Will I be able to fit them myself?

Yes provided that you are a reasonably confident and capable DIYer.

Can I Watch Terrestrial TV via Satellite?

All the current UK terrestrial analogue channels are duplicated on digital satellite. Astra 2A, 2B and 2D at 28.2º East jointly provide this digital service which being encrypted can be viewed only with the aid of a Sky DigiBox i.e. integrated Sky digital receiver/decoder and a viewing card which is available at a one off charge of £20 to UK TV license holders on request. This should not be confused with the Sky Subscription card which for a monthly fee allows reception of a chosen Sky channel package plus the duplicated terrestrial channels.

What Can I Receive Without a Viewing Card?

A Sky DigiBox without a card or a free-to-air digital receiver can provide enough entertainment for those just wanting to keep in touch and up to date with news etc. In addition to free to air channels like Sky News and I.T.N. 24hr service there are many radio stations including BBC both National and Regional plus many music stations e.g. Classic FM, Classic Gold and Planet Rock which broadcast in high quality digital stereo.

What About The Future?

There are fundamental changes afoot to move some existing channels from Astra 2A and 2B to the recently launched Astra 2D satellite co-positioned with 2A and 2B at 28.2º East. This new satellite has a smaller footprint covering only the UK and Ireland and whilst this means that existing services in the UK will be unaffected, the channels chosen to be transferred to 2D will no longer be obtainable in mainland Europe (with the possible exception of France). Because the domestic home market will be unaffected it is not possible to speculate on the impact to reception abroad. Indeed because this is seen as illegal and frowned upon by Sky they are unlikely to publish advance data on the exact changes. As  and when changes do occur we will, as always, be heavily reliant on our friends and customers touring abroad to inform us of exactly what is available so that we can compile a list of channels available throughout Europe. We would therefore welcome any information to this effect from all.

What Size of Dish do I Need?

Can I use my Old Analogue Dish for Digital?

If your existing dish has a standard 40mm L.N.B. fitting, the L.N.B. can be replaced by a Digital universal one. We can supply a high quality Platinum 0.6dB L.N.B. for as little as £35

Please note
If upgrading from Analogue to Digital, the cable between the dish and receiver will also need to be upgraded. We have a 10m cable kit with connectors and weatherproof boot for £15

Do I Need a Specialist Finder to Align My Dish?

It is possible to locate the satellite without a finder, however it is not easy and usually very time consuming. We would always recommend a finder which will enable you to align your dish considerably more quickly, accurately and a lot less stressfully. Whilst finders are available at a modest cost, the inexpensive ones are relatively insensitive, whilst the semi-professional quality T7301 is sensitive enough (when following our supplied instructions and guidelines) to ensure the satellite is accurately located.

Can I Use a Smaller Dish if I Only Want Radio?

Unfortunately not. The size of dish required depends upon your location, not whether you are receiving sound only programmes.

Which Fixed Dish System for My Motorhome?

The pole adjustable systems by their nature need to be sited adjacent to a vertical wall (i.e. Wardrobe). It is therefore important that the vehicle is checked for any possible obstructions when the dish is folded for travelling and whilst raised and rotated for use.

The system uses a crank-up mechanism which is very shallow and projects approx. 2" from the ceiling inside the motorhome. It is much more flexible in its positioning, it does however require sufficient roof space to fold and rotate.

The fully automatic system is bonded onto the roof with no moving parts coming through the roof. It is therefore the most flexible system in relation to positioning, but does require a slightly larger turning circle due to the extra performance available from the larger size.

If you are unsure as to the suitability of a particular system for your motorhome please ask for space requirement details or check the Satellite section of this website

Can I Buy a 12 Volt Digital Receiver?

For the British services there are only 240V A/c receivers made. You can however operate a mains Digibox via an inverter, giving you 12V operation.

Does it Need a Telephone Line to Work?

No it does not need a phone line to work. The sound and picture information, along with the E.P.G. ALL come from the satellite to your dish. There are two reasons for it to be connected to the phone line:

• A contractual obligation for those who have received a subsidy on their Digibox.
• Whilst at home the box can talk directly with Sky's computer for ease of use when booking pay-per-view events.

Please Note
There is no technical reason to have a digital box permanently connected to your phone line. If you have had your box less than 12 months you may have received a subsidy, contractually obliging you not to disconnect it in the first year. Whilst we sell the equipment to use digita l satellite mobile we do not endorse its illegal use or recommend you break any contracts.

How do I know where to point my satellite dish?

The satellite will always be in the same position, this is called geostationary. You will find the Astra 2 (Sky Digital) satellite at 28.2 degrees East of South. To help you quickly and easily locate the satellite signal, Maxview has a specially designed compass.

Can I use my satellite receiver from home?

Yes. Please take note that there is a requirement to keep the "Digibox" connected to a telephone line for the first 12 months with a subsidised box.

Do I have to subscribe to Sky to be able to receive digital satellite television?

No, there are certain channels on the Astra satellite that can be received without the use of a Sky subscription.

Can I obtain a free and comprehensive list of all available channels covering the UK and Europe?

Yes, there are a number of websites where you can obtain this information, please visit the MSTV features page of the site.

Do I have to adjust my satellite dish and satellite receiver to pick up channels being broadcast between the North, South and UK beam?

The satellite dish requires no adjustment. The satellite "footprint" or projected beam is set by your satellite broadcaster and can only be picked up by being physically inside the footprint area. However the satellite receiver's default transponder is set to the North Beam. If you travel to Southern Europe you may need to change the transponder setting of you Sky decoder. For more information please visit the "Guides" section of the site.

Will I receive the same digital clarity with a portable system as I receive at home?

Yes, as long as you have a clear line of sight above trees and buildings, you will be able to receive the same picture quality as at home.

Can I receive my local news channel whilst I am away from home?

Yes. When you receive your Sky viewing card your local news channel will have been determined for you through your postcode. This means that as long as you are inside the Astra 2D footprint, you will receive your local news.

Do I have to use a satellite finder to find the signal?

Not always, however a Satellite Finder can greatly reduce the time it takes to locate the required satellite, and does not have the time delay associated with just using the inbuilt "Digibox" signal meter.

What is the difference between Freeview and Free To Air?

Freeview is a terrestrial digital service that is received via an aerial and then decoded using a "Freeview" box or integrated TV. It provides up to 30 free digital TV channels and over 20 radio digital radio stations. Free To Air is the term used when describing the name for the free channels that can be received using a Sky Digital decoder.

Do you have a question that is not listed here?
Please Contact Us and we will reply personally
eventually posting your answer here too.