Bucbar

Whilst I know what happened when the satellites were moved a few years back I've still got this mother of a dish on my roof and a Humax receiver so is there anyone who can tell me if this equipment is any use or shall I bin it?
By the way I only want terrestrial TV and also know all about Internet TV so don't need anyone to educate me about this - I'm simply re-evaluating the equipment I've got and just hoping to find a solution to using it again!

mfesharne

How about recycling it into a birdbath or possibly a skottel braai?

peterfc

Mention where about you are so some may be able to help you, people near me still have UK TV via there big dishes.

Peter

BillBullock

If you can turn the dish about 90 degrees towards the West, you could pick up Intelsat 907 and watch a limited number of good UK TV channels but not with the Humax receiver. You will need to buy something like a Icecrypt S1600CHD receiver for about £70 on Amazon or £60 at Maplin. You will probably need help with tuning in to the satellite. Where do you live?

Mike

liveaboard

I'm receiving intelsat 907; reception is excellent, but there is no program guide and it was a real beast to get the programs working.

I use a VU+ receiver and it has an 'app' that will retrieve the EPG data over the internet, which then works just like the sat based one.
That stopped working a while back and I never got around to fixing it. Frankly, 907 has so few channels we rarely bother with it.

Like the OP, I just wanted my 1.8M dish to have some function.
A solution in need of a problem.

MrBife

Some good tips for putting an old dish to use, here ...

Bucbar

Vilamoura

EMR

Just how big a dish, 3, 4, 5 metre.
Freesat BBC, ITV Tec is not available via the old etc dishes South of Lisbon and some way east into Spain.

macliam

I had a similar dish and when the "normal" satellite reception disappeared, I bought a technomate receiver and accessed intelsat 907. It is used by Arqiva to provide a backup service to certain channels and is not officially for use by punters. You need a code for access and it changed fairly regularly - so then it was a dash to see who posted the new one on the internet. The channels provided are the BBC plus ITV1 and Channel4 - so a limited selection, although the quality was normally good for me in the Alentejo.

Then I had some building work done last year that required removal of the dish ...... and I've never got around to putting it back. Given that it's an unofficaial source, you'll need to buy a new receiver, the channels offered are few and it's a faff to keep it working - I'd invest my time and money in internet access if I were you....

BillBullock

macliam:

I have experienced no problems with Intelsat 907. The code has not changed since December 2014 so there is nothing to faff about. The channels offered include the only decent TV in my humble opinion. I sometimes use the internet to access TV but the copper wires in my remote part of the East Algarve do not provide wonderful broadband. I stopped using IPTV because I was not prepared to pay for unreliable reception. Intelsat 907 gives me reliable HD reception of the best UK TV channels, so I'm sticking with it until the satellite is unavailable.

Bucbar:

There is a use for your dish if you can turn it about 90 degrees to the West but the Humax receiver is best sold to someone in the UK.

MorrisC8

We use a Humax here [near penela] so i would think you could sell it to someone in portugal..
We get all the freesat channels here.

Mike

Channel 5 too.

macliam

I never got Channel 5, so can't comment.

I don't disagree that if you have it up and running it might be OK, but for someone who needs to set it all up, I think the energy may be best spent elsewhere.

I use my copper-wire slow internet without an IPTV subscription service and it suits my purposes, but it depends on circumstances. If it's a choice between paying for a new receiver, etc. or better internet, I'd choose the latter.

BillBullock

If only there was a better internet option here! Fibre optic cable is a long way off and the mobile mast systems of NOS etc get clogged up with traffic and your screen freezes if you try to watch TV.

£60 for a receiver is a small price to pay for TV that you can switch on and change channels with ease. Don't forget that the wife cannot cope with anything more difficult!