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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
A very short one this month because I've been really busy sorting out water leaks, looking at insurance, and getting a heating system installed in our little island house. Keep me Paypal payments are a pain for both you, the customer, and for us. At present we have a temporary system which requires the customer to follow instructions in the "Keep-me" order receipt email. Most people don't bother to read it so we get lots of "why haven't you sent my order?" enquiries (because you haven't paid). We also get lots of "where are my insructions" enquiries (the links are in your "Keep-me" email). The clue is in the top line of the email, which currently says:- THIS MESSAGE MAY CONTAIN WEB PAGE LINKS TO IMPORTANT PRODUCT INSTRUCTION PAGES WHICH MUST BE READ IMMEDIATELY! PLEASE LOOK BELOW! I don't know what else to write. Is it in some way ambiguous or invisible? It's officially winter, although most days on our Greek island are like a hot summer in England. However, the house we bought was originally built as a "holiday home", which means that there was little thought about what happens when the Autumn storms arrive. We had a thunderstorm that circled overhead for 36 hours. The first sign of a problem was a sizzling noise from the RCB "fuse box" in the kitchen. I opened it and water dripped out. The problem was later traced to the air-conditioning pipes on the roof. The PVC tape had flaked away so rain had soaked into the foam insulation and entered the wall alongside the electricity cables. This is why I advise against using PVC tape outdoors. I bound the entire length of pipe with self-amalgamating tape, sealed the conduit with silicone rubber, and the problem seems to be fixed - for now. During the stormy week, the power went off frequently. In fact, for two days it was down to 100 volts, which my computers would run off but the UPS wouldn't! I could only shave by plugging my shaver into a 230 volt inverter connected to a battery. After the storms, I discovered lots of leaks, including the shed roof. Inside the shed, the MDF shelves were sagging and, just to add to the problems, the ball cock valve in the water tank had failed so it was flooding the floor! In the latest SatCure Review there is a short piece entitled 'Beware of DECT phones' - this has not only totally solved the reception problems I have been having with SKY, but I have passed it on to 3 others who were having similar problems and hey presto, all interference has been solved in a flash!! I have already had two different satellite installers out to check my set-up and neither could cure the interference - despite I might add charging me a hefty call-out charge! This piece of info regarding DECT phones deserves to have the widest possible audience and the cumulative financial saving to SKY and other satellite customers will be immense. Many many thanks, Liam Harkin, Donegal, Ireland. Many thanks, James Welsh None this month (or, if there were, I've mislaid them) you lazy buggers. Those people who contribute to this newsletter can have a sneaky look at my on-line "blog", if they ask me very nicely! 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. (Make it interesting.) I promise not to make fun of your spelling or grammar. (I'll correct it.) None this month. None this month. - 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. If you DO have a question, PLEASE read the web site information and eBooks first. I get the same questions day after day because people can't be bothered to look.) No, stop right there! We sell only the best. If I discover anything doesn't work well, I remove it from sale. (I'm not going to name names but I've stopped selling quite a few items because they didn't perform well or because of supply problems.) So, we've established the fact that we stock only the best. What else do you want to know? Hi, please will you recommend the best xxxx for my specific situation? Probably not. Most people don't define what they mean by "best". Some mean "the cheapest". Some mean "most reliable" (see above). Some mean "aesthetically pleasing". Some mean "the smallest". Usually it's impossible for me to make a recommendation for what is basically a personal choice. So, if your question includes "what is the best" I probably won't answer. The question needs to be more specific. I have Googled the problem, which is how I found you, but none of the codes I have found on the internet seem to work. Very few combo TVs can be controlled by a Sky remote. Since you can't find a code and you don't know which version Sky remote you have, there's really no point in writing to me, unless you have masochistic tendencies and enjoy abuse. See http://www.satcure.com/tech/digicode2.htm#mycode Can you see that note in BIG RED WRITING? Enough to cover all surfaces. The idea is to exclude moisture and oxygen, as explained here:- http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/silicone2.htm 2- how tight should I tighten up the F-connectors to the LNB? Ooh, how will you measure it? I'd say less than one foot-pound of torque is needed. "Finger tight plus a bit". (Some of our masthead amplifiers include a split plastic hex key that provides just enough extra grip to ensure the correct tightness before it slips.) See picture:- http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page11c.htm#vision 3- when running cables together to a specific outlet (I'm running 3 to my new TV as it has built in Freesat and I'll be getting a Humax HD twin tuner) is it OK to cable-tie them together for neatness? I'm thinking mainly of the run from the LNB until they get into my roof space. Yes but don't crush the cable. They should be barely tight enough to remain in place. Keep them clear of mains cables. The dish is fibreglass, the fasteners are galvanized or stainless, there is a brass nut moulded into the dish and the LNB holder is plastic. All corrosion resistant. But I believe that the dish boom is untreated steel. Is that true? It seems inconsistent.If not, what is it made from? Patricia S. Sorry for the delay, Patricia. I had to check with the warehouse. Assuming that you are referring to the LNB support