Apartment System

orange247

Just moved into a new apartment and looking to getting a new system for the place. i'm a total newbie to satellite stuff and got hooked after me da bought a 150 euro system from Lidl and was getting all the FTA stuff when all he had previously was Bog 1 + 2. Anyway I hope to be a bit more adventerous, I'm looking to get a system to watch the footie on, I'm sick of being stuck in pubs watching games and i have no intention of forking out for Sky. So with RTE & Setanta both showing games I want to supplement it with this system. It would definately be a budget system but with the option to go fully digital with rights cards etc.

This is the crux however, I live in an apartment block that doen't allow ya to but up dishes or aerials. I been looking around a at either discreet or minidish that would fit on my balcony, however this is only west facing. So how do i go about it, what dish recommendations would you have e.g. digicube etc

any info would be very appreciated

Greenman

Can you see the sun at 11AM from your balcony easily???

dmeehan

a west facing balcony doesnt sound promising...

can you see south east from your balcony (without balancing on the rail :-) )

Eurorunner

a west facing balcony doesnt sound promising...

Hispasat 30*W and the Sport+ channel for footy could be an option.

Zaphod

orange247 wrote:

I been looking around a at either discreet or minidish that would fit on my balcony, however this is only west facing. So how do i go about it, what dish recommendations would you have e.g. digicube etc

Options include:Cubsat , digicube, digiglobe, Arcon/Multimo Sweety (cassegrain), Technisat & Attisat flat panels, or cheapest of all, mounting a standard offset dish on the ground or perhaps horizontally. The 'Pipe Antennas' are crap.
http://www.cubsat.com/
http://www.digicams-uk.com/category20_1.htm
http://www.attisat.gr/engl_lang_ver/engl_planar_antennas.asp
http://www.catv-sat.ch/liegend.htm

orange247

Generally can't see sun until till after midday, the most I could hope for is maybe 7W but this would mean half the signal is obstructed by the balcony wall (maybe). I would definately be looking at an Atlantic sat for a stronger signal. What Atlalantic sats (if any) carry the basic FTV channels beeb etc. Plus where can I get a viewing card for the Sport+ channel on the Hispasat. If the Hispasat is at 30W surely I'll need at least an 80cm dish or would I get away with something like the Arcon sweety/Mutimo which is the equivilant of a 45-55cm dish?

Card for Cabo/SportTV is bit steep at around 1000 E!

Going to get compass to check where i am tonite!

Zaphod

orange247 wrote:

If the Hispasat is at 30W surely I'll need at least an 80cm dish or would I get away with something like the Arcon sweety/Mutimo which is the equivilant of a 45-55cm dish?

30W is fairly strong in Ireland, but to ensure reception in all weather conditions you'd still need a 70/80cm dish I reckon. The 57cm Arcon is supposed to be equivalent to an 80cm according to the manufacturers - reports from users on the web tend to vary in terms of its usefulness.

orange247 wrote:

Card for Cabo/SportTV is bit steep at around 1000 E!

Cabo is hacked but you'll have to look elsewhere for additional information.

orange247

have seen ART Sport Official cards offered for around 70euro for 3 months. This is on Hotbird 2 at 13E. With my balcony facing west, I might be able to get due south, would I pick up any faint signal from hotbird2, cos the eutelsat website illustrates a very strong and wide beam?

http://www.eutelsat.com/satellites/13ehb2.html