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If you find this information useful and want to thank me, why not buy one of my low-cost "eBooks" that you can download direct to your computer? My books can be read on-screen or printed out on paper. They are full of colour photos and illustrations. http://www.The-Cool-Book-Shop.co.uk
Lots of excitement here at "SatCure Towers"! Firstly, my wife sold her Honda Jazz (thank you for your assistance) to a very nice man from London who, we think, will look after it. Unfortunately, nobody won the £100, as the buyer contacted us via an advert that my son placed. Secondly, we are now on our final packing run to get everything ready for our move to a Greek island! I've been to the dentist several times to get my teeth sorted out before we leave. I also had a health scare which forced me to visit the doctor (first time in two years). I was having hot flushes, tingling in the extremities, shortness of breath, loss of appetite. At the very least I was about to have a heart attack and diabetes. But it turned out to be stress-related. And the coccydynia, which has been a pain in the bum for three years, has suddenly disappeared! (Anyway, I'm trying hard to relax so please don't give me hassle.) There will be a very (hopefully) short period when I have no Internet access around mid September but, as the new house has broadband already installed, I should be back in touch within a day or two. It will be business as usual, although I hope to take more time off to "chill out" at the local taverna! I'm sure you all want to wish my wife and me "kalo taxithi" but please don't bother emailing. I'm trying to relax! She has retired but I haven't! If you want to comment, please use the forum:- http://notonyourtelly.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9892 Thirdly, my friend Mike Hancox (whom some of you will know from Satalogue.com and Tradesat.tv) has unfortunately had a TIA (transient ischaemic attack) but was saved from almost certain death by his daughter who happened to be visiting. Mike is now recovering at home and has a very clever pacemaker fitted, which should keep him ticking for many years to come. If you have dealt with Mike and want to wish him well, click here. (Like me, he's trying to relax, so any messages of support will be gratefully received but don't expect a reply.) I believe that Mike's Tradesat.tv site has closed and his Satalogue.com is now being run by Alan. Please give Alan your support. He sells many items that we (SatCure) don't stock and the recession is biting hard. Sale of Goods Act BBC "The One Show" has provided two proforma letters which you can download in Word (.doc) format to use if you have a problem with goods: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theoneshow/consumer/2009/07/03/sale_of_goods_act_letter_downl.html Download them and store them somewhere for future use (hopefully not with SatCure!) Apple iPhone assist installation The next generation satellite finder: Point your iPhone anywhere towards the sky and all the satellite will appear on the live video screen - very surreal and freaky. Now you know which trees will block which satellite. Uses the accelerometer and the compass of the new iPhone 3GS. The compass has a bit of a lag, so when wheeling the phone right/left the satellite belt is shifted with a slight delay but up and down works in real time. To be released soon... FreesatFromSky card replacement A message allegedly from BskyB on the Digitalspy forums states: "You are eligible for a free card if: * you bought a Sky box and viewing card with Freesat from Sky after 1 May 2004 OR * you bought a viewing card only after 1 May 2006 If not, you can buy a replacement card for a small fee." If you email us PLEASE include a WORKING email address! I keep repeating this but I still spend hours on replies each week, only to have them bounce back because the address is incorrect. We also get people placing orders and using an email address which is false or requires human intervention. Typically our shopping cart will get a bounce asking it to "click here". Well it CAN'T. It's a dumb piece of software! I just received an email, supposedly from Goncalo at SES-Astra asking me to add some links to our web site. When I replied to that email address, my message bounced back. Goncalo, if you are legitimate, please let me have a WORKING email address! (OK, he contacted me. Thanks!) Do you buy off eBay? I buy a lot of things via eBay and I do so with open eyes. Most of the time I receive the goods quickly and they are fine. Occasionally bad things happen. I have bought many computers but one Apple iBook laptop that I bought turned out to have an intermittent video chip fault. It didn't show up until more than a month had passed but I'm fairly certain that the seller knew about the fault. Last month I bought a CD/DVD optical drive for one of my Mac Minis. It's only a 2 minute job to swap so I wasn't too annoyed when the drive failed to work. The Mac Mini simply couldn't "see" it and nor could some special software that I downloaded. I contacted the seller. He promised to post