British Forces Broadcasting Service

Direct to Home Satellite Reception

Self-Help Installation Guide

Introduction

This document outlines self-help installation process for the reception of BFBS Television at a home or at an office location under the EutelSat W3A Satellite covering Europe and parts of the Middle East.

The BFBS Satellite coverage

The satellite covers the area shown on the map. The maximum signal strength from the satellite is centred upon central Europe and the dish sizes to receive the satellite are shown. If it is required to pick up the signal outside the contour shown it is advised that the SSVC Helpline is contacted, as the dish size will dependant of your precise location. Contact details are given in the Contacts section of this document.

Can you see the satellite?

To receive BFBS TV via satellite the location where you mount the satellite dish must have an un-obscured view of the satellite in the sky. To assess this you need to identify where you will have the dish mounted and you need to know your Latitude and Longitude.

Using the table given in Appendix A you may be able to ascertain if you will be able to receive the satellite signal, if you are unsure a reputable local satellite installation engineer will be able to tell you

If trees or other structures do not obscure the dish from the satellite and before proceeding you need to consider the following points

• Do you have permission from the building owner and/or the local authorities to mount a satellite dish?
• Is the wall or surface on which it is intended to mount the dish suitable for the purpose? If unsure a reputable local satellite installation engineer will be able to tell you
• Can you route a cable from the proposed satellite dish location to the required room in the house or building? If unsure a reputable local satellite installation engineer will be able to tell you

The Parts Required

SSVC supply the following,

• One BFBS PACE satellite set-top box complete with remote control, SCART Lead, rf lead and Handbook
• One BFBS Encryption Card, Quick Help Guide and set-top box sticker

IMPORTANT: Do not switch on the BFBS PACE satellite set-top box before the satellite dish installer has lined up and connected the satellite dish to the unit.

You shall provide the following,

• A suitable satellite dish assembly
• All satellite cables. i.e. the cables between the satellite dish and the set-top box
• A TV set – With a SCART input. If phono inputs, not SCART, are available then you will need a “SCART to Phono” adapter. If no SCART or Phono inputs are available the television will be connected to the set-top box via the rf cable, in this case the TV will require to be UHF PAL I or PAL G standard i.e. the standard UK TV set or German TV Set.

The Dish and Dish Installation,

It is recommended that a reputable local satellite installation engineer be engaged to supply and install the dish and run the cable to the appropriate point within the building.

No instructions are given here to procure and/or install the dish yourself.

The information required by the satellite dish installer is the sheet Appendix B of this document. It is suggested that Appendix B is given to the dish installer when discussing the work.

Set-top box and TV setup

Comprehensive instructions on connecting and operating the system are given in the Handbook supplied with the set top box

Encryption Card enabling

The BFBS TV Encryption card supplied is not active when you receive it. To enable the card, after the system is fully installed, please contact SSVC Helpline below.

Card Activation and Helpline: +44 1494 878100 – Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00 UK time