Where to get an analogue satellite receiver.
So you want to take the plunge and get a receiver so you can get the analogue channels. Where do you get the receiver from - they are becoming difficult to get new, now that everyone has gone over to Sky Digital. So instead think second hand, and the sort of places second hand stuff is found:
1) The best place to get one is from friends / family / workmates. Its surprising how many people have redundant ones lying around their houses. Ask around and you can normally get them for donated for free :-)
2) Local charity shops sometimes have them for sale, but its a case of hunting round a bit, and hoping you get lucky.
3) Car boot sales are an excellent source of old receivers, but give them a once over to ensure they arent obviously damaged.
4) Your local free newspaper - scan through the tv and/or satellite sections, or put a "wanted" advert in.
5) Check out the notice boards that are found in big supermarkets. Put a "wanted" card up and see if you get any offers.
6) Your local satellite tv shop may have some old part exchange ones lying around which they will be happy to sell you. (Not a high street chain - think more the small back street one man operation)
7) On line traders often have some in stock. Check out some of the dealers, and send them an email. You might get lucky. (Many of the bigger dealers have monthly adverts in "What Satellite" magazine with their internet addresses listed. You will pay more using a dealer, but you will also get some sort of minimum warranty).
8) On line auctions. There are always some redundant analogue receivers up for grabs on Ebay (www.ebay.co.uk). Search for 'analogue satellite' or similar. The receivers sometimes go for silly amounts. Dont pay more than a few pounds! Its also worth search for "analog satellite" as folks often misspell the term.
9) Ive seen several references that the Lidl shop chain sometimes have new analogue receiver / satellite dish offers in store. However, its really a case of being in the shop at the right time for this sort of offer. They sell quickly, so if you see an offer you like in a Lidl shop - buy it!
10) Graham Vine suggests that Radio Rallies can be a good supply of receivers / dishes / lnb's and other assorted stuff. Both dealers and other hobbyists are often selling stuff off cheap.
11) For those of you close to the south coast, Alain Egels tells me that that many DIY stores in France ("Castorama", "Bricorama" etc) sell new receivers, since 5W is the only way to get Arte and M6 in many remote places. Complete systems (receiver and 80cm dish) are often on sale for about Euro 60 - which will be roughly £40. Trevor Hoare tells me that the "Mr Bricolage" and "Leroy Merlin" DIY stores also sell new equipment. Again the complete sets are sold at around 50 - 60 Euros. In Germany / Belgium the "Media Markt" electronics store was reported to be selling basic receivers for 59Euros in December 2004.
12) There are normally a few up for grabs on my For Sale page. Christmas 2004 theres an advert for someone flogging 450 receivers and 300 dishes !!
Anyone with old receivers to sell can send me the details, and I'll put an entry on the site.
Tips
Dont pay more than about a tenner (plus postage if required) for a second hand analogue receiver. (Although you may have to pay more if you go down the dealer route).
Ensure it has the remote control with it. Most receivers need to remote controls to change the tuning, and set them up properly. Without the remote, you are stuck with whatever channels the receiver already has set up....
An instruction manual is a big plus - some receivers use obscure command sequences on the remotes to get into the menu structures.
Dont worry too much if a detachable power lead is missing - many receivers use the standard "figure 8" power socket, and replacement leads are available at high street electrical shops.
Remember - the days of analogue transmissions are numbered. We have already lost dozens of channels off analogue in the last couple of years, and in a few years time, all transmissions will be digital only. So dont invest a lot of money in your analogue kit. Fortunately, when the final analogue signals are switched off for the last time, all you will have to do is unplug the now junk receiver from the dish, and plug in a cheap fta digital receiver.
Dealers
If you cant find any local source for an analogue receiver, try dealers Dave or Lee. Their contact details can be found here. You might find they have a few lying around looking for a good home :-)
If anyone has any ideas of where else to get receivers from, let me know, and I'll put them on this page - tips about other DIY chains in France which definitely sell analogue kit are welcome - its too far for me to nip over for the weekend to check them out :-)
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