Further to our previous posts (http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2014/02/uk-tv-satellite-changes-channels-swap-satellites/ ) regarding channels moving from Astra 1N to the Astra 2A satellite, we think we now know which channels and frequencies have moved.
These can be viewed at : http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2014/02/satellite-changes-sky-chabnnesl-change-satellites-channels-frequencies/
Showing posts with label satellite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label satellite. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Astra 2A channels move to Astra 2E - frequencies and channel affected.
Further to our previous post (http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2014/02/astra-2e-channels-start-move/ ) regarding channels moving from Astra 2A to the new UK TV satellite, Astra 2E, we think we now know which channels and frequencies have moved:
11.720 H : MTV Live HD, Sky Sports 2 HD, Lifetime HD
11.758 H : Disney XD HD, Animal Planet HD, ITV 2 HD, ITV 3 HD, ITV 4 HD
11.778 v : Sky Guide / EPG
11.798 H : Sky Sports HD 1, Sky Sports News HD, Sky Living HD, Sky Sports 1 HD, Sky Sp NewsHD, Channel 5 HD
11.836 H : Sky Action, Sky Comedy, Sky SciFi / Horror, Sky Select, Sky Disney, Sky Family, Sky Movies Premier, Sky Movies Premier +1, Sky Thriller, Sky Valentine, Sky Modern Greats
11.856 H : Eurosport HD, Fox HD U.K., E4 HD, Eurosport 2 HD
11.914 H : Sky Atlantic +1 11.934 V : Sky intro, Sky Box Office
12.012 H : Sky Family HD, Sky Movies Premiere HD, Sky Thriller HD, Sky Select HD UK
12.344 H : Sky Sports HD 4, Sky Atlantic HD, Sky1 HD, Sky Sports 2 HD,
12.383 H : Sky Insider HD, Universal HD UK, Dave HD, E! HD, Alibi HD
12.460 H : Sky 3D, Sky News HD, Sky Arts 1 HD, Sky Showcase HD
11.720 H : MTV Live HD, Sky Sports 2 HD, Lifetime HD
11.758 H : Disney XD HD, Animal Planet HD, ITV 2 HD, ITV 3 HD, ITV 4 HD
11.778 v : Sky Guide / EPG
11.798 H : Sky Sports HD 1, Sky Sports News HD, Sky Living HD, Sky Sports 1 HD, Sky Sp NewsHD, Channel 5 HD
11.836 H : Sky Action, Sky Comedy, Sky SciFi / Horror, Sky Select, Sky Disney, Sky Family, Sky Movies Premier, Sky Movies Premier +1, Sky Thriller, Sky Valentine, Sky Modern Greats
11.856 H : Eurosport HD, Fox HD U.K., E4 HD, Eurosport 2 HD
11.914 H : Sky Atlantic +1 11.934 V : Sky intro, Sky Box Office
12.012 H : Sky Family HD, Sky Movies Premiere HD, Sky Thriller HD, Sky Select HD UK
12.344 H : Sky Sports HD 4, Sky Atlantic HD, Sky1 HD, Sky Sports 2 HD,
12.383 H : Sky Insider HD, Universal HD UK, Dave HD, E! HD, Alibi HD
12.460 H : Sky 3D, Sky News HD, Sky Arts 1 HD, Sky Showcase HD
Friday, September 27, 2013
Some UK TV Frequency changes over the next few weeks (Oct 2013)
Over the next few weeks, some UK TV channels will be moving frequencies (and satellites).
These changes should be unnoticed for Sky and Freesat users, but some users with "generic" free to air receivers may have to perform a rescan should they lose a channel.
These changes are nothing to do with the new UK TV satellite Astra 2E ( http://www.satandpcguy.com/Site/astra_2e_satellite_reception_testing_news_updates.php ).
Basically UK TV come from satellites operated by two companies, SES Astra and Eutelsat. Recently, some frequencies currently used by Eutelsat, have been allocated to SES Astra.
This means that the channels on those frequencies will be affected. Some channels may simply move to new Eutelsat frequencies.
Other channels may move frequencies and satellites, from Eutelsat to Astra.
One such case is RT- UK SD (Russia Today) - http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2013/09/rt-sd-russia-today-satellite-frequency-changes-coming-soon/.
It looks like many changes will be happening, on both Astra and Eutelsat satellites, as channels on existing frequencies are shuffled around to accommodate these changes - which is probably the reason for this spate of channel frequency changes ( http://www.satandpcguy.com/forum/showthread.php?91374-Important-Sky-TV-and-Freesat-TV-Channel-Frequency-changes-and-updates&p=122133&viewfull=1#post122133 )
These changes should be unnoticed for Sky and Freesat users, but some users with "generic" free to air receivers may have to perform a rescan should they lose a channel.
These changes are nothing to do with the new UK TV satellite Astra 2E ( http://www.satandpcguy.com/Site/astra_2e_satellite_reception_testing_news_updates.php ).
Basically UK TV come from satellites operated by two companies, SES Astra and Eutelsat. Recently, some frequencies currently used by Eutelsat, have been allocated to SES Astra.
This means that the channels on those frequencies will be affected. Some channels may simply move to new Eutelsat frequencies.
Other channels may move frequencies and satellites, from Eutelsat to Astra.
One such case is RT- UK SD (Russia Today) - http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2013/09/rt-sd-russia-today-satellite-frequency-changes-coming-soon/.
It looks like many changes will be happening, on both Astra and Eutelsat satellites, as channels on existing frequencies are shuffled around to accommodate these changes - which is probably the reason for this spate of channel frequency changes ( http://www.satandpcguy.com/forum/showthread.php?91374-Important-Sky-TV-and-Freesat-TV-Channel-Frequency-changes-and-updates&p=122133&viewfull=1#post122133 )
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Boxing : David Haye v Tyson Fury - on Satellite TV
Where to watch David Haye v Tyson Fury on satellite TV.
Haye v Fury
David Haye v Tyson Fury
Boxing
Saturday 28th September 2013
Manchester Arena
Sky Box Office
Sky 3D
Haye v Fury
Floyd Mayweather Jr v Saul Alvarez
Boxing - WBC & WBA Super-Welterweight Titles
Sunday 14 September 2013
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Al Jazeera Sport +10 / HD6
beIN Sport 1 / HD
Box Nation (437) - UK TV
GSP TV
Orange Sport (poland)
Russia 2 (Rossiya 2)
Showtime
Sport 1 (russia) / HD
Sport Italia 2
Sport TV2 / HD
SuperSport 6 (za) / HD
SuperSport MaXimo 1
TV10 (sweden)
TV3
Sport 2 (den) / HD
Viasat Sport (nor) / HD
Viasat Sport Baltic
Haye v FuryDavid Haye v Tyson Fury
Boxing
Saturday 28th September 2013
Manchester Arena
Sky Box Office
Sky 3D
Haye v Fury
Floyd Mayweather Jr v Saul Alvarez
Boxing - WBC & WBA Super-Welterweight Titles
Sunday 14 September 2013
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Al Jazeera Sport +10 / HD6
beIN Sport 1 / HD
Box Nation (437) - UK TV
GSP TV
Orange Sport (poland)
Russia 2 (Rossiya 2)
Showtime
Sport 1 (russia) / HD
Sport Italia 2
Sport TV2 / HD
SuperSport 6 (za) / HD
SuperSport MaXimo 1
TV10 (sweden)
TV3
Sport 2 (den) / HD
Viasat Sport (nor) / HD
Viasat Sport Baltic
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Still more UK TV satellite changes to come...
Despite what you may have already heard the long awaited satellite change has not happened - well not completely.
Only a handful of channels have moved satellites (Fives, C4HD, 4seven, and a few ITV1 regions).
Hence why some people may have lost reception of these channels on smaller satellite dishes.
We are still awaiting for the majority of the channels from BBC ITV C4 to move. At the moment we do not know when this will be. It could be this month, it may even be as late as April/May next year.
Only a handful of channels have moved satellites (Fives, C4HD, 4seven, and a few ITV1 regions).
Hence why some people may have lost reception of these channels on smaller satellite dishes.
We are still awaiting for the majority of the channels from BBC ITV C4 to move. At the moment we do not know when this will be. It could be this month, it may even be as late as April/May next year.
Friday, July 20, 2012
BBC Olympic Streams on Sky boxes - from Sky channel 450 on 23 July.
The 24 new BBC channels will appear in the Sports section of the Sky Guide from channel 450 on 23 July.
There will be 24 SD and 24 HD channels available.
There will also be a range of coverage on BBC1, BBC3, BBC One HD and BBC HD over the Olympic Games.
All will be available to watch in standard definition on Sky TV in Spain and Freesat TV in Spain.
These BBC Olympic channels will be available to watch in high definition on Sky TV in Spain on Sky HD and Sky+HD digiboxes and Freesat in Spain on Freesat HD receivers.
These BBC Olympic channels will also be available on Freesat receivers.
BBC Sports Olympic Stream Frequencies can be found here should you requrie to add them to your receivers.
There will be 24 SD and 24 HD channels available.
There will also be a range of coverage on BBC1, BBC3, BBC One HD and BBC HD over the Olympic Games.
All will be available to watch in standard definition on Sky TV in Spain and Freesat TV in Spain.
These BBC Olympic channels will be available to watch in high definition on Sky TV in Spain on Sky HD and Sky+HD digiboxes and Freesat in Spain on Freesat HD receivers.
These BBC Olympic channels will also be available on Freesat receivers.
BBC Sports Olympic Stream Frequencies can be found here should you requrie to add them to your receivers.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Fox Movies and Fox Series on Nilesat and Arabsat Frequencies
Fox Movies and Fox Series are available on frequencies on two satellite groups: on Nilesat / Atlantic Bird at 7 West, and Arabsat / Badr at 26 East.
Fox Movies is a 24 hour film channel. Broadcasting films from all genres - comedy, drama, action, sci-fi, horror and thrillers. Given its connections to Hollywood through 20th Century Fox Studios, Fox Movies offers an excellent choice of movies. Some of the broadcast movies contain swearing, violence and sexual content.
Fox Movies Frequencies and Information
Fox Series, also known as Fox Arabic, is a 24 hour general entertainment TV channel entirely dedicated to the best of television series. The channel provides smart entertainment with an edge to viewers across the Middle East. The Fox Series Channel is a Middle Eastern version of the American Fox Channel and offers viewers a sensational line-up of award-winning television series.
Fox Series Frequencies and Information
The Fox Movies channel is available on the following satellite frequencies :
Fox Movies Frequency on Arabsat / Badr 4/6 (26 east)
Frequency 11843
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 3/4
Fox Movies HD
Frequency 11823
Polarisation V
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 5/6
Fox Movies Frequency on Nilesat 101 / 102 / Atlantic Bird (7 West)
Frequency 11296
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 3/4
Fox Movies HD
Frequency 12111
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 5/6
Fox Movies Programme Guide for Arabsat / Nilesat
Fox Movies Programme Guide for Arabsat / Nilesat
The Fox Series / Fox Arabic channel is available on the following satellite frequencies :
Fox Series / Fox Arabic Frequency on Arabsat / Badr 4/6 (26 east)
Frequency 11843
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 3/4
Fox Series / Fox Arabic Frequency on Nilesat 101 / 102 / Atlantic Bird (7 West)
Frequency 11296
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 3/4
Fox Series / Fox Arabic Programme Guide for Arabsat / Nilesat
Fox Series / Fox Arabic Programme Guide for Arabsat / Nilesat
Fox Movies is a 24 hour film channel. Broadcasting films from all genres - comedy, drama, action, sci-fi, horror and thrillers. Given its connections to Hollywood through 20th Century Fox Studios, Fox Movies offers an excellent choice of movies. Some of the broadcast movies contain swearing, violence and sexual content.
