were so much easier and cheaper to produce/install in cars. I may be a fossil, but not everything new represents progress for the conumer, in my humble opinion.

ChemicalBrother_2

When digital TV is done well it looks pretty good. Colour seperation is good (if the box is set to RGB and the TV supports it) - something which PAL can't do, so you get washed out colours and PAL's diagonal artifacts on rich reds etc.

Unfortunately the channels on Sky are mostly atrocious, whether they be Sky's own or third party broadcasters. ITV1 in particular (whatever region) is amazingly bad especially with pop shows (disco lights fast moving action) it just turns the TV at home into a disco ball - brightly coloured squares all mixed together!

paul_h

I still know one or two using analogue receivers on Astra 1 - you can still get Eurosport in English for free, it's encrypted on all of the digital platforms...

There's no much more unless you can speak German, but there's CNN and MTV Europe.

ChemicalBrother_2

Nah, it's MTV Central aka MTV Germany. MTV Europe is scrambled unfortunately (and only digital). Eurosport in english may as well be free on Hotbird 13e - a lot of satellite receivers will get it with the "wrong" software!