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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
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My box says "No Satellite signal being received"4
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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
Thursday, 23 June 2011
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

7:59 AM

Barry: Yes, Les Nichol's suggestion of trying a manual set up is a good idea, I suspect though that it may be the 23000 symbol rate setting that might cause a problem as thats not offered as a choice in some equipment, so will be interested to learn whether or not it does in your case.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
D
David
sentiment_satisfiedGold

9:35 AM

Auto setting?

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David's 306 posts GB flag
Sunday, 26 June 2011
R
Ray Thomas
8:36 AM

Have recently purchased a panasonic
DVD Recorder model DMR-XS350EB. All appears to work OK but not being particularly clued up on these things, realised that I was unable to play back a recording made earlier from a broadcast that a child lock was in place and therefore no joy. I certainly do not remember entering a PIN for this function. I.D. PIN yes. Could anyone tell me please how to unlock as we do not have any children to concern ourselves with regard to watching banned channels. Many thanks.
Ray Thomas.

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Ray Thomas's 1 post GB flag
P
paul
5:48 PM

@ray
shipping condition or initalize shud let u reset pin without losing recordings

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paul's 7 posts GB flag
Monday, 27 June 2011
B
Barry
9:18 AM

Hi jb38, Les,

Yes also tried the manual search but compltetly dead. No sign at all. Do you think there is any chance I need a bigger dish? (I do have evening problems with some of the C4 channels so maybe the "new" BBC1HD needs better reception).

Also Les you mentioned posting in "Tech Help" to satandpcguy. I can't see a way to post to him directly so do I just include it in the body of the post and hope that he picks it up? (Sorry if this is a compltelty numpty question!). Thanks!

Barry

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Barry's 5 posts ES flag
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
P
peter
6:20 PM

We have a dmr-xs350eb panasonic recorder,and have been reading comments on this site.Where is the button for turning of the recorder for a a short while

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peter's 2 posts GB flag
D
Darren
8:01 PM

I have a Panasonic TH-42PZ81B (i think it was one of the of the first Freesat models)and i have tried countless retunes & first time instalations but still cannot recieve both BBC HD channels but can still recieve ITV HD & Channel 4 HD,any help would be kindley appreciated.

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Darren's 1 post EU flag
B
brian murray
9:03 PM
Nottingham

i have a fairly new goodmans fresat hd box --which has reacted same as alot of other boxes bbc 108 109 channel 4 126 have all gone after rescans and all the usual checks cant get them back---have we been ripped off again.

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brian murray's 1 post GB flag
brian's: mapB's Freeview map terrainB's terrain plot wavesB's frequency data B's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

7:51 AM

Darren: A few Panasonic devices can have problems with the BBC's use of a 23000 symbol rate, as most that dont have 23000 shown as a manual entry option usually have it come up with a factory reset auto-scan.

You should have a look at the manual tuning option and enter the details below, these being for the BBC HD service.

Frequency : 10847
H/V : Vertical
S/R : 23000
DVB : DVB.S2
Modulation : QPSK
FEC : 8/9.

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jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
C
COLIN
9:18 AM

I have a goodmans freesat hd 500gb recorder. im recieving all the BBC hd channels but wont record them. goodmans support say they are trying to solve the problem but im not holding my breath. one last thing it will record if its done manually

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COLIN's 8 posts GB flag
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