Fox Movies Frequencies and Information
Fox Series, also known as Fox Arabic, is a 24 hour general entertainment TV channel entirely dedicated to the best of television series. The channel provides smart entertainment with an edge to viewers across the Middle East. The Fox Series Channel is a Middle Eastern version of the American Fox Channel and offers viewers a sensational line-up of award-winning television series.
Fox Series Frequencies and Information
The Fox Movies channel is available on the following satellite frequencies :
Fox Movies Frequency on Arabsat / Badr 4/6 (26 east)
Frequency 11843
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 3/4
Fox Movies HD
Frequency 11823
Polarisation V
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 5/6
Fox Movies Frequency on Nilesat 101 / 102 / Atlantic Bird (7 West)
Frequency 11296
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 3/4
Fox Movies HD
Frequency 12111
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 5/6
Fox Movies Programme Guide for Arabsat / Nilesat
Fox Movies Programme Guide for Arabsat / Nilesat
The Fox Series / Fox Arabic channel is available on the following satellite frequencies :
Fox Series / Fox Arabic Frequency on Arabsat / Badr 4/6 (26 east)
Frequency 11843
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 3/4
Fox Series / Fox Arabic Frequency on Nilesat 101 / 102 / Atlantic Bird (7 West)
Frequency 11296
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 3/4
Fox Series / Fox Arabic Programme Guide for Arabsat / Nilesat
Fox Series / Fox Arabic Programme Guide for Arabsat / Nilesat
Thursday, June 30, 2011
New satellite Astra 1N being launched 1st July 2011
SES Astra are due to launch a new satellite. Astra 1N will launch on Friday 1st July 2011.
Astra 1N was designed to be placed at 19 eat, and provide new satellite capacity for Western Europe, like Spain, France and Germany. However, Astra have said that 1N will initially be deployed at 28 east, providing more satellite TV capacity for UK broadcasters like Sky, BBC and ITV and Freesat, and to help as a backup in case one of the existing satellites, Astra 2a, Astra 2b, or Astra 2D, fail.
But what does Astra 1N mean for watching UK TV in Spain? SES Astra have released a signal footprint map for this new satellite, but the map is focused on the UK, and does not show the full signal footprint that covers the rest of Europe.
However, an "unofficial" footprint map did appear for a short time on the Astra website.
The footprint map shows the signal reception when the satellite is at 28 east. If you move the footprint slightly east and slightly south, then you can see how it covers Spain and France and Germany, as it should do when 1N is deployed at 19 east.
As you can see there is a large area of Spain not covered by this footprint. However, is should be noted that the outermost line is the expected reception for a 1.25m dish. There is no indication of reception for larger 1.8m or 2.4m satellite dishes in Spain. But it looks like, i repeat looks like, reception of Astra 1N in Spain will be similar to that of AStra 2D that carries the main BBC channels. That will be a case of cross your fingers and wait and see.
But what could this mean for reception of channels.
Well nothing official has been said by anyone, either Astra, Sky, BBC or ITV or Five, or any of the other UK broadcasters. The idea is that this new satellite will be able to provide more capactity, and thus more channels.
However, there are lots of rumours going around.
One rumour is that the 8 ITV1 regions that currently require a sky card to view will move to Astra 1N. This may mean that those people receiving ITV1 on a small satellite dish with a Sky card will no longer be able to receive ITV1.
Another rumour is that channel Five and its sister channels Five USA and Five*. Five have always indicated that their channels, apart from Five HD, would eventually be free to air. And it may just be that with Astra 1N all Fives channels will go free to air. So, as mentioned for ITV1, this may mean that those people receiving Five on a small satellite dish with a Sky card will no longer be able to receive Five.
And there are rumours that this extra capacity will mean more HD channels...such as more HD channel from Channel 4, like E4 HD and More4HD being made available free to air. Or more BBC Sports streams being made available in HD, especially with the forthcoming London 2012 Olympics.
Some people have said that SES Astra wants more pan European coverage, not less, as this is better commercially (for their advertisers / broadcasters), and so the signals on new satllites will be stronger. This is incorrect, as SES Astra can actually charge a premium rate for a satellite beam that is area specific. Eurobird 1 is a Pan European signal footprint, and as such is relatively cheap for channels to be on there, which is why a lot of the "cheap" channels are on Eurobird and not Astra.
However, all this is rumour and speculation and nothing will be confirmed until the satellite actually launches, is tested, and is made operational.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Astra 1N was designed to be placed at 19 eat, and provide new satellite capacity for Western Europe, like Spain, France and Germany. However, Astra have said that 1N will initially be deployed at 28 east, providing more satellite TV capacity for UK broadcasters like Sky, BBC and ITV and Freesat, and to help as a backup in case one of the existing satellites, Astra 2a, Astra 2b, or Astra 2D, fail.
But what does Astra 1N mean for watching UK TV in Spain? SES Astra have released a signal footprint map for this new satellite, but the map is focused on the UK, and does not show the full signal footprint that covers the rest of Europe.
However, an "unofficial" footprint map did appear for a short time on the Astra website.
The footprint map shows the signal reception when the satellite is at 28 east. If you move the footprint slightly east and slightly south, then you can see how it covers Spain and France and Germany, as it should do when 1N is deployed at 19 east.
As you can see there is a large area of Spain not covered by this footprint. However, is should be noted that the outermost line is the expected reception for a 1.25m dish. There is no indication of reception for larger 1.8m or 2.4m satellite dishes in Spain. But it looks like, i repeat looks like, reception of Astra 1N in Spain will be similar to that of AStra 2D that carries the main BBC channels. That will be a case of cross your fingers and wait and see.
But what could this mean for reception of channels.
Well nothing official has been said by anyone, either Astra, Sky, BBC or ITV or Five, or any of the other UK broadcasters. The idea is that this new satellite will be able to provide more capactity, and thus more channels.
However, there are lots of rumours going around.
One rumour is that the 8 ITV1 regions that currently require a sky card to view will move to Astra 1N. This may mean that those people receiving ITV1 on a small satellite dish with a Sky card will no longer be able to receive ITV1.
Another rumour is that channel Five and its sister channels Five USA and Five*. Five have always indicated that their channels, apart from Five HD, would eventually be free to air. And it may just be that with Astra 1N all Fives channels will go free to air. So, as mentioned for ITV1, this may mean that those people receiving Five on a small satellite dish with a Sky card will no longer be able to receive Five.
And there are rumours that this extra capacity will mean more HD channels...such as more HD channel from Channel 4, like E4 HD and More4HD being made available free to air. Or more BBC Sports streams being made available in HD, especially with the forthcoming London 2012 Olympics.
Some people have said that SES Astra wants more pan European coverage, not less, as this is better commercially (for their advertisers / broadcasters), and so the signals on new satllites will be stronger. This is incorrect, as SES Astra can actually charge a premium rate for a satellite beam that is area specific. Eurobird 1 is a Pan European signal footprint, and as such is relatively cheap for channels to be on there, which is why a lot of the "cheap" channels are on Eurobird and not Astra.
However, all this is rumour and speculation and nothing will be confirmed until the satellite actually launches, is tested, and is made operational.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Motors TV now free to view on Sky
Motors TV, which used to be part of the Sky TV subscription service, is currently available to view for free.
Howeve, to watch Motors TV, you still need a sky card, as Motors TV is "free to view", and not "free to air".
So if you have a freesatfromsky viewing card, you can now receive Motors TV with no subscription on Sky channel 413.
As Motors TV is "free to view" and not "free to air" it will not be available on "Freesat" boxes or other free to air satellite receivers.
I do not know if this is a permanent thing, but it is there at the moment, and should be able to be receive on a small 80cm satellite dish.
Howeve, to watch Motors TV, you still need a sky card, as Motors TV is "free to view", and not "free to air".
So if you have a freesatfromsky viewing card, you can now receive Motors TV with no subscription on Sky channel 413.
As Motors TV is "free to view" and not "free to air" it will not be available on "Freesat" boxes or other free to air satellite receivers.
I do not know if this is a permanent thing, but it is there at the moment, and should be able to be receive on a small 80cm satellite dish.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
UK Football in Spain on Satellite Digital+
Digital+ matches for the first weekend of the English Premier League:
Tottenham - Manchester City - Saturday 13:45
Aston Villa - West Ham - Saturday 16:00
Wigan - Blackpool - Saturday 16:00
Chelsea - WBA - Saturday 18:30
Liverpool - Arsenal - Sunday 17:00
Manchester United - Newcastle - Monday 21:00
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Tottenham - Manchester City - Saturday 13:45
Aston Villa - West Ham - Saturday 16:00
Wigan - Blackpool - Saturday 16:00
Chelsea - WBA - Saturday 18:30
Liverpool - Arsenal - Sunday 17:00
Manchester United - Newcastle - Monday 21:00
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Sunday, July 18, 2010
English Football Premier League - Games on Sky and ESPN - Costa Blanca Spain
Live fixtures up to the end of November (ESPN games in italics):
AUGUST
Sat 14 Tottenham vs Man City 12.45pm
Sat 14 Chelsea v West Brom 5:30pm
Sun 15 Liverpool vs Arsenal 4pm
Mon 16 Man United vs Newcastle 8pm
Sat 21 Wigan vs Chelsea 5.15pm
Sun 22 Newcastle v Aston Villa 1:30pm
Sun 22 Fulham vs Man United 4pm
Mon 23 Man City vs Liverpool 8pm
Sat 28 Blackburn vs Arsenal 12.45pm
Sat 28 Manchester United v West Ham United 5:30pm
Sun 29 Bolton vs Birmingham 1.30pm
Sun 29 Aston Villa vs Everton 4pm
SEPTEMBER
Sun 12 Everton vs Man United 1.30pm
Sun 12 Birmingham vs Liverpool 4pm
Mon 13 Stoke vs Aston Villa 8pm
Sat 18 Stoke vs West Ham 12.45pm
Sat 18 Sunderland v Arsenal 5:30pm
Sun 19 Man United vs Liverpool 1.30pm
Sun 19 Chelsea vs Blackpool 4pm
Sat 25 Man City vs Chelsea 12.45pm
Sat 25 Bolton v Man United 5:30pm
Sun 26 Wolves vs Aston Villa 2pm
Sun 26 Newcastle vs Stoke 4.10pm
OCTOBER
Sun 3 Man City v Newcastle 1:30pm
Sun 3 Chelsea vs Arsenal 4pm
Mon 4 Wigan vs Wolves 8pm
Sat 16 Aston Villa v Chelsea 5:30pm
Sun 17 Everton vs Liverpool 1.30pm
Sun 17 Blackpool vs Man City 4pm
Mon 18 Blackburn vs Sunderland 8pm
Sat 23 Tottenham vs Everton 12.45pm
Sat 23 West Ham vs Newcastle 5.30pm
Sun 24 Stoke vs Man United 1.30pm
Sun 24 Man City vs Arsenal 4pm
Sat 30 Manchester United v Tottenham 5:30pm
Sun 31 Bolton vs Liverpool 1.30pm
Sun 31 Newcastle vs Sunderland 4pm
NOVEMBER
Mon 1 Blackpool vs West Brom 8pm
Sat 6 Bolton vs Spurs 12.45pm
Sun 7 Arsenal vs Newcastle 1.30pm
Sun 7 Liverpool vs Chelsea 4pm
Tue 9 West Ham vs West Brom 8pm
Wed 10 Man City vs Man United 8pm
Sat 13 Aston Villa vs Man United 12.45pm
Sat 13 Stoke v Liverpool 5:30pm
Sun 14 Everton vs Arsenal 2pm
Sun 14 Chelsea vs Sunderland 4.10pm
Sat 20 Liverpool v West Ham 5:30pm
Sun 21 Arsenal vs Tottenham 1.30pm
Sun 21 Fulham vs Man City 4pm
Mon 22 Sunderland vs Everton 8pm
Sat 27 Aston Villa vs Arsenal 12.45pm
Sun 28 Newcastle vs Chelsea 1.30pm
Sun 28 Tottenham vs Liverpool 4pm
TVE and Teledeporte do NOT have the Spanish TV rights for English Premiership football for the next few seasons. Canal+Futbol and GOLTV will be sharing the games, and you can expect about 5 live games each weekend, including those above and at elast one 3pm kickoff on Saturdays.
