| Hi Folks! Christmas Opening Open 24th until 12 noon - there will be a post dispatch that day for orders received in time. Closed through until 5th - we would usually go back on the 2nd, but as this is a Friday we have decided to re-open on Monday instead. I (Martin) will be around from December 25th onwards to answer technical questions (much to my wife's delight). (top) I'm Away My wife dragged me off to stay with my eldest son at the weekend. We've just returned and now she wants me to go to IKEA tomorrow (all day) and Teesside on Friday - back Saturday. The things I do to keep her happy! Anyway, it means I won't be around most of the time to answer emails so please put your questions in the discussion forum where my unpaid, tireless experts will be pleased to help you. http://pub52.ezboard.com/bsatcureforum (top)
Next mailshot? You'll have noticed that my mailshots can no longer be relied upon to drop into your in basket on the last day of each month. Although I prefer to do it that way (less work) it invariably happens that I have more information that would fit comfortably in a monthly "page". In addition, you keep sending me urgent information (such as the Thomson update last month and the Pace SKY+ upgrade today) that simply can't wait. Those of you who have the equipment need to know right now. So please forgive the erratic appearance of the "monthly" news letter but that's the nature of news. Today it's news and tomorrow it's too late for the people who matter (you)! The next mailshot will be sent out on or around Christmas day provided that I have enough interesting news and provided that I haven't eaten and drunk too much. I'm fully intending to stick to my diet but, after a bottle or two of wine, strange things happen.... (top)
Email newsletter As previously, I've kept the email mailshot to a minimum and put the news here. But, as requested by a small number (see feedback below), I have made the email version available. Simply send a blank message to lastmonth@satcure.net and you will receive the email version. Use it or lose it. If only two people request it, I'm not going to bother! (Sorry). (top)
Sky Policy Sky have allegedly introduced a policy that all new installations must be confirmed by a telephone call from the box confirming activation during installation, at which time the card is electronically tied to the digibox. Ditto Sky+. (top)
Sky+ Pace reset information (Worked on my BSKYB3100) Martin, I am told that Sky upgraded all Sky + boxes today (December 3, 2003) with the additional feature to allow for two channel simultaneous recording. Unfortunately the upgrade did not go well and resulted in the need for many to complete a system reset. The symptoms I experienced was the sky demo banner being displayed with no picture, unable to access the TV guide screen or view any channels. Switch off at wall, wait press sky button procedure which usually works didn't and after the 'Please wait searching for channels' displayed for about 5 seconds the screen changed to green and Sky + went into standby. This is what fixed the problem as advised by Sky support (after waiting on hold for 15 minutes):- - 1. Power off at wall
- 2. Press and hold left and right cursor buttons (right-hand side next to standby button)
- 3. With both buttons depressed, power box on at wall. Do not let go off buttons. (you probably need to be a very special person to achieve this on your own - unless you have the power socket right next to the box!!!)
- 4. Wait 30 seconds or until all of the following happens - standby light goes out, green circle, record and play symbols light, then let go of cursor buttons but not before.
- 5. Screen should now display with demo channel and you are back in business.
Note: This reset deletes all saved/recorded programs stored! Dave Tansley (top)
More Feedback Here are some of the replies I received. Thanks to everyone who wrote! I've tried to correct typos in these messages and I apologise if I've missed any. Martin Hi Martin, I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed reading all of your work on the Internet. Also that I have learned an enormous amount. The result is that, having grabbed my in-laws' analogue equipment when they went digital and set it up in my back garden, I now have gone digital myself. I have been reading all your articles and receive your review regularly and this has inspired me to have a go and I thought you may be interested to know how I got on. Firstly I brought back the dish, LNB, and receiver from Southport, where the wife's parents live, and set it up in my garden about 2 years ago. It was very easy to set up with the Tele in the garden and I pointed at 19.E, and one or two other satellites, just see what I could receive. I was amazed to get things like Nile TV - if I remember correctly it was on a Hotbird. I have had many hours of entertainment since from what was available pointing at 19.2E. I have been following the FTV/FTA debate and decided I would have ago at digital with a view to subscribing to some SKY channels in the future. I am not a football or cricket fan so I am not too bothered about SKY sports channels. Perhaps, if possible, just films and some others like "Wings". So I purchased a digibox on Ebay for a very reasonable price and bought a universal LNB from a local dealer. (MP: not from SatCure! :-( ?) I set to work and removed the existing LNB without moving the dish, which is mounted on a concrete fence post half way down the garden. I even got up on the ladders with my trimmer and made the hole in the hedge looking south much bigger. Bingo! Slid the new LNB in and positioned it as close as I could to where the old one was. I had already set up the digibox to my Tele using the "services" menu as you describe in your amazingly good eBook "Installing SKY DIGITAL TV". Without it I would never have attempted any of this at all. Thanks for a very clear and helpful eBook. Well done. By the way, I did pay for it !! Well I was very nervous and thought 'this is the day you will regret wasting your money on all of this, and the wife will go ape', but, thanks to you, I walked in turned on and checked I had a signal lock and away I went, adding as many channels I wanted, with no problems at all. I am now going to swing my dish around to 28.2E and keep my fingers crossed as I do not have a signal meter but plenty of spare time. I have already purchased the FTV viewing card as soon as I saw your review article about it and it arrived within two days. I hope I have not bored you to tears with all of this and will send part two when I have got a good signal from 28.2E. I think possibly that being a retired research scientist with a Masters in Radiation Science helps, but no way without your book - I mean it. Sincerely
Dudley Sampson
Greenford Middx (top)
I prefer the web based version of the review, I must admit that the date of December 21st on your Review 65 note made me think that you had sent out an index for the December review early by mistake. It was only at the second reading that I saw the link. Keep up the good work. Frank
Martin Just to let you know I love the new system of your Satcure Review..... The Web Page is well laid out and a joy to read.... I reckon you work very hard at providing a super "Information and Product Business" going and in my opinion you deserve to retire!!! But "Blimin Heck!!" We wouldn't half miss you!! So please keep going as you are!! Kind regards, John (top)
I like the web version, please keep it! > if I use a real address, I receive dozens of "out of office" replies If your mailer allows to you add header lines to the message (most do) then you should be able to add a line that says Precedence: bulk (or Precedence: junk) A properly-working mail responder should not send an out-of-office reply to a message with that header. Cheers Steve (MP: I use a bulk message service and I have no control over the header. I suspect that using "bulk" precedence would mark it as "spam"!)
