Just something really to think about..............

Hi gericom99. reading some of the general boards on this subject the aerials are only good for Spanish TV and there is cable from these to each apartment. However when you use these cables to connect to a satelite dish you naturally loose access to Spanish terestrial TV. No great loss by the sound of things! I was told by Mike Broad of Viva that there was provision on the roof of each block for a communal dish. I don't know where it is - probably where the aerials you refer to to currently are.

I have a some experience with regards to SKY and its installation. I understand that we will need a 2.2m2 dish to supply each block. Also most people will now want the option of SKY+ & SKY HD. Both of these systems require a double LNB receiver on the dish, this will require a double cable to be connected to the back of your SKY box. I doubt that the standard aerial cable installed by the developer will be sufficient for SKY+ & SKY HD. I think that if we have communal dish/system  it should be capable of providing all of the SKY services meaning that we should not have to up grade the dish and cabling for the next 10-15 years. 

Regards, Andy

OK Mr Vice President - we'll do as we're told! We really need to get some expert advice on this. AFAIK there are some developments where there is 1 big dish that receives the signal for the whole developement, this in turn sends a local "microwave??" signal that can then be picked up by small mesh receivers. I don't know how we accomodate different nationalities but I have read elsewhere of the dish being angled at an "in between" angle so that it can pick up a signal from more than 1 satelite.

There are different "packages" on offer  - the equivelant of Sky or for a one off fee a more restricted "Freeview" system. It is worth remembering that Sky are not licenced to sell their output except in the UK and Ireland so the setups offered locally are illegal and I have read elsewhere that there are rumours that they will pull the plug at some point - although I'm not sure how.

Nothing happens fast in Spain and with aircon I guess we can do without it for the next few months - the alternative is to instal as non offensive system as possible and hope that it does not contravene any rules agreed at the next meeting.

have just posted on the other thread ( sky communal dish ) - maybe should have posted here

Perhaps Andy Otter could help us all on this subject as previously he seemed very informative and  could advise what good alternative there could be if sky etc  dishes are not acceptable

Things change so fast these days that there could be another alternative that he may know about to help us all get what we would like

Max I appreciate your suggestion that we make proper use of different threads - but I find the duplicate threads on the same subject frustrating.

Technology is moving on at a fast pace. It is now possible to buy a box which takes your Sky output from the UK and transmits it over the internet. You can then watch it on your PC in Spain without a dish. I don't know how you change channels though! There are also an increasing number of programmes being made available by broadcasters to download so you can at least watch some UK tv if you have an internet connection.

Just to clarify the legal situation. Sky cannot do anything to help you receive their output outside of the UK and Ireland but do not seem inclined to actively seek to prevent you from doing so if you are paying a subscription in the UK. No individual has ever been prosecuted for taking a Sky card and box to Spain for their own use. Sky do get upset at dealers selling Sky systems in Spain from which they receive no revenue so there is a risk that you could subscribe to a Spanish Sky service but it goes off the air at some point in the future. For this reason it is advisable to only pay monthly. The advantage of using one of these Spanish services is that they know how to set them up to get a decent picture etc.

Do the Sky dishes have to be that much bigger then for a block ? - The one we have at home is only about 2ft in diameter and grey in colour so it blends in easier and is even much prettier than the air con units !

If we can use our cards from home then that is a bonus aswell as while we are away in Spain there is nobody using it at home

Perhaps we could establish how many in each block would like to have access to satellite TV and then put in a request to the community as Gericom99 mentioned in his post happened elsewhere

The idea of getting TV through our computers sounds brilliant but when are we likely to get any form of telephone/internet access at Don Juan to enable that to happen  -Would we be able to do that from the internet provider mentioned in another post by Max ? -

The Wireless Internet connection mentioned by Max will enable you to watch available programmes from the internet.

I've just been watching Corrie over the internet (purely for research purposes). I was amazed how many programmes both ITV and BBC offer online. There is a note on the ITV website that for some programmes they are only licenced to broadcast to the UK and therefore some programmes will only be viewable for IP addresses in the UK. The sound quality is good but the picture is not great so I expect we will want to use a set top box and our card from the UK which needs the big dish. The big dish is needed to pick up the signal in Spain - not because it is serving a whole block. We're in block 6. 

Has anyone come up with someone to fit shower screens? Or even where to go to get reasonably priced screens? I was also considering extending the shower cubicle has anyone else had this thought and been given prices to do it?

Has anyone come up with someone to fit shower screens? Or even where to go to get reasonably priced screens? I was also considering extending the shower cubicle has anyone else had this thought and been given prices to do it?

Hi Janice & Graham, With reference to Shower Screens we purchased screens from a company in Marbella (Sen'chi)  but we also purchased Curtains and Bathroom Fittings (Mirrors, Cabinets, Towel Rails) including installation, there is a bathroom fittings showroom behind El Pinillo Railway Station. With regards to extending shower cubicle I did consider this but have left in hold at the moment, the local builder installing our lights and fittings is currently carrying out this in two apartments on Don Juan  ( Danny - Silvester & Son -Telephone 0034 652558454    Email - danielsilvester20052@hotmail.com ) who could give you an idea on price.

  Ken

Davvmunster, Janmet,

We just bought a shower screen from Bauhaus for € 239. We hired a car from www.carjet.co.uk , we requested a Renault Kangoo, but they did not have one, so they gave us a vehicle in the same class, a Volkswagon Caddy. I dropped the front passenger seat and the 2 rear seats. It fitted in no problem. As for fitting it, it was easier than I thought. My shower tray measured 78cm x 78 cm, where as the screen measured 80cm x 78cm. I asked the guy in the shop if this was ok, and he said yes, because the brackets that fix to the wall,  cover enough of the edges of the shower screens frame for it to be adjusted, as not all walls are plumb. It was only a matter of fixing the brackets level with the 2 screws provided, droping the screen in, and siliconing around. If you have glass doors like us, its a 2 man job as its very heavy. They also do a good selection of bathrooom mmirrors with lliights. We just bought 2 for €56 each. The store is the same as our B&Q at home.Directions to Bauhaus are; the A-7 motorway towards Malaga Airport, take the exit for Malaga Airport, you are now on the N-340, ignore the next exit sign for the airport. I think the exit after the airport one is the one you want, its called Polignio Industrials, take this exit and go up and over the N-340 on the bridge. As you come off the bridge get across to the right hand lane as soon as possible, so you can enter the industrial park straight away. There are also lots of other shops there, a cinema complex with lots of restaurants as well. Willie if you get reading this, post a message for the shop you got yours from.

Hope this helps

Westport