What is the cheapest DVB-S receiver that will pick up SBS?

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grant_k

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Topic # 100642 15-Apr-2012 20:07

I have a friend who is interested in watching SBS, but she wants a very simple box. The Dish TV S7010 seems to be capable of picking up SBS by virtue of the blind scan:

http://www.dishtv.co.nz/images/stories/Brochures/DishTV_S7010PVR_brochure.pdf

Is this the simplest box that would do the job?
For those who have tried Dish TV boxes, would you recommend them?

Are there others I should be looking at?

Jaxson

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Reply # 609729 15-Apr-2012 21:08

Most any satellite receiver will get SBS, it does not require a blind scan feature.

I like the warehouse satellite receiver at the mo. It's an official freeview box, but allows you to add other channels as well.

Thunderflash

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Reply # 609738 15-Apr-2012 21:27

Any satellite receiver will pick up SBS, The biggest issue you will have is setting the correct angle of the LNB just right so you can still get NZ freeview at the same time, SBS use's a V signal where as NZ use's H

grant_k

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Reply # 609743 15-Apr-2012 22:14

Thanks guys. I will check out the Warehouse one, it sounds like it could be a good option.

Another friend has a Freeview-approved box and it definitely wouldn't let you add other channels because we tried.

Yes, I know about the V-Pol issue as I recently installed a new LNB and spent a bit of time getting the skew peaked on the SBS channels.

injuised

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Reply # 609755 15-Apr-2012 22:50

grant_k: Thanks guys. I will check out the Warehouse one, it sounds like it could be a good option.

Another friend has a Freeview-approved box and it definitely wouldn't let you add other channels because we tried.

Yes, I know about the V-Pol issue as I recently installed a new LNB and spent a bit of time getting the skew peaked on the SBS channels.

its only the dse and zinwell that are locked to freeview

grant_k

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Reply # 609760 15-Apr-2012 23:12

injuised: its only the dse and zinwell that are locked to freeview

Thanks for clarifying that. I knew about Zinwell, but not about DSE. Will make a note to avoid both of them.

garbonzai

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Reply # 609761 15-Apr-2012 23:25

I have the S7070, the previous model that does not have the USB and gets SBS fine, you just have to add a new Transponder in 'Transponder setup'.

FOR a Dish TV S7070

Satellite->                      Optus D1
Transponder->   name it what you want (SBS TAS)
Frequency-> 12648
Symboirate-> 12600
Polarization->    VERT
Network Search-> ON

The above is in the same order in Transponder setup, you will see the bars come up with signal, scan it to pickup SBS, go into channel manger and delete the doubleups.

Cheers

Desktop AMD Ryzen 1600/RX-580/24GB Ram/29" UHD monitor, 1 laptop, Galaxy S7, Huawei something, raspberry PI, Sony Android TV plus other gadgets..... and puss (cat)

GeekGuy

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Reply # 609771 16-Apr-2012 00:47

injuised:
grant_k: Thanks guys. I will check out the Warehouse one, it sounds like it could be a good option.

Another friend has a Freeview-approved box and it definitely wouldn't let you add other channels because we tried.

Yes, I know about the V-Pol issue as I recently installed a new LNB and spent a bit of time getting the skew peaked on the SBS channels.

its only the dse and zinwell that are locked to freeview

I had a Zinwell and configured it to receive the SBS channels after reading someone on here doing it. It took a little bit of configuring but it can be done.

Jaxson

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Reply # 609789 16-Apr-2012 06:36

SBS does have one HD channel, (a copy of SBS 1), and this requires a unit capable of DVB-S HD, which in practice means purchasing a DVB-S2 capable box. However, any standard DVB-S only box will be capable of displaying the SD SBS channels, as long as you can add the required transponder, and receive enough signal to feed it...

grant_k

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Reply # 609842 16-Apr-2012 09:58

Thanks again for those extra tips. My Vu Duo receives SBS HD and it looks very nice even though it is 720p rather than 1080i. The picture is much sharper than anything on Freeview or Sky, with the exception of the TVNZ/TV3 HD channels.

Jaxson

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Reply # 609847 16-Apr-2012 10:06

grant_k: Thanks again for those extra tips. My Vu Duo receives SBS HD and it looks very nice even though it is 720p rather than 1080i. The picture is much sharper than anything on Freeview or Sky, with the exception of the TVNZ/TV3 HD channels.

Yes, the Vu Duo is definitely DVB-S2 capable.

Can you clarify your statement above please?
Do you get TVNZ/ TV3 channels in HD on your Vu Duo, or do you get this because you are a SKY subscriber and using your Sky card in your Vu Duo receiver?

I'd like to know if there are unencrypted HD versions of freeview channels available, perhaps off a Sky feed, which do not require a Sky card to access.....

grant_k

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Reply # 609853 16-Apr-2012 10:24

Jaxson: Can you clarify your statement above please?
Do you get TVNZ/ TV3 channels in HD on your Vu Duo, or do you get this because you are a SKY subscriber and using your Sky card in your Vu Duo receiver?

Yes, I am a Sky subscriber and I use the smart card from MySky, which now languishes in the cupboard. To be honest, I'm not sure how much longer I will keep the Sky sub going, because with access to SBS, I find we are watching the Sky channels less and less.

Jaxson: I'd like to know if there are unencrypted HD versions of freeview channels available, perhaps off a Sky feed, which do not require a Sky card to access.....

Sorry to disappoint, but no -- you have to pay the man :(

Jaxson

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Reply # 609871 16-Apr-2012 10:49

Nah that's fine, just wanted to confirm there has been no change there.
Thanks.

Username01

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Reply # 611129 18-Apr-2012 13:20

My Ultraplus HDMI700PVR gets both SBS 1 & 2. There's a newer 720, which is still under $130. The Openbox S9 may be the cheapest of the HD capable boxes - I've seen it at under $200.

xarqi

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Reply # 611208 18-Apr-2012 15:21

FWIW, I put in a Satlink 2800 (under $80) for a friend for SBS access using a 65 cm ex-sky dish. Works. SD only.