"Newbie" Need good solid advice for setting up (football)

[fulabeer]

Hi
The recent Ukraine v England game has picked(swear checker won't allow "p icked" with a r??? LOL) my attention to alternatives for watching more football.

My viewing will strictly be for private use. Obviously, that means i cannot afford pub style ???? cards whether legal or not!

I already have the full SKY HD pack including ESPN HD.
I also have a season ticket to my team of choice!
I'm after getting as many English team(s) based games as possible.
I do try to get to as many away games as possible, but sometimes this just does not work out.
Therefore i would like to watch away games if available.
I did contact the club asking if a web-feed was possible for the away games (and offered to pay), but was told nothing doing.
So, i have exhausted all the normal and legit routes.
I'm paying as much as legally possible.
So, now i need some solid advice as to what my next options are.
I don't want to get into legal / or moral discussions, as these are very well covered on the net.
I just need to know what football is available, what equipment i need to get it, and where is the best place to buy from!

The last thing a want is to buy gear that is so cheap as to be useless, and again buy gear well beyond that i would ever need.
I want to get set up, and then start learning and enjoying as i go along. (the right gear will allow me to do this etc)
So fire away with what's hot and what's not!

As for the actual install...
I live in Manchester(UK), so would welcome suggestions/help fitting from any local experts.
I don't care if you are private or commercial as long as you know your stuff!

I am reading these forums as much as possible, but my experience so far is setting up SKY dishes which isn't exactly rocket science..LOL!
I do have a "Echostar DSB-808 2Ci VIAACCESS" box.
This was given for free, but seems old so is it of any use?
It has a "DigitAlb" card in it, but again i assume this is years old. (plus "Platinum" CAM - DVB?)

From my VERY limited reading, a motorised setup would be best, and around a 80/90cm dish.
So recommendations for these would be appreciated.
Also, what box should i be looking at? (Technomate for example?)
I assume they all work with motorised dishes?

Next, recommendations about cards/cams and codes (to keep costs as low as possible), would be MOST appreciated
Feel free to PM if advice isn't for discussion here. (we can take it to emails if required)

As mentioned, i just want the best advice. What/which route i take will be decided later.

Thanks for any advice given, as i get a feeling i'm really going to enjoy this hobby...

[kegnkiwi]

Hi mate,

Due to the now limited choice of packages open via patched box's and keys, only one package in english now remaining that being digt tv on thor. This package is soon to go and then thats it really. So its either an official sub to one of the major providers outside the uk ie. sky italia @ ?1200.00 per year or maybe canal + nordic @ ?1000.00. There are lots of different packages to choose from it just depends on what you want to pay. Usually the cheaper the option the less you get @ ?95.00 you can get an arte card of hotbird 13e it shows about 4 games a week but with no english audio. You could go for a digi albanian sub @ ?250.00 (ish) but they show no 3pm games. The you can go the route of server receivers. The protek 9600ip connects to your broadband and opens many packages. @ ?139.00 connected with a motorised dish package you will get lots of packages and lots of channels. The only downside to this is if the server or your broadband goes down then you will loose all. The server does go down from time to time but you will have to live with it. The last option is to go down the lines of a dreambox. Due to forum rules I cannot tell you any more on this but it will require you to pay an additional amount to get it connected.

ki

[fulabeer]

Thanks mate!
Also thanks to others..(PMs) etc
Keep the info coming this is great!!!

Wow, it is amazing what a couple of hours on the interweb can uncover!
I think a dreambox plus motorised 1.m dish seems to be my options.
So, any suggestions who to talk to around Manchester about installing a dish?
I actually think i would be ok to install myself, but may as well get the dish bit right etc.
Once everything is set up, i think i will need some special friends...LOL

What do people think of the HD dreamboxes?
Are there better of equal alternatives to the dreamboxes(including HD)?
The HD dreamboxes are more expensive, so is the HD content there to make it worth it? (i already have all the SKY HD/ESPN HD stuff from my SKY subs etc)
Also, how do i make sure i get a genuine box?
I will have a good read up in the dreambox section as well.

Again thanks for the info so far.

[kegnkiwi]

Mate if you have decided to go the dreambox route then good on ya. You can pick up a clone dreambox 800hd for ?170.00 delivered but I would strongly recommend you bite the bullet and go legit. I have a genuine dreambox 800hd and very impressed with it. Personally I don't care for any other box the dreambox's do want they say on the tin and do it well. Other box's such as the azbox just have too many issues and should be kept away from.

[satsid]

Mate if you have decided to go the dreambox route then good on ya. You can pick up a clone dreambox 800hd for ?170.00 delivered but I would strongly recommend you bite the bullet and go legit. I have a genuine dreambox 800hd and very impressed with it. Personally I don't care for any other box the dreambox's do want they say on the tin and do it well. Other box's such as the azbox just have too many issues and should be kept away from.

Azbox does have issues & quite alot that needs sorting out.Sport wise the 4.2.2 is very good with azbox,i dont think the dreams can do this.Format resolution is better than any other box doing 576i (480i), 576p (480p), 720p, 1080i, and 1080p.As far as i know,no other satellite receiver does this ATM.The above is something 2 think about.

[wooper]

Hi

Dreambox takes a bit of work, and if you can do that then maybe thats the route to take.

I have the Protek, as near to plug and play as you can get.

Along with my Sly and Vermin (via Kryptview) the protek suplements my footy needs spot on. Have not missed a man u or England match this season. ?109 mine cost, so really musnt grumble.

Am In St Helens with 1m motorised dish. I would advise to get the best you can for your money.

[.: JaCkPoT :.]

Firstly i know a installer in the manchester area, not sure whether u have already had contact with him yet. a dreambox is not the easiest thing to get running but with your current subscription you will make the "friends" alot faster.

[fulabeer]

Hi Jackpot
Please send me his details...
I'm keen to get the motor/dish setup first.
I think i will get a DreamBox 500HD as soon as they are released.
In the mean time, i will have a play with that old echostar to get used to searching/messing.
I will then need some "private" friends to limit any future trouble etc.
Do you know any friendly people who i could trust? LOL!
(Just to make it clear, i'm NOT looking for swingers!!! )

[wooper]

Trust no one!!!

[satsid]

Trust no one!!!

I second that in satellite.

[wooper]

Indeed Sid.

What you post in a forum or boast about in a pub.

The cc's and sly guys amongst others are over these forums like an ill fitting suit.

[satsid]

Hi wooper,this cc lark iv never done so it does not bother me.I wonder how many ip are in a data base today.

[fulabeer]

Indeed Sid.

What you post in a forum or boast about in a pub.

Once again i'm NOT talking about swinging!!! LOL...

I'm really itching to get started.(and NO that has nothing to do with the above!)
I'm almost as interested in what i can get now, with the football being secondary!

I'm intrigued to what is possible, but have yet to decide if it is for me.
Either way i'm going to have a great time finding out.

Quick question
Is there anything worth getting using the fixed "sky" dish? (55cm?)
I only ask this because i could connect my old echostar to a spare LNB.
This would only be to the weekend when i hope to be having a 1m motor dish installed.
Cheers...