another and, sure enough, it arrived today. I fitted it and it didn't work. This was really no surprise and, since I'm trying to get this Mac put together in time for our big move, I had already ordered one from America. This one worked fine. I sent another message to the eBay seller and received a reply. They want me to return the drives to Hong Kong and have promised to refund every penny. That's nice of them and I'm inclined to believe it but time will tell! (From a buyer's point of view, Paypal is pretty good. I've requested a few refunds without problems. From a seller's point of view, it's a nightmare. Your buyer can request, and get, a refund up to 3 months after purchase. However, we are taking Paypal payments and, so far, it has been fairly trouble-free. We are working on integrating Paypal into our shopping cart.) Anyway, if you buy via eBay, be careful what you buy. Both eBay and Paypal have increased their charges so it's difficult to get a bargain. If the price of an item appears to be a bargain, it's probably second-hand, "refurbished" or stolen. Nothing printable! I decided we needed a satellite system after our old TV expired and our Freeview option (starting November) is to be the restricted type from a relay transmitter. I also wanted this to be a chimney mounting on an existing pole, with the cabling fed through the roof flags, through the loft, down some ducting, and through a thick stone wall, and also required the repair and recabling of an existing VHF radio aerial. It sounded expensive to get someone in to do all of this (and would they damage the roof flags?), so I got myself up to speed using the extensive information on the SatCure website (I didn't know an LNB from a f plug previously), and after a few email questions answered by Martin, I ordered the Zone 2 minidish, quad LNB, WF100 cable, Satfinder meter etc., in order to receive Freesat (not from Sky) on the new TV. Photo 1 shows the previous set up on the chimney. All the existing cables were worn through and letting in water (luckily never reached the receivers, but did make the occasional small puddle in the lounge). The VHF radio aerial has its reflector missing, due to corrosion of the fixing bolt (the end cap had come off the upper end of the hollow element, and must have been filled with water for some time). This aerial was repaired by sealing the end of the element, and was recabled with WF100, using plenty of silicone grease on the connections. It was also tilted back to the horizontal; the original 45 degree mounting gave an amount of multipath distortion (sibilance etc) which was solved by using horizontal mounting and the new WF100 cable resulted in a higher signal strength which certainly helped also. Photo 2 shows the mounting of the dish on the 2 inch vertical pole, using a Shelley clamp to mount the two poles at right angles to each other. The cables are fed under a convenient stone roof flag into the loft, and are protected from wind-induced abrasion by wrapping the cables in an abrasion resistant sheet (actually plastic damp-proofing membrane) secured with cable ties, and then by using mastic-backed tape to stick this down to the roof flags. The dish was aligned using a satellite alignment map from the web (for approximate azimuth - a building on the opposite side of the valley was a good sighter), combined with the the satellite finder meter for pinpoint accuracy of azimuth and elevation. The meter is a very useful tool (I particularly liked the rising tone given out indicating increasing signal strength - it's easier using this than trying to peer at the meter needle whilst adjusting the dish position). Photo 3 shows the cables in the loft (some extra cabling was run into the ducting for future use). Photo 4 shows the cables in the ducting. Photo 5 ^ shows the WF 100 cables exiting the ducting and 'F' plug barrel connectors being used to connect to WF 65 twin shotgun cable to get the cables through the existing 8mm hole in the wall to the lounge (2 leads being used to the Humax Foxsat HDR to enable full functionality of the box) Other cables in the photo are loudspeaker leads and the recabled VHF aerial. The red tape on the cables is there for identification only. (Here's an ideal use for coloured WF100.) Photo 6 - ---> BBC HD on the new Sony TV - fantastic! The 100% signal strength and 100% signal quality obtained with the Zone2 minidish will hopefully keep it that way (there's no evidence of overloading the digibox inputs). Photo 7 - from the lane, the dish is almost hidden from view on the roof (unlike the VHF aerial on top of the pole!). Some points I noted which might be useful:- Using a dishpointer map (from the web) to get the approximate azimuth, then using the Satfinder meter to fine tune azimuth and elevation is a good way of getting the right satellite, but a really good way to ensure you've found the correct satellite is have someone watch the signal strength and quality bars on the display from the digibox - the quality bar seems to indicate the correct satellite (e.g. zero quality with high signal strength indicates you've accurately found the wrong