Other pay satellite TV packages are also available, like Sky Italia, Sky Germany, Nova, and ADMC (taken over from Showtime on Nilesat). At the moment it is thought that only ADMC have the rights to ALL games, although the others will have about the same as Canal+ and GOL TV, ie five live matches a weekend.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
AUGUST
Sat 14 Tottenham vs Man City 12.45pm
Sat 14 Chelsea v West Brom 5:30pm
Sun 15 Liverpool vs Arsenal 4pm
Mon 16 Man United vs Newcastle 8pm
Sat 21 Wigan vs Chelsea 5.15pm
Sun 22 Newcastle v Aston Villa 1:30pm
Sun 22 Fulham vs Man United 4pm
Mon 23 Man City vs Liverpool 8pm
Sat 28 Blackburn vs Arsenal 12.45pm
Sat 28 Manchester United v West Ham United 5:30pm
Sun 29 Bolton vs Birmingham 1.30pm
Sun 29 Aston Villa vs Everton 4pm
SEPTEMBER
Sun 12 Everton vs Man United 1.30pm
Sun 12 Birmingham vs Liverpool 4pm
Mon 13 Stoke vs Aston Villa 8pm
Sat 18 Stoke vs West Ham 12.45pm
Sat 18 Sunderland v Arsenal 5:30pm
Sun 19 Man United vs Liverpool 1.30pm
Sun 19 Chelsea vs Blackpool 4pm
Sat 25 Man City vs Chelsea 12.45pm
Sat 25 Bolton v Man United 5:30pm
Sun 26 Wolves vs Aston Villa 2pm
Sun 26 Newcastle vs Stoke 4.10pm
OCTOBER
Sun 3 Man City v Newcastle 1:30pm
Sun 3 Chelsea vs Arsenal 4pm
Mon 4 Wigan vs Wolves 8pm
Sat 16 Aston Villa v Chelsea 5:30pm
Sun 17 Everton vs Liverpool 1.30pm
Sun 17 Blackpool vs Man City 4pm
Mon 18 Blackburn vs Sunderland 8pm
Sat 23 Tottenham vs Everton 12.45pm
Sat 23 West Ham vs Newcastle 5.30pm
Sun 24 Stoke vs Man United 1.30pm
Sun 24 Man City vs Arsenal 4pm
Sat 30 Manchester United v Tottenham 5:30pm
Sun 31 Bolton vs Liverpool 1.30pm
Sun 31 Newcastle vs Sunderland 4pm
NOVEMBER
Mon 1 Blackpool vs West Brom 8pm
Sat 6 Bolton vs Spurs 12.45pm
Sun 7 Arsenal vs Newcastle 1.30pm
Sun 7 Liverpool vs Chelsea 4pm
Tue 9 West Ham vs West Brom 8pm
Wed 10 Man City vs Man United 8pm
Sat 13 Aston Villa vs Man United 12.45pm
Sat 13 Stoke v Liverpool 5:30pm
Sun 14 Everton vs Arsenal 2pm
Sun 14 Chelsea vs Sunderland 4.10pm
Sat 20 Liverpool v West Ham 5:30pm
Sun 21 Arsenal vs Tottenham 1.30pm
Sun 21 Fulham vs Man City 4pm
Mon 22 Sunderland vs Everton 8pm
Sat 27 Aston Villa vs Arsenal 12.45pm
Sun 28 Newcastle vs Chelsea 1.30pm
Sun 28 Tottenham vs Liverpool 4pm
TVE and Teledeporte do NOT have the Spanish TV rights for English Premiership football for the next few seasons. Canal+Futbol and GOLTV will be sharing the games, and you can expect about 5 live games each weekend, including those above and at elast one 3pm kickoff on Saturdays.
Other pay satellite TV packages are also available, like Sky Italia, Sky Germany, Nova, and ADMC (taken over from Showtime on Nilesat). At the moment it is thought that only ADMC have the rights to ALL games, although the others will have about the same as Canal+ and GOL TV, ie five live matches a weekend.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Some Changes to TDT – Important Sky Card Information – Sky Boxes switching off
Some Changes to TDT – Important Sky Card Information – Sky Boxes switching off
TDT is the Spanish Digital Television service available via your TV aerial. With TDT you can receive around 30 digital Spanish Channels. Although there are no UK or English channels on TDT, you can, in many cases, change the language of certain UK and USA imported programmes from the dubbed Spanish into English. In most cases this can be done by simply pressing the “Audio” button on the remote control.
Sony Entertainment TV no longer available
One of the TDT channels that transmitted a number of American TV imports was the Sony Entertainment Channel – SET. However, you may have noticed that in the last few weeks it is now unavailable, or you are getting a “channel scrambled” message. This is because SET is no longer being broadcasted on TDT. It has been replaced by AXN. However, AXN is the second pay channel on TDT, the first being GOL TV.
To watch these Premium TDT channels you require a Premium viewing card, and a TDT receiver or a TDT Integrated TV with the ability to read the card. Currently a monthly subscription of around 15euros is required for access to both Gol TV and AXN.
High Definition Channels on TDT
Over the coming year some more HD TDT channels will become available. I say more, as in some areas of the Valencia area it is possible to receive Canal 9 HD. Later in the year TVE, and Telecinco are expect to launch their TDT HD channels. In order to receive these TDT HD channels you will require either a TDT HD set top box, or a TV with a built in TDT HD receiver.
Important Sky Card information
As many are aware Sky TV recently replaced their viewing cards from the Blue with Yellow house cards to the all white cards. On the 1st March 2010 all the old blue yellow house cards were deactivated and no longer “unlock” any of the Sky TV channels.
The new white cards have also thrown up a few interesting surprises.
Sky card require a constant signal from the satellite to “keep the cards alive”. If the cards do not receive this “keep alive” signal over a few weeks, then the cards can “go to sleep”. If the cards have “gone to sleep” then one the encrypted channels you will see a message informing you that “This is the wrong cards for this set top box”.
The old blue Sky cards could be “woken up” by leaving them in ANY Sky digibox over a period of 24 / 48 hours, and the channels would eventually reappear. However, the new white Sky cards can only be woken up by leaving them for 24/48 hours in the Sky box that he cards were originally activated in.
Sky Boxes Switching Off Randomly
Since the beginning of March 2010, some Sky boxes have been experiencing an issue where they are switching off at random times, even if you have turned off the Autostandby feature on the Sky box.
The Autostandby feature automatically puts the Sky box into Standby mode if the box has been switched on and no remote control buttons have been touched for 4 hours – supposedly helping you save some power by not having the box turned on all the time.
However, on the Pace 430N Sky receivers, a software update from Sky has been causing the boxes to shut down at random times. You can confirm your make of Sky box by looking at the sticker that should be on the bottom of your box. By pressing Services, 4, 5 and accessing the System Details, software version 3.8.8 is the one that is causing the issues. All other Sky boxes and software versions are at the moment OK.
You can correct this problem yourself, by performing a manual software update which rolls back the software to the previous working version.
This process should be done in the morning, and only if you are getting the background music playing when you enter the Sky menu system, as the frequency for the software download may not be available on small dishes or in the afternoon, and performing it when the frequency is not there could damage your Sky box.
1 Unplug your sky box from the power
2 Press and hold the BACKUP button on the Sky box – not the remote control.
3 Still pressing the Back up button, reapply the power.
4 Keep pressing the back up button on the Sky box until RED YELOW and GREEN light glow on the front panel of the box. A “Downloading” message may also appear on the screen
5 Once these lights have appeared you can release the Back up button, as the box has now started the software download.
6 The Sky box will reboot once the download has been completed. You can confirm if the correct software has been downloaded by going once again into the System Details (Service, 4, 5) and checking that the Software version is now 3.7.6
I should better reiterate that this process should only be down if you can get the download frequency (11778) indicated by the background music on the sky menu screen, that you may also have to re add those “extra” ITV1, C4 and Five channels you have added into your Other Channels lists, and that you perform this upgrade at your own risk and I cannot be held liable if it fails and / or damages your Sky box.
This and further information can be found on our website and Satellite TV forum:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
TDT is the Spanish Digital Television service available via your TV aerial. With TDT you can receive around 30 digital Spanish Channels. Although there are no UK or English channels on TDT, you can, in many cases, change the language of certain UK and USA imported programmes from the dubbed Spanish into English. In most cases this can be done by simply pressing the “Audio” button on the remote control.
Sony Entertainment TV no longer available
One of the TDT channels that transmitted a number of American TV imports was the Sony Entertainment Channel – SET. However, you may have noticed that in the last few weeks it is now unavailable, or you are getting a “channel scrambled” message. This is because SET is no longer being broadcasted on TDT. It has been replaced by AXN. However, AXN is the second pay channel on TDT, the first being GOL TV.
To watch these Premium TDT channels you require a Premium viewing card, and a TDT receiver or a TDT Integrated TV with the ability to read the card. Currently a monthly subscription of around 15euros is required for access to both Gol TV and AXN.
High Definition Channels on TDT
Over the coming year some more HD TDT channels will become available. I say more, as in some areas of the Valencia area it is possible to receive Canal 9 HD. Later in the year TVE, and Telecinco are expect to launch their TDT HD channels. In order to receive these TDT HD channels you will require either a TDT HD set top box, or a TV with a built in TDT HD receiver.
Important Sky Card information
As many are aware Sky TV recently replaced their viewing cards from the Blue with Yellow house cards to the all white cards. On the 1st March 2010 all the old blue yellow house cards were deactivated and no longer “unlock” any of the Sky TV channels.
The new white cards have also thrown up a few interesting surprises.
Sky card require a constant signal from the satellite to “keep the cards alive”. If the cards do not receive this “keep alive” signal over a few weeks, then the cards can “go to sleep”. If the cards have “gone to sleep” then one the encrypted channels you will see a message informing you that “This is the wrong cards for this set top box”.
