Sky Software Update (March 2010)

Standard Sky receivers have recently receive a new software version.

Version 3.8.8 has been deployed in the last week of March 2010.

This replaces the previous version of 3.7.6.

At the moment it is unknown what has changed between these two versions.

The latest operating system version is 1.2S4FM and EPG software version is 3.8.8.ns (March 2010). This firmware version is for a Pace Digibox, (non Sky +) after the latest Digibox software update.



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ITV HD on Sky and Freesat

Further to my previous post

ITV HD on Sky

It currently looks like that there will be at least 2 versions of ITV1HD

One ITVHD version will be for freesat, and will be available on satellite frequency on 10832 H, on Astra 2d, and available without a Sky card, but with some reception limitiations (reception will be similar to BBC2 on the Costa Blanca))

One version will be for Sky and available with a Skyc ard. It will be on satellite frequency 11973 v, a nice easily received frequency for the Costa Blanca.

It may also mean that there will be some programmes blacked out on the new freesat version due to rights issues which will be available but encrypted on the sky version...



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2010 Football World Cup On UK TV and Satellite

The first batch of 2010 Football world cup matches to be shown on BBC and ITV have been announced.....

ITV1 will screen England's first two World Cup group games, against the USA and Algeria, when the tournament begins in South Africa in June

England's second game, against Algeria, who finished fourth in this year's African Cup of Nations, will also be shown in a primetime evening slot on ITV1 - 7.30pm on Friday 18 June.

BBC1 will show the third group game, against Slovenia, in the afternoon on Wednesday 23 June.

The BBC showing the national team's first two knockout matches, should the team progress that far.

2010 FIFA Football World Cup South Africa on BBC and ITV

and

2010 FIFA Football World Cup South Africa on UK TV



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Five HD coming to Sky HD this summer...?

Looks like Freesat TV is losing out again!!!!!

After having its Freeview HD slot pinched by the BBC for failing to measure up to Ofcom's standards for a Freeview HD channel, Five has announced that their new hi-def channel will instead be launched on Sky this summer.

Ofcom rejected Five's bid for an HD channel on the grounds that they had failed to find another broadcaster to fill the channel during the daytime (Five's original bid was for an HD simulcast of its regular channel during prime time). With no programming to fill the daytime schedule, Ofcom ruled that the channel would instead be left to be used the BBC, as is the case with all channels that are not reserved for private broadcasting companies by Ofcom.

Five's director of strategy, Charles Constable, called the move to Sky HD "an exciting opportunity", and said that Five's "programme schedule is more suited to HD than that any other major free-to-air commercial broadcaster given the wide range of high quality series [it] broadcasts, such as our top-rated line-up of US dramas."

Five HD is slated to launch this summer, and will be available without additional subscription to customers with the Sky HD package.

Source: T3


So as the report says on Sky, it looks like it will only be available with a free to view card, and not on Freesat.

So FreesatHD has BBC HD, ITV HD and Luxe HD
Sky HD without a viewing card also has BBC HD, ITV HD and Luxe HD.
Sky HD with a viewing card will soon have BBC HD, ITV HD, C4 HD, Five HD and Luxe HD


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ITV HD channel coming to Sky and Freesat - April 2nd

ITV1 HD is to make itself available to both Sky and Virgin households.

ITV1 HD channel will be available on Freesat HD and Sky HD boxes from April 2nd.

According to reports it will be on Freesat EPG 119 and Sky HD EPG 178.

The decision means Freesat will lose its satellite exclusivity on the channel as the commercial channel also extends its presence through the terrestrial Freeview HD.

Dont know what frequency it will be on though, although it will be interesting given the recent shuffle around by ITV of some of its regional variations.

(early speculation is that it will move to a Astra 2d Horizontal beam, that has had some space freed up by some of the ITV regional variations shuffling around. If it does move to A2D H then its reception will be similar to BBC2s - bit of a knock for those watching ITV HD on a small dish then!)



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ITV1 stronger frequency available for Spain

"ITV1 Central S" and "ITV1 Central E" (ITV Central South and ITV Central East) have been removed from Astra 2D and have reappeared on the Astra 2B South beam.



A Sky viewing card is required for these regions, that used to be free to air - no sky card required.

You can add these ITV1 regions using Other Channels.

The frequency is:
11973 V 27500 2/3

Its on Astra 2B south beam, so very easy to receive even on a smaller 60cm dish in many areas of Spain - reception will be similar to Sky News!

I have no idea for how long these will be available or if this is going to be permanent



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English Satellite TV Costa Blanca Spain

English Satellite TV Costa Blanca Spain

Many of the British TV channels available in the UK are also available in Spain. Many of them like BBC and ITV are available for free with no monthly subscription. And with the likes of Sky digiboxes and Freesat receivers, choosing programmes to watch is simple with their full 7 day programme guides.

