Summer is here, and it can cause potential reception issue with your satellite TV reception. In fact it can also cause reception issue with your digital Spanish TV channels also, as shown by problems from last year.
Reception of UK TV by satellite is already tricky. Many UK TV channels require a "big" satellite dish, like the 2.4m Famaval satellite dishes from Portugal, as the signals that carry these UK TV channels are very weak.
An increase in heat and humidity can cause a drop in reception, as the signal is weakened by the humidity in the air.
This had a great affect on Spanish digital terrestrial TV last summer (2010). Many areas had a reduction in reception of their channels due to the heat, so many areas had to have repeater stations installed, and that relayed signals from the main mast to areas affected.
Unfortunately this "repeater" process cannot be done with UK satellite TV, and it may be a case whereby you may have to live with a early drop in signal reception and loss of channel in the hot summer....
But then, there are so many other things to go out and do in Spain on a hot summer night rather than watching Eastenders isn’t there...?
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, 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
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
SkyGo, Sky TV on your mobile
SkyGo is being rolled out by all Sky TV services (Sky Germany, Sky Italia etc).
You register certain devices (Ipads, phones etc) online via MYSky, and the you get the Sky channels you subscribe to on those registered devices only (a bit more advanced version of the SkyPlayer). The package will do away with Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV to create SkyGo.
Sky Go will be free to all of Sky TV's existing customers and should provide "flexible access" to Sky content across multiple devices (e.g. iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac). Non-Sky customers will also be given access (note: not until August), although you will have to stump up for a separate £14-£40 monthly subscription.The service launches July 6.
It will be available on XBox 360 and Fetch TV. Each home will only be entitled to register up to a maximum of two devices.
Obviously it will have the same geoblocking as SkyPlayer does, so it will be of no use in Spain especially on Ipads and phones, and PC connection via UK VPN / proxy server only.
You register certain devices (Ipads, phones etc) online via MYSky, and the you get the Sky channels you subscribe to on those registered devices only (a bit more advanced version of the SkyPlayer). The package will do away with Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV to create SkyGo.
Sky Go will be free to all of Sky TV's existing customers and should provide "flexible access" to Sky content across multiple devices (e.g. iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac). Non-Sky customers will also be given access (note: not until August), although you will have to stump up for a separate £14-£40 monthly subscription.The service launches July 6.
It will be available on XBox 360 and Fetch TV. Each home will only be entitled to register up to a maximum of two devices.
Available free to all Sky TV customers, Sky Go will provide flexible access to Sky content across multiple devices including the iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac. Launching on July 6 th , it brings together two existing services: Sky Player, Sky's online TV service, and Sky Mobile TV, the UK's largest mobile TV service, with these services rebranded as Sky Go . Offering even more value from the Sky subscription, this will allow customers to watch live linear channels in line with their subscription while on the move in the UK and Ireland.
Sky Go will give customers yet more control and choice over how, when and where they enjoy Sky. Each Sky home will be entitled to register up to two devices, through which they can enjoy access to live channels and selected on-demand content.
On mobile and tablet devices, customers will be able to access all five Sky Sports channels, ESPN and Sky News, with further channels to be added over time.
On laptops and computers customers will be able to access more than 30 live channels, including all five Sky Sports channels, Sky Movies, Sky News, Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts, MTV, Disney, G.O.LD, Nickelodeon, NatGeo, History, Eden and ESPN, supported by an extensive library of on-demand content.
Sky Go will be available from August to non-Sky TV customers, with monthly subscriptions priced from £15-£40. Sky will also remain available on Xbox and Fetch TV, but will rebrand simply as Sky (currently Sky Player).
Obviously it will have the same geoblocking as SkyPlayer does, so it will be of no use in Spain especially on Ipads and phones, and PC connection via UK VPN / proxy server only.
What are the free to air satellite frequency numbers for Sky TV in Spain?
What are the free to air satellite frequency numbers for Sky TV in Spain? What are the frequency numbers for Sky TV in Spain?
