Freeview Freesat Freesatfromsky Sky UK TV Satellite Systems for Costa Blanca In Spain
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1. The Various systems
Freeview
TDT
Freesat
Freesatfromsky
Sky
Sky+
SkyHD
Generic
Digital+
BBC Prime
MBC / Dubai One / Fox Movies / Arabic
2. Channels
Whats On A Sky Freetoview Card
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)
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Section 1 The Various systems
FREEVIEW TV COSTA BLANCA SPAIN
"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.
However, a Freeview box may work OK in Spain, as it is able to receive the digital TV signals from Spains own version of Freeview, called TDT
http://www.freeview.co.uk/home
There are channels on Freeview that you have to pay for on Sky - like Dave, UK History.
This said, you will know if an installer knows what he is talking about, as they should know that Freeview is not available in Spain, and shld not really be advertising the service here in Spain, as Freeview cannot be received in Spain.
TDT (Television Digital Terrestrial)
Spain has its own version of "Freeview" called Television Digital Terrestrial (TDT). Approx 30 digital 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 may not be able to scan this frequency.
TDT (Spains Freeview) In Spain
http://www.tdt.es/ for more information and a signal / postcode check
http://www.tdt1.com/ for more information
FREESAT TV COSTA BLANCA SPAIN
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 strengths - so for example channel 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.
Freesat TV 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 is 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.
Freesat 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 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. (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/hd and http://www.itv.com/hd)
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.
The Humax Freesat receivers are generally regarded to be the best performing Freesat receivers for the Costa Blanca in Spain.
FREESATFROMSKY TV COSTA BLANCA SPAIN
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.....
Freesatfromsky TV Channel Guide List
SKY TV COSTA BLANCA SPAIN
Yes you can view Sky TV in Spain,......
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 TV Channel Guide List
The Pace 2600 CI Sky Digibox is generally accepted as the best receiver for the weaker signals areas like the Costa Blanca. The Pace 2600 is closely 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 Pace 445 - i have found these to be very poor performers.
SKY+ COSTA BLANCA SPAIN
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 best get atleast 1 sky mix!
SKY HD COSTA BLANCA SPAIN
A Sky HD receiver will incorportate all the recording functoins of the Sky+, but with the added ability to watch High Definition (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.
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
GENERIC RECEIVERS (DARKBOX ETC)
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 Freesatfromsky Channel Guide
- apart from Five, Five US and Fiver, Sky Three, Setanta Sports News.
Some generic receivers can also be modified with software to read Sky viewing cards, but the new Sky replacement white viewing cards, amny of these new cards have not been functioning correctly or to their full potential in these "generic" receivers..
Digital+
Digial+ (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+.
http://www.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 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
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 are also acailable on the Nilesat satellites at 7west, however, I have found that the satellites at 26east have better reecption here in the Costa Blanca.
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.
MBC2 Arabsat Nilesat Programme Guide
MBC4 Arabsat Nilesat Programme Guide
MBC Max Arabsat Nilesat Programme Guide
MBC Action Arabsat Nilesat Programme Guide
Fox Movies Arabsat Nilesat Programme Guide
Dubai One Arabsat Nilesat Programme Guide
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!)
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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.
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 reciever.
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.
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Section 3 Dishes
UK TV channels are mainly broadcast from the Astra 2a, Astra 2b, astra 2d 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 astras at 19.2). Many channels are available with a small 80cm dish, but to get the BBC and ITV and C4's, which areon 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.
1.8m (1.8m) and 2.4m BIG SATELLITE 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 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).
COMMUNITY SATELLITE TV INSTALLATIONS COSTA BLANCA SPAIN
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 of Television Channels Costa Blanca Spain
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 - the costs of legitimate subscriptions to these channels.
offers channels from other countries - channels like Showtime Sports for example without an offical viewing card from that Pay TV provider
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)
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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
http://www.freesat.co.uk/
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 Sky / Freesat Default Transponder Frequency Settings for Costa Blanca Spain
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” or a continuous "Searching for Listings" message.
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.
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 frequency setting 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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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 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!)
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Section 8 Sky Programem 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!)
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
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