Lidl offer next week Satellite TV receiver etc
- Thread starter VicS
- Start date
Talbot
Well-Known Member
3 year warranty
very tempting, I could drive that through my usb TV, and its cheaper than a top of range omnidirectional aerial which probably wont work anyway
very tempting, I could drive that through my usb TV, and its cheaper than a top of range omnidirectional aerial which probably wont work anyway
tugboat
Well-Known Member
You seem to understand this stuff whereas I don't! If I purchased one of these, do I then have to subscribe to anything/anyone or can I start receiving straight away via my analogue telly? Also are there any specialist skills needed in positioning and aligning the dish or do I just point it in the same direction as my neighbour's dish? Thanks.
[3889]
...
If you want all freeview channels you need a card which costs about £20 for a 1 off payment. You can get BBC 1,2,3,4,news,etc without this but not Ch 4 or 5.
The satellite is at 0.00.00 Lat. 28.2D Long. , put this as a waypoint in a GPS and you pinpoint its direction and just have to scan vertically for elevation. For further info on dish positioning look here. Doing it every couple of days when touring, I average about 1 minute to get the satellite.
The satellite is at 0.00.00 Lat. 28.2D Long. , put this as a waypoint in a GPS and you pinpoint its direction and just have to scan vertically for elevation. For further info on dish positioning look here. Doing it every couple of days when touring, I average about 1 minute to get the satellite.
duncan
Well-Known Member
can't you get any other channels / services on any other sattelite oher than Sky then?
steverow
Well-Known Member
Doesnt look like this unit has a card slot which is pretty vital if you want to watch Astra 28 deg (Sky) even the freeview channels.
Those on the Eurobird co sited at 28.5 deg should be available, but I think your choice will be fairly limited.
May be better off with a terrestial freeview box.
Ideal for Europe though using astra at 19 deg but mostly German stuff on there.
Steve.
Those on the Eurobird co sited at 28.5 deg should be available, but I think your choice will be fairly limited.
May be better off with a terrestial freeview box.
Ideal for Europe though using astra at 19 deg but mostly German stuff on there.
Steve.
VicS
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
May be better off with a terrestial freeview box
[/ QUOTE ] If only, if only.
They can't even tell us when we will get that and we only live just outside the M25 ring. The reason for thinking about satellite TV is to improve reception of the main 4 channels, get Ch5 and the other BBC and ITV ones.
I object to paying for umpteen channels I don't want so am not interested in any Sky packages except the free one. That needs a card and I am suspicious about it and would expect to be constantly under pressure to upgrade.
Maplins do a system but i am not clear what channels that would give me and it seems uncertain what channels this Lidl offer would give.
Bring back the days when we only had BBC 1, and for a limited number of hours per day.
May be better off with a terrestial freeview box
[/ QUOTE ] If only, if only.
They can't even tell us when we will get that and we only live just outside the M25 ring. The reason for thinking about satellite TV is to improve reception of the main 4 channels, get Ch5 and the other BBC and ITV ones.
I object to paying for umpteen channels I don't want so am not interested in any Sky packages except the free one. That needs a card and I am suspicious about it and would expect to be constantly under pressure to upgrade.
Maplins do a system but i am not clear what channels that would give me and it seems uncertain what channels this Lidl offer would give.
Bring back the days when we only had BBC 1, and for a limited number of hours per day.
Blackfeather
Well-Known Member
Will it work with the natural movement of the boat, even when on a pontoon. I understood that the slightest movement will lose the signal. Perhaps you were just looking at it for land based use?
Talbot
Well-Known Member
I am not sure if the feed from the satellite is digital or analogue cause I havent looked at these before, but I would expect it to be digital. Caravan shops have a handy little hand held TV satellite direction finder (I suspect maplin do as well). There are large number of free to view stations so you dont need any special card to receive anything, unless you want to view any of the channels that do charge
chamac
Well-Known Member
Looks OK value for the house with 230 volts. It could be powered with an inverter on the boat. I would wait for the portable caravan one that they do reguarly. I would imagine that the dish would have to be on a marina pontoon or quay wall. They have to be steady to work.
rickp
Well-Known Member
There are quite a few of us using a similar setup and I can assure you that unless you're getting serious amounts of movement when you're alongside - then they work fine. Obviously they don't do the job when you're at anchor but we've only had one or two occasions when its been so windy that the movement on our pontoon meant we lost the signal.
Of course, I can only speak for my direct experience..
Rick
Of course, I can only speak for my direct experience..
Rick
[3889]
...