A Sky HD digibox will automatically tune to the frequencies used for Sky TV and Sky HD TV in Spain.
A Freesat box will also automatically tune to the frequencies used for UK TV and UK HD TV in Spain.
The frequency numbers for Sky TV in Spain and UK TV in Spain on either a Sky box or Freesat box are exactly the same as if you your use if you were watching Sky TV in the UK.
Just because you are using your Sky box in a different country does not mean that the Sky Tv channels are using different frequencies for reception.
The Freesat box or Sky box will use whichever of the 90plus frequencies it needs to use for the channel you have selected to watch.
Here is a list of frequencies on the four satellites (Astra 2A, Astra 2B, Astra 2D and Eurobird 1) used for Freesat TV and Sky TV
http://www.satandpcguy.com/Site/sky_freesat_frequency_settings_spain.php
However, due to reception of UK satellite TV being sometimes "tricky", there are some extra frequency settings for some of the "free to air" main UK TV channels. Some ITV1 regions, Channel 4 and Channel Five are available on other frequencies. Sometime you may have to manually add these channels to your Sky box. And these are really the only "secret" and extra frequencies for Sky TV.
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
A Sky HD digibox will automatically tune to the frequencies used for Sky TV and Sky HD TV in Spain.
A Freesat box will also automatically tune to the frequencies used for UK TV and UK HD TV in Spain.
The frequency numbers for Sky TV in Spain and UK TV in Spain on either a Sky box or Freesat box are exactly the same as if you your use if you were watching Sky TV in the UK.
Just because you are using your Sky box in a different country does not mean that the Sky Tv channels are using different frequencies for reception.
The Freesat box or Sky box will use whichever of the 90plus frequencies it needs to use for the channel you have selected to watch.
Here is a list of frequencies on the four satellites (Astra 2A, Astra 2B, Astra 2D and Eurobird 1) used for Freesat TV and Sky TV
http://www.satandpcguy.com/Site/sky_freesat_frequency_settings_spain.php
However, due to reception of UK satellite TV being sometimes "tricky", there are some extra frequency settings for some of the "free to air" main UK TV channels. Some ITV1 regions, Channel 4 and Channel Five are available on other frequencies. Sometime you may have to manually add these channels to your Sky box. And these are really the only "secret" and extra frequencies for Sky TV.
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
Receiving Sky TV in Spain and the Valencia area of the Costa Blanca and Costa Azahar
Here are some webpages about the reception of Sky TV in Spain, and UK TV in the Costa Blanca and Costa Azahar areas of Valencia.
Sky TV in Calpe. UK TV Installers for Calpe. Freesat Reception in Calpe.
Sky TV in Denia. UK TV Installers for Denia. Freesat Reception in Denia.
Sky TV in Gandia. UK TV Installers for Gandia. Freesat Reception in Gandia.
Sky TV in Javea. UK TV Installers for Javea. Freesat Reception in Javea.
Sky TV in Lliria. UK TV Installers for Lliria. Freesat Reception in Lliria.
Sky TV in Oliva. UK TV Installers for Oliva. Freesat Reception in Oliva.
Sky TV in Ontinyent. UK TV Installers for Ontinyent. Freesat Reception in Ontinyent.
Sky TV in Xativa. UK TV Installers for Xativa. Freesat Reception in Xativa.
Sky TV in Valencia. UK TV Installers for Valencia. Freesat Reception in Valencia.
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
Sky TV in Calpe. UK TV Installers for Calpe. Freesat Reception in Calpe.
Sky TV in Denia. UK TV Installers for Denia. Freesat Reception in Denia.
Sky TV in Gandia. UK TV Installers for Gandia. Freesat Reception in Gandia.
Sky TV in Javea. UK TV Installers for Javea. Freesat Reception in Javea.
Sky TV in Lliria. UK TV Installers for Lliria. Freesat Reception in Lliria.
Sky TV in Oliva. UK TV Installers for Oliva. Freesat Reception in Oliva.
