B&Q Satellite - Ross freesat box and dish - Page 14

**Chris** · 23-10-2010, 03:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmt1

Hi Chris I wish I read that in the first place! Any suggestions on which to buy? I would idealy like one with usb so I could then record onto a stand alone hard drive.

Many Thanks in advance.

You can archive via USB on the Humax Foxsat-HDR, which is the most popular Freesat PVR. It costs a bit more than Â£40 though (About Â£210 at the moment I believe).

Whether you can do it with any of the cheaper models, I don't know - but http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/ is a good source of info on what's available, it might be worthwhile doing some reading there.

El En Bee · 25-10-2010, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmt1

I must say this satellite is one of the worse things I have ever bought. Trying to configure it for starters is a nightmare. Then there is trying to set up a scheduled recording, this is ni on impossible! Oh and then half the time it say's that there is no usb hard drive, well it either keeps moving or playing hide and seek because I haven't moved it.
One thing for sure is that after 2 days of trying to work it out is that tomorrow it will be back in the box and on it's way back to B&Q.

I didn't find configuring the receiver that bad. I've not tried a USB HD yet, but have tried a memory stick and that works really well (HD playback quality is excellent).

The only 'problem' I'm having at the moment is that the 'duration' feature of the 'Timer' function doesn't seem to work properly. The receiver switches on and starts to record as expected - but continues on recording after the specified stop time. Any ideas anyone?

Regarding your USB HD - is it powered via the USB lead or does it have a dedicated PSU? Either way there might be a power or HD spin up issue.

Incidentally, I've ordered a couple of external enclosures (from Dealextreme) for the two 2.5" IDE HD's I've got hanging around - so I'll be trying those within the next couple of weeks. They're powered via the USB connection - I'll let you know how I get on!

Kymmy · 25-10-2010, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by El En Bee

The only 'problem' I'm having at the moment is that the 'duration' feature of the 'Timer' function doesn't seem to work properly. The receiver switches on and starts to record as expected - but continues on recording after the specified stop time. Any ideas anyone?

Padding??? SOme timer systems have a setting that will continue recording for a few minutes after the off time so that you don;t miss the very end if a program is a tiny bit late.. Have you tried leaving it and seeing how long the recording continues for??

El En Bee · 25-10-2010, 17:18

No I haven't - I only let it run for just over 2 minutes. Perhaps It'll shut off after 3 mins or so?

I'll give it a whirl at the weekend when I get back to the caravan!

foggys916 · 27-10-2010, 00:13

Hi, first time caller.....

Brought a Ross HD setup a couple of months back for my mother in law. Installed and tuned OK (although I took the indicated azimuth and elevation figures, on the dish mounting, with a pinch of salt!).

This is connected to a Panasonic flat screen 28 inch (not sure of model at the moment) via hdmi.

However rather randomly the TV screen will go blank during viewing. You'll get the TV come up with the indicator that shows its on the hdmi 1 input (letting you know as there is now no input to it).

I've tried both of the two hdmi inputs, same problem, therefore I'm suspecting its the receiver box rather than the TV.

Anyone else heard of this fault?

Cheers

Steve

El En Bee · 27-10-2010, 09:10

It could be the cable rather than the port - try another. I usually buy my HDMI cables from www.ebuyer.com for around Â£4 and have had no problems with any of them.

arthurcalland · 30-10-2010, 13:22

Hi, I am a bit new to forums so sorry in advance for any gaffs.

Just bought the ROSS HD Freesat kit from B&Q (Â£45) and have installed it by rule of thumb. I am delighted with it except for two things.

1. It gets all the Freesat channels except some CH4. Sadly not the 4HD channel. Do you think it is pointed at the right satelite, and needs to be scanned. There is a cluster of four or five channels all showing CH4. Culd it be that they are juggling the channels around?

2. The usb socket on the back only records intermittently. I have been using a 4gb stick (because desktop HDDs and my passport are not recognised by the box. Will a larger memory stick make any difference?

Words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Arthur

**Chris** · 30-10-2010, 13:30

Hello Arthur

Channel 4HD is encrypted and currently only available on satellite if you have a Sky subscription. I think it's inevitable that will change eventually but for the time being you can't get it.

