Free to Air (FTA) English Channels Using multiple Dishes
On another page we discuss all the English TV channels broadcast from UK TV providers. In addition to these channels there are the English channels from the Badr satellite at 26° East and the same channels (more or less) from Nilesat at 7° West, these satellites have excellent English channels in English with Arabic subtitles (non removable).
There are also some FTA English Channels on the Hotbird satellite at 13° East and the Astra satellite at 19° East, but they are not worth bothering with unless you have a motorized satellite system.
To access multiple Satellites with one set top box you need to have one of the following systems (which are further discussed below):
- Multiple dishes
- Single dish with two LNBs
- Motorized dish
Multiple Dishes
With this system, detailed elsewhere, you have two or more dishes connected to one set top box. Each satellite is orientated to a different satellite. This system is used when the channels required are from satellites that far apart. For Example Astra at 28° East and Nilesat at 7° West
One Dish with two LNBs
With this system you have one dish with two or more LNBs connected to one set top box. The dish and one first LNB is tuned a satellite. The 2nd LNB is placed alongside the 1st LNB and adjusted so it picks up the signals from an adjacent satellite. This system is used when the channels required are from satellites close together .For Example Astra at 28° East and Badr at 26° East.
Motorized dish
With this system the motor drives the dish left to right. As stated elsewhere I don't recommend this system for the average user.
maximising the number of FTA English Channels (small dish and TDT Antenna)
My choice is to install an offset 1.2m dish with two LNB's. One of these LNB's would be a twin (Inverter makes the best twin LNB for offset dishes) and the other LNB would be a single narrow type (inverter).
The twin LNB is aimed at Astra satellite at 28° East and the single LNB is aimed at the Badr satellite at 26°.
One cable from the twin LNB will go directly to a Sky Box to access the ITV 1, channel 4 and the Five family. The other cable from the twin LNB will go to the diseqc switch. From the other narrow single LNB the cable will also go the diseqc switch, From the diseqc the outlet cable will go to a generic set top box. The terrestrial antenna will also connect to the diseqc switch as illustrated below
This relatively inexpensive system will give you a huge amount of free English channels including the Spanish digital terrestrial TV where many of the films and documentary channels can viewed in English.
The basic Sky package sells for around €19 per month and provides fantastic TV and fits really well with this installation.