Search Sort Posts:  Oldest to newest Newest to oldest

12/05/2008, 11:31 Tim Joined on 19/03/2007 76 Haute Normandie Posts 430 Re: More channels FTA this morning While you are out and about look for something called in English (not sure of the French - sorry ) 'self-amalgamating tape'. It's a 'soft' tape (with a backing you remove) that sticks to itself - cut a piece a few inches long and wrap it around the connector, leaving the nut part free so you can turn it to fit it to the lnb, then cover it with ordinary insulating tape. I've used this stuff for years and taken apart outside joints over 20 years old and they are still shiney and new inside. They work much better than these rubber joint covers that are often supplied for this sort of job. If you want two boxes then you will need two separate feeds from the twin lnb (as Anton says) - and not 'split off' anything, as you say. Regards - Tim    Report

12/05/2008, 11:34 joidevie Joined on 10/05/2005 Posts 230 Re: More channels FTA this morning  Anton Redman wrote: You have to run to completely separate cable runs all the way to the LNB. ... Which I will be doing. However, will this lower the signal quality? I have done something similar with the TV aerial and TNT signal - by 'splitting off' ('T'ing off the coax) from the upstairs decoder to another set in the living room. This has caused a poorer signal in the living room and I need to unplug the upstairs set from the coax to get a good enough signal downstairs..    Report

12/05/2008, 11:52 Tim Joined on 19/03/2007 76 Haute Normandie Posts 430 Re: More channels FTA this morning If you have a 'twin LNB' and run a separate cable to each digi box, you are not 'splitting off'' anything. The LNB has two receivers inside and provides a totally separate feed to each box. You will be able to watch different channels on either box - they will be independant of each other. Tim    Report

12/05/2008, 13:33 CBC Joined on 23/08/2004 65 Posts 75 Re: More channels FTA this morning @ Martinwatkins It seems like a little clockwise twist has done the trick!  It will be interesting to see how reception holds up in poor weather.  To answer your last question, our dish is 80cm which we were advised was the minimum needed to get ITV down here. Thanks again. CBC in sunny 65    Report

12/05/2008, 13:38 ErnieY Joined on 05/12/2006 Nr Prayssac (Lot) Posts 3,551 Re: More channels FTA this morning Just to add a note to Timco's good advice about self-amalgamating tape: When you use it you tear off a length, peel off the backing, then stretch it to approximately 1/2 it's width, both initially and as you wrap it around whatever you're protecting. Each turn should overlap the previous one by about 1/2 a tapes width then finally you stretch it until it breaks and mould the end into the job, does that make sense ? It's the stretching action that gives it it's self-amalgamating property and if done properly it becomes effectively a one piece closely moulded rubber boot. Most that I've used 'amalgamate' almost instantly and if you can unwind it after more than a minute or two you've not put it on properly. Correctly used it's magic, do it incorrectly though and it's worse than nothing because water will get in and be held inside potentially doing more harm than if the connector were totally unprotected. Sorry if you know all this it's just that it's used extensively offshore (I used some myself yesterday) and I've seen far far to many instances of people who have used it for years still not doing it properly. I've even heard some complain that it's useless because it doesn't stick, which of course it won't because it is not sticky ! Maplin sell it. How far off topic are we now My doctor said one drink per day, I can live with that !    Report

12/05/2008, 14:27 Martinwatkins Joined on 23/08/2004 W Devon/NE Perigord Posts 972 Re: More channels FTA this morning @CBC Glad it's improved things.   To be honest to prevent rain fade completely you need a big big margin of comfort,  and unless you're after broadcast standards it's not worth it.   A lot of BBC analogue relays are spec'd to produce "perfect" pictures for 99% of the time,  which when you work it out means that in theory they can be "down" or substandard for 15 mins per day.   If it all happens at once (which in the case of an off air relay it often does,  during summer "lift" conditions),  over a week's period it could be down for a total of twelve hours and STILL be operating to spec if it's fine the rest of the year.   It's just not worth flinging more money at the problem unless millions of viewers are going to lose the signal,   which in the case of a relay won't be the case,   at most tens of thousands!! I believe the Shetland relay is spec'd to 95% and I'm told that it often does produce sub standard pictures. Much the same can be applied to satellite,   unless you need the pics for 100% of the time it's not worth the extra investment.    Anyway,   being personally interested in things technical it's boring if they work the whole time!! 80 cms should be fine for almost all but the worst clouds and rain. With regard to the other debate about cable,   I've never used anything but bog standard sat cable and I've never had any problems,  even on 40 m runs.   I would be really sure to check that the dish is giving its all before relying on a cable upgrade to make the magical difference.   But as we've all advised here before,   connections en-route are very bad news and do need sorting out,   and if all else fails then of course it's worth making sure the cable is top quality and the advice you've already been given is excellent.  .     Report

