Beginners guide to satellite TV.

There are three main types of satellite TV UK: Sky digital, BBC Freesat TV and Euro digital satellite TV.

For sky TV and BBC Freesat  please see our Sky digital BBC Freesat pages,

If you are interested in our hobby English speaking Euro TV system please read on.

Did you know that there are thousands of TV and radio channels broadcasting FREE from all over Europe.

With the correct receiver this is possible; sometimes you can even use your old analogue sky dish.

There are many ways to receive these stations, below is a simple guide you may find helpful.

Free To Air TV channels. (FTA)

Technomate TM-5200 D FTA receiver. Prefect for receiving English and foreign language FREE TO AIR TV channels, this receiver can be used for fixed or motorised system.

FTA + Blind Search + 10000 Channels + SPDIF Digital Audio + USALS/DiSEqC 1.2 + Auto Navigation + TV OUT

The new USB Technomate range from FTA up High Definition insert your USB stick for loading the latest patches ( free channels) photos from your pc, mp3 music and you can even record your favourite programmes .

If your looking to see hundreds of free TV channels without using programmers this is the receiver for you,

High definition satellite TV  receiver

Technomate TM 6900 SUPER BLACK HD USB PVR ready

This is the new super model, now has  2 x USB sockets, Ethernet Communication Port, SATA Port,  blind search and PLL type RF-Modulator (Ch. 21- 69) and UHF tuning function

Will receive all BBC freesat channels plus hobby channels and can be used for BBC HD, ITV HD channel 4 HD

Fully patchable for hundreds of free channels includes free support forum here

The new Technomate TM6900 HD combo is the latest high definition satellite receiver from Technomate. Based on the Tm1500 CI super, has all the same easy and colourful menus with a few extra features.

With the 1080 output you will be amazed with the picture quality even on SD normal pictures are improved compared to the normal Technomate range.

The TM 6900 as a full USB 2 x sockets one at the front and one at the back for the use of many features such as the following below.

Freeview terrestrial

Built in freeview terrestrial tuner so you can watch channels like Channel 4, E4, E4 +1, More 4, Film 4, Channel 5, Five live, five US, Dave, Virgin one, Sky three, Nuts TV, TMF, and many more.

IP satellite receivers

Ip satellite receivers are the same as any normal satellite box but have a Ethernet port connection witch plugs in to your home broadband router. ( if your broadband router is far away wire less home plugs can be used see image below)

This allows users to connect to the internet via they router where they can  download software upgrade, plugs in and some times can be used for keys.

Ip receivers are also known for card sharing some can be used for paid servers or free servers and some times card to card. ( please note in some countries this may be illegal and should only be used when lawful. )

Linux dream boxes

The Linux-based software used by Dreambox was originally developed for DBox2, by the Tuxbox project. The Dbox2 was a proprietary design distributed by KirchMedia for their pay TV services. The bankruptcy of KirchMedia flooded the market with unsold boxes available for Linux enthusiasts. The Dreambox shares the basic design of the DBox2, including the Ethernet port and the PowerPC processor.

Its firmware is officially user-upgradable, since it is a Linux-based computer, as opposed to third-party "patching" of alternate receivers. All units support Dream's own DreamCrypt conditional access (CA) system, with software-emulated CA Modules (CAMs) available for many alternate CA systems. The built-in Ethernet interface allows networked computers to access the recordings on the internal hard disks on some Dreambox models. It also enables the receiver to store digital copies of DVB MPEG transport streams on networked filesystems or broadcast the streams as IPTV to VideoLAN and XBMC Media Center clients.

How can I get more than one satellite?

You can have more than one dish or have up to four 'offset feed' LNBs on the same dish, but at most can only be for satellites with in 10-15 º of each other. A motorised dish will provide a greater selection of satellites from across the whole sky. Users of small dishes up to 90cm can use a simple DISEQC 1.2 motorised mount as above. These dishes will track 40º west to 40º east of South. Current planning regulations state that every home is allowed a single dish up to 90cm diameter.

What are pirate viewing cards? ( gamma card being the latest)

Pirate viewing cards are blank cards programmed with keys for one or more subscription TV channels or packages. These cards are can be known as Gamma card, m2 plus card, fun card, gold card,   It's not illegal to own or produce viewing cards for personal use, but all activities relating to commercial production are illegal.

Files and forum here

What are hobby CAMS module ? ( Latest must have module is the Diablo cam2, the first one )

Hobby cams are third party designed sold as a blank PCMCIA ( Personal Computer Memory Card International Association)  examples,  Diablo cam2, Diablo light 2.3, T rex 4.6,  Dragon cam 4.1, magic cam, matrix cam

They can be used for using you prepaid subscription  viewing card. or with third party software can contain the information for several types of encrypted channels, for use with or without viewing cards containing keys to decrypt TV  packages. 

No cards are  needed with some cams using the correct software CAM is short for Conditional Access Module.

Files and forum here

Official  Viaccess2 cam below.

Official cams like Viaccess2 ,Irdeto and Conax are only mainly used for official viewing cards ART sports. MCT  sex TV,  Sexview TV, Digitalb, these cams can not be used for third party software.

What are satellite TV viewing card programmers?

A Programmer is a device to program a Smart card or Programmable Integrated Circuit or Eeprom and as such is a passive product it can be put to perfectly legitimate use. Although laws vary from country to country you are responsible for what you decide to do with your programmer.

What are satellite TV viewing CAM programmers? ( Cas 3 plus shown below will programme every know card and cam)

A CAM  Programmer is a device to program a Diablo, Dragon and T REX cams This product it can be put to perfectly legitimate use. this unit is called a cas3 plus interface and can programme cams and  cards, great for all hobby users needs. 

Although laws vary from country to country you are responsible for what you decide to do with your programmer.

Adult viewing cards.

Hardcore adult viewing cards Our Adult viewing cards have no contracts or any ties, you simply purchase push your card in to the receiver and in must cases your card will self activate. After the subscription period ends your card will simply expire. It is important that you know what type of encryption viewing card you require be your purchase. We can supply a full range of adult cards for most encryptions; if you can't see the one you want feel free to contact us. You must be over 18 years to purchase these adult cards.

Don't forget we have lots more information on our hobby systems, you will be amazed what you will found out. Start saving you hard earned  money today!

support forum here  everything you will ever need to know. It is free to be a member.

All the information quoted here  has been taken from the internet.

Last updated 26th May  2010