Update: Motorsports on TV in 2014
Posted: 06 Mar 2014, 15:54
I finally find myself in a position to receive live Formula 1 and MotoGP events this year, in addition to other sports that would normally require a subscription.
the total cost was £75 plus a little time.
I bought separate satellite TV items to make up what I needed, instead of buying a complete kit. If you can get hold of the kits that B&Q used to sell for £50, I've heard that will do the job. The Ross kit also is supposed to be up to it.
I bought a universal LNB and Technomate universal receiver from Amazon, at £9.95 and £39.95 respectively, then a dish for £25 from Maplins (had that a few years already). You can get them this cheap from several sources.
Then, set up the dish, plug it all in and start adjusting until you can receive Astra 3. Now, I read everywhere that Astra 1KR/L etc is the satellite to go for, but I've been trying to receive that for weeks and always just get a load of middle-east and asian stuff. Today, when I got the Technomate out of the box, I decided to have a play with my dish azimuth, and when a list of German channels popped up, I knew I had it right - but found it was all on Astra 3, which is just slightly South of Astra 1.
RTL shows live F1 - I am receiving 3 RTL channels, Swiss, Austrian and German. Sport 1 shows the MotoGP - only one of those. Then German Eurosport shows many sports, including Superbikes and Rallying. News24 (German) also should be showing F1 practice sessions, live (and you get BBC World on this sat, too) There are some other interesting sport channels on that satellite, too, such as Italian ones, which have some interesting stuff on. Of course, it helps if you understand the lingo, but I understand that the Radio 5 live commentary arrives roughly synchronised with the MotoGP and F1 coverage from Deutschland. Whether that's over the airwaves or via internet, I don't know.
Personally, I 'sprechen sie', so that doesn't bother me!
Did I mention? The Technomate receiver also has a PVR (recording) function via USB to a USB stick or hard drive.
Links:
(seems the £40 isn't available now - but £50 is good, too - it's a great little bit of kit) Technomate 5200
Universal, hi-sensitivity LNB
Don't forget the skew on the LNB - it should be 6.5 ° clockwise, looking at the dish from the front. From here in S. Lincs, the azimuth was a few degrees south of 157.7° magnetic , which is where Astra 1 is supposed to be. I just moved the dish round a little further for Astra 3. As for the vertical angle, I put it just above horizontal and that did it. You can see the meter on the TV, so just move it very slowly until it goes up to 90% + signal strangth and I would recommend a minimum 60% quality.
Suitable dish This isn't the one I have, but it should do the job. The LNB might even do it - you could test it first and then buy the one I link to if it doesn't work.
I've bought three receivers, returned two of them and two LNBs over the last two months getting this sorted, so I thought I'd save those here with MotoGP-addicted wives the hassle.
the total cost was £75 plus a little time.
I bought separate satellite TV items to make up what I needed, instead of buying a complete kit. If you can get hold of the kits that B&Q used to sell for £50, I've heard that will do the job. The Ross kit also is supposed to be up to it.
I bought a universal LNB and Technomate universal receiver from Amazon, at £9.95 and £39.95 respectively, then a dish for £25 from Maplins (had that a few years already). You can get them this cheap from several sources.
Then, set up the dish, plug it all in and start adjusting until you can receive Astra 3. Now, I read everywhere that Astra 1KR/L etc is the satellite to go for, but I've been trying to receive that for weeks and always just get a load of middle-east and asian stuff. Today, when I got the Technomate out of the box, I decided to have a play with my dish azimuth, and when a list of German channels popped up, I knew I had it right - but found it was all on Astra 3, which is just slightly South of Astra 1.
RTL shows live F1 - I am receiving 3 RTL channels, Swiss, Austrian and German. Sport 1 shows the MotoGP - only one of those. Then German Eurosport shows many sports, including Superbikes and Rallying. News24 (German) also should be showing F1 practice sessions, live (and you get BBC World on this sat, too) There are some other interesting sport channels on that satellite, too, such as Italian ones, which have some interesting stuff on. Of course, it helps if you understand the lingo, but I understand that the Radio 5 live commentary arrives roughly synchronised with the MotoGP and F1 coverage from Deutschland. Whether that's over the airwaves or via internet, I don't know.
Personally, I 'sprechen sie', so that doesn't bother me!
Did I mention? The Technomate receiver also has a PVR (recording) function via USB to a USB stick or hard drive.
Links:
(seems the £40 isn't available now - but £50 is good, too - it's a great little bit of kit) Technomate 5200
Universal, hi-sensitivity LNB
Don't forget the skew on the LNB - it should be 6.5 ° clockwise, looking at the dish from the front. From here in S. Lincs, the azimuth was a few degrees south of 157.7° magnetic , which is where Astra 1 is supposed to be. I just moved the dish round a little further for Astra 3. As for the vertical angle, I put it just above horizontal and that did it. You can see the meter on the TV, so just move it very slowly until it goes up to 90% + signal strangth and I would recommend a minimum 60% quality.
Suitable dish This isn't the one I have, but it should do the job. The LNB might even do it - you could test it first and then buy the one I link to if it doesn't work.
I've bought three receivers, returned two of them and two LNBs over the last two months getting this sorted, so I thought I'd save those here with MotoGP-addicted wives the hassle.
Setting up at the pub was comparatively easy. The exit from my living room went onto a flat roof (with fire escape e t c) which I could set a ladder on and get to the chimney stack myself. I couldn't do that here so I'd have to pay someone else to do it with proper roof ladders and that aint gonna happen.. hence the 'tripod' thought. Pity satellite aerials don't receive through roof tiles as I have one in the loft otherwise 
You see how exciting I find F1 nowadays.
on free view. Roll on the next round on 13th April.