Freeview,Freesat,Freesatfromsky,Sky,Sat Info(updated 041008)

 

Freeview Freesat Freesatfromsky Sky UK TV Satellite Systems for Costa Blanca In Spain
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Sections
1. The Various systems
Freeview
TDT
Freesat
Freesatfromsky
Sky
Sky+
SkyHD
Generic
D+
BBC Prime
MBC / Dubai One / Fox Movies / Arabic
2. Channels
104 Channel Unavailable Messsage on Sky receivers.
Whats On A Sky Freetoview Card
Five Going Free Updates
EU TV without Frontiers
3. Dishes
Big Dishes
Dish Sizes
What Can You Get On an 80cm Dish
Community Installs
4. Rebroadcasting
How to spot a rebroadcaster
5. Advantages of Satellite
Interactive News and Sport
6. Default Transponder Settings for Spain
Resetting your Sky Receiver after powercut
Additional Channels
7. Auto Standby
8. Sky Programme Guide (EPG)
9. Change Log

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Section 1 The Various systems
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.
Freeview is not available in Spain.

Freeview channels are
Terrestrial - Digital Spy
or
Freeview - Error / kernel (1)

There are channels on Freeview that you have to pay for on Sky - like Dave, UK History.

TDT

Spain has its own version of "Freeview" called Television Digital Terrestrial (TDT). Approx 30digital spanish tv channels via a TV aerial...many chnnels / 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 exisiting tv 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 www.TelevisionDigital.es - Compruebe si ya dispone de cobertura TDT for more information and a signal / postcode check
see TDT canales tdt1 television tv digital terrestre multiplexores receptores MHP EPG mux 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 anf FIVE are all free to watch on satellite.

But some free channels the availability is limited due to signal strenghts - so for exampl eFIVEon 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.
Freesat Channel List
Freesat Channel Guide

Some Freesat boxes have two modes
In Freesat mode the Freesat channels are in the Freesat EPG - the ones that have been officailly added to the EPG and where new cahnnels 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.

Receivers
There are
basic Freesat receivers - Grundigs, Bush and Humax have had good CB reports
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 availableon 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. (see BBC - BBC HD - Home and ITV HD | ITV.com)

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 dont know you are using one here in spain.....

Freesat From Sky Channel List
Freesatfromsky Channel Guide

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 dont know you are using one here in spain.....

Sky Channel List
Sky Channel Guide

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 latests 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+

Skys 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 atleast 1 sky mix!

SKY HD

A Sky HD receiver will incorportate all the recording functoins 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 wil 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.
More Information on Sky HD

ITVHD is also available both with and without a SKy viewing card

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 infomation.

Generic FTA receivers will get all channels in the link Cable - Digital Spy
- apart from Five, Five US and Fiver, Sky Three, Setanta Sports News.

Generic receiver will need to be manually rescanned when channels change their audio or video settings - like ITV have done with some of their channels (on 071008) leaving some users without ITV.

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+.
Portada - plus.es

BBC Prime
BBC Prime is a BBC pay channels for expats. It does not show movies or sport, but just homegrown 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 availble on Eurobird at 9 degrees east - so you may need your dish realigning.
You will need an official BBC Prime subscription card available from BBC Prime - lnternational Channel.
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
Or 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 prgrammes are all mainly in english but with arabic subtitles.
i have link on my site (MBC TV Guide Arabsat Nilesat - Digital Satellite Systems Costa Blanca Spain) pointing to the programme guides for these channels.
All these channels are currently free to air, requiring a generic digital satellite receiver and at least an 80cm dish (i am not too sure how an 80cm will perform on these channels in your area tho...but fine in my area on an 80cm!)

ADMC Sports have won the English Premier League Football Satellite TV broadcast rights from Showtime.
You can receive ADMC Sports on the Costa Blanca Spain, but you may need your dish realigned if it was set for the Showtime satellites.
(ADMC Sports EPL in Spain - Digital Satellite Systems Costa Blanca Spain)

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Section 2 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.

No 104 or 105 onthe EPG? Channel Unavailable? Lost your free C4 channels?

Sometime when you reboot your Sky receiver with out a Sky card in and try to getthe Channel 4 gorup of channel, then you will get a red Channel Unavailable message. Basically the box has booted to the default bbc1 and ITV regions (BBC1 London and ITV Central), without 104, 135 - 139).

All channels on Freesat are available on a sky receiver, and were also available for free before the launch of freesat using a sky or generic reciever.

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 ammendments have subsequenly 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.

and 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 FoI - 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 theoir own lanaguage that offers similar services. For example TVEi is the international version of TVE for Spain which is available for free on various satellites.

