Hi,

Please can you help me get started with this digital HD sat stuff?

I'm in the Netherlands, so our providers etc are different.

I need to know...

1) What's this MPEG4 business everyone is talking about?
2) What's the best (in your opinion) sat receiver/decoder box thing? Must have HDMI or similar interfaces and preferably a hard drive to record to.

Plus - any other information you think I should know before I go spending?

Many thanks!

MPEG4 is a standard of video and audio compression. In the video compression world, there are many versions of MPEG4, the most popular in the TV world being "H.264". Audio compression technology is usually a product of a company called Dolby Labs (not sure if it's MPEG4 based).

I don't know the best box thing for your area. Note that component video outputs/inputs work just as well as HDMI for 720p and 1080i sources. HDMI is intended for upconverting DVD players and HD-DVD/Blu-Ray (including PS3) players.

I'm in the Netherlands, so our providers etc are different.

Most people in this forum are from the USA, with a few from Canada, so I think you had best look for a forum that caters to a European audience.

In the USA, satellite receivers are proprietary to a specific provider (either DirecTV or Dish Network) and do not work with other providers. We don't have "generic" satellite receivers.

Most people in this forum are from the USA, with a few from Canada, so I think you had best look for a forum that caters to a European audience.

In the USA, satellite receivers are proprietary to a specific provider (either DirecTV or Dish Network) and do not work with other providers. We don't have "generic" satellite receivers.

mattblack you could try PMing sneals2000. he's in the UK & knows quite a bit about sat. reception & equipment for the European market.

thanks for your answers. I thought there was generic stuff - damn.

Can't find a good forum over here, and you guys have been really helpful so far :-)

If it helps, it's just a normal satellite dish that connects to the Astra+ sats. Philips, Sony, etc all sell digital satellite decoders that work. Here's the provider's websites with a list of some they recommend...
http://www.canaldigitaal.nl/default.asp?id=407

Also, I don't speak Dutch so it's difficult finding a site here I can read. I can get any Dig Sat decoder, and just put the card in aparently (According to a guy in the philips shop - who was recommending their top dollar decorder that doesn't even have HDMI).

So - can you advise of a good decoder for normal sat dish?

Thanks in advance

matt i gave sneals a heads-up in another thread so you may hear from him. pretty sure he can help.

Hi matt

Are you based in the Netherlands? Which country do you want to watch TV from?

If you are a Brit ex-pat then I might be able to help - as some of the UK channels are FTA - including BBC HD, and it is likely ITV and C4 will launch HD services in the next 6 months or so as part of the proposed UK Freesat system (not to be confused with Sky's Freesat offering...)

Feel free to PM me.

Also avforums.com is a UK board with slightly similar content and more Europe-centric.

Hi Sneals, thanks for your reply.

Yes Im in the netherlands. I'd like TV from here and the UK if possible (Astra+2 sat?).

I really really just want as many HD chanels as possible, mainly in English. Almost all Dutch chanels are mainly English anyhow, they don't dub things here - just subs. But my sat box card will be for canaldigitaal.nl who don't give access to any HD chanels - does that mean they're filtering them out?

I'll be buying a dish with one of those double head things, which I think can then view from 2 sats(???). But I don't know...
a) Which sats to get the installer to point to
b) How I can get the chanels that my provider doesn't allow (Even if theyre broadcasting)

I'm happy to pay extra per month for the HD stuff, but it's not even an option with canaldigitaal (The only provider here). I don't want to go down the illegal/unlocking card road but they may push me into doing so if they don't give me any options for HD soon. HD has been out for ages, yet we seem to be lagging far behind. Cable here only offers 2 chanels!

Thanks for your help

Ok Ive found a good receiver...
Technomate TM-6900
Looks ace but not available anywhere, only pre-orders and Sold Out signs. :-(

I can figure out the satellites to point to, think I know now from reading other forums (Appreciate its diff for US).

But how do I get the chanels that my provider wont let me pay for? Even if theyre being broadcast? Do these CAM things help? If so which would I need and do I need extra cards etc for them?

Cheers!

For the UK FTA (Free to Air - unencrypted) stuff - BBC and ITV plus Sky News etc. - any DVB receiver will work if fed by a dish/LNB pointed at the Astra2/Eurobird slot at 28.2-28.5. However, at the moment, if you want Channel Four or Five, you need a FTV (Free to View - encrypted but no sub required) currently you need a Sky Digital receiver specifically (available for little cost on eBay) and either a lapsed Sky subscription card or a FTV card (available for £20)

However sometime soon it is expected that C4 and 5 will switch to FTA as part of the BBC/ITV Freesat operation - providing a Freeview like service for those who can't receive Freeview.

BBC HD is currently the only non-Sky encrypted HD service in the UK - and the only service that can be officially received on a non-Sky HD box.

You have a couple of solutions.

1. Two dishes, two LNBs, two receivers. In other words you have two independent systems, one for Dutch TV, one for British TV.

2. Two dishes, two LNBs, one receiver and a switch.

3. One dish, two LNBs and a multiple LNB arm, a switch and one receiver. However Astra 1 and Astra 2 are a long way apart in the Sky so this might not be a great solution.

4. A motorised dish with one LNB and one receiver.

(Most decent receivers will remotely control an LNB switch using a protocol called Diseq - though there are various versions of this protocol so you have to ensure the switch is compatible)

The key question for 2-4 is whether a single receiver will do everything you want - decode the Canal Digitaal.nl bouquet, HD and the UK channels you want. (Depends if you want C4 or Five as to whether any receiver will work or you need a Sky box)

Option 1 would be probably the simplest, and could be the cheapest, as eBay is a plentiful source of Sky gear, if HD weren't a priority.

Option 4 is probably the most flexible, as you will be able to point at any satellite visible - and won't be tied to just two. If you can find a receiver that does everything you want - and are prepared to settle with just BBC and ITV services (may need a slightly larger dish than the UK - but probably not much more as the Netherlands is close to the UK) then this is probably a good solution - though setting it up may require some assistance from a decent satellite dealer.

When Freesat starts up there will be a UK standard EPG and possibly interactive implementation - so it may be worth holding fire for a while if you are interested in a satellite PVR for UK stuff - which would be back to option 1. (Some Freesat receivers are going to offer HD it is thought - and ITV have announed HD via Freesat)

wow - thanks so much for your advice mate. U clearly spent some time writing that, and I totally appreciate your efforts.

I'll certainly bookmark this page, then when I get my new pad on 1st of november I'll decide what to do. Option 4 sounds good, but the motorised business sounds expensive.

Many thanks again, I'll let you know how I get on.

PS: All the UK stuff aint that important. I live without it now, and almost all the Dutch chanels are purely in English (Unlike other europeans, the Dutch all speak English. So they don't dub anything ever - just add subs).

Cheers!

Unlike other europeans, the Dutch all speak English.Also, unlike the U.S. population. ;)