What we do

How to receive UK TV in Brittany

Parabolica supply and fit Freesat and Sky dishes and digi boxes, or install your own equipment to receive English television in France. We work anywhere in Brittany, and further afield by arrangement.

We can normally complete installations within a week of your order. Missing the match or your favourite soap tomorrow? Don’t panic, just call us.

Dishes, boxes, remotes and accessories are always available from stock.

Sky TV in Brittany

Don’t leave your Sky system behind when you move to Brittany: we can make it work here for you!

This is what you need to do:

  1. Don’t cancel your direct debit with Sky: leave your subscription running.
  2. Bring your box and card with you.
  3. Contact us when you get here and we’ll set up your own equipment, or can supply you with replacement dishes and boxes if needed.
  4. If you’re feeling brave, why not have a go at setting up your own equipment.
  5. If you have installed everything but need help aligning the dish, we are happy to do that for you.
  6. If you don’t have a current subscription to Sky, don’t worry, you can still get many UK channels.

UK TV abroad

You’ve moved to the good life in Brittany, but you don’t want to leave The Good Life behind?

This is what you need to do:

  • If you have a Sky box (but no card), you can still receive most BBC and ITV channels. We can install this for you, or you can install it yourself.
  • Alternatively, we can supply guaranteed second-user or brand new boxes which will allow you to receive most BBC and ITV channels.

What channels can I receive?

Here is a list.

What will it cost?

All prices are here.

Looking for something else?

We’ve connected people with the television they want from many different countries, from Turkey to Italy to the US! Let us know what you’re looking for, and we’ll do the rest!

Broadband Anywhere

Satellite Broadband: fitting the kit

Installing Astra2connect

This is not meant as a definitive installation manual, rather it is a guide to the processes involved in installing Astra2connect so that you can make an informed decision as to whether it is a job that you can do or if you need to call an installer.
The kit is designed for self installation and if you are happy that you can install the mounting bracket then the rest should achievable. The kit is supplied with a comprehensive instruction manual and a short video of an installation.

What’s in the Box?

Dish and Interactive LNB
Pointing tool
Alan key
30mtrs twin co-ax cable
4 cable connectors (with 2 gaiters for outdoors)
Satellite Modem
Ethernet cable

What you need to supply

Appropriate mounting bracket/pole 40-70mm diameter
and fixings
Cable ties
Grounding cable

Tools:
2 X cross tipped screwdriver (large and small)
10, 11 and 13mm open ended spanners
Spirit level
Compass

Choosing the site for the dish

The mounting site for the dish should be carefully chosen, it needs to have a clear view approximately 30degrees east of south (towards the sun at around 11.00am), it will be pointing upwards at approximately 30degrees and at this angle there must be NO obstructions.

For ease of installation the ideal position is around 3mtrs from the ground on a wall adjacent to the site of the modem, in any event the cable from the dish to the modem must be no more than 30mtrs

Installing the Bracket

Having chosen the site, secure the bracket (or pole) so that it is vertical…. Time spent at this stage will make the whole job easier.

Dish Assembly

The dish should be assembled following the instructions enclosed in the box with the elevation and skew angle set to the figures in the documentation , all the adjustment bolts should be set loose enough so that the dish can be moved but tight enough so it doesn’t slip.

The dish should then be mounted on the bracket pointing I approximately the correct direction and the clamps tightened, again these should be tight enough to hold the dish but still allow adjustment.

Pointing the dish

To correctly align the dish it must be connected to the modem. At this stage it is probably best to simply pass the cables through an open window rather than drill holes in the wall!

Fit connectors to both ends of both cables, if you look at the cable you will see that one half is marked TX (for transmit) and the other is marked RX (for receive).

Both cables should be connected to their respective terminals on the modem and the receive connected to the iLNB on the dish.
Connect the outdoor end of the TX cable to the pointing tool.

Using the supplied ethernet cable connect your computer to the modem and switch on.

Opening a browser window should bring you straight to the modem’s control panel, select pointing mode

Check the compass again and find a distant landmark that is in the correct direction and point the dish at it.

Now switch on the pointing tool an adjust the volume so you can hear a “hum” , if you now slowly move the dish (first in a horizontal plane then a vertical one) you should notice that the pitch changes, becoming higher pitched as you approach the correct angles. When you are very close you will hear an intermittent whistle and when you are spot on this changes to a continuous whistle. Tighten all the clamps/adjustments continue listening to the pointing tool to ensure that you do not move anything!

Now connect the TX cable.

Finishing off

Back indoors the modem will now update it’s internal software and should go on line after a few minutes.

Once the modem is on line check that the connection is working properly then turn off, disconnect and install the cables in their final positions (shortening if necessary) fit the gaiters to the outdoor connections and tighten the connectors.

