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?
The
Astra 28.2° footprint map shows that a 60cm dish is adequate for the South Beam
in Spain, ( please note that the software settings may need to be altered on your
Digibox ). The footprint map shows the North Beam cutting off approximately two
thirds the way down Spain with a 120cm dish. We have however heard of many people
using 120cm solid dishes successfully in the far south. The ITV channels
are on the Astra 2D satellite which has a footprint that only covers the UK Eire
and northern France. Astra do publish the official footprint maps and programme
listings on their website www.astra.lu 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.