satellite). The elevation marks on the dish mounting are pretty useless. The Satfinder meter is essential for getting this right. The bolts which allow the elevation adjustment on the dish are plain round headed bolts, which allow the bolt to spin round when tightening the nut. Some flats on the bolt head would be useful - the only way I found of tightening them up properly was to use pliers to grab the threaded end of the bolt to stop it rotating (awkward, especially when you're trying not to disturb the elevation setting). If you set up the Humax Foxsat HDR unit using only one LNB input, then connect up the second feed afterwards, you need to do a factory re-set for the second feed to be recognised (you don't find out until you try to record one channel whilst watching another and the box tells you it that there is a conflict!). The only down side of digital I can see is the text service - much inferior to the analogue version. John Hargreaves If you have anything of interest to contribute, please contact me with details. What have you installed? What problems have you had? Have you been ripped off? Tell us all about it. I'll be your "agony aunt!" Nothing. I've been too busy. I had cover with Satcover for my satellite equipment. I cancelled the DD earlier this year however they presented a new DD under the name of Play and took £72. Fortunately I noticed it the day it was taken and the bank recalled the payment. I instructed my bank, First Direct, to notify me if any further DD's were set up on my bank account. They have just informed me that a company called DOCUMETRIC - SOMETHING CORP have tried to set up a DD on my account. The company DOCUMETRIC are based in Rotherham and set up DD's for companies and had set this up for SOMETHING CORP which have the same phone number as Satcover. Several attempts to get through to Satcover but only been able to get to listen to music. Alan B. Not quite a scam but questionable use of data collected. We received the following unsolicited email: From Kelly Tudor at IP address 86.132.134.145 Dear Sir/Madam, We have Sky Warranty Data. Sponsorship Question: Do you receive Sky through a Dish or Cable? We take all positive responders who have Sky through a Dish. Lists: £180 + Vat per 1,000 records Leads - Delivered daily collected in the last 24 hours: 50p per lead + Vat Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can assist you further. Best Regards, Kelly Tudor 0844 884 5353 As per our web site statement, we reserve the right to publish any information sent to us and we are doing so with this. For all those people who moan "Sky are giving away my details to other companies" I would say that's not true. Someone in your household has filled in a survey and admitted that you receive Sky. Note: SatCure does not use such lists. We email customers ONLY about specific orders they have placed, reply to specific enquiries, and send email notifications about this newsletter to those who have requested that we do so. - a selection from this month's emails (If you are a new subscriber I'm afraid that you might find some of my replies a little blunt to the point of being rude. That's just the way I am after answering customers' questions for the last fourteen years. Please don't take offence. Sometimes I'm a little tired, ratty or impatient and it shows! Generally, if you ask for a free reply, you'll get what you pay for.) Had major problems with my thomson box recently. For the past few weeks I have come home now and again to face a blue screen but the past few days the box wont come out of standby until I pull the plug. Last night the box froze while I was in the planner. The mini TV still played fine but the remote would not do anything. I had my capacitors changed about 6 months ago so I doubt its that. We are seeing a lot of enquiries such as this. It appears to be related to the new EPG but not all Thomson models are affected. So I urge anyone with a similar problem to post their symptoms and the Version Number on our forum, here: http://notonyourtelly.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9885# Also mention any modifications you've made (such as the HDD) and the fault history. We can then see whether there's any correlation. Sorry but this sentence makes no sense. If you want to ask me a question, please have the courtesy to type in meaningful English. If that's not possible, please dictate it to somebody who can. Many thanks Embalming? I think your spell checker is too keen! ;-) There's no simple answer so I'll direct you to the relevant pages: http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/quad_sky_lnb.htm http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/LNBpics.htm http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/lnb.htm#oval http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/quad_sky_lnb.htm reason I ask some forums are saying you must use an LNB with at lease .2db for HD how true this is I don't know. Impossible to say. The manufacturers don't supply us with any meaningful data and what they print on the label is a "typical" value taken at a spot frequency "somewhere" in the range. In