SKY TV in Shetland

[Sudden Stop]

Local guy came last december and installed a dish which I swear wasn't new. It began to rust within a few days and now (eight months later) looks an hell of a sight. I'm not talking about a few scabby edges - the WHOLE thing, the bracket, the lnb arm and the dish itself are all in very poor nick.

 

The dish we had at the old house was about nine years old when we moved but was still in resonable condition. We moved to a much more sheltered place and the dish has been installed in a very sheltered position. I'm not impressed.

[MaxFusion]

this is where I got my last dish from

http://www.dastv.co.uk/shop.php

 

£30.55 including postage for a new dish and lnb

(standard zone 2 dish)

 

£6.30 for a satellite finder from Ebay

and £13.50 for a second hand box, again from ebay

 

half an hour to bolt it together and set it up....a lot less hassle than bothering Sky(and quicker too), all you need them for is the card

 

enjoi

[TeeAyBee]

this is where I got my last dish from

http://www.dastv.co.uk/shop.php

 

£30.55 including postage for a new dish and lnb

(standard zone 2 dish)

 

£6.30 for a satellite finder from Ebay

and £13.50 for a second hand box, again from ebay

 

half an hour to bolt it together and set it up....a lot less hassle than bothering Sky(and quicker too), all you need them for is the card

 

Much the same as my experience in installing Sky+ - although I did get some grief when I tried to get the card linked to the STB. They took three attempts to get it right before they managed to get my account switched on eight hours later. Third attempt I spoke to someone with a Scots accent who apologised profusely for the troubles and got me activated correctly in five minutes. The problem (apparently) was that the people in the call centre couldn't understand *my* accent.

[trooter]

I also had same phone call a couple of weeks ago wanting to know about any problems with my Sky and to refer me to an engineer. Today I had a phone call saying my warranty had expired and would I like to extend it. I declined this too my warranty probably ran out 10 years ago! Just some company trying to make easy money, although they reckoned they could get an engineer out quicker than Sky.

[Boogaloo]

Seems at long last we in Shetland have an alternative to being held to ransom by Sky TV.

 

I was altered to a new business that is just starting up called IsleSat - http://www.islesat.com

 

I called the guy who is in Bigton and he was most helpful. I have booked an appointment in Sept to have a multi-sat dish installed. Not only am I going to be able to pick-up all the Freeview stations on the Sky sat, but apparently I'll be able to watch over 2,000 other stations completely free on 3 others satellites! And all for less than £200 installed which includes a new receiver that also acts to turn a motorised dish in the future. I'm looking forward to dispensing with my rusty Sky dish and won't need to use my Sky Card or pay any monthly subscription either - Yippee!

 

This type of service is long overdue on the island. I'll let you know how I get on in Sept after the installation.

[Guest Anonymous]

^^^Just had a look at the IsleSat website. Looks Good.

 

One little thing on the website which is must likely just a typo, is the bit about the digital switchover in 2010.

The gist of it reads that a TV aerial will be no use after 2010, which is slightly misleading as digital terrestrial TV will be available from all the current TV transmitters.

Just thought I'd point that out in case folks with terrestrial Digital TV's and set top boxes start to panic that their service will end.

 

Anyway, All the best to IsleSat on their new venture.

[JustMe]

Quote from the IsleSat website

In 2010 all analogue TV transmissions in the Northern Isles will cease and your TV aerial will probably end up in the recycling skip. In order to watch TV after 2010 you'll NEED a satellite dish and a digital satellite receiver. However, the choice of stations you'll be able to view (even now) is vast - and is 'Free to Air' without any monthly subscription. Sky or FreeSat is an option - but we offer a 'third' option.

That is not a typo.........it is completely misleading and should be changed which is a pity as I like the idea of the service and may well use it.

[Boogaloo]

Thanks for mentioning about terrestrial digital TV. I never did like the idea because according to Freeview it may be difficult to use my old VCR, as I could with a sat receiver hook-up.