Dunno, I don't watch that much TV and am happy with UK Sky channels.
chasroberts
Well-Known Member
They had these on sale in Spain a couple of months back. They do come with a very basic sattelite finder but were no good down here for English TV as the dish is way too small. Should work better in the UK but no idea what you might be able to get.
Still at 60 quid - what do you want?
Good luck
Chas
Still at 60 quid - what do you want?
Good luck
Chas
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
On the face of it it looks like a very good offer, but to be my usual misery there are a number of points to consider:-
(1) Lidl offer these type of packages on a regular basis, but this one is from a different manufacturer. That said I had two TVs from the same source, one died after a couple of days, the other still works well and the picture quality is good. So reliability is questionable. Lidl don't repair or replace them. ou gets your money back after a longish wait.
(2) If you want the unit to go on a boat then be aware that a 60cm dish is quite large and the boom for the LNB thingy doesn't fold, so storage is a problem. The advantage of a larger dish is that it should be more tolerant of small changes in horizontal direction. Rolling slightly doesn't affect it.
(3) One area that I have never resolved and needs explanation is firstly some of the "National" channels Channel 4 (and 5?) are still encripted and require a card - £20 valid for at least 3 years so not costly. A card needs a different box which cost more to make and anyway Sky has a de facto monopoly on who makes these. Now my doubt - Sky effectively controls all the usable channels for the UK as they are listed on their EPG (program guide). The EPG is accessible from any Sky type box with or without a card. BUT is the EPG accessible from Free To Air boxes such as Lidl's. I just don't know 'cos I haven't tried it. If you can't "see" the EPG then you have to scan and set up the channels manually, probably a once only task UNLESS the box loses the details when the power is removed, but it's still a pain.
(4). The package is a bit of a bitser as it has a two output LNB, nice but the unit can only handle one. Software downloads are said to be available from 19.2 deg E which you can't access if you're connected to Astra 2D at 28.2 - which is where all the channels are. Unless you like German French or Italian TV as they are spoke then the other satellites or "non Sky" on 2D won't interest you.
(5). Have a look here http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/forumdisplay.php?f=141 for a discussion on kit and channels.
(6). Vic, you said you couldn't get an answer to whether you can get Freeview at home. The standard response is "Not available" if you can't get ALL channels. We're in a similar position, but I get all the standard ones here, and a reasonable signal strength too. Look here http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/coverage.html for a detailed list of channels available for your post code. Even this is a bit conservative. Ask your neighbours if they've got Freeview.
(7). If you don't mind risking £60, then the Lidl offer is very good, but there will be some inconveniences e.g no EPG, and having to manage your own. BUT if you're not prepared to fiddle and want an inbuilt "Radio Times" with programmes and channel names then get Sky type equipment. You can buy new boxes off the web www.simplydigital.co.uk or the bits s/h from eBay. I've done both and even a damaged box thrown in for free works perfectly. Your only "contract" with Sky is for the £20 card, and you don't get hassled at all. If you buy a box get ONLY the Pace DS430 as they are more reliable than the rest and only take a small amount of power.
(8) Bother - I see that SimplyDigital have stopped doing the Pace box and are offering a Thomson instead. I don't know enough about it's quality to make a comment. Folks on DigitalSpy seem to think well of them FWIW
Enough!
(1) Lidl offer these type of packages on a regular basis, but this one is from a different manufacturer. That said I had two TVs from the same source, one died after a couple of days, the other still works well and the picture quality is good. So reliability is questionable. Lidl don't repair or replace them. ou gets your money back after a longish wait.
(2) If you want the unit to go on a boat then be aware that a 60cm dish is quite large and the boom for the LNB thingy doesn't fold, so storage is a problem. The advantage of a larger dish is that it should be more tolerant of small changes in horizontal direction. Rolling slightly doesn't affect it.
(3) One area that I have never resolved and needs explanation is firstly some of the "National" channels Channel 4 (and 5?) are still encripted and require a card - £20 valid for at least 3 years so not costly. A card needs a different box which cost more to make and anyway Sky has a de facto monopoly on who makes these. Now my doubt - Sky effectively controls all the usable channels for the UK as they are listed on their EPG (program guide). The EPG is accessible from any Sky type box with or without a card. BUT is the EPG accessible from Free To Air boxes such as Lidl's. I just don't know 'cos I haven't tried it. If you can't "see" the EPG then you have to scan and set up the channels manually, probably a once only task UNLESS the box loses the details when the power is removed, but it's still a pain.
(4). The package is a bit of a bitser as it has a two output LNB, nice but the unit can only handle one. Software downloads are said to be available from 19.2 deg E which you can't access if you're connected to Astra 2D at 28.2 - which is where all the channels are. Unless you like German French or Italian TV as they are spoke then the other satellites or "non Sky" on 2D won't interest you.
