I am ready to switch from the free cablecom tv which seems to be removing the available channels just about every month.

I started looking into cablecom and bluewin for the pay tv but the offering does not impress me. Further, I want HD TV to go with the HDTV I just bought. Thus, it seems sat is the way to go . . . but I know nothing about sat tv.

I have read the forum posts here and found this package deal: http://www.satonline.ch/shop/detail_11287_Sat-Set-Swiss-Twin-Receiver-Ant.-LNB.php

With this package, I should be able to get Astra+Hotbird which should give me a large selection of free sat tv shows - right?

The question then is how do I go about getting the encoded sat TV shows like: Discovery, National Geographic, various US sports shows, various Sky tv channels, etc?

Thanks,

you'll need to pay and subscribe to get Sky. You're also best-off with their box.

You could get a couple of free HD channels but HD stuff is premium content and thus you pay for it.

US birds are behind the horizon so you're looking at a European provider.

Just be aware, there are more than one Astra satellite.

The UK channels (Sky) are on the satellite Astra 2A which is at 28.2 degrees East.

There is astra 1 which is the German channels which is at 19 degrees East and hotbird at 13 (German/ French and Middle East) degrees East.

What I am saying is that if you point your dish at the UK channels ie Sky which has a number of subscription HDTV channels then you will not
be able to pick up Astra one and hotbird via the same dish.


See other threads on receiving sky tv