Channel 4SD has a number of regional variations to allow advertisers to choose which parts of the country they want to be seen in. I am not familiar with the Ross box itself so I don't know how you go about selecting your channels, however the information you need in order to choose the right version of C4 for you is all here:

http://www.flysat.com/28east.php

Kymmy · 30-10-2010, 16:02

C4 is also not FTA, both SD and HD channels are encrypted.. They are though currently still discussing a move onto freesat from the sky FTV platform

[edit] weird Chris that site gives c4 as FTA yet I rescanned yesterday and C4 was still encrypted.. Will take a new peek once I've re-adjusted my dish (Diseqc is slightly out atm)

**Chris** · 30-10-2010, 16:15

There is a fully Free-To-Air broadcast of Channel 4 SD. There has been since just before Freesat launched in 2008. It took them a little while to get their other channels FTA but now all of them are, with the exception of 4Music.

Kymmy · 30-10-2010, 16:18

Weird then... I can always just telnet in and add them directly on my box but suprised the latest scan didn't pick them up..

arthurcalland · 31-10-2010, 11:53

Thanks everybody,

Your comments on Channel 4 broadcasts were very helpful.

Almost all the other problems I was experiencing were corrected with a software update from the Ross website. Even usb recording is problem free now, and about 100 extra channels appeared on the list.

So, for Â£45 (Â£5 coffin-dodgers discount) Ross and B&Q have given me a super little system which includes everything, dish, box, cable, and even the HDMI lead.

Thanks again for your help, much appreciated.

Arthur

Kymmy · 31-10-2010, 12:14

Just found out why I can't get C4.. Co-ax sprang a leak and the deteriation was stopping the 22khz switching tone on the Universal LNB..

Meant I was missing out on all of the lower and higher channels..

Glad I'm not some bloke who doesn't know a thing about technology

Long live the girls

---------- Post added at 11:14 ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by arthurcalland

Thanks everybody,

Your comments on Channel 4 broadcasts were very helpful.

Almost all the other problems I was experiencing were corrected with a software update from the Ross website. Even usb recording is problem free now, and about 100 extra channels appeared on the list.

So, for Â£45 (Â£5 coffin-dodgers discount) Ross and B&Q have given me a super little system which includes everything, dish, box, cable, and even the HDMI lead.

Thanks again for your help, much appreciated.

Arthur

Glad you're sorted... Just shows that with a simple bit of help and a bit of perseverance the B&Q systems can work well

Sandyn · 04-11-2010, 10:40

I got the Ross dish and kit from B&Q...impulse buy..., but same problem, when I pointed the dish per instructions, Q=0 and L=100, but it seems the dish/LNB bracket already has the vertical offset pre-set in the design, when I set the dish to vertical, and pointed per dishpointer...... Found the signal no problem!!!!. hundreds of channels of crap :-) but HD channels absolutely brilliant. I just use a 22 inch PC monitor HDMI cable for full HD quality....

MTJR · 07-11-2010, 16:53

Hi. New here but just looking for a little bit of advice.

Got the Ross HD kit and after abandoning a night time install came back next morning and maybe with a bit more luck than judgement got it going first time.

I can't seem to get the quality of signal above 57% although this seems to be fairly normal?

I can get BBC HD and all that but some of the channels present me with a "Signal Too Weak" message, namely CBS Drama/Reality. I just so happened to have a Sky HD box available to me and when I plug that in I get CBS Drama/Reality apparently without issue. From this I deduce one of three things..

1. The channel is encrypted or scrambled in some way.
2. The Ross box has a different signal tolerance or has inferior reception parts in it.
3. The Ross box is faulty in some way.

Your thoughts please? I'm not particularly bothered about that particular channel I've just been using it as a reference between the two boxes. I just want to make sure I'm getting everything I can.

I've noticed that several people talk about a software upgrade on the Ross website but that appears to be for a different model of receiver (I have a HDR-8130USB and the site talks about a 6110).

Finally I can't seem to find BBC1 HD (I can get BBC HD but my understanding is that that is a different service). Do I need to send the unit on a scan of the channels for the satellite I am pointing at? I believe I'm pointing at Astra 28.2E or the group of channels that are in that direction.

Anyways, you seem like nice chaps so I thought I'd see what you had to say.

John