Sorting out satellite TV (not a sky system) in the UK

JimJim · Post by **JimJim** » 30 Dec 2005, 14:33

Hi Guys, 1st post but I've been a visitor to the forums here for a long time. Some time back I read a thread about this subject but I can't remember what was said so here goes again...

I've got Sky tv but I want to be able to pick up the live German broadcasts, for example Saturday night's show in Munchen, televised by 2DF, which features Stipe Drews in a European title fight, Ruslan Chagaev vs Rob Calloway plus prospects Egon Roth, Denis Boystov and Dimitri Sartisan. I always see these guys on the Eurosport shows a few weeks later but am I right in thinking that, in the UK, you can pick up a fairly cheap satellite system and pick up channels like 2DF for free (or by paying a one off fee for a viewing card) ? I am not thinking of replacing my Sky system, I am wondering if I can run the other satellite system on another TV in the same house.

Any info/advice would be much appreciated !

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 30 Dec 2005, 17:37

you need an old analogue satellite system mate, a couple of 'f' connectors and an old analogue satellite dish and a reasonable length of old coax cable. you dont even need to fix it on the wall if its just a temporary thing you want, if you point it at the right angle and in the right direction at the old astra satellite then you can pick up a whole host of free channels including all of the german ones (plus some dutch frankie vaughn too !!). you can even pick up other satellites if you use different angles and direction etc (turkish stuffetc). even propped up on bricks in the garden these dishes can work although the pic can be a bit speckly but certainly watchable. look on ebay for the old systems, amstrad amongst others used to make them.

regards,

rhino

Hardhitters11 · Post by **Hardhitters11** » 31 Dec 2005, 05:18

Goz or Mighty Warrior has one...The latter I think he can tell you the best set up mate.

HH

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 31 Dec 2005, 07:36

You can pick em up on Hotbird digital. Your sky digital receiver will do ( or buy a 2nd hand one off ebay ) just put a dual connecter in the back, with the two cables running into it - a swtich can send you between both satellites.
A 60 cm dish pointing at hotbird will give you all the channels free - ARD and ZDF being the best for boxing. Hotbird is right alongside Sky Astra, and easy to locate.

Or a local satellite guy ( not a Sky engineer )will sort you out of you give him above details

JimJim · Post by **JimJim** » 01 Jan 2006, 10:35

Thanks for the advice lads, that's more than enough info to point me in the right direction, I'll print it off and go quiz my local TV/video/satellite repair and service chap

My T Sharp · Post by **My T Sharp** » 01 Jan 2006, 16:12

I was looking around the time of the Ruiz vs Valuev match. Maplin have one for £80 plus fittings http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Mod ... =1&doy=1m1 probably cost around half an hours labour to find someone to put it up

Loynesy · Post by **Loynesy** » 02 Jan 2006, 04:09

I know this isn't a techie forum but there appears to be a few experts here.

Do you know if it is easy to pick up the Thor satalitte - my wife is Danish (and I believe that is where they are located), I have told her the main reason for getting the kit, apart from the German boxing, is so she can watch the news from home...

Freiheit · Post by **Freiheit** » 02 Jan 2006, 05:00

Loynesy wrote:I know this isn't a techie forum but there appears to be a few experts here.

Do you know if it is easy to pick up the Thor satalitte - my wife is Danish (and I believe that is where they are located), I have told her the main reason for getting the kit, apart from the German boxing, is so she can watch the news from home...

You need a big dish and then a receiver from 1 of the two providers, Viasat or Canal Digital. Then you need someone in Denmark to subscripe for you.
Viasat has a bit of HBO boxing and a channel that shows alot of old cards while the Team Palle boxing is on 4Sport which is on the Canal Digital version.
Both have DR1, DR2 which are public service channel, Viasat has alot of their own channels that shows mainly football and american TV series. Canal Digital have some decent extra channels. If I lived in a foreign country I would choose Canal Digital (its also cheaper). The problem is though that you get most of the danish channels for "free" with the local package on Canal Digital and the channel that shows danish boxing isnt a part of that. To get that channel you have to pay around £18 a month (or £27 for the big package)
Viasat channels
Canal Digital

Loynesy · Post by **Loynesy** » 03 Jan 2006, 05:12

Freiheit wrote:
Loynesy wrote:I know this isn't a techie forum but there appears to be a few experts here.

Do you know if it is easy to pick up the Thor satalitte - my wife is Danish (and I believe that is where they are located), I have told her the main reason for getting the kit, apart from the German boxing, is so she can watch the news from home...
You need a big dish and then a receiver from 1 of the two providers, Viasat or Canal Digital. Then you need someone in Denmark to subscripe for you.
Viasat has a bit of HBO boxing and a channel that shows alot of old cards while the Team Palle boxing is on 4Sport which is on the Canal Digital version.
Both have DR1, DR2 which are public service channel, Viasat has alot of their own channels that shows mainly football and american TV series. Canal Digital have some decent extra channels. If I lived in a foreign country I would choose Canal Digital (its also cheaper). The problem is though that you get most of the danish channels for "free" with the local package on Canal Digital and the channel that shows danish boxing isnt a part of that. To get that channel you have to pay around £18 a month (or £27 for the big package)
Viasat channels
Canal Digital

Freiheit - this is really useful, thanks.

Next time I am in Copenhagan, I'll shout you a beer.

Loynesy