Frequently Asked Questions

The following are answers to commonly asked questions about BeyonDSL. If you have a question not answered here, please contact us.

Installation
  1. What's included in a standard installation?

    A standard installation is no more than 30m cable run from the dish to the satmodem (or TV receiver), on a south-facing wall with no special access requirements – typically no higher than the first storey. If your install is non-standard, the installer should tell you on arrival on site and clear any extra costs with you directly before proceeding.

  2. Do I need planning permission?

    Not usually. A 75cm or 79cm dish is within the usual permissions. For more information you should visit the Planning Portal http://www.planningportal.gov.uk. A professional installation can even meet the needs of most "specialist" areas such as Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, etc.

  3. How do I find a dealer/installer?

    We are happy to find an installer and put them in touch with you but if you wish you can use our dealer locator to find a dealer/installer and contact them directly yourself.

  4. How do I install the equipment myself?

    If you are technically minded you can opt to install the equipment yourself. We have a "How to Install" video and online guide available. You should also be aware of the new transponder parameters for ASTRA 3B. Please note that we do not provide telephone support for the installation process so if this is something you are not comfortable with then we recommend you go with a professional installation.

  5. Can I use a different / larger dish?

    No. The dish supplied in the kit is produced to a higher standard than a TV dish (TVRO or RxO). This is to ensure the correct transmission of your signal to the satellite. The surface of our transmit/receive (TxRx or VSAT) dish is manufactured on a higher tolerance tool specially cut for the purpose.

    The transmit performance of a dish is critical to establishing a successful connection and therefore only the dish supplied in the kit can be used.

    Dishes intended just for receiving a TV signal do not have to be made to such a high tolerance as signal reception is not so critical. These dishes are known as TVRO (TV Receive Only) or RxO (Receive Only).

    For a two-way satellite service to work, the dish must be made to a standard suitable for TxRx (Transmit/Receive) and specified for the particular system. The dish, mount and iLNB in our kit is the only one specified for our system.

    The only exception to this rule is the dedicated self-alignment system intended for mobile homes, RVs and similar available from specialists.

  6. How long is the cable from the dish to the satmodem?

    The kit includes 30m of RG6 shotgun cable. RG6 is a grade of coaxial cable suitable for satellite digital signals and shotgun means it has two cables combined together. Please note, the typical TV only version of cable known as WF65 is NOT suitable as it does not have good enough performance for this application.

    You don't have to use all the 30m, you can cut off the excess you don't use. Make sure not to cut it too short, though, as it is not possible to join two lengths of cable without reducing performance.

    If you need to mount the dish further away than this, you should consult one of our local installation experts who will be able to source the correct grade of cable. You'll probably find it easier if you ask them to do the entire installation as they will have the experience and the correct tools and connectors. Remember you will  need two lengths or "runs":  one for transmit and one for receive. Any cable can be used as long as it meets or exceeds the following specification:

    • RG6 foam equivalent
    • Specified up to 3GHz
    • F-connector compatible
    • Attenuation @ 3000MHz (3GHz) < 20dB

    The 30m cable set provided in the kit has an attenuation of ~14dB @  3000MHz over the 30m length. This information is included in the ASTRA2Connect User Manual (P14 of Version 4.2).

    We have tested WF100 grade up to 50m. From the specifications table supplied by Webro, we estimate the following grades and maximum cable runs.  You must check this with your local installer before proceeding.

    Type of Cable: WF100 WF125 WF165 WF233 WF340
    Estimated Max Length:
    		 50m 60m 75m 100m 150m
    Some of these cable grades can be very expensive so you may wish to install the satmodem closer to the dish and then use an ethernet cable for the longer distance to connect to your computer or router.

  7. What kind of mount do I need?

    The Az/El mount fits any standard pole from 40 - 70mm. As long as it is secure and vertical, you can use a wall mount, pole mount or patio mount.