set top box for French TV?

[marcg]

Does this exist yet? I know satellite is an option for French terrestrial TV but is there a internet based option? I can watch some channels on my phone but it requires proxy servers and doesn't work very well. Ideally I'd like a simple box with a remote option. Anyone know?

[ecotec]

EDIT just seen you mention internet - sat works great

I picked up a french TV box in France last time I was there as the mrs is learning french, 50EUR - brand was "strong"! works great.

They wanted address etc but I just shrugged and they sold me the box, works perfectly with a zone 2 sky dish (in south of UK) with a multi LNB arm (1 at 28.2 for UK, one for 19.2 for France).

You get the card with the box that lasts for 4 years after activation if aiming at 19.2 degrees, it's different if you go for 5W

[adsk]

Satellite works very well in the UK. You can buy the TNTSat boxes on amazon or pick up in store in France. I had a Humax box but had to return it after it stopped working 1 month in. I now have the Strong box which works reasonably well but it does seem to freeze every couple of weeks, needing a reboot. If you don't already have a satellite dish you could buy a Fransat box (pointing at 5w) or a TNTSat box (pointing at 19.2E). A regular size dish 60cm will work without a problem herein the UK. All the TNT sat boxes are quite similar in their features (many are clones of each other) and have to meet a minimum spec required by TNT.

[marcg]

Thanks both.

So there's still no option without a dish?

I live on the side of a fairly steep west facing wooded hill, I will Google which way the satellites are... Rough idea of equipment cost?

Edit: so I went on dishpointer.com and aimed at 28.2E, 19.2E(c), 5W and it seems fine - elevation of 27.5deg, aiming kind of SSE which goes over my neighbour's roof. Next to find cost of equipment...

Edited by marcg on Wednesday 29th May 08:41

[marcg]

Looks like £100 for the receiver (eBay, fransat box with 4year card) and maybe £60 for the dish (are all lnbs the same?).

[ecotec]

marcg said:

Looks like £100 for the receiver (eBay, fransat box with 4year card) and maybe £60 for the dish (are all lnbs the same?).

I just use a zone2 sky dish - it's the bigger version of the mini dish used for sky in the far north and Scotland. They cost about £30. The bigger the dish the less you will suffer with rain fade and could choose to add multiple LNBs to the dish with a DiSEqC equipped sat receiver.

LNB are all pretty much the same*, the Sky dishes have a different collar size and you can usually get a dish and an LNB together. Use decent foam filled coax cable - WF100 or similar.

You also need:
F connectors
Cable
Cable clips
Wire cutters
Big drill to drill through the wall
Wall cable entry cover + neutral cure silicone
Sat aligner - you can use phone apps but a digital alighner makes it much easier
Better wall bolts and wall plugs that supplied with the dish

Compression F connectors make it much easier - I use a tool like: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Type-Coaxial-Crimper-...

The cable stripping tool included is very handy, I use better connectors (cabelcon) that those supplied in the above kit.

RE sat sligner - I used one like this in my old house, it worked just about - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sat-Finder-Kit-For-Sate...
Upgraded in my new house and this made it much easier - I got a SATLINK WS-6933 £35 - similar listing on ebay:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SATLINK-WS-6933-Digital...

It's all quite straightforward and fun to install, if you need any advice or pictures just ask


Seems some are available for online streaming - https://frenchtogether.com/watch-french-tv/
Get many more channels over sat

Edited by ecotec on Wednesday 29th May 18:48

Edited by ecotec on Wednesday 29th May 18:51