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Section 3 Dishes

UK TV chanels 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 - whoch tend to do more european channels (Spain D+ is on astras 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 whats available
1.4m will get more channels (includng 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 (dispite the properganda!)

Famaval also produce a 2.4m prime focus dishes which is identifiable with the holes around the rim of the dish, allowing extention 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 equivilent Famaval dishes.

I have found that dishes made in Eastern Europe (Pasat) 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
Relector diameter: 1330mm x 1330mm

1.8 prime focus
Outside diameter: 1940mm x 1940mm
Relector diameter: 1790mm x 1790mm

2.4 prime focus
Outside diameter: 2470mm x 2470mm
Relector diameter: 2290mm x 2290mm

Dispite what you may have read, planning permission for dishes may be required from your local town hall. EU Law does not automatically give you the right to install a dish, and town halls can refuse installation, especially for aesthetic reasons. EU LAw only provides guidelines about compromise.

(EU Law and Dishes Planning Permission - Digital Satellite Systems Costa Blanca Spain)

What channels can i get on an 80cm dish?

A question many have asked, so here goes...

(UK TV CHannels available on a small 80cm dish on the Costa Blanca - UK TV Satellite Systems Costa Blanca Spain)

(I am using links as these will be more accurate and complete than posting all the 100's of channels here..)

using this link for free tv channels
FlySat United Kingdom TV Channels

and this link for the Sky pay channels (use the beam column)
Sky UK on Astra 2A/2B/2C/2D & Eurobird 1 at 28.2°E - LyngSat

on an 80 cm dish you should be able to pick up most of the channels on eurobird 1
on an 80 cm dish you should be able to pick up most of the channels on astra 2,a,b south beam
on an 80 cm dish you may not be able to pick up the channels on astra 2,a,b north beam
on an 80 cm dish you should be able to pick up most of the channels on astra 2c
on an 80 cm dish you will not be able to pick up of the channels on astra 2d

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 persoannly run new cable in these systems, as you cannot rely on the condition of the exisitng 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 conenction from the multiswitch to their house, and any receivers they require.

Permission must be sought for dishes to be installed on community areas, including appartment 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.

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Section 4 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 legitimatly received for free via a minimun 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 recieve 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.

saysthey 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 whos signal may be terminated just like Telemicro.

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Section 5 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 gaurenteed 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 fromt he satellite is compared to that of a rebroadcasted signal.

and 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
freesat - Help - Question
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 broadcsted 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.

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Section 6 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 ont 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.

What to do if you are getting the message “No Satellite signal is being received”

1.This usually means that your Digibox is blocked and you are unable to receive the signals it requires. This usually occurs after power cuts or other interruptions to the Digibox power supply.
2.Remove the power cable from the Digibox only. This can be found on the back of the Digibox, and is normally a black cable on either the extreme left or right of the Digibox. Reinsert the power cable after 30 seconds.
3.Turn on the Digibox.
4.On the Sky remote control press the SERVICES button
5.On the Sky remote control press 401 (four zero one) and then the SELECT button.

Note on Sky HD boxes this process is 001 select

6.If the above has been done correctly you should see the Installer Setup Menu screen. If you do not see the Installer Setup Menu screen then start this process again.
7.Press “2” on your Sky remote control.
8.If done correctly should be looking at the Default Transponder screen.
9.On the Sky remote control press 12129 (one two one two nine). This will change the default FREQUENCY to 12.129.
10.Ensure that the default POLARIZATION is “V”.
Ensure that the default SYMBOL RATE is “27.5”.
Ensure that the default FEC is “2/3”.
11.On the Sky remote control press the DOWN ARROW button three times and then press SELECT. This will SAVE NEW SETTINGS and return you to the Installer Setup Menu screen.
12.On the Sky remote control press the BACK UP button until you exit all the menus.
If done correctly the time will appear on the white bar, and picture will shortly reappear – try channel 501 (Sky News).

for a downloadable PDF of the Default Transponder process, or watch a video of the process in operation see
NO SATELLITE SIGNAL BEING RECEIVED / HOW TO CHANGE THE DEFAULT TRANSPONDER FREQUENCY SETTINGS FOR SPAIN

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.


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and as a bonus check out
Extra / Alternative Channels For Sky Receivers
which will keep you informed with those "secret" channels that will get ITV C4 C4+1 E4 E4+1 longer that some installers have been charging to input onto your systems.....

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Section 7 Auto Standby

Sky has been deploying new receiver software, and incorportaed in to this is a new feture 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 receord things from the Sky receivers as when the reciver goes into Autostanby 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!)