The old blue Sky cards could be “woken up” by leaving them in ANY Sky digibox over a period of 24 / 48 hours, and the channels would eventually reappear. However, the new white Sky cards can only be woken up by leaving them for 24/48 hours in the Sky box that he cards were originally activated in.
Sky Boxes Switching Off Randomly
Since the beginning of March 2010, some Sky boxes have been experiencing an issue where they are switching off at random times, even if you have turned off the Autostandby feature on the Sky box.
The Autostandby feature automatically puts the Sky box into Standby mode if the box has been switched on and no remote control buttons have been touched for 4 hours – supposedly helping you save some power by not having the box turned on all the time.
However, on the Pace 430N Sky receivers, a software update from Sky has been causing the boxes to shut down at random times. You can confirm your make of Sky box by looking at the sticker that should be on the bottom of your box. By pressing Services, 4, 5 and accessing the System Details, software version 3.8.8 is the one that is causing the issues. All other Sky boxes and software versions are at the moment OK.
You can correct this problem yourself, by performing a manual software update which rolls back the software to the previous working version.
This process should be done in the morning, and only if you are getting the background music playing when you enter the Sky menu system, as the frequency for the software download may not be available on small dishes or in the afternoon, and performing it when the frequency is not there could damage your Sky box.
1 Unplug your sky box from the power
2 Press and hold the BACKUP button on the Sky box – not the remote control.
3 Still pressing the Back up button, reapply the power.
4 Keep pressing the back up button on the Sky box until RED YELOW and GREEN light glow on the front panel of the box. A “Downloading” message may also appear on the screen
5 Once these lights have appeared you can release the Back up button, as the box has now started the software download.
6 The Sky box will reboot once the download has been completed. You can confirm if the correct software has been downloaded by going once again into the System Details (Service, 4, 5) and checking that the Software version is now 3.7.6
I should better reiterate that this process should only be down if you can get the download frequency (11778) indicated by the background music on the sky menu screen, that you may also have to re add those “extra” ITV1, C4 and Five channels you have added into your Other Channels lists, and that you perform this upgrade at your own risk and I cannot be held liable if it fails and / or damages your Sky box.
This and further information can be found on our website and Satellite TV forum:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Friday, May 28, 2010
BBC One HD Coming soon....to digital satellite
The BBC has confirmed plans to launch a high definition version of BBC One in the autumn.
BBC One HD will offer a HD simulcast of the channel, including HD versions of EastEnders, Holby City and The One Show.
The channel's autumn schedule in HD will also include Strictly Come Dancing, Human Planet and Waterloo Road.
BBC One HD will be made available on Freesat, Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media.
The channel will operate in addition to the BBC HD channel, which will also extend its regular broadcast hours over the "coming months" from nine to 12 hours a day.
Obviously its a bit too early to know what frequency it will be on or what sort of availability it will be like (ie BBC 1 or BBC2), suffice to say that it will be available free to air on Freesat HD, Sky HD and other HD receivers.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
BBC One HD will offer a HD simulcast of the channel, including HD versions of EastEnders, Holby City and The One Show.
The channel's autumn schedule in HD will also include Strictly Come Dancing, Human Planet and Waterloo Road.
BBC One HD will be made available on Freesat, Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media.
The channel will operate in addition to the BBC HD channel, which will also extend its regular broadcast hours over the "coming months" from nine to 12 hours a day.
Obviously its a bit too early to know what frequency it will be on or what sort of availability it will be like (ie BBC 1 or BBC2), suffice to say that it will be available free to air on Freesat HD, Sky HD and other HD receivers.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Monday, May 24, 2010
TDT via satellite - interesting survey results
A recent survey saw that an overwhelming 98% responded that they wanted a Satellite DTT as in other countries.
Many of the current problems of TDT reception are due to grey areas, where TDT signals are either very weak or nonexistant. In Spain 1.5% of the population live in these TDT grey areas, which rises to over 35% if you count areas bloccked by buildings. A total of more than 2 million households would receive NO TV in a position today and another 3.5 million million have pixilation, Fadding or white noise along the coast.
This could be solved by TDT by satellite
According to the latest survey on satellite DTT, 97.7% of Internet users who responded to the consultation want access to TDT channels via satellite for free, as in most European countries, such as France, Italy and the UK (Freesat).
Unlike in Spain, the governments of these countries have opted for open models in the distribution of DTT by the alternative pathway of the satellite, making it easier for all who want access to this modality.
The result is that any French citizen, English or Italian has only to approach a distributor (dealer or supermarket) to buy the receiver and the corresponding card (if required - not in the UK, but in France - TNTSAT) for a price of around 100 euros.
Another difference is that in these cases the package is available by satellite is the same as the land based transmitters and includes the HD channels and pay channels.
In Spain access to satellite DTT is much more restricted because we have to go to an installer approved by Abertis and meet certain requirements and procedures, which lengthen the process and make it expensive: The installer goes to the user's home (which should be in shaded area) to check that there is no possibility of receiving the TDT signal and draws up a report submitted by Abertis. Abertis gives its approval and delivery to the user keys that can unlock the receiver and the card (also approved by Abertis). Once these unlocked, the installer returns the address of the user to proceed to the final installation. The average cost of a satellite installation of DTT in Spain is around 400 euros.
In addition, each receptor is only for a TV and its reception capacity is limited to two transponders on Hispasat.
The survey, which was attended by 8545 Internet users, giving results very clear about how you should distribute satellite DTT in Spain:
- 8348 people, 97.69% of participants want a cheap satellite DTT and free access, as in other countries.
- 1.33% DTT Satellite wants a free access, no matter the price.
- 0.44% The states that do not need satellite DTT in Spain.
- 0.41% is satisfied as currently distributed by Abertis.
And the 0.12% estimated that DTT is not necessary as some satellite channels are available in packages of payment.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Many of the current problems of TDT reception are due to grey areas, where TDT signals are either very weak or nonexistant. In Spain 1.5% of the population live in these TDT grey areas, which rises to over 35% if you count areas bloccked by buildings. A total of more than 2 million households would receive NO TV in a position today and another 3.5 million million have pixilation, Fadding or white noise along the coast.
This could be solved by TDT by satellite
According to the latest survey on satellite DTT, 97.7% of Internet users who responded to the consultation want access to TDT channels via satellite for free, as in most European countries, such as France, Italy and the UK (Freesat).
Unlike in Spain, the governments of these countries have opted for open models in the distribution of DTT by the alternative pathway of the satellite, making it easier for all who want access to this modality.
The result is that any French citizen, English or Italian has only to approach a distributor (dealer or supermarket) to buy the receiver and the corresponding card (if required - not in the UK, but in France - TNTSAT) for a price of around 100 euros.
Another difference is that in these cases the package is available by satellite is the same as the land based transmitters and includes the HD channels and pay channels.
In Spain access to satellite DTT is much more restricted because we have to go to an installer approved by Abertis and meet certain requirements and procedures, which lengthen the process and make it expensive: The installer goes to the user's home (which should be in shaded area) to check that there is no possibility of receiving the TDT signal and draws up a report submitted by Abertis. Abertis gives its approval and delivery to the user keys that can unlock the receiver and the card (also approved by Abertis). Once these unlocked, the installer returns the address of the user to proceed to the final installation. The average cost of a satellite installation of DTT in Spain is around 400 euros.
In addition, each receptor is only for a TV and its reception capacity is limited to two transponders on Hispasat.
The survey, which was attended by 8545 Internet users, giving results very clear about how you should distribute satellite DTT in Spain:
- 8348 people, 97.69% of participants want a cheap satellite DTT and free access, as in other countries.
- 1.33% DTT Satellite wants a free access, no matter the price.
- 0.44% The states that do not need satellite DTT in Spain.
- 0.41% is satisfied as currently distributed by Abertis.
And the 0.12% estimated that DTT is not necessary as some satellite channels are available in packages of payment.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Thursday, April 22, 2010
What is the best satellite for English channels?
What is the best satellite for English channels?
The main satellites that provide the UK with their satellite TV channels are the Astra 2 and Eurobird 1 satellites, located at 28 degrees east of south.
These satellites carry the main BBC, ITV, C4, Five and "Sky subscription package" channels for the UK.
They are not available on any other satellite system, and so the answer to this question is simple.
The best satellite for English channels is the satellite used by Freesat / BBC / ITV and Sky.
However....
There are obviously many other satellite TV providers operating in other countries. And many of these systems carry the same channels and prgramming as the UK TV service. For example, Discovery Europe sell a version of their Discovery CHannel to individual counties, so you have Discovery UK, Discovery France and Discovery Spain. In many cases the programmes orignal soundtrack is available, and so programmes and movies can be watched with their origninal English speaking audio soundtrack.
In fact, some UK and USA imported programmes are also avail;able in English on TDT - the Spanish digital services available via a TV aerial.
So now the answer to the question "What is the best satellite for English channels?" can be most satellites offer Ebnglish language programmes and channels, but if you want he main UK TV channels like BBC and ITV in Spain, then its the Astra 2 and Eurobird 1 satellites at 28 degrees east of south.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
The main satellites that provide the UK with their satellite TV channels are the Astra 2 and Eurobird 1 satellites, located at 28 degrees east of south.
These satellites carry the main BBC, ITV, C4, Five and "Sky subscription package" channels for the UK.
They are not available on any other satellite system, and so the answer to this question is simple.
The best satellite for English channels is the satellite used by Freesat / BBC / ITV and Sky.
However....
There are obviously many other satellite TV providers operating in other countries. And many of these systems carry the same channels and prgramming as the UK TV service. For example, Discovery Europe sell a version of their Discovery CHannel to individual counties, so you have Discovery UK, Discovery France and Discovery Spain. In many cases the programmes orignal soundtrack is available, and so programmes and movies can be watched with their origninal English speaking audio soundtrack.
In fact, some UK and USA imported programmes are also avail;able in English on TDT - the Spanish digital services available via a TV aerial.
So now the answer to the question "What is the best satellite for English channels?" can be most satellites offer Ebnglish language programmes and channels, but if you want he main UK TV channels like BBC and ITV in Spain, then its the Astra 2 and Eurobird 1 satellites at 28 degrees east of south.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Sunday, March 7, 2010
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.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
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.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Thursday, December 31, 2009
What UK TV Channels are available on small satellite dish on the Costa Blanca Spain
Here is a full channel list (correct as at December 2009) of the UK TV channels that you should be able to receive on the Costa Blanca area of Spain on a small satellite dish.
These are all the free to air (FTA) channels that can be received without a Sky viewing card, on a Sky digibox, a Freesat satellite receiver, or a generic satellite receiver.
This is due to the fact that these channels are on the Astra 2A south beam frequencies, the Astra 2B south beam frequencies and the pan European Eurobird 1 beam frequencies.
You will not be able to receive any of the FTA UK TV channels from Astra 2D, such as BBC or ITV, as these require the big 1.8m or 2.4m satellite dishes.
When I say small, I managed to receive all of these on a 80cm satellite dish. Some of these are able to be received even on a 60cm satellite dish. But as we are in a fringe reception area, the channels may not be available during periods of heavy cloud cover or rain.
