Satellite TV Update

[James]

Sorry James. But what does this mean in simple terms ??? Will my freeview box still work ? And if not what do i do ? In winter i do like a little british tv.

I was responding to Sparky's specific point on the legality of watching UK satellite TV in Spain (hence the bit from Sparky I quoted)... not to whether, your, my or anybody's boxes/dishes will still receive certain channels after they:-

(i) switch to the new Astra satellite; and/or

(ii) a new middle eastern satellite starts transmitting and which, it has been claimed, will interfere with the signal for UK channels in the Balearics.

In order for us to answer that we need a satellite tv engineer, a crystal ball, some patience and/or a combination of all three!

 

[eleanor]

And I just simply want an on/off switch! So complicated!

 

[whaleywanderer]

Think it's just going to be a case of 'wait and see'

 

[Mark]

A few pictures and a link found on the internet.

First of all the PE beam of the new satellite, that is the 'Pan European' beam for channels that are deliberately broadcast over Europe.
This is a wide angle beam from the satellite.
You can see there is good coverage over Spain.

Then the UK spot beam which is zoomed in like a zoom lens on a camera. (to explain it in easy terms )
Look at the map and you can see the spot beam is focussed on UK only and will be for the main UK channels to prevent people seeing them in countries where the rights have not been sold, it's all about money .

I would say it is highly unlikely that small dish such as 60 or 80cm will pick up the UK spot beam in Mallorca.

There is a website here on the Costa Blanca that has lots of useful information and links.
Astra 2E Satellite. Astra 2E Footprint Map. Signal Map. Astra 2E reception in Spain. Astra 2E Signal Map. Astra 2E UK TV in Spain. Sky tv in Spain
scroll down and read the links of the left hand site, lots of information although remember they are in the Costa Blanca region so not much point in asking for prices etc, use someone local and armed with your new knowledge you should get it working.

If they get it working in Costa Blanca when the changes happen then read how they did it and ask your installer to do the same.

lets hope it is not switched over to the new satellite on the first day of the summer holidays when all the villas are full and they all want to watch whatever is on the BBC. ( I would rather be out exploring than watching any TV but each to there own )

Hope that helps.

 

[Nick]

Thanks for that Sparky, that is what I thought. Our community one on the roof is massive so hopefully will suffice?

As stated, time will tell.

 

[mike_dublin]

from MDB on-line - Thursday 11 July, 2013 Edition #4082 -
Majorca Daily Bulletin . Grupo Serra Newspaper . Daily Press . News in English . Online Digital Information . Palma of Majorca Balearic Islands Spain. majorca daily bulletin. grupo serra newspaper . daily press . news in english . online digital info

Still no need to panic over satellite switch over

Palma.—Sean Connolly from Ocean TV explained yesterday that 17 July is the day on which the rocket carrying the new sister satellite to the one currently in operation, takes off.

The current satellite has been in operation since the middle of last December and apparently, some clients have actually witnessed a boost to their signals.

Sean recommends that satellite viewers sit tight for the moment. “We are pretty sure that viewers in the North, Pollensa, Alcudia, Arta and Calla Millor will probably lose some channels, but we really will not know until early August when the first tests on the signal are carried out. The case could be that the new signal is 15 to 230 percent stronger, or it could be 15 to 20 percent stronger and the latter means that viewers in the north, north east of Majorca and virtually across Minorca will have to upgrade with bigger dishes,” Sean explain ed.

It appears that the litmus test is Channel 5, if viewers can still access the channel, they are not experiencing any problems, it is going to be when they lose Channel 5 that they could be facing complications with their signal. “But, until we know for sure, there’s no need to worry and start upgrading dishes because, in the worst case scenario, just for the sake of watching Channel 5, viewers may have to upgrade yet again once the switch over has taken place on around 16 September,” he stressed.

 

[Deanscroft]

Possibly a small reprieve - The new Astra 2E satelite was due to be lauched on July 17th however a similar rocket carrying 3 satelites for the Russian GPS system crashed on take-off a few days ago. Future launches of the rocket are on hold while the crash is investigated.

 

[fil6699]

oops was it wrong to like that lol am sure nobody was hurt just a satellite that was en-rout to spoil our fun so on reflection yes it was ok to like that

 

[Belladonna]

LOL! Did some one pay for someone to use a mobile phone on take off!!??

 

[Deanscroft]

Anyone who would care to gloat at the rockets demise can do so here.

LiveLeak.com - Crash of Proton-M (best footage yet)

 

[Sparky]

Oooooops!!!!!! .

 

[eleanor]

We seem to have lost signal on one of our tv's but not the older one. I think the message is just 'no signal'. It was fine a couple of weeks ago and is a new tv. We have tried to start again by unplugging etc but still no signal. Can it be the dish if the old tv still works on limited stations?
Any ideas would be appreciated. Or ideas on who to call. Perhpas the dish needs to be moved a little?

Tv is such a pain in PP or at least it seems to be!

 

[James]

We seem to have lost signal on one of our tv's but not the older one. I think the message is just 'no signal'. It was fine a couple of weeks ago and is a new tv. We have tried to start again by unplugging etc but still no signal. Can it be the dish if the old tv still works on limited stations?
Any ideas would be appreciated. Or ideas on who to call. Perhpas the dish needs to be moved a little?

Tv is such a pain in PP or at least it seems to be!

Have you tried both TVs with the same set top box? The satellite TV signals are received by the dish and processed by the set top box before being sent to your TV. If you only have one dish and one box and one TV works but the other doesn't it sounds like the issue is with your TV not picking up the signal from your set top box rather than being a problem with the box or dish.

Your new TV may have become 'untuned' from your set top box. If your box is connected to your new TV with a SCART lead or am HDMI cable you may just need to find the 'input' button on your TV remote control and select AV input or HDMI input to link your new TV up with your set top box again.

Hopefully the above is not too techie & works!

 

[eleanor]

Thanks so much James. I'm not in PP but husband is so I will tell hime to check this out. didn't think of checking the boxes by swapping. The one on the old tv is an old one where as the new tv has a more up to date newish one so just assumed that might be the better of the two. The tv had been fine and then just seemed to then come up with this message and nothing. As someone has been staying we did wonder if perhaps they may have tinkered with something.

Will tell hsband to try your suggestions and keep our fingers crossed. Failing that I suppose we need to find someone to come in.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

 

[lollipop]

Eleanor, if you need to call someone in I would recommend Confort.

 

[eleanor]

Thanks lollipop. Seems we need someone so will send husband to Confort.

 

[mike_dublin]

... so will send husband to Confort.

Ah, Eleanor. Take pity on your husband.
According to Sparky's weather report and Fil's picture it's pretty hot around PP. http://www.forum.puertopollensa.com...to-pollensa-2013-3rd-quarter-2.html#post86346

 

[eleanor]

Mike! I am.... I have said he can use his bike rather than walk! lol

Then of course he can relax once sorted and watch this weeks apprentice before I issue his next task! (think i'm watching too much of the apprentice myself as it is giving me ideas! Just love the power! lol

 

[Deanscroft]

UPDATE
The delayed launch of the new Astra satelite due to the failure of the previous Proton M rocket is now scheduled for the last week in September. This being the case it is expected that the satelite will become fully operational at the end of October.

 

[majprop]

Hi Eleanor, If it is not too late can I suggest you try pointing your remore control at the t.v. that does not work and press the source button then press it again until you come to the uk channels, If it does not work then go to your supplier but this worked on mine.