arm, it's made of aluminium. Aluminium oxidises fairly rapidly and produces a protective white oxide coating on its surface. However, in extreme conditions (e.g. salt water spray) it will not self-protect for long and may well rot after a few years. Consequently, you should treat all metalwork with a generous application of oil-based paint. Better still, wrap with "Denso tape". http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page2a.htm#denso I would also point you to the note in our Terms & Conditions: http://www.satcure.co.uk/terms.htm#13 "Explanatory note: Goods installed outdoors should have additional weather protection applied initially and periodically thereafter in order to maintain their reliability and appearance." I have SkyHD and use "magic eye" to control HD box from other rooms in the house. I can change channel OK via magic eye but when for instance press the red button for interactive nothing happens. It works OK when I use remote directly with the HD box so do I have to use a special magic eye for HD box? Peter F. This is a BUG with the NEW Sky HD EPG that the red button services don't work via the magic eye. Apparently a work around is to unplug the hdmi lead from the main TV and it will then work on the remote TV via the magic eye. It's not an equipment problem; "do not adjust your set"; wait patiently (probably very patiently) until Sky fix this bug. ProDave Thank you for handling my order so efficiently,there is just one suggestion ......I like to pay with Paypal and this option is time consuming and expensive on your site which might deter me from using you again. Terry I agree. It's a pain for us, too. Unfortunately, our software guy has had personal problems - a divorce that nearly drove him to suicide. He's recovering and promises to get the Paypal system fully automated by Christmas. Dear Satcure, Please could you forward this message to the appropriate department? I do not wish to change or cancel my order but I couldn't find the correct channel to contact you! (It's now here.) I just wanted to thank you for your prompt responses to my questions and to say that I received my order on Friday afternoon in time for me to get on with the job at the weekend. I am very pleased with my purchase and I wanted to congratulate you on your excellent customer service. Kind regards, Michelle Kit RELKIT33j fitted today and fixed my problem. Have to admit I was not optimistic due mainly to my own abilities. (Entusiastic, but often frustrated). But your intuitive instructions were just the tonic. THANKS Stewart W. Phil Wade Unfortunately it was not a big order, but I needed more cable than you would supply outside the UK and I thought the odds of an 85cm dish arriving in one piece from the UK might be a bit low, especially with a UK postal strike. We are very grateful to your site for the help and advice you have given, including your excellent E-books. Using these we were able to set up our dish ourselves and are receiving high quality pictures from the Astra 2 satellite at our house here in eastern France. Lorna Ivory Only a small order I know, but its sometimes a very lonely place in Northern Ireland when trying to get internet traders to send small packets/parcels which do not require a courier. Your website and ebooks are the best! Terry Ingles Brianmarshall Ken Mason. Great service. Thank you, Nick Malcolm. PS Circular saw worked quite well to get the big ones out. Nick Malcolm That's it for another month, folks! Latest SatCure eBook updates None. 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
Monthly Whinge
I can really recommend Will Cavanagh for the job he recently did upgrading the PSU on my Sky HD box. He responded to emails very quickly, and was friendly, helpful, and flexible - I had to change the appointment time and he was able to accommodate with no problems.
Readers' Contributions
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Questions
Hi, please will you recommend the best...
Sky have just installed Sky+ for me and I'm trying to set up the remote control so that it controls my TV. My TV is a combination TV/VHS Grundig TVR 5540FT/GB which is not listed in the Sky book.
1- when you say fill the 'F' connectors with silicone grease you do mean actually fill the F-connector before attaching it to the LNB so it completely gets rid of any void within the connector?
I am thinking of buying the Triax DAP 60cm fibre dish - which you call the 'Seaside Dish' as we live next to the sea and have problems with corrosion.
Happy Customers
THANK YOU
Recently used Jeremy Larke (Witham, Essex) for a Sky HD box PSU replacement. Arranged evening appointment, dropped box off and picked up one hour later! He advised that he only uses the Satcure Mk 2 PSU's. Excellent job. He also offers a range of other TV, SAT and AV repair and installation services. I would highly recommend Jeremy to all Sky subscribers in the South East.
Thank-you for the quick and efficient turnaround of my order.
Excellent service, items received one day after despatch.
Thank you. Thompson Sky HD box PSU ordered on Monday this week, the rebuilt unit arrived this morning (Thursday) and was easy to refit. The supplied fishing line proved invaluable! I now have my full range of Sky channels back, excellent signal strength and no doubt Anytime and recordings will work again. Superb friendly service and good value - I am most impressed
Thank you for your excellent service, second to none. I hope to do business with you again, should I need to. Yours faithfully,
I just wanted to say thank you very much to SatCure for the repair kit which arrived promptly and was packed well... and for all the additional info. etc. provided by you to make the job go well. My Thomson Sky HD box had been suffering from pixelation on BBC HD and several other channels and Sky2 consistently showed signal unavailable. About 4 of the existing capacitors had bulging tops so the repair kit seemed like a good option. It took me all afternoon to do... but I've now got a fully working HD box again. I checked the 22kHz signal before and after repair with a 'scope and the waveform after had a far more symmetrical mark space ratio and was slightly less 'ringy'.
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