Check out the Satcure Bookshop. Martin has a wide variety of books available on a variety of different topics. The "Technical" and "Satellite TV" sections are probably most relevant to visitors to my satellite sites. Details of a few of the books are found below - more information will be added in time. Dont forget your discount form.
Here's a quick tip. If you are thinking about buying one of these eBooks, but aren't certain what you will get for your money, go and get the "Understanding Sky Satellite TV" book. This one is free, so download it, and have a good read before you buy anything - this will give you a good idea about how good these books are. :-)
Mainly about the Sky Digital satellite system, but includes some useful background information about how satellite reception happens - everything from the transmissions off the satellites to how LNB's work. Best of all, this eBook is free! Well worth downloading and having a look at if you are new to satellite tv. (60 pages)
Details of how to self install a Sky system. You have to pay for this one, but the modest cost will be more than offset by the savings in not having to pay for an installer to put the system in for you :-) (110 pages)
Salvador Ferrairo Castella spent weeks carrying out tests with various LNBs and dishes. This book is a report of his findings. What size of dish and which LNB works best and why?
Complete with photographs including the dishes, LNBs, the ground station where he did the work and the equipment that he used to analyse the signals.
Computer plots showing the differences between transponder spectra.
This book is full of technical information but Salvador writes in impeccable English with a style that makes the book easy and interesting to read. You can feel his excitement as he reports on his findings! Absolutely invaluable for any expat in southern Europe.
Not just a repair book!
Common problems and cures listed - many of which you can fix yourself with only the remote control handset. Plus lots of general repair information helping you to recognise various components.
Written in simple terms, this book also gives you valuable advice on how to prevent failure. Read it NOW and save your money in the future.
Also lots of common faults and cures listed for the professional repair shop only (specialised equipment required).
Everything you need to know about installing a motorised satellite TV dish system for your analogue or digital satellite receiver. Written in plain English, by Mike Hancox and Martin Pickering, with no maths and a minimum of technical "jargon", this book will lead you by the hand. Includes dish angles, declination table etc.
I have very basic details on this web site about how to set your own distribution system up in one room, but if you want to do the job properly and pipe your tv signals right round the house, then consider buying this book. Its got far more details in it than I could ever possibly include.
Replacement / new LNB's for your Sky system - single and quad output types
LNB's for a non-Sky system. Prices start at under £15 (plus vat and p&p). Single output types, dual and quads. For big installations there is even an octo (8) output type! Monoblocks also available for 19E / 13E installations.
The cheaper LNB's will do for most installations in northern Europe, but if you need the maximum signal collection in marginal reception areas, then one of the new 0.3dB LNB's might be required.
The 8-way LNB is pictured on the left.
Satellite dishes. All sorts of sizes available, from 50cm to 1.1m. There is even a transparent dish for where an installation needs to be discreet.
The transparent dish pictured on the left.