menuMENU    UK Free TV logo Freesat

 

 

Click to see updates

BBC HD to switch to DVB-S2 on 6th June 2011

The BBC will switch to the higher-capacity modern modulation scheme for the BBC HD and BBC One HD channels on satellite.

The BBC will switch to the higher-capacity modern modulation sc
published on UK Free TV

The high definition (HD) television channels on satellite require a lot more bandwidth (number of bits per second) than the standard definition (SD) ones, as you might expect.

However the additional capacity required is reduced in two ways. First the MPEG-4 compression system is used (rather than MPEG-2) and generally the DVB-S2 modulation system increases the bandwidth of each satellite transponder.

Generally speaking, around nine SD television channels can be carried on a transponder in DVB-S mode, and four HD channels on one in DVB-S2 mode.

For historical reasons, the BBC's Astra 2D transponder 50 has been providing BBC One HD and BBC HD (and also ITV1 HD Merdian South) in the DVB-S mode, and this has used all the capacity on the transponder, because of the lower bitrate.

The changes

One 6th June 2011, the BBC will switch the transponder to DVB-S2. If you watch using Sky+HD, Virgin Media or Freeview HD you will not have to do anything.

If you use a branded Freesat box (or TV set), you may need to put it into stand-by mode for 30 seconds on 6th June. If that doesn't work, perform a 'first time installation'.

Update: Some Panasonic Freesat boxes are unable to deal with the change - see comments below

If you are using a unbranded Freesat box, you may find that you also have to do a 'first time installation' to get the channels back.

Some older satellite equipment will not support DVB-S2. If you can't watch Channel 4 HD, then you will no longer be able to watch the BBC HD channels.

Sky HD, Freesat HD EPG issues

Currently BBC One HD cannot automatically replace BBC One in the Sky EPG at position 101, because there are 15 regional versions of BBC One, and only a single BBC One HD 'stream' on the satellite.

BBC Two carries four regions for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For a BBC TWO HD to appear in the Sky EPG at position 102, the BBC would need to provide four versions of BBC TWO HD.

All the other BBC channels are national, and have no regional components. BBC Three timeshares with CBBC, BBC FOUR timeshares with CBeebies, plus there is BBC News, BBC Parliament and BBC Alba.

The extra capacity found by moving to DVB-S2 could allow the BBC to provide BBC Three, BBC Four, CBeebies and CBBC channel in HD, and these could be provided in the "usual" EPG slots for Sky HD and Freesat HD users, which would put them on the lower numbered channels nearer the top of the guide.

Help with Free satellite?
What can I do when my Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fau1
Can I receive UK TV in Ghana?2
What is a CA module?3
My box says "No Satellite signal being received"4
Is there any way I can get free channels via satellite and have the kind of hard5
In this section
Show me the 55 TV channels have moved to the new Astra 2G satellite 1
Good news for Freesat? Astra 2E satellite launched2
No satellite signal? Check your dish for snow!3
New satellite footprints page4
BBC satellite changes: radio, BBC ONE HD, Red button reduction 12-15 October 2015
Changes to BBC HD transmissions on Astra satellites on 20 September 20126

Comments
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
A
Alan
1:21 PM

Still waiting to hear.

link to this comment
Alan's 13 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

5:03 PM

Alan: I would have thought you would have heard back by now. It's been a while.

link to this comment
Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
A
Alan
1:52 PM

I was supposed to have had a call on Friday, but no, so I rang again on Tuesday and was told the person dealing with it was not at their desk, so she asked if she could help, I explained the situation again, so she rang Euro Aerials whilst I was on the phone, but when she came back to me she said she could not get hold of a named person that was dealing with my case. So she said that the original person dealing with my case would contact me first thing this morning, I am still waiting at 13.52pm 13/08/2011.

link to this comment
Alan's 13 posts GB flag
A
Alan
1:54 PM

Can't help feeling that I am being fobbed off.

link to this comment
Alan's 13 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

4:45 PM

Alan: I think you might be right.

link to this comment
Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Friday, 19 August 2011
A
Alan
3:30 PM

Had a call today from a lady from the Government Help Scheme who deals with formal complaints, she said this was a stage one complaint (I have been complaining since the BBC HD signal change in June)and they say it is only just at stage one!!!!!
She said the position of the Dish could be at fault rather than the box being at fault. If the position before June was ok, could it really be at fault? This would mean that everyone else who cannot record the BBC HD channels also have their dishes in the wrong position. I think I am confused.com Anyway, she said she would contact Euro Aerials again, and would write to me with her decision.

link to this comment
Alan's 13 posts GB flag
A
Alan
3:34 PM

This scheme was meant to help people that are disabled, I think they should look up what HELP actually means. They get your money then don't want to know.

link to this comment
Alan's 13 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

3:36 PM

Alan: Yes, given that I am sure you provided full information about the exact moment you had the problem...

link to this comment
Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
A
Alan
12:55 PM

I am absolutely furious!!! I have just had a phone call from the BBC Helpscheme, the lady said after reviewing all the facts, she cannot offer me any help at all, because after care was only for 12 months, and EuroAerials will not handle any, I repeat ANY, complaints after this time period. Under EU and British law I am protected for 2 years(EU) and 7 years(British). It looks like I will have to go to court to get a replacement box. Some help for the disabled this scheme turned out to be!!!!

link to this comment
Alan's 13 posts GB flag
A
Alan
12:58 PM

Sorry, that should be 6 years British.

link to this comment
Alan's 13 posts GB flag
Select more comments

Your comment please
Please post a question, answer or commentUK Free TV is here to help people. If you are rude or disrespectful all of your posts will be deleted and you will be banned.







Privacy policy: UK Free Privacy policy.