12/05/2008, 15:29 Tim Joined on 19/03/2007 76 Haute Normandie Posts 430 Re: More channels FTA this morning Thanks Ernie - I meant to say in my rather lengthy "lecture" that the tape should be stretched to be effective, so thanks for the clarification. I have seen it at Maplins when in the UK but I wonder whether if anyone has seen it France? I've never had to look for the stuff myself as a couple of rolls I have in stock have lasted quite a long time, but the day will come when I will need to get some more. The Google translator suggests 'auto fusion' which seems to describe it quite well. Anybody have any better ideas?   Regards - Tim    Report

12/05/2008, 16:42 gosub Joined on 15/01/2008 North 47 Posts 239 Re: More channels FTA this morning "I have seen it at Maplins when in the UK but I wonder whether if anyone has seen it France? I've never had to look for the stuff myself as a couple of rolls I have in stock have lasted quite a long time, but the day will come when I will need to get some more. The Google translator suggests 'auto fusion' which seems to describe it quite well. Anybody have any better ideas?" It does exist in France and it has several uses one is supposed to be a pipe repair tape, I have some around I will try to find out the name of the product.   Les    Report

12/05/2008, 16:45 Martinwatkins Joined on 23/08/2004 W Devon/NE Perigord Posts 972 Re: More channels FTA this morning Why does my Aviatar (if it had a picture which it doesn't) now say "Top 200 posts".   I've only just noticed. Oh - two minutes later - it doesn't anymore,  I'm back to the pill symbols.    Report

Page 6 of 8 (69 items) « First ... < 4 5 6 7 8 >

France Forum » Living » French Satellit... » Re: More channels FTA this morning

(Quick links) Forums Home |- Search Forums |- Active Topics |- Unanswered Posts User Options |- Sign In |- Join this community |- Forgot Password About This Forum (READ ONLY) |- About This Forum Moving |- Finding/Owning French Property |- Making the Move From Outside the EU |- Long-Term Letting |- Employment Vacancies in France Legal and Finance |- French Legal Issues |- French Finance Building and Renovation |- House Renovations |-- Working with Wood Living |- Earning a Living |- Driving |- French Education |- Pets |- Animal Welfare, Rescue & Protection |- French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone |- Health |-- Changes to Healthcare Entitlement, CPAM, CMU and Cartes Vitales |- Swimming Pools in France Owning/Running a Business |- French Artisans |- Gite Owners |- Hotel and Restaurant Owners |- B&B/Chambres d'Hôtes Owners Leisure and Pastimes |- Gardening |- Sport, Leisure and Pastimes |- Shopping |- French Antiques, Arts & Crafts |- Photography |- Motorcycling in France |- Books and Literature |- Getting Married in France |- Pregnancy and Birth French Culture |- French Food and Wine |- French Culture |- French Language |-- French Language FAQs and Useful Links |- Wildlife/Nature/Environment |- French History Travelling to/from France |- Travelling to/from France |- Latest Good Value Deals to/from France Holidays |- Holidays General Discussion |- The Complete France Post Bag |- The Lighter Side |- Other Topics |- Forum Technical Support |- Useful Links About France/French Living Regions |- HOTEL SEARCH |- Central |- North East |- North West |- Paris Ile de France |- South East |- South West |- East |- West |- Corsica and DOM-TOMs