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Section 8 Sky Programme Guide (EPG)
Skys 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 freqency - 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 frequencys 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 eciver "default transponder". It was the fact that the Freesats 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 Fresat EPGs point to the same frequencies for the channels they use (apart from FIVE!)
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Section 09 Change Log
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Change Log
28/09/08 - thread created
29/09/08 - added Nonfreesat mode (cheers EBT!), D+, Community Installs, Freesat Comments
01/10/08 - Freesat C4+1, Freesat Price Comparison link, Sky HD
04/10/08 - Famaval dish sizes, Five
06/10/08 - Section labels and headings, UKTV Name changes, highlight
07/10/08 - EU TVwF
08/10/08 - a bit of a tidy up of a few sections, HD links,
09/10/08 - added stepbystep guide for default transponder setting for spain
10/10/08 - added BBC Prime, nonfreesatmode
12/10/08 - EBT details added, HD update
23/10/08 - FoI, Freesat HD + details
29/10/08 - 104 Channel Unavailable trick
03/11/08 - FIVE test frequency
20/11/08 - FIVE on FREESAT, FREESAT+ launch date
07/12/08 - Freesat tidyup
11/12/08 - MBC added
24/01/09 - EBT removed, Autostandby
28/02/09 - Clean Up, EPGS added.
************************************************** *****

this is not intended to be a "debate" thread, but more a collection of information that many on this and other forums have asked multiple times and can be used as a single point of information.
I am happy for people to copy and paste it to other forums, but please credit where credit is due....
If you think that you have some information that i have missed them PM me and I'll see if it is worth of being added.

I hope this helps...

__________________
The Sat and PC Guy - Costa Blanca Satellite TV Installations - Recommended satellite installer by "The Spain Forums"
Valencia Costa Blanca Information

 

Hi, is it possible to get over reception problems with the smaller dishes by using a motorised unit.
Thanks bud.

 

not quite sure what you mean....as with smaller dishes your reception issues would increase!
if you are asking if the main UK chanenls are available on other satellites...in whichcase the answer is no.
the main uk channels (bbcs and ITVs) are only transmitted from one group of satellites...so pointing a smaller dish at some other satellites would not help.

you may be able to find certian programmes available on other satellites....although many of these will be on the usual pay tv services (ie Spains d+, Showtime etc)

there are some free to air channels on arabsat and nilesat...many uk / usa programmes in english but with arabic subtitles...but like i said there are not many "decent" channels available on other satellites without paying for them

 

Hi
New member here
I am new to spain have a small apartment in northern Costa Blanca
The block has communal satellite dishes and I am in the process of being connected.
What else do I require to watch UK TV?
I have an old sky box in Spain
Will this work without Card?
Should I buy a Spain satellite receiver?


Anyone help I would be very grateful.

 

Hi and welcome,

Firstly make sure your community dish is pointing at the UK TV satellites.

If that is the case then just about any digital satellite receiver can be used.

There are three sorts that can be used for UK TV.
Free to air
Freesat
Sky

A basic free to air receiver - easily available in Spain - or a Freesat branded receiver will allow you to watch and receive the free to air (ie no sky card) channels - there are about 250plus of them, including bbc, itv c4 and five
However, even on the biggest satellite dishes, reception of some of these free to air versions is poor in the northern CB from late afternoon. (in some areas BBC2,3,4,C4 and Five are unavailable from 6pm until 4am!)

A Sky box with no sky card will also only get these free to air channels.

If you get a freesatfromsky card, you will be able to watch ITV1, C4 and Five, Fiver, Five USA Sky 3 and a few others - there are some ITV1 regions no on the "free to air" satellite that can be received on a small 80cm dish, but you need a sky card to view them. Similaryly UK C4 will not be available in the evening, but with a sky card youc an acess Irish regional variation of C4, which is available all day!

Official Freesat and SKy boxes have an advantage over the free to air one in the fact thay they can receive a 7/8 day programme guide - basic free to air receivers only show "now and next" programme information.

Depends what you mean by "Spain satellite receiver".
You can but free to air one in Spain.
But if you go via the Digital+, Spains satellelite TV service, then they provide the reciever for you.

Hope this helps.

 

I am sure it will.

I will let you know just as soon as I return


Many thanks and regards

 

just back
have connected to satellite dsh and configured sky box
can receive
sky news
bbc news
true movies
and a few other music and childcrens channels
plus most bbc radio channels

anything else could do to receive BBC1 or ITV

 

As I mentioned in my last post, in some areas, to get the free to air channels like BBC and ITV you need a big dish, maybe a 1.8m or even a 2.4 - the latter if you are in the Teulada I know - if that is where you are...

If you want ITV1 and are getting True Movies, then you can get ITV1, probably C4, and Five on an 80cm dish with a Sky box and Sky card.