Sky TV in Ontinyent. UK TV Installers for Ontinyent. Freesat Reception in Ontinyent.
Sky TV in Xativa. UK TV Installers for Xativa. Freesat Reception in Xativa.
Sky TV in Valencia. UK TV Installers for Valencia. Freesat Reception in Valencia.
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, June 27, 2011
Haye vs Klitchko Boxing 2nd July 2011 on Free to air TV
Haye vs Klitchko Boxing 2nd July 2011 on Free to air TV
DAVID HAYE and WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO in HAMBURG, GERMANY
Wladimir Klitschko's fight against WBA champion David Haye is shown in the UK on Sky Box Office.
It is also available for free on some other satellite channels.
You will need a satellite dish pointing towards Astra 1 at 19 east, or Hotbird at 13 east.
Haye vs Klitchko Boxing on Astra 1 19
RTL Germany (digital) Frequency 12.188 Horizontal Symbol Rate 27.500 FEC 3/4
RTL Austria (digital) Frequency 12.226 Horizontal Symbol Rate 27.500 FEC 3/4
RTL Germany (Analogue) Frequency 11.229 Vertical Audio channels settings 7.02/7.20
Haye vs Klitchko Boxing on Hotbird 13
RTL CH (Switzerland) (digital) Frequency 11.054 Horizontal Symbol Rate 27.500 FEC 5/6
Haye vs Klitchko Boxing on Badr 26 east
Reports are that the bout will also be on Al Jazeera Sports on Badr at 26 East on frequency 12034 h 27500 3/4
UPDATE:
Watch the fight for Free on Sky!
Problems with Skys system means that throughout today The fight will now be available at no charge to all Sky customers (ie those with a subsscription) on Sunday 3 July - at 9am, 1pm and 7pm - on Sky Box Office 739 and in HD on channel 752
DAVID HAYE and WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO in HAMBURG, GERMANY
Wladimir Klitschko's fight against WBA champion David Haye is shown in the UK on Sky Box Office.
It is also available for free on some other satellite channels.
You will need a satellite dish pointing towards Astra 1 at 19 east, or Hotbird at 13 east.
Haye vs Klitchko Boxing on Astra 1 19
RTL Germany (digital) Frequency 12.188 Horizontal Symbol Rate 27.500 FEC 3/4
RTL Austria (digital) Frequency 12.226 Horizontal Symbol Rate 27.500 FEC 3/4
RTL Germany (Analogue) Frequency 11.229 Vertical Audio channels settings 7.02/7.20
Haye vs Klitchko Boxing on Hotbird 13
RTL CH (Switzerland) (digital) Frequency 11.054 Horizontal Symbol Rate 27.500 FEC 5/6
Haye vs Klitchko Boxing on Badr 26 east
Reports are that the bout will also be on Al Jazeera Sports on Badr at 26 East on frequency 12034 h 27500 3/4
UPDATE:
Watch the fight for Free on Sky!
Problems with Skys system means that throughout today The fight will now be available at no charge to all Sky customers (ie those with a subsscription) on Sunday 3 July - at 9am, 1pm and 7pm - on Sky Box Office 739 and in HD on channel 752
Friday, June 24, 2011
Are you losing your UK satellite TV signals and Sky TV signals this summer in Spain?
Losing your UK satellite TV signals and Sky TV signals this summer?
Well, many people think that the satellite signals are at their strongest in the summer.
Personally I notice little difference in the signals over the year.
However, there is an issue with the signal in the summer.
In the past few years this has affected both satellite TV and TDT TV in Spain.
One of the main reasons for losing your UK TV and Sky TV signals in Spain, is due to the heat and humidity.
The heat and humidity acts as a barrier and reduces the signals coming though the atmosphere.
Many afternoons this week, when the weather has been very hot and humid, I have noticed the weaker UK TV channels, those on the Astra 2D satellite horizontal frequencies like BBC2 England, have been pixilating much earlier than usual. This pixilation has been occurring at about 2pm.
However, on calmer cooler days, the channels have been performing as they should, with no pixilation at all.
