| I've been soooo busy writing new eBooks that I needed our week's holiday in Kefalonia. My wife lost her camera and we were there for the biggest storm in living memory. I'm only grateful that we didn't go to Crete, which suffered even more damage than our little island. Anyway, I had a most restful holiday and I didn't think of work even once. My able assistant, Mark, handled all the technical enquiries with amazing diligence. Thanks, Mark! Low Loss Cable We've finally found a supplier of twist-on "F" connectors for WF125 cable (see our online "shop"). This means that we can now supply you with really low-loss LNB cable AND the connectors to fit it. But please note that our "rubber boots" won't fit over the connectors so you'll either have to use a short length of WF100 cable to connect to the LNB or else use self-amalgamating tape. I suspect the WF100 will actually be easier and put less weight on the LNB. The same comment applies to the connection to the receiver - WF125 is a tad stiff to use there. It might damage the tuner connection. Interesting links Did you know that Vestel in Turkey makes TV sets for the UK? http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jun2006/gb20060609_371863.htm Anyone for a Top UP? TopUpTV is changing its service. It will be called "TUTV Anytime" and will show a new range of "selected programmes" on a rotational basis, changing each day. Freeview is unaffected but, if you want to watch the encrypted "TUTV Anytime" programmes, you'll have to invest £180 in a new PVR type receiver. I wonder how many people can afford to do that - or want to?  See http://www.topup.tv/newcustomer/box.html The final Top Up TV Line-up is: Channel Channel Hours - Discovery Real Time 6am - 12pm
- UKTV Gold 4pm - 1am
- UKTV Style 1pm - 4pm
- Cartoon Network 9-11am
- British Eurosport 1pm - 6pm
- Discovery Channel 6pm - 11pm
- TCM 7pm - 1am
What this means is that all you will get without "Anytime" is: In the morning: Discovery real time, Cartoon Network. In the afternoon UKTV Style and British Eurosport. In the evening: UKTV Gold, Discovery and TCM. Buying a used Digibox Many people find it difficult to locate the cause of a reception problem but the fault can be narrowed down quite simply by exchanging the Digibox for a known good one. Even a Sky+ or Sky-HD dish system can be checked with an ordinary Sky Digibox. Used receivers can often be picked up very cheaply. I got a nice Grundig GDS2000 (which includes S-Video output) via my local free advertising paper for just £25. The seller demonstrated it working at his home and even gave me the (expired) Sky card, which I passed to a friend who wanted it for CH4 and five. Often these Grundigs require a power supply kit, which will cost you another £15 or so but will give the receiver a new lease of life. You can also pick up bargains on eBay. Some specify "local pickup only", which inevitably reduces the bidding competition and can result in a real bargain if you're prepared to travel. Search eBay for incorrect spellings of "digibox" and "receiver" and "satellite" to locate the sometimes "hidden" auctions. You'd be amazed how many people can't copy these words and end up getting a lower price because most potential bidders can't find their auction! And don't overlook our recommended suppliers of used digiboxes here: http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page10.htm If you store your used Digibox you should use it for a few days, every two or three months, to ensure that its firmware is kept updated. Your existing Sky card will work in it (except for premium channels). You could use it for caravan holidays or park it in a bedroom or simply keep it in the cupboard as a spare for emergencies. Heck, you could even rent it to a neighbour who's desperate not to miss "Neighbours"! Become a Digital TV Installer As mentioned previously, SatCure is proposing to offer a training course to teach people how to install "Digital TV Systems". We've deliberately used this broad terminology because we need you to tell us what you want to learn. Your prospective earnings could be a lot higher than you think and, by popular request, we will include money-making tips as well as tips from professional installers. If you are fit and able to carry a ladder, this course might be the opening you've been seeking. You could do installations part-time or full time. Please click HERE and complete the questionnaire. It will take you only a minute. Since last month I've been busily writing lessons, based on feedback received so far. Questions Hi, I recently had Sky installed, (not Sky+), as a way of getting Freesat, by subscribing to two other channels for a year. And I can't fault it. But my question is this: how do I get the two new channels 35 & 36, that Five have launched? (I can get them on my freeview box in another room). I've tried 'Add Channels' but there's nothing there. These are on Channels 207 & 208 on Sky.