any case, the size of dish is FAR more important. See http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page2.htm#zone2 Thanks for your time. Unfortunately Freeview is a terrestrial service that is only receivable within the UK with an aerial, not a dish. There's no such thing as a "Freeview card". It's a free service. You can, however, receive Free To Air satellite transmissions from the UK with a suitable dish and receiver. See http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/freeview.htm Probably the simplest/cheapest solution for you is to buy a used Sky Digibox via eBay. I just need to clear a few things up. Does Free to Air transmissions include all the terrestial channels, that is BBC 1 and 2, ITV and Channel 4. My parents live here too and they have a digi box and card which they got some time ago through my grandparents address who still live in the UK, (when you needed the box for extra channels). I ask this because obviously we are no longer paying license fees and am a little confused about which channels are available to us through Free to Air transmissions. Sam's page might help: http://sam-radford.me.uk/ftv.htm Sometimes apparently "simple" questions have complex answers! I want to move my virgin broadband and tv cable that is external. The internal cable looks slightly slimmer than the internal cable I used but both seem to use c100 or c125 F plugs. Which are very very different from each other. See http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page7.htm#fconn I need to remove /cut the external cable to move its entry point into my house. But I cant (sic) find what size F Plug/cable it uses and I am too scared to move it without having all the gear. Can you advise on the size and apprpriate plugs? We stock plugs to fit our own cable types. I don't know much about cable TV (there's none where I live) but I believe that you are not permitted to touch the cable since it is the property of the cable company. Cable has an attenuation factor and there's usually a balancing adjuster in the house which has to be set to give a specific reading, using a meter, otherwise it can affect your signal and possibly that of other users. The cable company will send an installer with the necessary equipment and knowledge to do whatever you want. Much as I hate to lose the sale of a 20p plug, maybe you should consult the cable TV company. I think that's the simple answer. I'm going to get Sky+HD box and a new HD TV (the model includes an internal FreeSAT decoder). 1. I realise the Sky+ box will be served by the 304115 wallplate. 2. Also, I think I need to take the Sat3 feed down to the TV, to service the FreeSat. My question is .. can I get a module for the 304115 wallplate for the 3rd Sat feed .. or should I get a PSW132 wallplate? Thank you very much. Helen. For the additional connection, unfortunately, you will need an additional cable carrying the LNB signal. You could take this direct from the LNB to an 'F' connector wall plate or use a "bedroom" feed from the Loft Box. Problem is 2nd tuner keeps failing.I remove/reinsert mains lead & its ok for a few days. I note your comments Thompson PSU are not reliable but would this cause my problem? Wouldnt the box die altogether? It's about 3 years old by the way.Sometimes cannot switch on box from standby but this doesnt happen often Bob See http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/thom_psu.htm Microelectronics Technology Inc AF8-T2 10.7 - 12.75 GHz Universal Golden single 40mm 0.6dB So I would like to order one from you which is a near replacement. The performance of this one was such that I had six bars for the signal strength, and seven (!) for the quality. The diameter of the dish is 60cm. The only improvement I should like is a LNB which is robust enough to withstand the strong sun and the wet. It looks as if you want a single-output "universal" LNB with 40mm neck, in which case our FSKU-V will be fine. Modern LNBs are "built to a price" so don't expect brilliant reliability. Paint your dish battleship grey (matt) to minimise sun reflection and inspect the LNB regularly, twice a year. Be prepared to replace it every 3 to 5 years. - Are the modular wall plate F connectors (e.g. C13846) simply female-to-female through connectors (such as I might construct with a blank and some threaded F barrels as you suggest elsewhere), or are they fully shielded units as shown in the "typical" picture at the top of the page? We do not sell any unshielded coaxial sockets. http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page15b.htm - I've read your article on decombiner plates, and wonder whether they have any significance for me: I'm in a thick-walled flat in a valley, and have no control over the building's aerial system. My primary interest in wiring these extensions is to (mis)use the TV aerial as a radio aerial, which does work to substantially improve radio reception. Will I gain anything in using a TV/radio decombiner, given that I'm pretty sure that all the building has on the roof is a typical TV aerial with a 75 ohm feed dropping down through each flat? My gut instinct says