I like web version. It cuts down on volume of emails (my email box is big enough) and its prettier too. I've become the local expert on Satellite TV, all the expats ask me for advice. All from reading your newletter & forums. Keep up the good work. Jonathan
Gex
France (top)
Hi Martin, Have you ever thought of using blogger to publish the 'The SatCure Satellite Review'. I have just set up a site for my Parish Council www.bramleyparish.co.uk where there is a facility on the 'news page', for the clerk to post the minutes of meetings, and general news with virtually no technical ability - i.e. no ftp etc. You would be able to simply post up articles as they arrived, might save you a bit of time and effort and keep things bang up to date. Have a look at http://new.blogger.com/ for more info Hope you find this useful, keep up the excellent work, Eric (MP: Actually, I hadn't considered it. But I have no problem with FTP and I like to keep control of the work on my own web site).
Hi Martin, I am not the biggest spender on your site, simply because I'm happy with my set-up and don't have any good reason to change things at the moment. However you were very helpful advising on a few small purchases a few months ago when I wanted to extend the cable from my dish in order to move my Sky Digibox, and it's good to know your site is there should I want to make any satellite related purchases in the future. So to return the favour in a small way here's my newsletter feedback. Personally I like the new system of following a link to the newsletter on the web. I am sure you are aware that many people check mail with portable devices and pay for their access by the volume of data received or by time spent online. I guess a link in the body of an email is much easier/faster/cheaper for many in this position. Further I am currently investigating anti-spam measures and wouldn't want your mails to get philtred out. I guess the ideal solution would be to allow subscribers to manage their subscriptions online choosing to have the newsletter delivered in the format which best works for them. Although setting this up would, in the short-term, add more to your already heavy work-load. All the best. -- Dave Williams (top)
I would be more than happy with a link to the web version. It saves you and saves me. I then have the choice when or whether to read it. Thanks Nigel
A quick comment - I like the web based format! John
I like the web based email, Martin, and I sympathise with your email problems! Best Regards, Brian.
Just to let you know that I prefer the website method of distributing the newsletter. Regards, Steve Nicholas (top)
Hello Martin, I prefer the text format, but I understand that the web based is better. Be yourself. Cheers. Gabriel Mollá
Hello Martin, Thanks for the web based Newsletter. I would personally much prefer to continue to receive an E Mail version since I don't log onto the Internet proper unless I have to and then for as short a time as possible. I also find it useful to keep soft copies of your old Reviews (Yes I know they're all on the web). However, if I was in your shoes I think I would follow your same course of action. So I fully understand your motives and will continue to look forward to your bulletins. Rob Shrapnel
Not a technical query but feedback on your new web-based newsletter. A great improvement. Easy to read and nicer font (Courier looks so old these days!). Looking forward to the next issue. Martin Crumpton (top)
I don't think I've ever been to such an unfriendly web site. Steve Spink. MP: Oh dear, I think that's enough feedback!
New Products There's a new on-line catalogue page (22) which has reels of telephone cable for indoor and outdoor use, extension cables, cable clips and double- and quad-adapters. On page 5 you'll find a new range of plug-top power supplies and on page 2a some nice wall-mounting halogen flood lights with infra-red person detectors built-in. Cheaper than B&Q! While you've got the ladder out, you might as well improve your house security. I bet your wife has been nagging you for an outside light for years? Nows the chance to give her that Christmas Present. (top)
Special Offers The Hauppage units sold out very quickly but there are other items still on offer HERE including the MANHATTAN STARLIGHT 7000 2 x CI with hard drive and an 80cm perforated wall/pole dish (by Concentric) with 0.6dB LNB at just £194.95. (top)
From Radio Bullet ( http://radio.mediabullet.co.uk ): - AfforDABle In-Car Digital Radio
- International Radio Report Nov 18th - Hans Knot
- Jingle Mix 2003
- Penk to get Key job in Manchester
- NTL boosts digital radio transmission network
From Sky Digi Online ( http://skydigital.mediabullet.co.uk ): - BBC News 24 relaunch delayed Exclusive
- The Wrestling Channel begins tests on Friendly TV
- Desi Radio begins tests
- Apple FM makes Sky EPG debut
- Teachers TV set for 2004 launch (top)
eBook Updates Since the last newsletter, the following eBooks have been updated. If your download link no longer works, please contact me (with proof of purchase). - The Freeview Bible
- Installing Sky Digital TV
- Piping TV Around the House
- Repairing Sky Digital receivers Nov 29th (top)
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