So it may be worth noting that your big Portuguese satellite dish may well be perfectly aligned, and the LNB on it may be at the best skew setting, but even then there are some things, like the weather, that can still hamper reception of UK TV and Sky TV in Spain.
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
Well, many people think that the satellite signals are at their strongest in the summer.
Personally I notice little difference in the signals over the year.
However, there is an issue with the signal in the summer.
In the past few years this has affected both satellite TV and TDT TV in Spain.
One of the main reasons for losing your UK TV and Sky TV signals in Spain, is due to the heat and humidity.
The heat and humidity acts as a barrier and reduces the signals coming though the atmosphere.
Many afternoons this week, when the weather has been very hot and humid, I have noticed the weaker UK TV channels, those on the Astra 2D satellite horizontal frequencies like BBC2 England, have been pixilating much earlier than usual. This pixilation has been occurring at about 2pm.
However, on calmer cooler days, the channels have been performing as they should, with no pixilation at all.
So it may be worth noting that your big Portuguese satellite dish may well be perfectly aligned, and the LNB on it may be at the best skew setting, but even then there are some things, like the weather, that can still hamper reception of UK TV and Sky TV in Spain.
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
Reports: No Sky Price increase for "6 mix" channels this year
According to reports Sky Tv subscription prices are to be frozen until August 2012.
The new channel packages are still going ahead but those who are on a 3 to 5 mix package will automatically get the new Entertainment Plus mix at no extra cost.
see http://www.satandpcguy.com/forum/showthread.php?66100-Sky-TV-package-changes-in-September-2011
On 1 September we’ll automatically move all existing customers on to one of the new packs: Entertainment or
Entertainment Plus, at no extra cost.
We’ll make sure they keep the channels they have already and many customers will get even more channels – for the same amount as they’re currently paying.
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 new channel packages are still going ahead but those who are on a 3 to 5 mix package will automatically get the new Entertainment Plus mix at no extra cost.
see http://www.satandpcguy.com/forum/showthread.php?66100-Sky-TV-package-changes-in-September-2011
On 1 September we’ll automatically move all existing customers on to one of the new packs: Entertainment or
Entertainment Plus, at no extra cost.
We’ll make sure they keep the channels they have already and many customers will get even more channels – for the same amount as they’re currently paying.
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, June 22, 2011
Confusion About Free UK Television in Spain - Freeview Or Freesat?
Confusion About Free UK Television in Spain - Freeview Or Freesat?
Many people are confused about whether they can receive free UK television in Spain. The subject of what UK channels you can receive is something we are always being asked. Terms such as free UK television in Spain, Freeview and Freesat are always cropping up so we shall explain it to you.
Many people, including satellite installers in Spain, get confused about Freeview and Freesat. If satellite TV installers are unable to get their terminology correct, then no wonder British expats on the Costa's in Spain are getting more and more confused about how to receive UK TV in Spain.
As British expats move to the warm coastal areas of southern Spain in the Mediterranean, they find it frustrating that they are not able to watch the UK television programmes such as BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5, or the other 100plus other UK TV channels, including Sports, movies and news, that are available to view for free. Although they try to watch local Spanish television channels, some feel the quality of programmes on Spanish TV is not that good as UK TV, they do not show many popular UK TV programmes like Coronation Street or Eastenders, and not all programmes are available in English, (although the switch to Digital Terrestrial Television - TDT - has meant a lot more UK and USA imported programmes are available in English.)
Receiving Freeview in Spain
Freeview is a free digital TV package that is available to people living in the UK. It is not, like many people say, available outside the UK especially Spain. You cannot receive Freeview in Spain. Freeview is a UK only digital television system that is transmitted from the land based television transmitter masts, like Emley Moor and Crystal Palace. The signals from these terrestrial transmitters are not strong enough to reach Spain.
Many UK TV channels are available on "free to air" satellite systems. British expats around Europe can watch their favourite UK TV channels for free via free to air satellite in Spain. Free to air means that there is no monthly subscription to pay, unlike the pay TV channels offered on satellite packages offered by Sky TV.
