Robbie34

The azimuth bearing is 141.7 and the angle of elevation is 29.

No, I didn't take it as a personal dig.  It's just that it's difficult to explain to someone who probably has no knowledge of satellites and positioning.  I did say at the outset that it depended on their location, and I gave them the simplest means of orienting their dish. When someone else replies, which appears to contradict the advice given, then it will inevitably confuse them.  Sorry if I appeared a tad uptight. Incidentally, Lollie, if you post your nearest town I'll let you have the exact azimuth bearing and angle of elevation.

[quote]I know I'm being a bit pedantic as I guess, in France, there is more chance of error just by using the compass. But the satellite is actually 28 east of 0 (i.e the imaginary line which goes through Gr...[/quote] You are correct, inasmuch as if you were in Bucharest the azimuth reading would be  177.12.  However,the Astra 2 satellites are co-located in a geostationary arc above the Equator at 28.2 degrees east of due south, in which case you are wrong.  Thus, the azimuth reading for someone in Paris is 146.72 degrees, which is 33.28 degrees east of due south. To make such an observation is not exactly helpful for someone attempting to site their dish, who clearly does not have much idea about the position of the satellites.  For the sake of simplicity, and knowing he lives in France, it is easier to suggest the dish is pointed at 28 degrees east and then moved, right or left, until a signal is obtained. If you wish to be really pedantic, there are four satellites, Eurobird 1, Astra 2A, 2B, and 2D, co-located, and it's impossible for them all to be at precisely 28.2 degrees. Actually, if you were in Johannesburg the bearing would be 180 - due south.

The precise azimuth bearing depends on your location.  However, it is the Astra 2 satellite at which you need to point your dish and that is 28 degrees east of due south. You will find information on here which will tell you how to set up your dish. You should find this link useful.  Although it's intended for caravanners it's equally applicable in your case. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/de.sullivan/  

There are six places called Villedieu in France.  Where are you?

I've never seen this message.  I only use my Sky box in France as I have a motorised dish here in the UK and my box is disconnected from the end of October until I return in March.  Usually, I just switch on the box and leave it on Sky News when it updates in a few hours. You could try and force a software download as it's possible your daughter may have caused a problem when she disconnected.  It's unlikely, but it may be worth a try.  I've cut and pasted from Sky Digital FAQ.  If this doesn't work try leaving your box on Sky News.  Don't forget to remove your card before attempting the download. If that doesn't work, it's possible your daughter accidentally forced a software download with your card in situ and it has been damaged.  If that is the case, you will need a new card which will cost £20.  If you have a relation in England they will be able to get one for you and post it on. >How do I force a software download? First, simply unplug your box from the mains and then plug it back in again. This triggers any new software that your box may have downloaded. If that fails: Remove your card. Switch the box off at the mains. Press and hold the backup button down on the front of the box (not the remote), then switch the mains back on without releasing the backup button. Wait for about 20 seconds, until you see a message appear on your television (which only appears on a SCART lead) and all the lights come on on the front of the digibox. Then release the button. Follow the instructions ie don't do anything for the next ten minutes after which time the box will restart. Forcing a software upgrade is not normally required since Sky upgrade all box software automatically. Furthermore both new and old software may be transmitted simultaneously so, if your box hasn't been told to upgrade, you may still receive the old software. Experience shows that many boxes download upgraded software but do not activate it until you switch the box off and on at the mains. When Sky wish to upgrade your box they simply send it a signal to switch off.

Have you lost these channels suddenly, or have you only recently used your digibox? BBC free to view cards were switched off some time ago.  Does your card have a yellow house logo?  If not, then it is out of date and you will require a new card.  If it is an uptodate card then try switching your box off at the mains and leave for about thirty seconds before switching back on.  If you have not used your box for some time, and your card has the yellow logo, then your card needs to update.  Leave your box switched on and tuned to Sky News.  It should update in anything from two to twenty-four hours.

Leptospirosis is usually contracted through exposure to water, or food, contaminated with the infected urine of animals.  This tends to be by rats, but leptospira organisms have also been found in pigs, cattle and horses.  Early treatment with antibiotics provide a favourable outcome.

[quote]Someone in Toulouse, with a 1 metre dish and 0.6db lnb, gets a weak signal on 2D and loses it completely in the rain, as reported on one of the satellite forums. An 80cm dish with a standard LNB wh...[/quote] That is just not so.  There are numerous examples of people in France unable to receive channels on Astra 2D even with 1 metre dishes.  Unfortunately, the satellite signal is not necessarily radiated equally in all directions, although this is assumed in calculating the Effective Isotropic Radiated Power. Thus, sidelobes exist whereby the EIRP can be lesser, or greater, leading to variations in the size of dish required.

[quote]I use a mini dish in the Narbonne area and you can't get much further south than that. Only in the most severest of weather conditions do I loose the signal but that also applied when I used a 80cm di...[/quote] I really can't comment about your apparent ability not to lose 2D signals as far south as Narbonne with a 45cm dish.  Someone in Toulouse, with a 1 metre dish and 0.6db lnb, gets a weak signal on 2D and loses it completely in the rain, as reported on one of the satellite forums. I was never able to receive ITV in Millau with a 65cm dish and a 0.3db lnb.  Dish was correctly aligned and lnb skewed using a Digisat Pro satellite meter.  This was before BBC migrated to 2D.

If you are getting all of the channels with a 45cm mini dish then you are very lucky.  The footprint for Astra 2D shows that you need a minimum size of 60cms from about Royan in the west to roughly Colmar in the east of France.  There are always exceptions to any rule, as some people are able to receive Astra 2D in the area of Nice with a 65cm dish.  Others in the same area have had to use a 1 metre dish before they got a signal.

You'll not get Sky in Deux Sevres with a mini dish, you will need a 65cm dish to get all channels.  In heavy downpours you'll probably lose all reception even with a 65 cm.  However, it will be fine for most purposes.

[quote]Sorry but what is great or news about this? You always have been able to get a sky card in the UK if you subscribe to Sky, Now that you have the card, presumably you are in the UK, - if you belie...[/quote] That's not so for FTV cards.  They will update in any box.  All you need do is put the card in your Sky box and leave it on Sky News.  It will update in anything between three and twenty-four hours.  You can do the same thing with a card that has been left out of a box and is no longer working.  This only works for the latest cards with the yellow house logo.  Older cards are now obsolete. However, cards for subscription channels are matched to the box, and have to be switched on in the original Sky receiver.