The earth terminal on the iLNB should be connected to the bracket and this in turn should be connected to a good earth, either an earth rod in the ground or to the fuse/breaker board.

When all is secure and tidy return to your computer and enjoy your new connection

How to

How to fix your own Sky dish

With a little care and patience, you should be able to position your own dish. But if all this looks too daunting, just get in touch: we can do it for you. You will need a compass to be able to position the dish accurately. Dish Assembly Assemble the dish following the supplier’s… Read more »

September 23, 2008 | 6 Comments


To make a Sky remote to control a Sky+ box.

Follow this sequence: Press TV Hold blue and select untill the red light flashes twice Press 2 Press Select Press Sky Now the sky remote up and down channel buttons change the channels on a sky+ box. To revert back, enter this sequence again but press the ”0″  instead of… Read more »

December 1, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Sky Cards

There is a huge amount of confusion surrounding the new Sky card issue. According to Sky the project will be completed by the end of September, by which all subscribers will have been issued with new cards which should not need to be activated For “£20 card” holders it’s not quite so… Read more »

August 31, 2009 | 2 Comments

Adding ITV regions to your Sky box

To add ITV regions On the Sky box go to Services > System Setup > Add Channels  Enter the following details: Frequency: from the list below Polarity: from the list below Symbol rate: 22000 (22.0Mb) FEC: 5/6 Go to Find Channels, highlight the required region(s), and… Read more »

July 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment

BBC region numbers on your Sky box

Although your Sky box puts only one region for BBC, the other regions are available and here are the channel numbers: BBC1 971   Scotland 972   Wales 973   Norhern Ireland 974   London 975   NE & C 976   Yorkshire 977   Yorks & Lincs 978   North West 979   West… Read more »

July 19, 2009 | 2 Comments

Turn a Sky+ remote into a standard Sky remote

Press TV, Hold Yellow+Select until LED flashes twice, press “0″, Press “select” Press “ Sky” (To revert back, enter this sequence again but press the “1″ button instead of “0″) (thanks for the edit… Read more »

April 17, 2009 | 1 Comment

Plasma or LCD…… Which TV should I buy?

As ever the answer to this question is  “that all depends”. This page gives a fairly good… Read more »

March 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Sky Box Auto Standby

In the interest of saving the planet Sky has decided to add  “Auto Standby” to the latest software update. This puts your box onto standby if you don’t use the remote between 11.00pm and 4.00am. You’ll be pleased to know that the function can be disabled thus: press the services button,… Read more »

December 27, 2008 | 4 Comments

Can I have more than one box?

Yes, of course you can   BUT  You will need to install a multi-output LNB on your dish (you’ve probably heard people talking about “quad LNBs”). The replacement of a single LNB with a multi-output one is straight swap. Having installed the new LNB on your dish you then need to check the… Read more »

November 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Channel 5 is now available free

Adding “Five” to your Sky box On the Sky box go to Services > System Setup > Add Channels Enter the following details: Frequency: 10773MHz (10.773GHz) Polarity: Horizontal Symbol rate: 22000 (22.0Mb) FEC: 5/6 Go to Find Channels, highlight “Five”, and press the yellow button, then… Read more »

November 3, 2008 | 7 Comments

How to programme your Sky remote to work with your TV

The Sky remote can be programmed to opperate many TVs and it’s easy to do. If you have a Sony TV, it should work automatically. Otherwise: First turn on your TV and your Sky box. then on the remote control: Press the “interactive” button From the menu that now appears select… Read more »

November 2, 2008 | 2 Comments


TV News

iPlayer on FreeSat

So the good news is that iPlayer for Freesat HD boxes will be available for beta testing later this month, according to Rahul Chakkara’s BBC blog . The bad news for ex-pat brits is that it’s an internet based service so presumably the service will not be available outside of the UK due to the… Read more »

November 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Sky Cards

There is a huge amount of confusion surrounding the new Sky card issue. According to Sky the project will be completed by the end of September, by which all subscribers will have been issued with new cards which should not need to be activated For “£20 card” holders it’s not quite so… Read more »

August 31, 2009 | 2 Comments

New Sky card issue

Starting in April with Aberdeen (AB) postcodes Sky are issuing replacement viewing cards,  so if you have a Sky contract make sure that the new card will be forwarded to you. Presumably at some stage, when the reissue is completed, Sky will turn off the functionality of the current “BlueHouse”… Read more »

March 22, 2009 | 2 Comments

Discovery Shed launches today

Discovery becomes the latest network to give its channels a makeover, as Real Time Extra becomes Discovery Shed today. Described as “the place for men who like good old practical activities to escape to”, the relaunched channel will feature DIY and construction, survival, motors and other… Read more »

March 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment