Sky or Freesat in France

[sleighson]

Bonjour a tous...
We've just arrived in Paris and my wife is really keen (not at all nagging ) to get some UK tv like Sky or Freesat setup. Does anyone have any experience doing the same? I've heard it's possible to get both but not sure what the best option is. We had Sky in the UK and that's what we're used to. Is Freesat roughly the same? Does it work OK in France?

Thanks in advance!

Stanley

[Bevdeforges]

Sky is pretty easy to get in France. If you google "Sky tv in France" you should get a number of sites that can provide cards, dishes and whatever else you need. If you're in Paris, there are a number of shops that offer Sky - check something like the FUSAC (English language want ad paper) or any of the give-away English publications. (Stop by WH Smiths on the rue Rivoli for a full selection.)
Cheers,
Bev

[say42]

Sky without a subscription gives roughly the same channels as Freesat. Easiest way to get a subscription is to get a friend/relative to subscribe on your behalf, Sky won't accept an address outside of the UK. They can then send you the decoder/card.

A Freesat box can be bought over the counter but I think a UK address will have to be given so that the licence authorities can check on you.

Any local installer should be able to put up a dish for you, if you get a decoder with a built in recorder, you will need an LNB with 2 outputs and two feeds to the decoder.

Which you go for depends on your tastes, most of the time I just listen to the radio

Steve

Originally Posted by sleighson

Bonjour a tous...
We've just arrived in Paris and my wife is really keen (not at all nagging ) to get some UK tv like Sky or Freesat setup. Does anyone have any experience doing the same? I've heard it's possible to get both but not sure what the best option is. We had Sky in the UK and that's what we're used to. Is Freesat roughly the same? Does it work OK in France?

Thanks in advance!

Stanley

[sleighson]

Thanks for the replies! I did a search for how to get sky tv in France as you suggested and also how to get Freesat tv in France as I want to compare the options and found a lot of info but I'm not very technical when it comes to this stuff so still not too sure which option to go for.

We brought our Sky dish and box with us to France so I think to make life simple I would like to just set it up if possible. I was hoping to stop the contract and switch to Freesat to save money but from my searches it looks like the cost of the Freesat box is more than I thought so doesn't really offset the saving from stopping Sky.

My problem is really the setting up of the dish etc. as I don't understand satellite tv very well. I really want to do it myself if possible as I rang a couple of installers (one very close, one in Paris) and they quoted me 450 and 500 euros!

Has anyone else managed to set Sky up themselves?

[say42]

Setting it up is fairly easy if you have an easily accessible place to put the dish that will allow it to "see" the Astra satellite at 28.2° East. You will need a meter but these aren't that expensive. Have a Google for Satcure co uk, there is a lot of info on there.

Originally Posted by sleighson

Thanks for the replies! I did a search for how to get sky tv in France as you suggested and also how to get Freesat tv in France as I want to compare the options and found a lot of info but I'm not very technical when it comes to this stuff so still not too sure which option to go for.

We brought our Sky dish and box with us to France so I think to make life simple I would like to just set it up if possible. I was hoping to stop the contract and switch to Freesat to save money but from my searches it looks like the cost of the Freesat box is more than I thought so doesn't really offset the saving from stopping Sky.

My problem is really the setting up of the dish etc. as I don't understand satellite tv very well. I really want to do it myself if possible as I rang a couple of installers (one very close, one in Paris) and they quoted me 450 and 500 euros!

Has anyone else managed to set Sky up themselves?

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by sleighson

Thanks for the replies! I did a search for how to get sky tv in France as you suggested and also how to get Freesat tv in France as I want to compare the options and found a lot of info but I'm not very technical when it comes to this stuff so still not too sure which option to go for.

We brought our Sky dish and box with us to France so I think to make life simple I would like to just set it up if possible. I was hoping to stop the contract and switch to Freesat to save money but from my searches it looks like the cost of the Freesat box is more than I thought so doesn't really offset the saving from stopping Sky.

My problem is really the setting up of the dish etc. as I don't understand satellite tv very well. I really want to do it myself if possible as I rang a couple of installers (one very close, one in Paris) and they quoted me 450 and 500 euros!

Has anyone else managed to set Sky up themselves?

That price is outrageous - I had my Orange dish aligned, new LNB and connected up for €150.00. I also have Freesat set up by a company called Mayenne Satellite (English company in France) - very helpful and the installation charge was very reasonable. You HAVE to have an English hosting address for Sky and the subscriptions are ridiculous - hence Freesat. If you call Sky from France for a problem they will cut you off.

If you go to mayenne satellite web site you can compare the channels available.

Cheers

[parsnips]

Originally Posted by say42

Setting it up is fairly easy if you have an easily accessible place to put the dish that will allow it to "see" the Astra satellite at 28.2° East. You will need a meter but these aren't that expensive. Have a Google for Satcure co uk, there is a lot of info on there.

Hi,
It's not that difficult, and I have frequently done it without any special equipment using just a compass and the signal strength screen on the box. (and some patience). It helps if you set up a small portable tv alongside where you are working. And you don't have to put the dish on the roof or chimney. Provided you can see the part of the sky you need you can put the dish just above head hight for ease of work and future correction (after storms etc.)

[kitekid]

hey,

if you go to this website:- Satellite Finder / Dish Pointing Calculator with Google Maps | DishPointer.com put in your address and look for Astra 2a/2b/2d, you can see if there will be any probs pointing your dish to pick up freeview.

If all good, there are a few free sat finding apps on both android & iphone phones, to help line your dish up.

if you already have a sky receiver, can't you use this for free sat ???

if you can't use it, take a look on the freesat website for decoders. you can pick up cheap boxes for under £50 !!

hth

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by kitekid

hey,

if you go to this website:- Satellite Finder / Dish Pointing Calculator with Google Maps | DishPointer.com put in your address and look for Astra 2a/2b/2d, you can see if there will be any probs pointing your dish to pick up freeview.

It's easier than that - look at the direction of the sun at about 11:00am (Paris time) if you can clearly see the sky with no obstructions (trees etc) at an angle of elevation of 28 degress (approx) then you are good to go.

Cheers

[kitekid]

Hey, who needs modern technology ?!?!?!

just got to wait for a sunny day