All posts by George Buchanan
Below are all of George Buchanan's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
NottsUK: Interesting... My receiver isn't Freesat but what seems to be loosely called 'generic satellite' (Fortec Star). Are we perhaps now seeing Freesat channels being limited to Freesat branded receivers? That's a first (amd a restrictive one) because I can get every other free channel on Astra/Eurobird that's available to Freesat boxes. What of David (above) and the fact that his Freesat TV gets nothing on C4 HD? very mysterious...
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This is what the specification states:
MPEG AVC/H.264 HP@L4
I'd have to ask Fortec Star about this AVC version 2. Surely not only the Fortec Star boxes will be affected? Or is this just a way of disabling these boxes? Again, it's back to C4 choosing a fussy delivery method regardless of who loses out.
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I've already done it. I hope it can be done and soon. There are surely others out there experiencing the same problem. My previous experience with Fortec Star is actually good. They responded quickly and sorted out my problem. If C4 hasve gone down this route, others may follow.
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NottsUK: Oh, and thanks very much for your help on this - and also to everyone else for their valued input.
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Well, many people are going to be unhappy at finding their equipment is obsolete. Quite why C4 would choose to alienate viewers and prevent them watching C4 HD is beyond me. The stuttering picture makes it quite unwatchable. I wonder if they realised this would affect some equipment and just shrugged their shoulders while muttering "tough...", or if they just didn't think it out properly. I await a reply from Fortec Star with great interest.
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Speedy response from Fortec Star saying they acknowledge the problem and are working to rectify it. A fix will be avilable in the next firmware update, they say. If they can fix it, at least the boves won't be obsolete.
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If I get it in the Highlands, it will surely be available in Ardrossan. I don't use a Freesat box now but when I did there was an option to get non-Freesat channels. That would get you the ITV programmes that STV don't show.
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Any reports out there of BBCs HD channels on satellite being off air? I'm getting nothing on either channel today but the ITV HD channels are ok, as are the BBC SD channels.
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Terrific - can't get C4 HD and now no BBC HD either! Been waiting since April for fortec star to produce an update for my Passion+ box. They tell me to be patient... Are there any more standards out there waiting to be introduced that will render boxes useless? Are ITV planning the same?
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Sunday 3 April 2011 5:25PM
NottsUK: Yes, time will tell, I suppose, if my experience is fairly isolated or widespread. Right now, I'm not willing to pay to have the dish checked just for one channel, most of which is not HD anyway. I might try phoning the installers but I'm not optimistic as those who deal with the calls have no idea about the technicalities of this and they are encouraged to bounce as many calls as possible. Oh well...