Satellite television, originally, is divided into analog and digital. But analog television - yesterday - unsatisfactory signal quality, the number of channels is steadily declining, equipment is no longer being produced, and now there is no reason to install a set for receiving satellite analog television. Another thing is the digital broadcasting format - several thousand channels of various topics in all languages of the world and excellent image and sound quality.
1. Mandatory condition. To begin with, you should make sure that at the installation site of a satellite dish (or, as it is also called, dishes) there is an exit (open space not closed by nearby high-rise buildings or trees) to the south (all this is done due to the fact that all the satellites are hanging ' above the equator). This is easy to determine by finding out if there is sun in the room from 12:00 to 15:00, or by looking at neighbors' satellite dishes. If we are talking about a cottage, then the installation can be carried out on the roof (the south is open in any case), or on the ground if a large diameter plate is installed.
If this condition is absent, then the dish will either have to be taken to the roof of the building, which entails paying for additional cable wiring and installing a larger diameter antenna (and sometimes a number of other problems: a complicated roof, signal weakening ...), or you will have to completely abandon satellite television.
2. What will we watch? Next, you should decide which channels of which subject(s) and in which languages you are interested in. Currently, in Moscow and the Moscow region, signals from about fifteen satellites can be received. The most popular among them are: Hot Bird (more than 860 channels), Sirius (more than 100 channels), Astra (more than 300) and Eutelsat W4 (NTV Plus and about 10 more channels). Our experts will help you choose from this abundance the right satellite(s) and equipment.
3. Satellite dishes. Satellite dishes are made of aluminum (cheap and cheerful) or steel (more than twice as expensive). The signal level, and, consequently, the quality and number of channels, depends on the diameter of the satellite dish. So, for example, to receive NTV Plus channels, you will need a dish with a diameter of 60 cm, to receive channels from the Hot Bird satellite - 90 cm, for the Sirius satellite you can also use a 90 cm dish, but for confident reception even in bad weather, it is better to set 1 ,2 meters. And, for example, for good reception of all channels from the Astra satellite, you will have to fork out for a dish with a diameter of 1.8 m (it is clear that a dish of this size cannot be installed everywhere).
Stationary dishes, i.e. non-rotating are called azimuthal, rotary, which we will talk about later - polar.
Plates are: offset - when the converter is installed on one (lower) mount;
direct focus - the converter is placed on 3 mounts (not a practical and not common option);
4. Multifeeds, actuators and positioners. One dish with a diameter of at least 1.2 m, we can set up immediately for 2 satellites (Astra + Hot Bird or Sirius + Hot Bird or Astra + NTV Plus, etc.), and even 3 (Hot Bird + Astra + NTV Plus)!!! But for this you will have to purchase an additional converter (one for receiving a signal from one satellite, the other from another), a multifeed (a device for fixing two converters on one dish) and a disk switch that allows you to send a signal from several (up to four) converters or dishes per satellite receiver.
Also, a very common option is to install a rotary antenna (an antenna with a polar suspension), which allows you to receive almost all satellites. But for this you will have to additionally purchase an actuator (turn signal) and a positioner (a device that controls the actuator), or a receiver with a built-in positioner, or a motor suspension, which is more convenient to use, but less reliable mounting design.
There are two types of positioners: disk positioner - controls the rotation of the cymbal automatically when switching channels; just a positioner - has a separate remote control that needs to change the position of the plate manually.
Do not forget that with the help of a multifeed and / or positioner, your system can also be connected to satellite Internet! For more information about satellite Internet and providers, you can ask the manager.
Our organization is engaged in the installation of satellite dishes of almost any diameter.
5. Converters. The head, also known as a converter, is a device that, mounted on a dish, amplifies the received signal from the satellite and converts it to the range in which the receiver operates. We will not dwell on this device, since all of them are almost the same, have a noise factor of 0.3 to 0.6 Db (the main characteristic of the converter) and cost about the same, with the exception of some models. The only thing worth noting is that to receive most satellites, converters with linear polarization are needed, and for the Eutelsat W4 satellite (NTV Plus channels) - with circular polarization.
6. Channels and encodings. Almost all satellites have free channels - FTA channels (on the Hot Bird satellite, for example, there are more than 200 of them), which can be viewed without cards, subscription fees, and save on a satellite receiver (receiver), since receivers for open channels cost, of course, an order of magnitude lower. Paid (encoded) channels broadcast in various encodings (Viaccess, Mediaguard (in the people Seca), Irdeto, Betacrypt, Nagravision ...), and in order to see them you will have to purchase cards, a more expensive receiver, and in some cases, pay subscription fee.
7. Satellite receivers. Different receivers can open either one (Viaccess) or several encodings. The cost of the receiver depends on the manufacturer and additional features, but, as a rule, the more encodings the receiver can open, the more expensive it is. Some receivers for closed channels open only one encoding, others open two encodings, others can work with an additional module (compulsory presence of a COM port (Common Interfece) on the receiver), which allows you to open additional encodings, and there are receivers with an already built-in module. There are modules that allow you to view up to five encodings at once, which is much cheaper than buying a module for each encoding.
Recently, receivers with a hard disk (capacity from 40 Gb) have become popular, which allow you to record satellite broadcasts like a VCR, but they are also more expensive.
8. Cables. When installing satellite TV systems, we use Finmar cables. These are quality, reliable and popular cables - a great choice for any satellite TV set. It is worth noting that by saving and buying a 'cheaper' cable, you can suffer greatly from the fact that the signal reaches the receiver very 'damped' (not powerful enough), which will affect the picture quality.
9. Cards and access modules and programmers. To view scrambled channels, you must have an access card. On the territory of the Russian Federation, only the NTV-Plus television company has official rights to broadcast, and, consequently, to sell subscriber cards. All other TV companies whose channels can be viewed in Russia do not have the right to broadcast officially with us, so the only way to see them is through pirated maps. Finding such cards is not a problem, they are not expensive and come in two types: GoldWafer - supports up to 15 providers of the same encoding; FunCard - supports up to 40 providers of different encodings. All you have to do is write new codes (firmware) to the card when the old ones expire (their validity period is from 1 day).
To do this yourself, you will need a computer with Internet access and a programmer. A more convenient option is to purchase an access module with built-in encoding emulator (up to 7 pieces), it is more convenient to enter keys from the remote control, but a receiver with a CI slot is required.
10. Lack. A lot of all kinds of channels of excellent quality is certainly good, but in a barrel of honey, there is always ... One receiver - one TV. By installing one set for receiving satellite TV, you will not be able to make wiring throughout the house. The maximum that can be done is to watch the same channel on two (or more) TVs (similar to a VCR). So, if you want to watch satellite channels at two (or more) points - get a receiver for each TV.