Popular Channels
S4C
CBS Reality
CBS Reality +1
CBS Action
CBS Drama
Film24
Information TV
BBC Alba
Travel Channel
Travel Channel+1
Food Network
Food Network+1
Movie Channels
Zone Horror
Zone Horror+1
True Movies
True Movies 2
Movies 4 Men
Movies 4 Men+1
Movies 4 Men2
Movies 4 Men2+1
Music Channels
Chart Show TV
The Vault
Flava
OMusic TV
Channel AKA
Starz TV
Bliss
Skuzz
Flaunt
NME TV
Clubland
News Channels
Sky News
Bloomberg
BBC News
BBC Parliament
CNN
S4C2
Euronews
CCTV-9
Russia Today
France 24
Al Jazeera
Press TV
NHK World TV
Children's Channels
POP
Tiny POP
Tiny POP+1
POPGirl
POPGirl+1
Kix!
Other Channels
Luxe TV
Body in Balance
Rural TV
Horse and Country
Fitness TV
My Channel
BEN
AIT International
True Ent
BET
BET+1
propeller
OHTV
Controversial TV
Unexplained TV
NTAI
Channel M
HiTV
OBE
Sumo TV
Fashion TV
wedding tv
wedding tv asia
Renault TV
Religion Channels
God Channel
GOD Europe
Wonderful
TBN Europe
DAYSTAR
revelation
UCB TV
Inspiration
Loveworld TV
EWTN
Gospel Channel
Genesis
Failth
KICC TV
DBN
Radio Station Channels
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 4
Classic FM
Absolute
Capital
Planet Rock
Heart
Galaxy
XFM
Choice FM
BBC World Service
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Asian
BBC Radio 6 Music
BBC Radio 7
BBC Radio 1Xtra
RTE Radoi 1Xtra
Gold
LBC
Kiss
Magic
NME
Caroline
Absolute 80's
Jazz FM
BBC Sports Interactive Service Streams
To watch the BBC Sports Interactive service stream on Sky boxes
BBC News (Sky channel 503)
Red Button
3001
Select
or
BBC News (Sky Channel 503)
Red Button
Sports
Sports Multiscreen
To watch the BBC Sports Interactive service stream on Non Sky Boxes
Select from the channel lists
Stream-0
Stream-1
Stream-2
Stream-3
Stream-4
Stream-5
Stream-6
These streams are available on frequency 12441 polarisation v symbol rate 27500
For more information please visit:
UK TV Channels small satellite dish Costa Blanca Spain
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
These are all the free to air (FTA) channels that can be received without a Sky viewing card, on a Sky digibox, a Freesat satellite receiver, or a generic satellite receiver.
This is due to the fact that these channels are on the Astra 2A south beam frequencies, the Astra 2B south beam frequencies and the pan European Eurobird 1 beam frequencies.
You will not be able to receive any of the FTA UK TV channels from Astra 2D, such as BBC or ITV, as these require the big 1.8m or 2.4m satellite dishes.
When I say small, I managed to receive all of these on a 80cm satellite dish. Some of these are able to be received even on a 60cm satellite dish. But as we are in a fringe reception area, the channels may not be available during periods of heavy cloud cover or rain.
Popular Channels
S4C
CBS Reality
CBS Reality +1
CBS Action
CBS Drama
Film24
Information TV
BBC Alba
Travel Channel
Travel Channel+1
Food Network
Food Network+1
Movie Channels
Zone Horror
Zone Horror+1
True Movies
True Movies 2
Movies 4 Men
Movies 4 Men+1
Movies 4 Men2
Movies 4 Men2+1
Music Channels
Chart Show TV
The Vault
Flava
OMusic TV
Channel AKA
Starz TV
Bliss
Skuzz
Flaunt
NME TV
Clubland
News Channels
Sky News
Bloomberg
BBC News
BBC Parliament
CNN
S4C2
Euronews
CCTV-9
Russia Today
France 24
Al Jazeera
Press TV
NHK World TV
Children's Channels
POP
Tiny POP
Tiny POP+1
POPGirl
POPGirl+1
Kix!
Other Channels
Luxe TV
Body in Balance
Rural TV
Horse and Country
Fitness TV
My Channel
BEN
AIT International
True Ent
BET
BET+1
propeller
OHTV
Controversial TV
Unexplained TV
NTAI
Channel M
HiTV
OBE
Sumo TV
Fashion TV
wedding tv
wedding tv asia
Renault TV
Religion Channels
God Channel
GOD Europe
Wonderful
TBN Europe
DAYSTAR
revelation
UCB TV
Inspiration
Loveworld TV
EWTN
Gospel Channel
Genesis
Failth
KICC TV
DBN
Radio Station Channels
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 4
Classic FM
Absolute
Capital
Planet Rock
Heart
Galaxy
XFM
Choice FM
BBC World Service
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Asian
BBC Radio 6 Music
BBC Radio 7
BBC Radio 1Xtra
RTE Radoi 1Xtra
Gold
LBC
Kiss
Magic
NME
Caroline
Absolute 80's
Jazz FM
BBC Sports Interactive Service Streams
To watch the BBC Sports Interactive service stream on Sky boxes
BBC News (Sky channel 503)
Red Button
3001
Select
or
BBC News (Sky Channel 503)
Red Button
Sports
Sports Multiscreen
To watch the BBC Sports Interactive service stream on Non Sky Boxes
Select from the channel lists
Stream-0
Stream-1
Stream-2
Stream-3
Stream-4
Stream-5
Stream-6
These streams are available on frequency 12441 polarisation v symbol rate 27500
For more information please visit:
UK TV Channels small satellite dish Costa Blanca Spain
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Thursday, October 8, 2009
My installer says I need a Sky viewing card or else I will lose my BBC.
"My installer says I need a Sky viewing card or else I will loose my BBC."
I have been hearing this a few times in the last few weeks, sparked by the new White sky card that are being issued, and many people wondering what channels they will and will not be able to received if they do not have new white sky viewing card.
Many people are stil under the impression thatthey need a sky card, or even subscribe to sky with a monthly subscription payment, to be able to receive BBC channels.
BBC channels have been available for the last 6 years without a Sky viewing card.
You do not need a new white sky viewing card to view the BBC channels.
You do not even need a viewing card for many ITV1 regions, ITV2,3,4, or the Channels 4 channels.
You do need a viewing card for
ITV1 (in these regions only: Anglia W, Central SW, Mer N, Mer SE, TT S, Yorks E)
Channel 4 channels on frequency 12480
Channel 4 HD
FIVE
FIVE USA,
FIVE USA +1,
FIVER,
FIVER +1
Sky 3
And whilst I am here talking about viewing cards, someone emailed me saying they asked an installer if they could buy a new white freesatfromsky viewing card, and told Yes, but they will only work in our digiboxes, so you will also need to buy the digibox!!!!!
To say I was shocked was an understatement!!!
Many sky cards are interchangeable (at the moment anyway!) for many channels (except the Sky Sports and Movies channels) and so all that needed to be done was the card dealer just calls sky and gets the new card "paired" to the clients existing sky box!!
You do not need a new sky box unless your existing box is not working, not because you need a new white viewing card.
And one caller wanted me to confirm what thier installer had said to them She would need to buy a new sky box when Spain swicthes off their analogue TV signals and transfers to digital as the sky box will not work when these signals are switched off!!!!!!
Sky has been Digital for over 10 years now, and as Spanish TV is received via the TV aerial, the two systems are totally independant of each other.
You do not need to buy a new sky digibox because Spains TV system is changing!!
Some of the crap spouted by some "installers" or "companies" is totally unbeliveable.
I have been hearing this a few times in the last few weeks, sparked by the new White sky card that are being issued, and many people wondering what channels they will and will not be able to received if they do not have new white sky viewing card.
Many people are stil under the impression thatthey need a sky card, or even subscribe to sky with a monthly subscription payment, to be able to receive BBC channels.
BBC channels have been available for the last 6 years without a Sky viewing card.
You do not need a new white sky viewing card to view the BBC channels.
You do not even need a viewing card for many ITV1 regions, ITV2,3,4, or the Channels 4 channels.
You do need a viewing card for
ITV1 (in these regions only: Anglia W, Central SW, Mer N, Mer SE, TT S, Yorks E)
Channel 4 channels on frequency 12480
Channel 4 HD
FIVE
FIVE USA,
FIVE USA +1,
FIVER,
FIVER +1
Sky 3
And whilst I am here talking about viewing cards, someone emailed me saying they asked an installer if they could buy a new white freesatfromsky viewing card, and told Yes, but they will only work in our digiboxes, so you will also need to buy the digibox!!!!!
To say I was shocked was an understatement!!!
Many sky cards are interchangeable (at the moment anyway!) for many channels (except the Sky Sports and Movies channels) and so all that needed to be done was the card dealer just calls sky and gets the new card "paired" to the clients existing sky box!!
You do not need a new sky box unless your existing box is not working, not because you need a new white viewing card.
And one caller wanted me to confirm what thier installer had said to them She would need to buy a new sky box when Spain swicthes off their analogue TV signals and transfers to digital as the sky box will not work when these signals are switched off!!!!!!
Sky has been Digital for over 10 years now, and as Spanish TV is received via the TV aerial, the two systems are totally independant of each other.
You do not need to buy a new sky digibox because Spains TV system is changing!!
Some of the crap spouted by some "installers" or "companies" is totally unbeliveable.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
UK TV in Spain gets more complicated....
The National Police have arrested 60 people in connection with an investigation against the piracy of pay-TV channels. Among those arrested include hotel managers and presidents of neighboring communities that have defrauded a total of several million euros.
It appears that not only were these systems providing pay tv channels via "web streaming", but as a result of this investigation it was discovered that several local cable networks in Tenerife, Malaga, Cadiz, Cordoba and Granada, were 'rebroadacsting' specific channels and content to its subscribers, without the required authorizations.
and there is more....from a local news site
I would not be surprised if there are more police action over the coming months, and those rebroadcsat systems that are still showing Pay TV channels like Sky Sports may well have a visit in the near future.....
The one common denominator of all these rebroadcasting companies is that
they rebroadcast Free To Air (FTA) television signals however; none of them seem
to be able to provide legal paperwork stating that they have paid for the rights from each and every one of the FTA channels to do so. BBC and ITV have stated that they do not have the rights to sell on their own channel rebroadcasting rights as they themselves negotiate rates with hundreds of individual production companies for the UK rights and these do not cover Europe. Confused? No wonder it’s taking so long to come to the Spanish Court system!
The first nail in the rebroadcasting coffin may be that the Spanish Secretary of
Telecommunications is now aware of the rebroadcasting of the Torresat Group
amongst others and that the distributor Filmax is considering taking action
against those using their content without the correct licences in place.
For more information visit
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Thursday, May 21, 2009
British UK English TV In Costa Blanca Spain (Freeview Freesat TV Freesatfromsky Sky TV UKTV)
English / British / UK Television in Costa Blanca Spain
This page gives a summary of all the details within my main website (http://www.satandpcguy.com/) with respect to receiving UK Television within Spain, and the various other services available, such as TDT - Spain's version of Freeview.
FREEVIEW
"Freeview" is the brand name of a UK Digital TV service ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE UK. It is available via TV aerials on the houses, and is only transmitted from TV transmitters in the UK. You will need either a Freeview "set top box" or a TV with Freeview built in. Again, Freeview is not available in Spain.
There are channels on the Freeview system that you have to pay for on via satellite - like Dave, UK History.