Receiving Freesat in Spain
Freesat is the name of a brand of satellite receivers designed to receive these free to air UK satellite television channels. You can also use a Sky digibox or any other digital satellite receiver to receive the free to air signals. A Sky digibox without a viewing card will still be able to receive BBC and ITV channels, and all the channels a Freesat receiver can receive.
You can receive many of the UK free to air TV channels by installing a small satellite dish and a digital satellite set top box. However, due to the frequencies used, the main UK TV channels such as BBC and ITV may not be available on these small satellite dishes, and therefore much larger satellite dishes will be required, from 1.8m to 2.4m.
It is worth noting that a Sky digibox without a Sky viewing card will receive the same channels as a standard Freesat digibox.
Both Sky digiboxes and Freesat digiboxes use the same satellite frequencies. So if you cannot receive BBC1 on a Sky box withoyour exisitng satellite dish, then you will not be able to receive BBC1 on your Freesat receiver with the same dish!
Spain does have its own version of Freeview, called Television Digital Terrestrial - TDT. Using a TDT set top box, you are able to receive around 30 digital Spanish television channels via your TV aerial on your roof. The digital aspect allows a much clearer picture than the old analogue TV system, and has the option to change the Spanish dubbing soundtrack on UK and USA imported programmes into the original version. It should also be noted that some UK "Freeview" set top boxes do not work in Spain correctly, as they are programmed for the UK TV service and not the TDT service.
So if an installer says that they are able to install a UK Freeview television system for you in Spain, ask them a few questions. As Freeview is a service received by a TV aerial, then why are they installing a satellite dish? Will you able to receive all the UK Freeview channels, like "Dave" and Sky Sports News, for free on their system, as many channels available for free on Freeview are in fact subscription only on satellite. Remember You cannot receive Freeview in Spain!
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 people are confused about whether they can receive free UK television in Spain. The subject of what UK channels you can receive is something we are always being asked. Terms such as free UK television in Spain, Freeview and Freesat are always cropping up so we shall explain it to you.
Many people, including satellite installers in Spain, get confused about Freeview and Freesat. If satellite TV installers are unable to get their terminology correct, then no wonder British expats on the Costa's in Spain are getting more and more confused about how to receive UK TV in Spain.
As British expats move to the warm coastal areas of southern Spain in the Mediterranean, they find it frustrating that they are not able to watch the UK television programmes such as BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5, or the other 100plus other UK TV channels, including Sports, movies and news, that are available to view for free. Although they try to watch local Spanish television channels, some feel the quality of programmes on Spanish TV is not that good as UK TV, they do not show many popular UK TV programmes like Coronation Street or Eastenders, and not all programmes are available in English, (although the switch to Digital Terrestrial Television - TDT - has meant a lot more UK and USA imported programmes are available in English.)
Receiving Freeview in Spain
Freeview is a free digital TV package that is available to people living in the UK. It is not, like many people say, available outside the UK especially Spain. You cannot receive Freeview in Spain. Freeview is a UK only digital television system that is transmitted from the land based television transmitter masts, like Emley Moor and Crystal Palace. The signals from these terrestrial transmitters are not strong enough to reach Spain.
Many UK TV channels are available on "free to air" satellite systems. British expats around Europe can watch their favourite UK TV channels for free via free to air satellite in Spain. Free to air means that there is no monthly subscription to pay, unlike the pay TV channels offered on satellite packages offered by Sky TV.
Receiving Freesat in Spain
Freesat is the name of a brand of satellite receivers designed to receive these free to air UK satellite television channels. You can also use a Sky digibox or any other digital satellite receiver to receive the free to air signals. A Sky digibox without a viewing card will still be able to receive BBC and ITV channels, and all the channels a Freesat receiver can receive.
You can receive many of the UK free to air TV channels by installing a small satellite dish and a digital satellite set top box. However, due to the frequencies used, the main UK TV channels such as BBC and ITV may not be available on these small satellite dishes, and therefore much larger satellite dishes will be required, from 1.8m to 2.4m.
