Dubna

Well I have seen some pretty bad installations recently in 56, so called sat fitters using ordianry RF cable, joining the cable with insulation tape and failing to correctly waterproof the connection to the LNB.  When it rains, the picture breaks up or fails completely is a common problem and is frequently caused by the lack of waterproofing and over a period, only a few months really, water has penetrated the connection and the cable. It could also be the LNB which is on its way out. A larger dish helps. CHRIS

Well I have seen some pretty bad installations recently in 56, so called sat fitters using ordianry RF cable, joining the cable with insulation tape and failing to correctly waterproof the connection to the LNB.  When it rains, the picture breaks up or fails completely is a common problem and is frequently caused by the lack of waterproofing and over a period, only a few months really, water has penetrated the connection and the cable. It could also be the LNB which is on its way out. A larger dish helps. CHRIS

0 0 authorized 255 I had the same problem of low mic volume making the programme impossible to use, no-one could here me.  Eventually using Knowledge Base on Skype advice by a user was to reduce 255 to 250.  (256 is equivalent to 0 ie no volume).  Hey preseto it worked at 250 so I changed it back to 255 and it stopped working again.  So 250 it is for me. CHRIS

"If your Sky contract (still) requires your Sky box to be plugged into the telephone line at all times then this can be a problem (as it wont be plugged in in France and people say Sky notice its not plugged-in). I never had this on my Sky box (as I purchased it myself at fullish price and was not subsidised by Sky). I understand that these “must be plugged-in” terms tend to last a year after which it is not a requirement (others might know more)."Sky notice when a box is not connected to the telephone line because once a month or so they instruct the box to ring a free phone number at sky centre and pass on coded information from the box.  If the call fails a couple of times they will write to you and eventually cut off the card.  They are more keen with this when you have a mirror account at a reduced rate as I know to my cost when my son in the UK decided to plug a phone into the line instead so he could chat for hours on end to his girl friend.  Not only did I get a big telephone bill but was also invoiced by sky for one month at full rate for two boxes. The mini dish is pushing it a bit the further south in France you are located.  The vulnerable channels are ITV and BBC2. 90cm dishes with an analogue turner and a universal LNB can be purchased for as little as 37€ - that's cheaper than buying and shipping a mini dish from the UK. CHRIS

[quote]I have the shearings from 3 ewes and would like some suggestions of what to do with it. Does anyone want it? I am in Redon in S Brittany.[/quote] Thanks for the advice, guess the wool is going on the fire. CHRIS

I have the shearings from 3 ewes and would like some suggestions of what to do with it.  Does anyone want it?  I am in Redon in S Brittany.

[quote]Thanks for your reply..............I just don't understand why our decoder worked in the shop and the enginers worked here and ours didn't!! We followed the installation instructions in the manual, as...[/quote] Chris It worked in the shop and not at your home because there is something else wrong with your set up, clearly not the receiver.  The things to look at are position of dish, LNB, cable and the input to your tv. The most likely really is the position of the dish though you might just have an LNB which is not compatible with the receiver.  Most are universal and will pick up anything but I have bought some systems for customers which have LNBs which are peculiar to either analogue or digital. Where are you in France - I might be able to help. CHRIS

[quote]Any advice on where to get gravy granules and proper firm seedles grapes around the Moyuax/Cormeilles area would very much appreciated. Chuck[/quote] Make a good strong stock using bones (easily obtained from the butcher), onions bits of vegetables etc  Boil in a pressure cooker for at least one hour or in a large pan for ages. Cook the joint with sliced onion around.  Once the joint is cooked strain off the excess fat add flour and fry until brown.  Gradually add the stock and return to the boil stirring to make smooth. Adjust the seasoning. Who needs chemical powders to make gravy? You can darken the gravy by adding well browned salt. CHRIS

[quote]Hi the only channels you can get with your sat box are all the bbc channels bbc1/2 etc plus itv3 at the moment.[/quote] Sky will provide a Free to View card at a cost of £20 which will enable you to view all the BBC and ITV Channels.  You will need a sky digibox and a UK address to have the card delivered to.  As usual with Sky do not telephone from France or indicate that the card will be used outside the UK. CHRIS

Does anyone know where I can purchase Sat Cable (High Quality) in reel sizes ie 100m. and at reel prices rather than €0.?? per metre.  I live in Morbihan and Redon, Rennes and Vannes are the nearest towns.  CHRIS

I have installed a French Analogue Sat box and am watching a really clear black and white picture via the SCART connector to a UK TV. I was under the impression that I would get colour through the Scart Socket but not via the RF input. Do I need a French television? CHRIS

Thanks for the replies, most helpful. CHRIS

With fewer and fewer visits to the UK I am getting to the stage of not being able to carry sufficient flour to keep me and my French friends in UK style bread. So far I have found no reliable product in shops outside Paris and I am in Morbihan (56). I am particularly looking for the following: wholemeal strong flour white strong flour granary strong flour Any ideas where I can get these products other than by expensive mail order from the UK. I am sure this will have been asked before but the Search facility appears not to be working correctly as I cannot display anything beyond the first page of the search. CHRIS

Email direct to you. CHRIS

>We are planning to use the >rooms for chambre d'hote so >they may not be in >use full time. We have >high ceilings and face the >Jura so I think it >may be quite cold in >winter. If the rooms are to be used in Winter then you will certainly need something more than background heating. The cost you have been quoted does seem a little on the high side for electric heating and I would agree that quite an extensive system could be installed for the price, though generally prices are higher in France than in the UK for a central heating system. >Can anyone recommend a heating system >be it oil, gas, wood >or electric that will be >economical to run and install >and will suit our needs? 1 For central heating piped gas is cheapest, otherwise oil but adequate insulation is essential. As the additional rooms are to be daily lets then probably electric is the cheapest to install and run in that they can be turned off during periods of no occupation or when your visitors are out. Email me if you think I can help further. CHRIS >Thanks