TDT
Spain has its own version of "Freeview" called Television Digital Terrestrial (TDT). There are approximately 30 digital Spanish TV channels via a TV aerial...many channels / programmes you can change the programmes into their original audio...not always English as a few German programmes have cropped up...you will need a TDT "set top box" or a TV with TDT built in. Your existing television aerial may be ok for this but it may need to be reconfigured, and you may also require some signal amplifiers.
You can use a UK Freeview set top box to get TDT, but there are some limitations - language change options may be limited to English, Welsh and Gaelic, TDT uses frequency 69, UK Freeview set top boxes ma not be able to scan this frequency.
see http://www.tdt.es or http://www.tdt1.com for more information
FREESAT
Freesat, a satellite version of Freeview, was launched in May 2008. Using an official Freesat receiver, you can watch the about 100 free satellite TV channels. All BBC channels, ITV1,2,3,4, C4, E4, More4, Film4 and FIVE are all free to watch on satellite. But some free channels the availability is limited due to signal strengths - so for example Five on Freesat will only be available at the same times as BBC2 as they share a frequency. FIVE with a Sky card (see below) is available 24/7 as this Sky FIVE is transmitted on a different frequency.
Official "Freesat" receivers currently only have about 100 TV channels on their EPG at the moment - but on some Freesat receivers you can manually add other channels not on the EPG using a "non-Freesat mode". They can only receive "free to air" channels. Freesat receivers will have the Freesat logo on them.
Some Freesat boxes have two modes. In Freesat mode the Freesat channels are in the Freesat EPG - the ones that have been officially added to the EPG and where new channels are updated automatically. In nonfreesatmode you can manually add other free channels into an other channel list - the nonfreesatmode channels list- by manually scanning the individual frequencies. To scan for channels, go to the menu and select Setup > Manual Tune. To switch back to Freesat mode after playing with the other channels, go to: Menu > STB Mode > Freesat It's handy being able to switch between Freesat and Non-Freesat channels, for situations where a channel is not yet part of Freesat, or is a Freesat-only channel. Note that when scanning for non-Freesat channels, the numbering sequence will be a bit odd, and also they can't be accessed via the Freesat Electronic Programme Guide.
There are basic Freesat receivers - Grundigs, Bush and Humax have had good reports for reception on the Costa Blanca.
HD Freesat receivers - the best being the Humax Foxsat Freesat HD receiver Freesat+ - Humax Foxsat HDR+ with inbuilt hard disk Freesat HD receivers will get you BBC HD channel and ITV HD Red button service. C4HD has not yet confirmed if or when it will be available on Freesat. Most come with a HDMI cable so that you can connect it directly to your HD TV - as long as it has a HDMI connection - and start watching HD TV straight away.
The Humax Freesat+ receiver is available December 2008 for around £300 It will have a 320GB hard drive that can store up to 80 hours of HD programming, or up to 200 hours of standard definition shows.
FREESATFROMSKY
Freesatfromsky uses official Sky receivers and allows the viewing of many more free channels than Freesat. With a "Freesatfromsky" viewing card you can receive the FTA channels and Five, Five US and Fiver, Sky Three, Setanta Sports News.
The "Freesatfromsky" viewing cards are available in the UK for £20 (and some dealers may still be supplying them), and are subject to the same terms and conditions as a Sky subscription contract - including the "must not be used outside the uk". your viewing card can be disabled if Sky find out that you are using it outside the UK but if they don't know you are using one here in Spain....
SKY
If you have a Sky receiver and want to pay monthly used for Free to air, free to view and subscription channels...Again the viewing cards are subject to the same terms and conditions as a Sky subscription contract - including the "must not be used outside the uk". your viewing card can be disabled if Sky find out that you are using it outside the UK but if they don't know you are using one here in Spain.....
The best Sky receivers for Spain is the Pace 2600, followed by the Pace 430N. These ceased production about 5 years ago, and can only be bought as "reconditioned" units - or from Ebay. The best of the latest batch of Sky receivers is the Thomson, followed by the Amstrad. Avoid the Pace 440 and 445 - I have found these to be very poor performers.
SKY+
Sky's award winning PVR. Pause Live TV, recording with no tapes, watch one channel whilst recording another channel, series linking. Available with ANY sky TV subscription package (from £17per month), or with no Sky TV subscription package for £10 per month - for the extra 7 quid best get at least 1 sky mix!
SKY HD
A Sky HD receiver will incorporate all the recording functions of the Sky+, but with the added ability to watch HD channels. BBC HD and C4 HD are available to watch without any subscription. For the other 30ish HD channels, you will need to pay an extra £10 per month for Skys HD Channels. Sky HD does not, at the moment, have access to ITV HD.
On any HD box you will get BBCHD
On a Freesat HD box you will get BBCHD and ITVHD
On a sky hd box you will get BBCHD and, with a freesatfromskycard, C4HD
On a sky hd box you will get BBCHD and, with a sky card with hd sub, C4HD and the other subscription HD channels depending on what sky mix you are on.
GENERIC
Note that many installers are using generic receivers (sometimes called Free To Air receivers) and calling them Freesat or Freeview receivers which may be confusing people. Official Freesat and sky receivers have a full 7 day programme guide...generic FTA receivers only have now and next programme information. Some generic receivers can also be modified with software to read Sky cards.
Digital+
D+ is the Spanish satellite service. It is broadcast from two satellites - Astra 19E and Hispasat 30W. There is a variety of channels, from entertainment, movies and Sports. Many channels and programmes on the UK Sky system are also available on D+, and in most cases the language of the programmes can be changed into English. D+ can be received on a small satellite dish, approx 80cm. You will need an official D+ viewing card to watch these channels. Some, not all, TDT channels are also on D+.
BBC Prime
BBC Prime is a BBC pay channels for expats. It does not show movies or sport, but just home-grown programmes. It does show eastenders, and a variety of BBC and C4 programmes. The standalone version of BBC Prime that was on Hotbird will, by March 2009, only be available on Eurobird at 9 degrees east - so you may need your dish realigning. You will need an official BBC Prime subscription card available from http://www.bbcprime.com. BBC Prime is also available as part of some subscription packages. Some generic receivers have been able to access BBC Prime by software that removes the encryption. It now appears that BBC Prime has moved to version Viaccess 2.6. Therefore for those who were watching BBC Prime without paying for it, your screen will have gone blank.
MBC / Dubai One / Fox Movies / Arabic
You could always point a dish to badr / Arabsat at 26 degrees and look at the MBC 2,4,Action channels, the Fox Movie Channel, the Fox Series channel and Dubai One. These channels show various movies dramas and action series such as Once upon a time in Mexico, One Hour Photo ,The Rookie ,TRAINING DAY ,Taxi, Ghost Whisperer , Smallville , Grey's Anatomy , Hustle, Knight Rider, and older series of TOP GEAR!!! The channels and programmes are all mainly in English but with Arabic subtitles. All these channels are currently free to air, requiring a generic digital satellite receiver and at least an 80cm dish
Channels
The main BBC, ITV and C4 channels are free and do not require any Sky card or form of subscription (note some ITV regions do require a freesatfromsky or sky card) to view these channels.
All channels on Freesat (apart from ITV HD) are available on a sky receiver, and were also available for free before the launch of Freesat using a sky or generic receiver. Five, Five US, Five US+1, Fiver, Fiver+1 are all only available with a freesatfromsky or sky card at the moment. No monthly payments are required.
EU Television Without Frontiers
In 1989 the EU created the TVwF, as directive as to how it would like to see TV reception between member states. Various amendments have subsequently deemed the original proposals as unworkable (especially with PAY TV operations) but the directive is still alive and well and in use to level the playing field with broadcasters with rules on advertising, racial content, violence and protection of minors. One area that people quote me on is Article 2a 1. "Member States shall ensure freedom of reception and shall not restrict retransmissions on their territory of television broadcasts from other Member States for reasons which fall within the fields coordinated by this Directive." I refer them to Article 7 Member States shall ensure that broadcasters under their jurisdiction do not broadcast cinematographic works outside periods agreed with the rights holders.
Its all about copyright holders and the contracts signed between broadcasters and programme makers. So for example Sky cannot sign a deal with D+ in Spain to show Sky Sports without consulting all of the providers of their sport programmes (almost all are from third party programme makers) or the Governing bodies (like the FA), as these providers may have already signed deals with broadcasters in Spain who may object to the programmes they have paid for to be made available on another service (like TVE and the FA for Premier League TV rights)
The Freedom of Information Act (Various EU Directives) is covered by channels like BBC World News, the BBC World Service and Sky News - the UK Foreign Office partially fund the World Service and BBC World! These allow UK expats access to UK news and events and covers the requirements of the directive - it does not mean you should be allowed to receiver all the national channels!! Similarly all other European countries have at least one channels in their own language that offers similar services. For example TVEi is the international version of TVE for Spain which is available for free on various satellites.
Dishes
UK TV channels are mainly broadcast from the Astra 2,a,b,c,and d and Eurobird 1 satellites located at 28.2 to 28.5 degrees east of south. There are other Astra satellites around also - which tend to do more European channels (Spain D+ is on Astra's at 19.2). Many channels are available with a small 80cm dish, but to get the BBC and ITV and C4's, which are on the weaker Astra 2D satellite you will require a "big dish". Note that reception of channels depends on your location and dish size.
As a rough guide: 80cm will get you some channels - approx 50% of what is available 1.4m will get more channels (including bbc1 and itv1,2,3,4) 1.8/2.4 will get even more channels (including bbc2 and c4) not all channels will be available all day.
BIG DISHES
There are two companies, both from Portugal, which produce what are regarded as the best quality and performing (for their price) satellite dishes for the Costa Blanca. Personally I have found that there is very little difference in the performance of both the Portuguese made 1.8m dishes (despite the propaganda!)
Famaval produce a 2.4m prime focus dishes which is identifiable with the holes around the rim of the dish, allowing extension panels to be added if required, to make the dish a 3.1m! For whatever reason I have found this Famaval 2.4m dish not to be as prone to rusting as the Famaval 1,8m counterpart!
Other 1.8 and 2.4m prime focus dishes are available and can be cheaper, like the Fortecstar Petal Dishes. Myself and some other installers do not recommend these "petal" dishes, as we have found them not to perform as good as their equivalent Famaval dishes. I have found that dishes made in Turkey generally perform poorer than those made in Portugal. They are made from spun steel, and can be identified by the "spin circles" on the back of the dish.
Some models of big dishes area actually two parts welded together - you can sometimes see the join along the dish!
Some other makes of dish, like Channel Masters, do perform much better than the Portuguese dishes, and their cost reflects this (around 2000euros).
For reference Famaval dish sizes are
1.4 prime focus Outside diameter: 1440mm x 1440mm Reflector diameter: 1330mm x 1330mm
1.8 prime focus Outside diameter: 1940mm x 1940mm Reflector diameter: 1790mm x 1790mm
2.4 prime focus Outside diameter: 2470mm x 2470mm Reflector diameter: 2290mm x 2290mm
Community Installs
It is possible for one dish to serve a number of receivers at different houses. If less than 4 connections are required then a 4 output LNB should be OK, with a cable from the dish to each location. If more than 4 connections are required, then the system will require a special signal distribution unit - called multiswitches.