I've just got SkyHD (Thompson) and already have Sky+ (Pace version 1). I want to do a multi-room install but want to have both boxes in the same room. As you are aware the SkyHD remote works the SkyHD box only (good), but the Sky+ remote works both boxes (bad). Can I make the Sky+ remote work the Sky+ box only (currently rev 4 remote. I'm prepared to buy your new rev 8 if needed). At present I'm only aware of the same thing you are, that the SKY+ remote will operate both boxes, which would lead to problems with your set-up. You could always try the following as a possibility ? http://www.satcure.com/tech/remote_doubler.htm
I know this is a satellite website, but I have read with interest your "Fitting car radios to caravans" section. We are facing the prospect of fitting a radio to our van now and have a couple of questions: 1) Do I just leave the "12v Illumination and 12v Ignition" and cover them up with insulation tape? 2) Regarding the -ve connection, can I just use the lighting circuit like I am for the +ve connection? 3) Would you recommend an inline fuse on the +ve wire?? I have installed a car radio into a caravan before. Basically, if you're feeding off the 12v dc supply just wire the main live only, the others, as you mention can just be covered up as they are not necessary. Unless you're going to be doing some heavy duty rock and rolling 24 hours a day at high volume (well, you may !) connecting to the lighting circuit should be adequate, I have done it personally, with no problems. As for fitting a fuse, totally up to you. Can be a good safety issue, can be a pain if it blows when you're stuck in a field ! Mark A quick thanks to Mark, as I didn't know where else to send it! I have now successfully installed my radio with his help!! THANKS. THANKS. THANKS. Alex G (top) Cielplus Review In the last newsletter I mentioned the Cielplus card that converts a Sky Digibox into a PC-controlled VCR. Well, Chris Muriel got hold of one and connected it to an Amstrad DRX100. His full report can be read by clicking HERE. If anyone would care to write a similar report on the installation or setting-up of a product which they bought from SatCure, we will pay £10 for every contribution published. We'll probably do only one per month so hurry to get yours in first! (I'm not worried about the spelling and grammar provided I can understand it.)
Happy Customers Regarding Customer receipt (Keep-me): SAT012724 308647 Thank you for the quick refund. Regards, Cara Well, if we can't please with the product, we can do our best with the refund!
Re: LNB for oval dish: Hi Martin Thanks very much for your reply to my question (I have pasted them both at the bottom of the page for reference). I purchased an Inverto WhiteTech IDLP-40SL universal LNB in order to carry out some comparisons of LNB's using the Gemini 90cm dish. The WhiteTech gave an increase of 4Dbuv over the SX1019/S, but was still 8dBuv below my Triax 60cm dish/WNC F18 LNB. However the signal quality as displayed by my reciever (Bar indicator only) was better with my 90cm dish. This improvement in bit rate error was roughly the same for both of the LNB's being tested. I swung the dish to Hotbird, along with my 60cm dish, and in this case the bit rate error difference between the 90cm dish and the 60 cm dish was even more marked in favour of the 90cm dish. As a last comparison (pointing at Astra again) I removed the WNC F18 LNB from my 90cm dish and held it as best I could in the correct position in front of my 90cm dish (this LNB is not able to be mounted on a 40mm fitting). Despite being hand held I managed to get a 5 dBuv increase over the WhiteTech, but still 3dBuv below the WNC F18 with the Triax 60cm dish. The gain of the Triax 60cm is given as 35 dBi, that of the Gemini 38dBi, so I'm still left with about 9dB of voltage gain that I should be getting from the Gemini over that of the TRiax 60cm. I have e-mailed Raven asking them if they can reccomend a suitable eliptical LNB that would allow the stated gain of the dish to be realised, but I'm not optimistic over getting a reply. I take your point about the veiwing experience being the ultimate test. There are many factors that obviously come into play with dish installation, the signal strength at the LNB only being one factor. I only bought the 90cm dish because I was told (not by your company) that this size would be required for Hispasat which I would like to receive. I think now that I could easily go for a smaller dish and tolerate a slightly higher bit error rate. In terms of antenna gain, I'm not sure that the difference between (say) a 60cm dish and a 90cm dish is that significant in the overall scheme of things, especially given that you may or may not be able to obtain the full stated gain of any particular dish. Thanks for taking the time to discuss this with me. Regards Len M
Thank you for a really useful site. I bought a spare Sky Plus remote which wouldn't work with my Sky Plus box, but your site allowed me to fix it with the simple "Select plus Blue" procedure. Superb. From Tom H
Equipment made by: Pace Sky Model number on label or rear panel: TDS470N A note to thank you Martin and Mark for both responding very promptly to me query on 3 August concerning my remote extender - as you both said my problem was that I had not turned the RF outlet on after a change of Sky+ box. Sorry for the very slow message of thanks. Anthony B (top) From Sky Digi Online ( http://www.media247.co.uk ): (top)
eBook Updates | 
| NEW! I've written a new eBook called "Installing Satellite TV in the USA". This is available at http://www.The-Cool-Book-Shop.co.uk Obviously it's for residents of the USA and Canada only. |
The Freeview Bible (minor update)
October 27, 2006 Beginner's Guide to Electronics (minor update)
October 26, 2006 Installing Sky Digital (minor update)
October 1, 2006 - All eBooks have been moved to a more reliable secure server which requires a username and password. If you can't access it, please contact Me with your original Order number and ask for the new download information, stating exactly which eBook(s) you purchased and the EBK number(s).
http://www.The-Cool-Book-Shop.co.uk | 
"Installing a Sky Minidish" tutorial on DVD. Click 
