Windfarm Interference......free freesat.... question

dlambirl · 20-03-2009 12:49PM #1

Hi all,

Just after getting our terrestial aerials installed in our new built and our installer told us we had excellent signal but he said that there would be some interference because of a windfarm in the area

The installer told us that we should ring the windfarm because they are installing freesat HD for people who are affected. We are planning on getting sky+ within the next month or two and i was wondering will the same dish do the two (the freesat/view whatever) and the sky?

A cousin of mine has got freeview installed before xmas and her dish isnt like a sky dish - it seems to made of some sort of mesh?? Would sky+ come in on this??

Help needed!! Want everything to be A1 for moving day!!

tomslick · 20-03-2009 01:16PM

You'll have no problem. Sky dish is an Irish Term for the dish Sky install. Any dish available will pick up 28east which is sky/freesat/bbc/itv......... whatever you want to call it. The only problem you may have is the LNB (thing at end of sticky out bit ) may only have one output. Each sky/freesat.... box requires one output direct from the LNB and sky+/freesat PVR require 2 each. To change the LNB is very easy with a normal dish but with a sky dish you'll need the adaptor which costs E4.00.

After all that said, if you get sky to install sky+ first they'll put up the dish and a 4way lnb. 2output for sky+ and 2 spare for freesat.

Hope this helps.

dlambirl · 20-03-2009 01:30PM

So your saying that no matter which dish goes up first (the freesat or sky) it will be able to be used for both jobs?? (e.g if freesat is installed first the sky will work on it and vice versa?)

Would there be a better dish out of the two??

Onikage · 20-03-2009 02:08PM

It doesn't matter which dish you use, you only need 1 dish and an LNB with 2 or more outputs (4 usually).

A Freesat/free to air/Sky box will work on either dish type.

dlambirl · 20-03-2009 02:12PM

What would i be better off getting first? the sky+ or freesat?

The windfarm will install the freesat for nothing whereas i'll have to pay sky €50 installation but i'm gonna have to pay that anyway probably even if i have a dish.

I dont think they'd just send out the Sky+ box and viewing card and let me install it myself would they??

tomslick · 20-03-2009 04:16PM

I think Sky+. They won't send you out the gear to DIY. They'll charge you installation even if the installer does nothing but drop off the box. The windfarm will probably do the cheapest dish, box and lnb they can get their hands on.
But in saying that, Would you be exempt from the windfarm scheme as you would have sky which isn't affected by them?

Onikage · 20-03-2009 04:26PM

Get more details from the wind farm, you might not even be eligable. If they are willing to offer it to you, go for it. When (or if) you get sky, you will get a second box. If the dish is dirt cheap, take it down and let sky install their one.

dlambirl · 20-03-2009 04:55PM

Yeah good point the freebie dish and the lnb could be sh1te!! Sky have an offer on at the moment where the installation is free and the sky+ box is half price but you have to sign up to it before the end of March. How long do Sky allow a customer to sign up before its installed?? Does anyone know??

watty · 20-03-2009 09:38PM

There is NO RTE, TV3 or TG4 on Freesat. So they have to give people free Sky subs forever, if they admit or offer anything,

The Sky dishes are not good as they are mesh, (it's cheap), they rust easily. A solid dish is easily cleaned and resprayed. Generally only the Lidl dish, particularly really the bracket is poor. Many FTA/Freesat dishes are better than the sky dish.

Onikage · 20-03-2009 09:56PM

watty wrote: »

Many FTA/Freesat dishes are better than the sky dish.

True, although I was thinking along the lines of a lidl travel dish.

If the farm is in the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland, they wouldn't have to provide the RTEs etc. Funnily enough, I found that they do acknowledge that interference may be caused by them (at least this company does)

Sam Radford · 22-03-2009 01:20PM

watty wrote: »

The Sky dishes are not good as they are mesh, (it's cheap), they rust easily.

With the greatest of respect, Watty, I have to disagree. Sky dishes are perforated steel and, in my experience, fairly well painted. Mine is 10 years old and showing no signs of rust. If you live near the coast, a couple of coats of oil-based paint will add to the protection.

I haven't seen a mesh dish since the days of C-Band back in the early eighties.
(Mesh: a material resembling a net made from intersecting strands with a space between each strand.)

Later...

Just remembered that I HAVE seen a mesh dish. It was made by "Metronic". It was completely clear plastic with a very fine mesh embedded in it.
http://www.pulsat.com/satellite/site/details.php?product_id=329&catID=8

dlambirl · 23-03-2009 04:00PM

the windfarm is only interfering with the english channels (bbc1/channel 4) and therefore thats why they are installing the freesat.

Our installer who put up our aerials said that the windfarm will totally interfere with the digital signal when it is switched on.... will this mean that it will interfere with the irish channels to?? (as it is not currently doing so at the minute)

byte · 23-03-2009 07:55PM

If it's not interfering with Irish channels now, then it won't affect them later either (unless they stick up a farm between you and the RTE transmitter too).

With regards to Sky's perforated dishes, the only ones I've seen lasting a good while were the Triax ones, and Raven's to a lesser extent. EL on the other hand can start to rust within a few months near a coastal area.

I'm still a fan of Triax's TD-series solid dishes. Not too expensive, but good lifespan.

watty · 23-03-2009 09:03PM

By "Mesh" I was referring to the perforated rust buckets. Some are better painted, but the reason for them IS cheapness. The bolts are practically tighten once, not designed for moving dish or re-install. Virtually all solid dishes last better.

Of course I didn't mean Wire mesh

Or really mesh at all, I did of course mean Perforated.

dlambirl · 25-03-2009 04:24PM

At the minute i dont care if its a dish made out of old snots and chewing gum. Came home yesterday and switched on the TV and the channels were horrendous - the only 2 that were half decent was rte and rte1 and sure we all know there is fuk all on them at times.

I think there is a big backlog on getting the engineer out to access if you quality for one so i should get some dvds out

Onikage · 25-03-2009 05:07PM

You should be able to see the DTT tests at the moment. Buy a cheapo €10 DVB-T usb dongle and you'll get an idea of what your digital reception will be like.

dlambirl · 25-03-2009 05:15PM

what do these look like when they are at home?? where'd i get one??

von Smallhausen · 25-03-2009 07:27PM

dlambirl wrote: »

Hi all,

Just after getting our terrestial aerials installed in our new built and our installer told us we had excellent signal but he said that there would be some interference because of a windfarm in the area

The installer told us that we should ring the windfarm because they are installing freesat HD for people who are affected. We are planning on getting sky+ within the next month or two and i was wondering will the same dish do the two (the freesat/view whatever) and the sky?

A cousin of mine has got freeview installed before xmas and her dish isnt like a sky dish - it seems to made of some sort of mesh?? Would sky+ come in on this??

Help needed!! Want everything to be A1 for moving day!!

No the same dish cant be used for FreeView. Only Sky or FreeSat

Thats because Freeview uses an Aerial and Freesat uses a Dish!

Onikage · 25-03-2009 10:30PM

dlambirl wrote: »

what do these look like when they are at home?? where'd i get one??

Example:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8325

You can buy them on ebay from uk sellers for about €10 to €20 shipped.

dlambirl · 26-03-2009 10:26AM

Danny_B wrote: »

No the same dish cant be used for FreeView. Only Sky or FreeSat

Thats because Freeview uses an Aerial and Freesat uses a Dish!

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I'll remember that!!

Onikage wrote: »

Example:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8325

You can buy them on ebay from uk sellers for about €10 to €20 shipped.

Thanks Onkiage

Windfarm Interference......free freesat.... question

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