(5). Have a look here http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/forumdisplay.php?f=141 for a discussion on kit and channels.
(6). Vic, you said you couldn't get an answer to whether you can get Freeview at home. The standard response is "Not available" if you can't get ALL channels. We're in a similar position, but I get all the standard ones here, and a reasonable signal strength too. Look here http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/coverage.html for a detailed list of channels available for your post code. Even this is a bit conservative. Ask your neighbours if they've got Freeview.
(7). If you don't mind risking £60, then the Lidl offer is very good, but there will be some inconveniences e.g no EPG, and having to manage your own. BUT if you're not prepared to fiddle and want an inbuilt "Radio Times" with programmes and channel names then get Sky type equipment. You can buy new boxes off the web www.simplydigital.co.uk or the bits s/h from eBay. I've done both and even a damaged box thrown in for free works perfectly. Your only "contract" with Sky is for the £20 card, and you don't get hassled at all. If you buy a box get ONLY the Pace DS430 as they are more reliable than the rest and only take a small amount of power.
(8) Bother - I see that SimplyDigital have stopped doing the Pace box and are offering a Thomson instead. I don't know enough about it's quality to make a comment. Folks on DigitalSpy seem to think well of them FWIW
Enough!
st599
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
May be better off with a terrestial freeview box
[/ QUOTE ] If only, if only.
They can't even tell us when we will get that and we only live just outside the M25 ring. The reason for thinking about satellite TV is to improve reception of the main 4 channels, get Ch5 and the other BBC and ITV ones.
[/ QUOTE ]
The dates for switchover have been published for the entire UK.
The Lidl satellite system is a DVB-S system, look at http://lyngsat.com/europe.html when you click on a satellite name, the channels you receive are the beige coloured ones.
The larger a dish, the higher the signal capture, but the greater the pointing accuracy. 60cm isn't hard to point with practice and should deal with an amount of rolling.
Pointing at Astra2 you'll definitely get all the BBC and ITV channels, Sky News, FilmFour etc. and there'll be loads more on the other satellites (need to re-position dish to change satellite).
[ QUOTE ]
May be better off with a terrestial freeview box
[/ QUOTE ] If only, if only.
They can't even tell us when we will get that and we only live just outside the M25 ring. The reason for thinking about satellite TV is to improve reception of the main 4 channels, get Ch5 and the other BBC and ITV ones.
[/ QUOTE ]
The dates for switchover have been published for the entire UK.
The Lidl satellite system is a DVB-S system, look at http://lyngsat.com/europe.html when you click on a satellite name, the channels you receive are the beige coloured ones.
The larger a dish, the higher the signal capture, but the greater the pointing accuracy. 60cm isn't hard to point with practice and should deal with an amount of rolling.
Pointing at Astra2 you'll definitely get all the BBC and ITV channels, Sky News, FilmFour etc. and there'll be loads more on the other satellites (need to re-position dish to change satellite).
VicS
Well-Known Member
Sorry I should have made it clear that it is for home use.
The package includes a satellite finder.
Should I asume that it will receive all the channels listed as free to air that one would get from a terestrial Freeview box plus a few more exclusive from the satellite.
The Free Sky system needs a card, which is free but with some conditions, because it uses the standard Sky box. That makes it upgradeable and is the reason I suspect one would be constantly under pressure to do.
The package includes a satellite finder.
Should I asume that it will receive all the channels listed as free to air that one would get from a terestrial Freeview box plus a few more exclusive from the satellite.
The Free Sky system needs a card, which is free but with some conditions, because it uses the standard Sky box. That makes it upgradeable and is the reason I suspect one would be constantly under pressure to do.
st599
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
(2) If you want the unit to go on a boat then be aware that a 60cm dish is quite large and the boom for the LNB thingy doesn't fold, so storage is a problem. The advantage of a larger dish is that it should be more tolerant of small changes in horizontal direction. Rolling slightly doesn't affect it.
(3) One area that I have never resolved and needs explanation is firstly some of the "National" channels Channel 4 (and 5?) are still encripted and require a card - £20 valid for at least 3 years so not costly. A card needs a different box which cost more to make and anyway Sky has a de facto monopoly on who makes these. Now my doubt - Sky effectively controls all the usable channels for the UK as they are listed on their EPG (program guide). The EPG is accessible from any Sky type box with or without a card. BUT is the EPG accessible from Free To Air boxes such as Lidl's. I just don't know 'cos I haven't tried it. If you can't "see" the EPG then you have to scan and set up the channels manually, probably a once only task UNLESS the box loses the details when the power is removed, but it's still a pain.
