Satellite: analogue shutdown - tips for switching
The date is slowly approaching: At the end of April 2012, the analogue satellite reception on Astra is to be switched off. Please do not panic: there is still enough time to change, maybe you do not have much to do:
Digital Universal LNBs have been on the market for many years; the chances are good that you have already installed such a part. Before expensive conversions so first borrow a digital receiver and try out if the system is not already suitable for digital!
If something is to be retooled, I would consider the following points:
When replacing the LNB perhaps one for several recipients? A "quad" LNB does not cost much; This allows 4 receivers to be connected directly without additional power supply. However, the lines must be laid "star-shaped": to each receiver one.
Is the grounding or equipotential bonding correctly laid? For many systems that might be missing: could be dangerous in thunderstorms or defective devices; rather ask the expert!
Is the line still okay? Maybe it would be better to have a better screened one directly. Particularly critical are old antenna cables (without aluminum foil in the shield), connectors (rotten contacts), connectors and creases.
Then yes, a new receiver is due: a built-in hard drive would be good; In the meantime, there are also recorders with "PVR-ready" option for little money: no internal disk, but an external disk or a fast USB stick can be connected via USB. Unfortunately, there are great differences in quality, especially in the operation. For HDTV reception on private channels a "CI Plus" module should be usable.