no, but I'll defer to expert judgement... A TV/radio decombiner separates VHF and UHF signals. It's just a diplexer. If the UHF TV signals are strong and UHF signals are weak, then your radio tuner might appreciate your chopping out the UHF signals. If your radio reception is fine then everything must be OK. I am writing with regard to an issue we are having with a cctv job. We are wishing to incorporate the cctv image from a dvr through all TVs in house via connecting both digital aerial signal and cctv/video modulated signal into the uhf in of the distribution amp. But when they are combined the client loses digital channels. Can you perhaps advise on a possible solution? Many Thanks Darryl Your information is too vague to allow a comprehensive reply but it sounds as if a Loft Box might provide the solution. http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/lofthelp.htm or a multiswitch. Model number on label or rear panel: DHD4000 Hi re my thomson dhd 4000 hd box with standby fauly I am told that the relkit 33e is suitable for this model Could you confirm this is so or do I need to check visually. Thanks brian RELKIT33e is listed here: http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page12.htm#thomson Joseph K. It's a personal choice. See http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/cable.htm BTW I recommend that you throw away the 1 metre lengths and connect new cables direct to the LNB. It's not a good idea to have unnecessary joints. See http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/fconn.htm I cannot see how to do this. Hi, John. See http://www.satcure.net/mailshot.htm and http://www.your-book.co.uk/spam.htm None at all this month. We must have upset a lot of people! That's it for another month, folks! Latest SatCure eBook updates None this month. I'm just lazy I guess. Meet other Satellite TV enthusiasts and put your questions or points of view here Need to buy wholesale stock to sell on eBay or on your web site? Thinking of starting your own business? Click on banner above. All kinds of video tapes transferred to DVD, UK's lowest prices and top quality. Experienced engineer and a personal service. Most tapes just £10 for 2:30 hours or less in quantity. I can't recommend this forum for Expats too highly. It's run and moderated by Kay who puts in a lot of hours to make sure everything runs smoothly. If you are outside the UK or thinking of emigrating then you need to look in here! Looking for a TV or VCR remote control? Look no further. only £18.80 inclusive from SatCure! Your advert could be here! Contact us for details. Electronic kits and gadgets. Start a new hobby! Ideal Presents. News
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(Location of this IP address: Porth in Rhondda Cynon Taff)Questions
Thomson Sky-HD DSI8215
Going to purchase a Panasonic G10 TV to replace my old TV which as been around for a long time still Working OK,The new TV as FreeSat and I also have Sky Just a normal setup it as a panasonic D/box and and LNB as Grundic it on the side of the device with one output,(as been install well over 7 years)
Do you sell an adapter which will fit the new sky dishes (with the spirit level on it)Embalming older LNBs to fit, or do you sell new quad LNBs suitable for the new Sky Dishes.
What is the noise figure on the Quad-output universal Sky LNB (top picture)?
I live in the Netherlands and we wish to recieve (sic) Freeview through satellite. However I want to know what equipment we will need and what can be sourced here and what, if any needs to be sourced in the UK (for example the Freeview card and Freeview box).
Sorry if this is not 100% approprate but finding the answer to a simple question quite hard.
I intend to buy one of your loft boxes (Triax 333112) and wall plates.
Model number on label or rear panel: Thompson DSI8215
I have now arrived [at my holiday home] to discover that the front protection disc had come off the LNB (leaving the O-ring) and the hollow was open to the rain and pollen. The threads of the fixed body had disintegrated under the sun and rain. The wording on the LNB....
I'm wiring up some extensions in my flat (thanks for a very informative little "How To Add TV Points" e-book!), and was very excited to see you stocking modular plates, since I'm already putting some (shielded) network cabling in using 50x25 plates which I hope may be compatible. I have been intending to use F connectors at the wall, since I understand that F connectors are preferable to Belling-Lee. I've two questions:
Dear Sir/Madam
Equipment made by: Thomson
I have a Sky dish installed but the 2 cables that are coming out of the dish are being cut off at one meter length. So I need to buy all the cables and connectors that I need to be able to fit them myself without having to call a Sky engineer. Can you help with what cables or connectors I need to buy?
My hotmail address book has been accessed and e mails sent out in my name. Therefore I am closing my hotmail account and would like to resubscribe to your excellent newsletter on my john@xxxxxxx address.
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