These multiswicthes are strategically placed around the community to serve, and individual connections are made from these points. I personally run new cable in these systems, as you cannot rely on the condition of the existing cable. Ideally, the community will pay for the infrastructure required (dish, LNB, cables from LNB to multiswicthes, multiswicthes and amplifiers) and individuals will pay for the connection from the multiswitch to their house, and any receivers they require.
Permission must be sought for dishes to be installed on community areas, including apartment blocks. In privately owned houses, dish rules are fairly relaxed, but generally make sure it is installed in an area that wont upset your neighbours. You may also be required to ask your local town hall for permission to install a big dish.
Rebroadcasting
Under the Rome Convention broadcasters have the right to authorize or prohibit the re-broadcasting of their broadcasts. "Re-broadcasting" is defined under the Rome Convention as the simultaneous broadcasting by one broadcasting organization of the broadcast of another broadcast organization. Broadcasters also have the right to authorize or prohibit the fixation of their broadcasts; the reproduction of unauthorized original fixations of their broadcasts; the reproduction for purposes other than those authorized fixations of their broadcasts.
Basically it says you need authorisation from the "Broadcasting organisations" like BBC and ITV to rebroadcast their transmission in the EU.
You may be using a rebroadcaster if your TV company:
is offering bbc and itv on a small dish or mesh aerial - these channels can only be legitimately received for free via a minimum of 1.4mdish (some areas 1.8m)
offers bbc and itv for a monthly subscription - bbc and itv are free on satellite and do not need a subscription
offers "freesat" with only 20 or 64 channels - by satellite you will receive over 100 free tv channels, not 20 or 64. the bbc have over 15 regional variations on satellite alone.
offers sky sports for less than £36 per month or setanta sports for less than £14 per month - the costs of legitimate subscriptions to these channels.
offers channels from other countries - channels like Showtime Sports for example.
says they get BBC and ITV from a satellite other than Astra 2, like Hotbird - bbc and itv are only broadcast on one "satellite constellation (those satellites at 28.3 to 28.5 degrees)
as these companies will more than likely be a rebroadcasting services who's signal may be terminated just like Telemicro.
Advantages of Satellite
With a sky or freesat receiver you can get bbc interactive, sky active and a full 7 day programme guide. you may need a big dish, you may pay more for the installation, but at least the signal is pretty much guaranteed as it it direct from the satellite and is not reliant on a third party. pure digital broadcasting (with some channels in full Dolby Digital sound), not reliant on second or third or fourth generation signals as the signals gets past from one rebroadcast transmitter to another.
Many ex rebroadcasting clients have commented on how good the signal direct from the satellite is compared to that of a rebroadcasted signal.
if you are in doubt as to whether or not it is OK to view free satellite tv channels (like BBC and ITV) in Spain via satellite see http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=help.Question&id=1667 which says that "it may be possible outside the UK to use a satellite receiver to pick up channels available on freesat" - nothing about it being illegal - the technical term is "satellite signal overspill".
A final thought on this: if it was illegal to watch TV channels that were broadcasted for free, then all shops selling free to air receivers would be in trouble, as would Canal Digital + (the Spanish satellite service) as their receivers can also pick up free tv satellite channels from other countries.
Default Transponder Settings for Spain or Resetting your Sky Receiver after powercut
When a Sky receiver is first booted up, like after a power cut, then the first thing it requires to function is at least 6 hours of EPG information. It looks for this data on the Default transponder frequency of 11778. this frequency can be poor in Spain, and therefore the receiver will not be able to find the information is required and therefore will not work - giving the message "No satellite Signal is Being Received". Changing the default transponder to another frequency (i use 12129) allow the receiver to get the information it requires to function. No matter what people tell you changing this default transponder does not increase how long channels are available. It is only used to “assist” the receiver to boot up. It is normal for the Default Transponder to revert back to 11778 once the receiver is functioning.
See the link in the menu on the left hand side of the screen to help reset your sky digibox.
Auto Standby
Sky has been deploying new receiver software, and incorporated in to this is a new feature designed to help save energy when the Sky receiver is not being used. If the box hasn't been used for a period of two hours after 11pm, or for four hours during the day time, an ‘Auto Standby' message will pop up on screen for three minutes. If there's no further use the box will go into Standby mode automatically, until the user turns it back on. This can be an issue if you are using a VCR to record things from the Sky receivers as when the receiver goes into Autostandby mode you will record a blank (or blue!) screen if the box has shut down.... You can turn it off by using the option in Services (Sky+ Setup for + and HD users!)
Electronic Programme Guide (EPGs)
Sky's Electronic Programme Guide is used on Sky receivers. Although all the frequencies used by Sky transmit limited EPG information, the main EPG data is transmitted on one frequency - 11778. You may notice that this frequency is also the main Default Transponder - and the same frequency that is measured in the Sky receivers Signal Test screen. This frequency's reception varies greatly during the day and may not be available 24/7 - especially during the afternoon, and also certain Sky receivers really do not like this frequency. Hence why you may only get a limited (6 hours or so, EPG information in the EPG.
The Freesat EPG is transmitted from a different frequency to Sky (in fact it is on a different satellite!), whose reception is widely available over Europe - hence why you do not have to change the Freesat receiver "default transponder". It was the fact that the Freesat EPG would be easily available over Europe on a small dish that lead many, including installers, into thinking that all channels on Freesat would be available all over Europe in a small dish. Where as in fact both Sky and Freesat EPGs point to the same frequencies for the channels they use (apart from FIVE!)
For more information visit
www.satandpcguy.com
or
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This page gives a summary of all the details within my main website (http://www.satandpcguy.com/) with respect to receiving UK Television within Spain, and the various other services available, such as TDT - Spain's version of Freeview.
FREEVIEW
"Freeview" is the brand name of a UK Digital TV service ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE UK. It is available via TV aerials on the houses, and is only transmitted from TV transmitters in the UK. You will need either a Freeview "set top box" or a TV with Freeview built in. Again, Freeview is not available in Spain.
There are channels on the Freeview system that you have to pay for on via satellite - like Dave, UK History.
TDT
Spain has its own version of "Freeview" called Television Digital Terrestrial (TDT). There are approximately 30 digital Spanish TV channels via a TV aerial...many channels / programmes you can change the programmes into their original audio...not always English as a few German programmes have cropped up...you will need a TDT "set top box" or a TV with TDT built in. Your existing television aerial may be ok for this but it may need to be reconfigured, and you may also require some signal amplifiers.
You can use a UK Freeview set top box to get TDT, but there are some limitations - language change options may be limited to English, Welsh and Gaelic, TDT uses frequency 69, UK Freeview set top boxes ma not be able to scan this frequency.
see http://www.tdt.es or http://www.tdt1.com for more information
FREESAT
Freesat, a satellite version of Freeview, was launched in May 2008. Using an official Freesat receiver, you can watch the about 100 free satellite TV channels. All BBC channels, ITV1,2,3,4, C4, E4, More4, Film4 and FIVE are all free to watch on satellite. But some free channels the availability is limited due to signal strengths - so for example Five on Freesat will only be available at the same times as BBC2 as they share a frequency. FIVE with a Sky card (see below) is available 24/7 as this Sky FIVE is transmitted on a different frequency.
Official "Freesat" receivers currently only have about 100 TV channels on their EPG at the moment - but on some Freesat receivers you can manually add other channels not on the EPG using a "non-Freesat mode". They can only receive "free to air" channels. Freesat receivers will have the Freesat logo on them.
Some Freesat boxes have two modes. In Freesat mode the Freesat channels are in the Freesat EPG - the ones that have been officially added to the EPG and where new channels are updated automatically. In nonfreesatmode you can manually add other free channels into an other channel list - the nonfreesatmode channels list- by manually scanning the individual frequencies. To scan for channels, go to the menu and select Setup > Manual Tune. To switch back to Freesat mode after playing with the other channels, go to: Menu > STB Mode > Freesat It's handy being able to switch between Freesat and Non-Freesat channels, for situations where a channel is not yet part of Freesat, or is a Freesat-only channel. Note that when scanning for non-Freesat channels, the numbering sequence will be a bit odd, and also they can't be accessed via the Freesat Electronic Programme Guide.
There are basic Freesat receivers - Grundigs, Bush and Humax have had good reports for reception on the Costa Blanca.
HD Freesat receivers - the best being the Humax Foxsat Freesat HD receiver Freesat+ - Humax Foxsat HDR+ with inbuilt hard disk Freesat HD receivers will get you BBC HD channel and ITV HD Red button service. C4HD has not yet confirmed if or when it will be available on Freesat. Most come with a HDMI cable so that you can connect it directly to your HD TV - as long as it has a HDMI connection - and start watching HD TV straight away.
The Humax Freesat+ receiver is available December 2008 for around £300 It will have a 320GB hard drive that can store up to 80 hours of HD programming, or up to 200 hours of standard definition shows.
FREESATFROMSKY
Freesatfromsky uses official Sky receivers and allows the viewing of many more free channels than Freesat. With a "Freesatfromsky" viewing card you can receive the FTA channels and Five, Five US and Fiver, Sky Three, Setanta Sports News.
The "Freesatfromsky" viewing cards are available in the UK for £20 (and some dealers may still be supplying them), and are subject to the same terms and conditions as a Sky subscription contract - including the "must not be used outside the uk". your viewing card can be disabled if Sky find out that you are using it outside the UK but if they don't know you are using one here in Spain....
SKY
If you have a Sky receiver and want to pay monthly used for Free to air, free to view and subscription channels...Again the viewing cards are subject to the same terms and conditions as a Sky subscription contract - including the "must not be used outside the uk". your viewing card can be disabled if Sky find out that you are using it outside the UK but if they don't know you are using one here in Spain.....
The best Sky receivers for Spain is the Pace 2600, followed by the Pace 430N. These ceased production about 5 years ago, and can only be bought as "reconditioned" units - or from Ebay. The best of the latest batch of Sky receivers is the Thomson, followed by the Amstrad. Avoid the Pace 440 and 445 - I have found these to be very poor performers.
SKY+
Sky's award winning PVR. Pause Live TV, recording with no tapes, watch one channel whilst recording another channel, series linking. Available with ANY sky TV subscription package (from £17per month), or with no Sky TV subscription package for £10 per month - for the extra 7 quid best get at least 1 sky mix!
SKY HD
A Sky HD receiver will incorporate all the recording functions of the Sky+, but with the added ability to watch HD channels. BBC HD and C4 HD are available to watch without any subscription. For the other 30ish HD channels, you will need to pay an extra £10 per month for Skys HD Channels. Sky HD does not, at the moment, have access to ITV HD.
On any HD box you will get BBCHD
On a Freesat HD box you will get BBCHD and ITVHD
On a sky hd box you will get BBCHD and, with a freesatfromskycard, C4HD
On a sky hd box you will get BBCHD and, with a sky card with hd sub, C4HD and the other subscription HD channels depending on what sky mix you are on.
GENERIC
Note that many installers are using generic receivers (sometimes called Free To Air receivers) and calling them Freesat or Freeview receivers which may be confusing people. Official Freesat and sky receivers have a full 7 day programme guide...generic FTA receivers only have now and next programme information. Some generic receivers can also be modified with software to read Sky cards.
