Last updated June 2008. This information may be out of date!

>My location is: Manchester > >We want to receive German satellite TV here in the UK. How exactly can we >do this, what equipment do we need and can you recommend? Do we need to >join Sky or which satellite company? How many German channels is it >possible for us to receive? Lots. Most German language programmes are broadcast from the Astra-1 cluster of satellites located at 19 degrees East of South. Here's a list of digital transmissions: http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/astra19.htm At present many German programmes are broadcast in both analogue and digital modes but, of course, the analogue transmissions will be discontinued in the not-too-distant future. The analogue transmissions will make partial a switch-off on 6.11.04 and plan a complete switch-off on 1.1.05 . But, for the moment, you can use a (minimum) 60 cm dish with "universal" LNB and an analogue satellite receiver that will work with a "universal" or an "enhanced" (9.75 GHz) LNB. Analogue receivers are no longer readily obtained but you can probably get one from your local rubbish tip or from eBay or from one of the suppliers on this page: http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page10.htm That's the cheapest route and, when you can afford it, you simply swap the analogue receiver for a Free To Air digital receiver. Or you could go the digital route immediately. You do NOT need a subscription, card or CAM. You do NOT need Sky, although, if you might want Sky in future you should choose an 80 cm dish with a bracket for a second LNB. You do NOT need to "join" any satellite company. The German broadcasts are FREE! See http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/page9.htm >We have no equipment at present and we are not that wealthy so our >solution needs to be fairy cheap and easy. Do we need a German TV or will >a UK TV do? A UK TV is fine. >We will need exact instructions on how to set up any equipment or >direction towards a suitable engineer, web sites , shops or magazines. >We appreciate your help very much indeed Comprehensive instructions can be found in our eBooks. I recommend "Installing Sky Digital TV and Freesat" even though that is not what you are installing. Just remember that the satellite you want is at 19'E and not 28.2'E. If you install a "digital-ready" dish and universal LNB, you can be sure that it will work for both analogue and digital. If you install a dish aimed at 19'E with a bracket for a 2nd LNB aimed at 28.2'E it will also be ready for Sky Digital, should you want it. http://www.satcure.co.uk/book.htm As an introduction, download and read our FREE eBook "Understanding Sky Digital TV and Freesat". Much of my answer will not make sense to you until you've read the books and other information. So print out my reply and refer back to it, ticking off each point as you understand it. Hoffentlich genuegen diese Mitteilungen zur Moment. Sie haben ja viel zu lesen. (Oh, ja, ich kann auch deutsch :-).

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