All posts by Tony Hill
Below are all of Tony Hill's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
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Are you really watching free TV in high definition? | High defiMonday 31 December 2012 6:16PM
Dorchester
Susan: Why not give up Sky altogether and buy a Freesat HD box (or, better still, a Freesat PVR - Personal Video Recorder - so you can record programmes). With this Freesat HD box you will be able to receive all the channels you want - including all the free HD channels. You won't get HD with the "free" Sky option. If you don't have a Sky+ PVR then you would need some additional cables from the dish to use a Freesat PVR but not with a non-PVR Freesat box. Do you have anybody local to advise/help?
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Are you really watching free TV in high definition? | High defiWednesday 2 January 2013 12:11PM
Dorchester
KMJ, Derby: As I understand it -please correct me if this is not so - if you drop down to Freesat-from-Sky, even if you have a Sky HD box, you will only be able to receive SD. So, if you do want HD, you will need a Freesat HD box.
I would not recommend a generic HD receiver for most people as there is no Freesat EPG nor ability, with a PVR, to record from the EPG.
I personally have a Freeview SD PVR and, on one (Sky-type dish)a Freesat HD PVR and on a second motorised dish, a Technomate SD receiver, so can sample (most) offerings - apart from Sky, of course.
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Are you really watching free TV in high definition? | High defiThursday 3 January 2013 6:05PM
Dorchester
KMJ (Derby) and jb38 and Susan:
Yes, you are right and I (not a "Sky person") am wrong: "Freesat-from-Sky" does provide HD viewing (with a Sky-HD box, of course). I'm not sure if that has always been the case but - looking at Sky's Terms & Conditions - it is the case now. Perhaps Sky have improved their "Freesat" offering to counter competition from "freesat" and "Freeview".
So, Susan in Oldham, should proceed with her plan and user her old Sky box - unless she wants a PVR (who doesn't?) for programme recording.
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No satellite signal? Check your dish for snow! | Free satellitFriday 18 January 2013 6:19PM
Dorchester
What do satellite viewers do in countries with constant winter snow - such as Norway or Germany? Do they have special (heated?) dishes or what?
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No satellite signal? Check your dish for snow! | Free satellitSaturday 19 January 2013 5:55PM
Dorchester
Are there heated dishes in cold countries?
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No satellite signal? Check your dish for snow! | Free satellitSaturday 26 January 2013 7:21PM
Dorchester
I assume nobody knows what happens in snowy countries like Norway, Canada etc: heated dishes?
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No satellite signal? Check your dish for snow! | Free satellitSunday 27 January 2013 7:58PM
Dorchester
jb38: Thanks for that. I have to say that I am very surprised that nobody has developed a solution to the problem. A profitable niche . . . ?
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No satellite signal? Check your dish for snow! | Free satellitMonday 28 January 2013 5:46PM
Dorchester
jb38: Off you go then. Untold riches await!
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No satellite signal? Check your dish for snow! | Free satellitMonday 28 January 2013 5:54PM
Dorchester
jb38: Me again. Just been thinking about where the snow problem lies. I think it is snow on the dish rather than the LNB which is the problem. It is a bit difficult for the snow to stick on the LNB because of its relatively small size and the way it faces. I don't know if this correct (all the snow has gone now) but if it is just the dish which is the problem, then the solution is a bit simpler - along the lines you suggest but also incorporating a thermostat?
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Wednesday 10 October 2012 12:42PM
Dave Lindsay:
The last time we had trouble was on a recorded Freeview broadcast and I can't remember what it was. As we watch 90% of the time on Freesat ("freesat") - we have a HD freesat box but only SD for Freeview - so I am not monitoring the Freeview situation. All I can say is that the effect was much, much reduced compared with pre-switchover. I don't think that Stockland Hill could affect us as there is considerable high ground between Somerset and here. My guess is that it is something local - perhaps military (or similar) - as we have various establishments relatively near. Could that be so?
As far as horizontal v vertical - our aerial is horizontal as are all in the neighbourhood.
I have just checked signal info (Strength/Quality)
BBC1 84/98
ITV4 73/98
Dave 63/90
Pick TV 63/90
But we do have an arrangement of boosters (see my post of 6th April).