Many English satellite TV channels can be received using a small satellite dish, say about an 80cm dish. But, for the more mainstream UK TV channels like BBC TV and ITV, because the signal is weaker in Spain than in the UK, you need a fairly large satellite dish in order to catch that signal effectively.

This weaker satellite signal is because one of the four satellites providing the UK with satellite television is a narrow beamed satellite, meaning its signal is focused tightly on the UK. This is the Astra 2d satellite.

The farther away from the UK you go, the weaker the strength of this satellites signal. In order to ensure you can receive a good signal where you are a bigger satellite dish is required.

The size of the satellite dish you need as part of your UK satellite television installation will depend on the area of Spain in which you live. For most of southern Spain, such as the Costa del Sol and the Almeria areas, a 1.2-1.3 metre dish should be sufficient. In other parts of the Spain, like the Costa Blanca - Alicante to Valencia regions - you'll need a larger dish to get Sky TV in Spain, with up to 1.8 or 2.4 metre dishes being needed to be installed for UK satelite TV.

English language channels are not only restricted to UK TV channels. FOr many years Spanish TV has operated a DUAL sound system. This means that on some UK nd USA movies, the movie is transmited in both Spanish and in English. This has now been impliemnted by the Spansih digital TV system - TDT. For many of the UK and USA imported TV programmes, just one press of a button on a remote control can change the Spanish dubbed language in to English language.



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Loss of UK TV BBC ITV Astra 2d signals in Spain in the mornings

Well its that time of the year again when you may be experiencing some signal loss on yur Sky UK satellite TV systems.

For about 10 minutes a day, there will be a temporary loss of the UK TV channel frequencies via the Astra 2D satellite for about 10 or 15 minutes a day.

This will normally be happening at around 11 am CET.

This is beacuse the Astra 2D satellite, that carries BBC and ITV channels, is directly in line with the sun. It is assumed that he suns energy swamps the signals from the "weaker beamed" Astra 2D satellite, resulting in a loss of BBC ITV Channel 4 channels in Spain for this short amount of time.

This happens twice a year. There are two times in the year when the sun, Astra 2d and the earth are in alignment and the sun causes this drop out in signal. It happens early March and in October.


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ITV1 +1 test frequencies for Sky and Freesat receivers

ITV1 +1 is back up and testing again.

Currently test are in the clear - ie with no sky card required, and are currently showing some ITV1 regions as part of the test.

But expect them to be encrypted and require a Sky card very soon.

ITV1+1 Frequency
11.973
V
27500
2/3

Tagged as 7450, 7455, 7560, 7565, and 7570

These are on a south beam frequency so reception with a sky card should be easily available in Spain on a small satellite dish when ITV1+1 is officailly launched.....assuming they do not change anything between onw and then.

ITV1+1 was originally scheduled for launch in October 2009, but was delayed.


EDIT / UPDATE:

The above information, posted in March 2010, is now out of date, as ITV1+1 launched on 11th January 2011 on Sky and Freesat. Click here to go to the post about ITV1+1 regions and frequencies and channel numbers for Sky and Freesat


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Have you lost Channel Five, Fiver and Five USA in Spain? "This programme is not available"

If you have recently lost Five, Fiver and Five USA, and are getting a message on the screen saying "This programme is not available", then I am pretty sure that you are using a blue Sky viewng card.

This old blue Sky card will need to be replaced with a new white Sky viewng card.
Since April 2009, Sky have been issuing new replacement Sky cards.

On 1st March 2010, Sky started to deactivate the old blue Sky cards.

Should you wish to continue to watch the free to air TV channels then you will need a new replacement Freesat from Sky viewing card.
You can still get Five without a viewing card, by using the frequency settings as per these instructions : http://www.satandpcguy.com/Site/extra_secret_frequencies_channels_sky.php



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Showtime Nilesat lose Formula 1

There are reports that that Showtime, available via subscription on Nilesat 7 West, have lost the rights to show Formula 1.


The rights are now with ADMC the same company who bagged the FA Premier League football rights for the Middle East.

Formula 1 in the Middle East will be broadcast FTA in Arabic on AD Sports 2, and, later in the year, in English on Abu Dhabi's new "encrypted channel."

Blue Sky Cards Out, New White Sky cards in - "This programme is not available" message on Sky boxes

The process of deactivating the old blue sky viewing cards is happening now.

Many people using these cards for the free to view channel, like Five and Fiver, are now unable to watch these channels, as the blue cards are now deactivated.

You may get an on screen message on some channels to the effect of "This programme is not available" - meaning your Sky card is no longer valid to receive that channel.

Only new white cards will work, as it has also been reported that Sky have now moved over to their new NDS3 encryption.
 
Expect a backlog as many people rush to try and get a new white card......or try sky.com/replacecard