Portable Satellite Receiver kit £29.99 Lidl starts 08/06/09

Lütz_Pangaloo

Trust wrote: »

Just looked at the box, it comes with a signal meter, is this the meter we are talking about

Probably not.

I think that's referring to the receiver's built in meter, which will most likely be a horizontal bar display on the telly for signal strength and signal quality. It might be coupled to a beeping noise so you have an idea what it's doing if you're away from the screen.

The separate "satellite finder" would look something like this;

http://images.maplin.co.uk/full/a39fj.jpg

And is connected in series with the dish.

This SLX one is the same as the B&Q one (I think). They all look pretty much the same.

maximo

The only problem with using the sat box inbuilt signal meter is that (I found) there is quite a lag before the box tunes in to it. And as finding the satellite involves VERY small movements you may find you move past it before the box picks it up. I bought a sat finder but tried to tune in box without it (so that I could take it back for a refund)-I gave up fairly soon and used the finder.

Lütz_Pangaloo

maximo wrote: »

The only problem with using the sat box inbuilt signal meter is that (I found) there is quite a lag before the box tunes in to it. And as finding the satellite involves VERY small movements you may find you move past it before the box picks it up. I bought a sat finder but tried to tune in box without it (so that I could take it back for a refund)-I gave up fairly soon and used the finder.

Very true Max - but it can be done.

I've managed to set up this box in Spain and a Fortec Passion at home without a finder - just a bit of patience and a wife!

:cool:

ppg

chipbeck wrote: »

Please don't send me to avforum, digispy or anywhere like that.

Simple question. I have sky multiroom but I also have two teles with freeview in the bedrooms. Problem is my aerial is pants therefore the freeview is as well. If I bought one of these and ran two cables from it into the bedrooms would I get a decent picture and the freeview channels?

Thick I know but you have to ask.

Yes mostly - most of the Freeview channels are available on satellite (Astra 28 East) - some are missing like Dave but on the other hand there are a lot of other channels on satellite not on Freeview including HD - check this website
http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=whatson.Main

so if you have a poor Freeview signal you can use a satellite system instead to pick up most of those channels.

To run 2 cables off satellite you would change the single cable output LNB on the dish to a twin output LNB around £15 approx.

jenniewb

Wondered if anyone could help me (maybe I should be posting this on the techies boards!)

I had a TV man visit me about 2 weeks ago, after I made a complaint to the council as I get no signal via the communal areal in my flat. It had been 5 years of me complaining- (I still have to pay full licence fee, and using a set-top aerial is near pointless, if anyone does any DIY, moves any furniture I lose signal, it happens daily, sometimes I lose signal mid programme, and anyway I only get BBC1, 2 and sometimes 3. (Am Soooo grateful for 4catchup on the internet!).

Anyway, the guy couldn't help me, council admit they have "cocked up" (their words not mine) and have been told my block is on the waiting list for the areal to be repaired (they have been telling me this for 5 years...) the TV man got me his old sky box, old sky card and wired me to my neighbours sky dish/aerial! It worked! I even had ITV! (I have not had ITV or channel 4 for years!!)

I had my neighbour a week later rip it out, friendly neighbour (Thank God as many are not!) so no harm done, but now I am back to no channels or sometimes BBC1, 2 and 3.

If I get this satellite reciever, will it work with the sky box and card I have? I do not pay for sky/do not subscribe (if I had the money I would) and thought I would need to have paid for it for it to be working- but any channels that work EVERY day would be a welcome break- can anyone offer any advice?

maximo

If you get this kit you will not even need the sky box. What you need is the dish-pointing in the right direction. Once the dish is installed you will be able to use the receiver that came with it OR the sky box.

jimb0d

so just to clarify - with this piece of kit I will be able to pick up the BBC/ITV HD channels?

maximo

jimb0d wrote: »

so just to clarify - with this piece of kit I will be able to pick up the BBC/ITV HD channels?

No, just standard def.

To clarify you would need a box which is capable of picking up H.D. signal (£80+) this type of box also shows S.D. content.

ppg

jenniewb wrote: »

Wondered if anyone could help me (maybe I should be posting this on the techies boards!)

I had a TV man visit me about 2 weeks ago, after I made a complaint to the council as I get no signal via the communal areal in my flat. It had been 5 years of me complaining- (I still have to pay full licence fee, and using a set-top aerial is near pointless, if anyone does any DIY, moves any furniture I lose signal, it happens daily, sometimes I lose signal mid programme, and anyway I only get BBC1, 2 and sometimes 3. (Am Soooo grateful for 4catchup on the internet!).

Anyway, the guy couldn't help me, council admit they have "cocked up" (their words not mine) and have been told my block is on the waiting list for the areal to be repaired (they have been telling me this for 5 years...) the TV man got me his old sky box, old sky card and wired me to my neighbours sky dish/aerial! It worked! I even had ITV! (I have not had ITV or channel 4 for years!!)

I had my neighbour a week later rip it out, friendly neighbour (Thank God as many are not!) so no harm done, but now I am back to no channels or sometimes BBC1, 2 and 3.

If I get this satellite reciever, will it work with the sky box and card I have? I do not pay for sky/do not subscribe (if I had the money I would) and thought I would need to have paid for it for it to be working- but any channels that work EVERY day would be a welcome break- can anyone offer any advice?

Hi - you can buy a satellite dish quite cheaply for around £20 - here's one for example (just click on the link)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Zone1-Sky-Minidish-With-Complete-Bracket-and-LNB_W0QQitemZ270391845027QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ConEle_SatCableFreeview_RL?hash=item3ef49c20a3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1683|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

you would also need some cable and if the Tv man or someone will install it for you cheaply it will then work fine with the Sky box you already have

hope thats some help

keicar

Bought one on Monday, glad I was down there early, they only had seven I bought two (one for ebay!) and had all gone by the time I left the store.

On setting up I would recommend a £9.99 'Satellite Beeper' from Maplin this makes it much easier as you just listen to the tone change as it detects the satellite signal - leaving your hands and eyes free. Ensure all connections are made and make sure the box is switched on and the Astra 28.2 satellite is selected.

A couple of tips once the beeper is connected point the dish roughly to just South of south east (I used the plastic box to mount it but put a brick in the bottom to steady it) the dish really doesnt need to be pointed upwards it needs to be roughly at right angles to level ground (mine was pointing very slightly down!) adjust the dish slowly listen to the beeper and its almost childs play - It took me about 30mins to set up but this included fitting the connectors to the cable. Once set up steady the box and carefully remove the beeper and reconnect the cable without moving the dish, and place all your favourite channels to the top of the channel list.