It is worth noting that a Sky digibox without a Sky viewing card will receive the same channels as a standard Freesat digibox.
Both Sky digiboxes and Freesat digiboxes use the same satellite frequencies. So if you cannot receive BBC1 on a Sky box withoyour exisitng satellite dish, then you will not be able to receive BBC1 on your Freesat receiver with the same dish!
Spain does have its own version of Freeview, called Television Digital Terrestrial - TDT. Using a TDT set top box, you are able to receive around 30 digital Spanish television channels via your TV aerial on your roof. The digital aspect allows a much clearer picture than the old analogue TV system, and has the option to change the Spanish dubbing soundtrack on UK and USA imported programmes into the original version. It should also be noted that some UK "Freeview" set top boxes do not work in Spain correctly, as they are programmed for the UK TV service and not the TDT service.
So if an installer says that they are able to install a UK Freeview television system for you in Spain, ask them a few questions. As Freeview is a service received by a TV aerial, then why are they installing a satellite dish? Will you able to receive all the UK Freeview channels, like "Dave" and Sky Sports News, for free on their system, as many channels available for free on Freeview are in fact subscription only on satellite. Remember You cannot receive Freeview in Spain!
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, June 20, 2011
Can Sky stop cards working in Spain?
Someone has posted on an internet forum here in Spain a call they had to Sky Customer Services.
The caller asked if they could take my box to Spain and use it on holiday. Sky Customer Services said that it was illegal to use a Sky outside the UK and if found that that they ware using the box/card in Spain they would stop my card and no refund would be given.
My view of this is that mixed signals were given out by Sky CS.
If the box was part of a Sky UK discounted installation, then the box remains proprety of Sky for the first 12 months. After 12 months the Sky box becomes your property. You can do with it what you want.
If you buy the box from a dealer in Spain, the box is yours. Again you can do with it what you want.
There are NO restrictions on Sky box movement if the box is yours.
The Sky CS person is correct if the box you are talking about is in the 12 month new install agreement.
The Sky CS person is incorrect if the box you are talking about is outside the 12 month new install agreement, or if you paid for the box yourself.
Sky CS are renowned for incorrect and inaccurate information.
There are, as discussed around this site, restrictions on the use of Sky cards outside the UK and ROI. The cards always remain property of Sky. The only way for Sky to know a card is outside the UK and ROI is by you telling them your card number and that you are in Spain. They cannot trace it via the satellite signal. And there is no way for them to track if a Sky box is outside the UK and ROI.
The Sat and PC Guy. Sky TV in SPain, Freesat TV in Spain. UK TV in Spain. UK 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 caller asked if they could take my box to Spain and use it on holiday. Sky Customer Services said that it was illegal to use a Sky outside the UK and if found that that they ware using the box/card in Spain they would stop my card and no refund would be given.
My view of this is that mixed signals were given out by Sky CS.
If the box was part of a Sky UK discounted installation, then the box remains proprety of Sky for the first 12 months. After 12 months the Sky box becomes your property. You can do with it what you want.
If you buy the box from a dealer in Spain, the box is yours. Again you can do with it what you want.
There are NO restrictions on Sky box movement if the box is yours.
The Sky CS person is correct if the box you are talking about is in the 12 month new install agreement.
The Sky CS person is incorrect if the box you are talking about is outside the 12 month new install agreement, or if you paid for the box yourself.
Sky CS are renowned for incorrect and inaccurate information.
There are, as discussed around this site, restrictions on the use of Sky cards outside the UK and ROI. The cards always remain property of Sky. The only way for Sky to know a card is outside the UK and ROI is by you telling them your card number and that you are in Spain. They cannot trace it via the satellite signal. And there is no way for them to track if a Sky box is outside the UK and ROI.
The Sat and PC Guy. Sky TV in SPain, Freesat TV in Spain. UK TV in Spain. UK 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
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