 

Anyway, I spoke with the chap at IsleSat this evening and he confesses the information he received about Freeview was in fact out of date and apologised for the error. Apparently, it wasn't clear whether the whole of Shetland was going to be able to receive digital terrestrial after 2010. I've noticed he's now updated his website this:

 

In 2010 all analogue TV transmissions in the Northern Isles will cease. In order to watch television after 2010 you'll NEED either a terrestrial digi-box or a satellite dish and a digital satellite receiver. However, the choice of 'free' stations you'll be able to view with a terrestrial digi-box will be somewhat limited (and sometimes less when the micro-link goes down!), as compared with the vast number of uninterrupted channels available (even now) 'Free to Air' from a correct sized satellite dish. Although terrestrial 'freeview' is subscription free, current satellite 'Free to Air' channels can be easily received without any monthly subscription. More importantly, it's not necessary to be contracted to Sky or FreeSat or engage them to install a satellite dish or a receiver. This is why IsleSat offers a 'third' option that can ultimately provide many more choices for the avid viewer.

 

Anyway, he seems to know all about satellites and I'm more than satisfied and will certainly be going ahead with with my multi-sat installation next month. I'll be glad NOT to have to deal with Sky any longer!

[Guest Anonymous]

Nice to see that bit corrected. Although experience has shown that the microwave links have been remarkably stable, and a sight more reliable than a satellite dish which is falling apart with rust. But, that's just my hatred of old rusty dishes. I've always said that in Shetland the only answer is a heavy duty galvanized or GRP dish, ground mounted wherever possible, (on a pole you could anchor the Northlink boats to), is the way to go.

 

Re. Terrestrial Freeview channels. I still haven't managed to find out yet how limited the service will be from the relay stations, such as Fitful. I believe that the same frequencies, which currently transmit analogue will be used, which will mean that the service available from these transmitters will be less than that of Bressay. However I have had confirmation that the Bressay digital signal will be increased by 3dB (50%) when the change over happens, so that will help some folk who are in marginal areas.

(Sorry if that's a bit off topic)

[X8]

Seems that you get all the same channels as when you stop subscribing to sky, you wont get Men & Motors, Discovery channels, Euro-sport etc, but soon you will get channel 5 and a few others that will be released from the clutches of BskyB.

I hear that Moto GP is going from Euro sport next year to BBC?

 

Here is a forum that might be usefull to some:

 

http://forums.digitalworldz.co.uk

[Boogaloo]

Seems that you get all the same channels as when you stop subscribing to sky, you wont get Men & Motors, Discovery channels, Euro-sport etc, but soon you will get channel 5 and a few others that will be released from the clutches of BskyB.

I hear that Moto GP is going from Euro sport next year to BBC?

 

Here is a forum that might be usefull to some:

 

http://forums.digitalworldz.co.uk

 

When Islesat install my new dish it will be hooked-up to a Technomate 5400 receiver. Being 'patched' I've discovered I'll be able to pick-up all of the above and more - free!

 

See: http://www.digitalworldz.co.uk/showthread.php?t=178620&page=4

 

I've been told it's not really "legal" - but is it legal of Murdoch to charge Sky subscribers to watch stations he doesn't actually own such as Ch5, Eurosport & CNBC?!

[Marooned in Maywick]

Hmmm, just had the cold call meself.

 

Strongly accented female "Hello, we were just calling to see if your Sky system was working properly or if you were experiencing any problems with it."

Me "No, no problems. It's working splendidly. Good bye."

Strongly accented female started to say something but the phone was on its way back to the cradle by then.

 

Thanks to Shetlink for the heads up - I could've been on there yet!!

[trooter]

Who installs sky systems here now? My sister has ordered Sky+ and was told it would be installed by Highland Aerials, she argued with Sky that they would not come up here to install, but Sky wouldn't have it. She then phoned Highland Aerials who confirmed they would not come up.

[MuckleJoannie]

Who installs sky systems here now?

 

There is a guy from Brae who has done work for us on behalf of Sky. I think he trades as North Lea Developments but I could be wrong.

[JordanKZ]

Here's the real question, why does it take 2 months to get someone to install Sky for you? Is there only one person doing it in Shetland or something?