Digital+
D+ is the Spanish satellite service. It is broadcast from two satellites - Astra 19E and Hispasat 30W. There is a variety of channels, from entertainment, movies and Sports. Many channels and programmes on the UK Sky system are also available on D+, and in most cases the language of the programmes can be changed into English. D+ can be received on a small satellite dish, approx 80cm. You will need an official D+ viewing card to watch these channels. Some, not all, TDT channels are also on D+.
BBC Prime
BBC Prime is a BBC pay channels for expats. It does not show movies or sport, but just home-grown programmes. It does show eastenders, and a variety of BBC and C4 programmes. The standalone version of BBC Prime that was on Hotbird will, by March 2009, only be available on Eurobird at 9 degrees east - so you may need your dish realigning. You will need an official BBC Prime subscription card available from http://www.bbcprime.com. BBC Prime is also available as part of some subscription packages. Some generic receivers have been able to access BBC Prime by software that removes the encryption. It now appears that BBC Prime has moved to version Viaccess 2.6. Therefore for those who were watching BBC Prime without paying for it, your screen will have gone blank.
MBC / Dubai One / Fox Movies / Arabic
You could always point a dish to badr / Arabsat at 26 degrees and look at the MBC 2,4,Action channels, the Fox Movie Channel, the Fox Series channel and Dubai One. These channels show various movies dramas and action series such as Once upon a time in Mexico, One Hour Photo ,The Rookie ,TRAINING DAY ,Taxi, Ghost Whisperer , Smallville , Grey's Anatomy , Hustle, Knight Rider, and older series of TOP GEAR!!! The channels and programmes are all mainly in English but with Arabic subtitles. All these channels are currently free to air, requiring a generic digital satellite receiver and at least an 80cm dish
Channels
The main BBC, ITV and C4 channels are free and do not require any Sky card or form of subscription (note some ITV regions do require a freesatfromsky or sky card) to view these channels.
All channels on Freesat (apart from ITV HD) are available on a sky receiver, and were also available for free before the launch of Freesat using a sky or generic receiver. Five, Five US, Five US+1, Fiver, Fiver+1 are all only available with a freesatfromsky or sky card at the moment. No monthly payments are required.
EU Television Without Frontiers
In 1989 the EU created the TVwF, as directive as to how it would like to see TV reception between member states. Various amendments have subsequently deemed the original proposals as unworkable (especially with PAY TV operations) but the directive is still alive and well and in use to level the playing field with broadcasters with rules on advertising, racial content, violence and protection of minors. One area that people quote me on is Article 2a 1. "Member States shall ensure freedom of reception and shall not restrict retransmissions on their territory of television broadcasts from other Member States for reasons which fall within the fields coordinated by this Directive." I refer them to Article 7 Member States shall ensure that broadcasters under their jurisdiction do not broadcast cinematographic works outside periods agreed with the rights holders.
Its all about copyright holders and the contracts signed between broadcasters and programme makers. So for example Sky cannot sign a deal with D+ in Spain to show Sky Sports without consulting all of the providers of their sport programmes (almost all are from third party programme makers) or the Governing bodies (like the FA), as these providers may have already signed deals with broadcasters in Spain who may object to the programmes they have paid for to be made available on another service (like TVE and the FA for Premier League TV rights)
The Freedom of Information Act (Various EU Directives) is covered by channels like BBC World News, the BBC World Service and Sky News - the UK Foreign Office partially fund the World Service and BBC World! These allow UK expats access to UK news and events and covers the requirements of the directive - it does not mean you should be allowed to receiver all the national channels!! Similarly all other European countries have at least one channels in their own language that offers similar services. For example TVEi is the international version of TVE for Spain which is available for free on various satellites.
Dishes
UK TV channels are mainly broadcast from the Astra 2,a,b,c,and d and Eurobird 1 satellites located at 28.2 to 28.5 degrees east of south. There are other Astra satellites around also - which tend to do more European channels (Spain D+ is on Astra's at 19.2). Many channels are available with a small 80cm dish, but to get the BBC and ITV and C4's, which are on the weaker Astra 2D satellite you will require a "big dish". Note that reception of channels depends on your location and dish size.
As a rough guide: 80cm will get you some channels - approx 50% of what is available 1.4m will get more channels (including bbc1 and itv1,2,3,4) 1.8/2.4 will get even more channels (including bbc2 and c4) not all channels will be available all day.
BIG DISHES
There are two companies, both from Portugal, which produce what are regarded as the best quality and performing (for their price) satellite dishes for the Costa Blanca. Personally I have found that there is very little difference in the performance of both the Portuguese made 1.8m dishes (despite the propaganda!)
Famaval produce a 2.4m prime focus dishes which is identifiable with the holes around the rim of the dish, allowing extension panels to be added if required, to make the dish a 3.1m! For whatever reason I have found this Famaval 2.4m dish not to be as prone to rusting as the Famaval 1,8m counterpart!
Other 1.8 and 2.4m prime focus dishes are available and can be cheaper, like the Fortecstar Petal Dishes. Myself and some other installers do not recommend these "petal" dishes, as we have found them not to perform as good as their equivalent Famaval dishes. I have found that dishes made in Turkey generally perform poorer than those made in Portugal. They are made from spun steel, and can be identified by the "spin circles" on the back of the dish.
Some models of big dishes area actually two parts welded together - you can sometimes see the join along the dish!
Some other makes of dish, like Channel Masters, do perform much better than the Portuguese dishes, and their cost reflects this (around 2000euros).
For reference Famaval dish sizes are
1.4 prime focus Outside diameter: 1440mm x 1440mm Reflector diameter: 1330mm x 1330mm
1.8 prime focus Outside diameter: 1940mm x 1940mm Reflector diameter: 1790mm x 1790mm
2.4 prime focus Outside diameter: 2470mm x 2470mm Reflector diameter: 2290mm x 2290mm
Community Installs
It is possible for one dish to serve a number of receivers at different houses. If less than 4 connections are required then a 4 output LNB should be OK, with a cable from the dish to each location. If more than 4 connections are required, then the system will require a special signal distribution unit - called multiswitches.
These multiswicthes are strategically placed around the community to serve, and individual connections are made from these points. I personally run new cable in these systems, as you cannot rely on the condition of the existing cable. Ideally, the community will pay for the infrastructure required (dish, LNB, cables from LNB to multiswicthes, multiswicthes and amplifiers) and individuals will pay for the connection from the multiswitch to their house, and any receivers they require.
Permission must be sought for dishes to be installed on community areas, including apartment blocks. In privately owned houses, dish rules are fairly relaxed, but generally make sure it is installed in an area that wont upset your neighbours. You may also be required to ask your local town hall for permission to install a big dish.
Rebroadcasting
Under the Rome Convention broadcasters have the right to authorize or prohibit the re-broadcasting of their broadcasts. "Re-broadcasting" is defined under the Rome Convention as the simultaneous broadcasting by one broadcasting organization of the broadcast of another broadcast organization. Broadcasters also have the right to authorize or prohibit the fixation of their broadcasts; the reproduction of unauthorized original fixations of their broadcasts; the reproduction for purposes other than those authorized fixations of their broadcasts.
Basically it says you need authorisation from the "Broadcasting organisations" like BBC and ITV to rebroadcast their transmission in the EU.
You may be using a rebroadcaster if your TV company:
is offering bbc and itv on a small dish or mesh aerial - these channels can only be legitimately received for free via a minimum of 1.4mdish (some areas 1.8m)
offers bbc and itv for a monthly subscription - bbc and itv are free on satellite and do not need a subscription
offers "freesat" with only 20 or 64 channels - by satellite you will receive over 100 free tv channels, not 20 or 64. the bbc have over 15 regional variations on satellite alone.
offers sky sports for less than £36 per month or setanta sports for less than £14 per month - the costs of legitimate subscriptions to these channels.
offers channels from other countries - channels like Showtime Sports for example.
says they get BBC and ITV from a satellite other than Astra 2, like Hotbird - bbc and itv are only broadcast on one "satellite constellation (those satellites at 28.3 to 28.5 degrees)
as these companies will more than likely be a rebroadcasting services who's signal may be terminated just like Telemicro.
Advantages of Satellite
With a sky or freesat receiver you can get bbc interactive, sky active and a full 7 day programme guide. you may need a big dish, you may pay more for the installation, but at least the signal is pretty much guaranteed as it it direct from the satellite and is not reliant on a third party. pure digital broadcasting (with some channels in full Dolby Digital sound), not reliant on second or third or fourth generation signals as the signals gets past from one rebroadcast transmitter to another.
Many ex rebroadcasting clients have commented on how good the signal direct from the satellite is compared to that of a rebroadcasted signal.
if you are in doubt as to whether or not it is OK to view free satellite tv channels (like BBC and ITV) in Spain via satellite see http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=help.Question&id=1667 which says that "it may be possible outside the UK to use a satellite receiver to pick up channels available on freesat" - nothing about it being illegal - the technical term is "satellite signal overspill".
A final thought on this: if it was illegal to watch TV channels that were broadcasted for free, then all shops selling free to air receivers would be in trouble, as would Canal Digital + (the Spanish satellite service) as their receivers can also pick up free tv satellite channels from other countries.
Default Transponder Settings for Spain or Resetting your Sky Receiver after powercut
When a Sky receiver is first booted up, like after a power cut, then the first thing it requires to function is at least 6 hours of EPG information. It looks for this data on the Default transponder frequency of 11778. this frequency can be poor in Spain, and therefore the receiver will not be able to find the information is required and therefore will not work - giving the message "No satellite Signal is Being Received". Changing the default transponder to another frequency (i use 12129) allow the receiver to get the information it requires to function. No matter what people tell you changing this default transponder does not increase how long channels are available. It is only used to “assist” the receiver to boot up. It is normal for the Default Transponder to revert back to 11778 once the receiver is functioning.
See the link in the menu on the left hand side of the screen to help reset your sky digibox.
Auto Standby
Sky has been deploying new receiver software, and incorporated in to this is a new feature designed to help save energy when the Sky receiver is not being used. If the box hasn't been used for a period of two hours after 11pm, or for four hours during the day time, an ‘Auto Standby' message will pop up on screen for three minutes. If there's no further use the box will go into Standby mode automatically, until the user turns it back on. This can be an issue if you are using a VCR to record things from the Sky receivers as when the receiver goes into Autostandby mode you will record a blank (or blue!) screen if the box has shut down.... You can turn it off by using the option in Services (Sky+ Setup for + and HD users!)
Electronic Programme Guide (EPGs)
Sky's Electronic Programme Guide is used on Sky receivers. Although all the frequencies used by Sky transmit limited EPG information, the main EPG data is transmitted on one frequency - 11778. You may notice that this frequency is also the main Default Transponder - and the same frequency that is measured in the Sky receivers Signal Test screen. This frequency's reception varies greatly during the day and may not be available 24/7 - especially during the afternoon, and also certain Sky receivers really do not like this frequency. Hence why you may only get a limited (6 hours or so, EPG information in the EPG.
The Freesat EPG is transmitted from a different frequency to Sky (in fact it is on a different satellite!), whose reception is widely available over Europe - hence why you do not have to change the Freesat receiver "default transponder". It was the fact that the Freesat EPG would be easily available over Europe on a small dish that lead many, including installers, into thinking that all channels on Freesat would be available all over Europe in a small dish. Where as in fact both Sky and Freesat EPGs point to the same frequencies for the channels they use (apart from FIVE!)
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