[/ QUOTE ]
(2) No, a larger dish has a narrower beam angle and is less tolerant to movement, it does however have a higher antenna gain.
(3) Sky uses a proprietary system called OpenTV to do it's EPGs and interactive content. EPGs can still be provided over DVB-S in the same way as they are for DVB-T (aka Freeview), depends on whether the broadcaster is transmitting it though.
(2) If you want the unit to go on a boat then be aware that a 60cm dish is quite large and the boom for the LNB thingy doesn't fold, so storage is a problem. The advantage of a larger dish is that it should be more tolerant of small changes in horizontal direction. Rolling slightly doesn't affect it.
(3) One area that I have never resolved and needs explanation is firstly some of the "National" channels Channel 4 (and 5?) are still encripted and require a card - £20 valid for at least 3 years so not costly. A card needs a different box which cost more to make and anyway Sky has a de facto monopoly on who makes these. Now my doubt - Sky effectively controls all the usable channels for the UK as they are listed on their EPG (program guide). The EPG is accessible from any Sky type box with or without a card. BUT is the EPG accessible from Free To Air boxes such as Lidl's. I just don't know 'cos I haven't tried it. If you can't "see" the EPG then you have to scan and set up the channels manually, probably a once only task UNLESS the box loses the details when the power is removed, but it's still a pain.
[/ QUOTE ]
(2) No, a larger dish has a narrower beam angle and is less tolerant to movement, it does however have a higher antenna gain.
(3) Sky uses a proprietary system called OpenTV to do it's EPGs and interactive content. EPGs can still be provided over DVB-S in the same way as they are for DVB-T (aka Freeview), depends on whether the broadcaster is transmitting it though.
Talbot
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Should I asume that it will receive all the channels listed as free to air that one would get from a terestrial Freeview box plus a few more exclusive from the satellite.
[/ QUOTE ]
"plus a few more exclusive from the satellite. " I dont think so!
Should I asume that it will receive all the channels listed as free to air that one would get from a terestrial Freeview box plus a few more exclusive from the satellite.
[/ QUOTE ]
"plus a few more exclusive from the satellite. " I dont think so!
cookjwm
Well-Known Member
I live outside the reception area for freeview -it works perfectly! So does my Mums on an old communal aerial. But they are a bunch of buffoons for not showing when coverage will be achieved.
Suggest you borrow one and try it -winters coming!
Suggest you borrow one and try it -winters coming!
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
I really must get out more....
I just can't let things rest, so I did a bit more research (it's an intellectual challenge).
If you go here - http://www.mysilvercrest.de/en/artikel.php?a=52 you'll get a fuller description and if you click on the service button you can download a manual in English (or others...). All you need to know and how to set the unit up also and it looks well written too.
Magic
As to channels - There are some on Freeview which are charged for on Sky (Sky1, History), but which YOU may not be able to get anyway 'cos you're probably in a Freeview fringe area. (PM me with your Postcode and I'll look it up for you - but you can really do that for yourself with the DTG link in my last post)
FTA channels here - http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=445547&highlight=fta+CHANNELS Lots of choice but not Ch4 or Five, and lots of rubbish but you can filter those.
If you have a clear view to 28.2 deg East of South (v.approx SSE ?) at an elevation of 26deg - not trees, houses etc then you're in with a chance. Download the manual for instructions.
Do give "us" some feedback on what you've done as this topic is a regular and after all those who have spent time collecting and collating data never know what was useful and what's not.
If the kit works and is reliable then you've got a good deal. But get there early as supplies to each store are small and there will be a queue...
I just can't let things rest, so I did a bit more research (it's an intellectual challenge).
If you go here - http://www.mysilvercrest.de/en/artikel.php?a=52 you'll get a fuller description and if you click on the service button you can download a manual in English (or others...). All you need to know and how to set the unit up also and it looks well written too.
Magic
As to channels - There are some on Freeview which are charged for on Sky (Sky1, History), but which YOU may not be able to get anyway 'cos you're probably in a Freeview fringe area. (PM me with your Postcode and I'll look it up for you - but you can really do that for yourself with the DTG link in my last post)
FTA channels here - http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=445547&highlight=fta+CHANNELS Lots of choice but not Ch4 or Five, and lots of rubbish but you can filter those.
If you have a clear view to 28.2 deg East of South (v.approx SSE ?) at an elevation of 26deg - not trees, houses etc then you're in with a chance. Download the manual for instructions.
Do give "us" some feedback on what you've done as this topic is a regular and after all those who have spent time collecting and collating data never know what was useful and what's not.
If the kit works and is reliable then you've got a good deal. But get there early as supplies to each store are small and there will be a queue...
