All posts by Les Nicol
Below are all of Les Nicol's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Finn Sheye: Since the introduction of newer satellites to the SES Astra fleet, (a continuing and ongoing process) UK TV reception in Spain and other European countries has seen either a partial or total loss of signal, dependent on wherever your country of resience and your locus might be. This is due to these newer satellites having improved technolgy with spot beam transmissions focused much more accurately on the UK.( some will also have moveable spot beam capablity allowing for a shift of focus in their global coverage). Whilst the overal footprint - coverage - will effectively still extend to areas of Europe as before, this implies - "where possible"??? - acquiring a much larger antenna (dish). in order to receive satisfactory reception.
It might be that your dish has meved, but I rather suspect that your issues relate to the afore mentioned and also to transpoder and frequency changes where even with a larger dish your receiver may need - again if possible??? - re-configuration. I would seek to get some advice from a local installer where you are - there are ex-pat installers/engineers operating in many areas of Spain that could give advice on what optioons may be available.
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Linda:- Either your Sky dish has moved (doesn't require much in the way of poor weather or a bracket needing tightened up) for the signal to be lost or you may have some other fault to the receiver or LNB. (the little item on the end of the dish boom arm). These faults (if any of these apply) can be relatively easily sorted out by Sky.
Current TV's have Freeview tuners fitted to them and all thats generally required is a suitably sited TV aerial that connects to your TV.
However in some areas the TV signal may be
limited where a "Relay Transmitter" is involved as they lack the capablity to provide a full range of channels and programs. This can be checked out through a near neighbour if they have Freeview or a local installer.
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Linda:- If your contract with SKY sees you able to set up recording's and access on demand services and you wish to retain this facility in moving to Freeview you should consider a "You View" receiver that can offer similar facilities bearing in mind that you will not be able to obtain subsciption channels. Alternative subscription services BT Vision with a supplied "You View" receiver and Virgin (in Virgins case only if a cable TV service is available to you in your area).
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Rob: The issue here is that satellites have or are being introduced by Astra and Eutelsat that have fixed and moveable "Spot" beam capablity which are able to concentrate signals focused on a particular country. There is overspill but not at the level that used to be, thus as far as ex-pats living in Spain and Portugal in particular are concerend they may no longer receive UK TV reception and this applies to ITV SKY etc. However it may still be possible to achieve reception in some areas, but this is likely to incur financial outlay e.g. upgrading Dish size and perhaps LNB. Anyone conteplating this would be well advised to have this assessed by a local or ex-pat fitter in the country where they are residing, before any financial outlay.
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Ian - Friends living in France close to Geneva in Switzerland are (after an initial glitch), are continuing to receive OK reception with a Humax Freesat receiver and 80cm dish..
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Ian: and others.
Just to add, some friends living in parts of Spain, have managed to continue to receive reception on a 1metre dish, where they have re-aligned and peaked reception. (Astra 2E is at 28.35 east). Dishes should me matched with a known high gain LNB such as the Inverto Black series. - However, in some locations there are others who may have little luck even with a 1.8 metre dish and may have to consider going up to a 2.5metre. As stated earlier where signal loss is total then be st to have a site assessment carried out by a reputable installer and then one is the position to consider whether any additional expense is worth the effort.
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Spanish 2E Reception.
3 Reports I've received :-
Salamanca - With a motorized120cm Channel Master dish Inverto Black Uktra o.2 Single LNB. - reception is good on all channels and is actually slightly improved.
Ibiza - Channel Master 1.2m. Inverto quad LNB, Channel Master Feed Horn . Sky HD.plus DRX890 receiver - All BBC Channels working OK. - No loss.
Almeria - 1.2 Channel Master Inverto Premium Black Quad LNB Sky Plus HD receiver. No Reception.
As can be seen from these reports There is clearly variationdependent on locus..
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Ramesh - The Goodmans receiver you've taken out to Malaysia was solely designed to receive and work with "Freesat" here in the UK ( with the exception of some fringe European coverage) and will not give any output in your area. You might have had some success with an FTA generic Satellite receiver dependent on the output format from MEASAT and the receivers build features.
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Lindsay Peach: You require an aerial to watch from a Freeview Receiver, Lindsay.. Your options are to see if the supplier will swop out the box you have purchased for a Freesat recorder or alternatively connect to a tV aerial - you may already have one on your property - otherwise you would have to have one installed. If the latter is the case your best option would be tretrun your present box and go for the Freesat receiver which will work perfectly from your existing dish.
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Monday 7 October 2013 1:10PM
Pete: It seems like (A) the LNB (on the end of the dish boom arm) has failed (B) there's water ingress to the cables where they connect to the LNB or (C) there has been dish movement (doesn't require much at all for the signal to be lost). A fitter/installer with a professional meter would be able to identify this fairly quickly and be able to get you up and running again.