Suggestion. Get yourself a Freesat box of decent make - Humax or something like. Sky boxes are seriously bodged to make them work but only just and are well known for their deafness.
Otherwise trolley along to Maplin and get one of their sat boxes. Whilst you may loose the EPG and have to use some odd channel numbers to get the stations you want, you will also be able to receive channels from other satellites which can add a bit of spice to your overseas sojourn.
If going to France go to one of the big DIY sheds such as Leroy-Merlin or BricoMan and get a pre-programmed sat receiver. To make sure it has Astra 28E (if it doesn't say so on the box) you will need one of the 5000 or 5500 channel versions. Cost around €60. The one I have has the added advantage that when connected by SCART to the TV, in alignment mode it generates a tone on the TV sound that rises in pitch with signal strength. Once you have found the sat trimming for the best signal is a piece of cake. (Mind you, once I've used it for that I replace it with a Freesat from Sky box!!)
You can also get a 60cm dish complete with LNB from the same stores for around €35. For mounting I bought a worklight tripod (without lights) from BricoMan at Boulogne for about €12 - get some wingnuts as well as it makes fixing very much easier. This dish can be at ground level provided it has a clear view SE/SSE, and one tent peg over each foot will keep the dish stable in any wind.
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