BT Vision, TUTV, Sky Sports 1+2 and the Mendip transmitter
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV Michael Bane asked on the Freeview on Mendip TV transmitter page why you can't get the Sky Sports channels that are now provided by BT and Top Up TV.
The answer is - not until the COM multiplexes are implemented fully.
The official Ofcom position is:
"Mendip COM multiplexes will temporarily operate on channels 62+ for SDN, 56+ for Arqiva A, and 59+ for Arqiva B (all at 10kW ERP) until Autumn 2011. Final DSO channels will then be adopted, though ERP levels will remain limited until early 2012. "
This means that Mendip has, rather uniquely got these multiplexes:
PSB1, PSB2, PSB3 (Freeview HD), A, C and D
The BT channels are on COM6 in switched areas, and B in non-switched.
At Mendip, Nottingham, Durris, Lark Stoke, Sandy Heath, The Wrekin and Bromsgrove, there will be several months where this service cannot be received (see also UK digital switchover exceptions).
The problem is that, at switchover multiplexes C and D switch from 16QAM to 64QAM and become COM5 and COM6 with more megabits. (A is already 64QAM)
The extra capacity on COM6 is being used for BT1 and BT2 channels for Sky Sports 1 and 2. In pre-switch areas, space has been found on the B multiplex for the BT1 and BT2 channels.
So, where the public service broadcaster (PSB) multiplexes change and the commercial (COM) ones are delayed, Sky Sports 1 and 2 will not be available.
9:27 PM
Newport
Anyone else having probvlems picking up ESPN on BT vision, in the Newport area.
For some reason no matter where I point my aerial I cant pick it up. I am getting signals from both Wenvoe & mendip, not sure whether this could be causing issues.
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Raddersc's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Raddersc: It is on the SDN (COM4) multiplex, please can you see Single frequency interference | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice ?
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1:01 PM
Is there a PVR available that will record freeview sky sports 1 and 2 ?
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5:43 PM
AFAIK any PVR will record any freeview channel. Though I have never tried the paid for "free"view channels. Are they paid?
Ask Argos/Currys?
As a general point, anything that will record from a SCART connection is presumably post-descrambling?
The more I think the more confuddled I get!
Hopefully Brian or other wise men around!
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6:00 PM
ian orpen: You need a BT Vision or Top-Up TV branded PVR, along with a subscription to the appropriate service, to decrypt the Sky Sports channels. Top-Up TV sell, or used to sell, a Conditional Access Module that fits into the standard slot, but it can only be used for ESPN and G.O.L.D. There's some restriction from Sky, who claimed that Ofcom's ruling forcing them to make the sports channels available to BT did not cover using a CAM.
They don't explicitly say you can record the sports channels, but I'd be surprised if you couldn't. You may find you can't watch them back if you stop subscribing.
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ian orpen: Yes, the TopUp PVR should do it, but I see from their website they are no longer provide them...
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8:22 AM
Cardiff
I have a Humax HDR Fox T2. It has a CI+ slot. I've been told by TUTV that they broadcast from the Wenvoe transmitter. On the TUTV website they advertise that they sell a CAM adapter and a smartcard, for Sky Sports 1 & 2 and ESPN, for a TV. Would these work in the Humax?
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Tim's: mapT's Freeview map terrainT's terrain plot wavesT's frequency data T's Freeview Detailed Coverage
11:54 AM
Tim - My response won't directly help you on this one, but for you info, I have a Humax Foxsat HDR with CAM slot and it's certainly active on this receiver. Currently I have an AL-Jazeera Sports card in a VIACCESS CAM which allows the motorised capability of the receiver to take from my dish when on 13degrees South East with European Champions League, SPL, etc. I assume therefore that the CAM Slot an your Digital Terrestrial box will also be active. You can check this out if you can borrow a CAM
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