Hi Everyone
Just thought i would let you all know what is happening with the English tv reception for free to air and sky tv.
2E has been delayed due to an explosion the week before at the station where it is to be launched from. From a reception point of view it's a reprieve as nothing is going to happen yet, as a installer it is a nightmare. It is now a tbc launch date. When it is launched it will take 8 weeks to sort out and then i would give it another few weeks to iron out any issues before doing anything. So we can presume nothings going to happen until after xmas unless another launch pulls out. I will keep you updated about this.
The Facts:
2F has been launched and has the channel 5 group, 4 seven, 4hd and some regional itv channels (a channel list for each satellite can be found on Lyngsat.com) on the uk beam which is why some people lost it earlier in the year. This is going to be the footprint of 2E as well so if you can get channel5 without issues you shouldn't need to do anything. I am trialling an 88cm dish at the moment and it is working 95% of the time (there is what we call the wobble* see below). If you don't get channel 5 or it goes off at night you will need to upgrade your dish size when all tests and 2E is finally up. North of the e80 motorway this has been tested so far and i have somebody in Narbonne who is having no issues.
Sky tv is broadcast between various satellites and as far as everyone is aware staying on the pan-european beams so you won't lose the sky channels just free to air. There is rumours 2G next year may be for sky tv.
The Other Issues:
Many forums and articles are scaremongering and saying that there will not be a footprint in the south of France and beyond after the launch of astra 2E. There is nothing to stop the English consortium of channels telling astra to reduce the outer beam more at a later date, however this could bring the risk of issues on the fringes of the UK for licence payers so although possible is unlikely.
The solution is still to sit and wait until the launch of 2E. There are several ways to get English tv: Satellite, An ip hider or VPN to make it look like your in the uk to access English content on a computer although i understand not everybody has internet (holiday homes etc.) and my old poker sites i used now have technology to know if your using an ip hider and block you or Satellite internet which will give you an English ip address if purchased through an installer with uk connections or direct from the supplier.
I will try and update this when i hear any news of launches or changes.
I am looking for people to help test the dish sizes south of the e80 (Lezignan, Lagrasse etc.) i will install the dish for cost price with free labour or just a small charge for diesel if it's over 30km from me for feedback on the performance. You will also be able to keep the kit afterwards. Please message me if you are interested.
I hope the information helps and not being disrespectful would like to keep this blog specifically about this topic.
Many thanks
John
*The Wobble. This occurs due to the fact the satellite moves in orbit and the theory is that upon the farthest point of rotation our signal weakens causing around a week of issues with 2F. This occurs around every 6 weeks at the moment and is why we are testing dish sizes as if we can get past the wobble we know what size to use.
Hi Alan
If it was a cable/connector issue i would have thought there would have been more issues than just itv3. Do you get 1tv3+1? as this is in the same group on the satellite. Also is yours a freesat box or a skybox? if it is a freesat box try re-tuning to start with. Itv3 is still on the old satellite so there should be no reason you don't get it properly. Have you tried her box on your your connection? this may dtermine then if there is an issue with your box.
Many thanks
John
John
I have a technical problem to which you may have an answer.
For months I have had a broken or no signal for ITV3. I have just discovered that my mother-in-law, who has a separate TV, Skye box and cable connected to the same Sat dish as us, has a perfect signal. Is the problem likely to be a cable/connector issue or because she has a different box?
Many thanks: Alan
Hi Stuart have sent you a friend request i supply these many thanks
Just an update that 2E being put into position and will be tested shortly. No date was given for full activation but i will keep an eye out and let you know when i know more
Thanks for the update John. I like the idea of a hardwired VPN box to allow IPTV around the house. Can you point me in the direction this equipment?
Just an update that 2E being put into position and will be tested shortly. No date was given for full activation but i will keep an eye out and let you know when i know more
I am just posting this from my facebook page jb satellites france hope it helps a bit
Hi guys
Update below which is an abstract taken from a reply by ses to one their likers on their facebook page. Good news at last
SES As part of SES' ongoing fleet renewal programme, we will be transferring all the UK Spot Beam transponders currently operating on ASTRA 1N across to ASTRA 2E.
This move at the 28.2/28.5ºEast orbital location will take place over several weeks beginning early February 2014.
The transfer will have no adverse implications for viewers in the UK and Ireland as the affected channels will continue to operate on the same frequencies and will be broadcast at the same, or slightly improved power levels, across the UK and Ireland.
TV viewers outside the UK and Ireland may see an impact and may not be able to receive channels from ASTRA 2E UK Spot Beam, which has a smaller footprint than ASTRA 1N. The new footprint on SES' replacement fleet has been designed to meet the requirements of UK and Irish broadcasters who target their channels for distribution in the UK and/or Ireland. UK and Irish broadcasters hold broadcasting rights only for the UK and/or Ireland but not for other countries.
Until this change i re-iterate not to change your dish unless absolutely neccessary. My 1m dish in the minervois struggled in the very bad weather 2 weeks ago at night although a 1.1m dish i have nearby was fine on all channels. 4hd and 4seven the weaker channels pixelated very badly although channel 5 was fine. Even if a few of the new change over channels are the same or slightly weaker than the 4hd/4seven this would mean a larger dish to ensure continuation of services for those particular channels in heavy cloud and rain or storms. This may not bother some people as it would probably only be 5% of the time where we are on the med side of France.
There has been a few channels added in the last few days. These are bbc hd channels such as bbc3 hd, bbc4 hd. If you are not getting these then just re-scan your box and they should appear.
There is also the vpn/ip hiders so you could watch tv on the laptop. My VPN boxes work giving the whole house an english ip address. With this you can use the on demand functions on an existing sky contract, Use an xbox or gaming console with on demand apps, Activate the on demands functions of a freesat box, make use of all the apps on a smart tv or connect a pc up to the tv. With this option and a good connection speed you wouldn't necessarily need to have a dish as everything would be internet based including being able to subscribe to apps like netflix. These boxes just sit between your existing French contract modem and your equipment and can be hardwired or used wirelessly. You also can still use your French connection. No download limits just your French contract usage.
You would also be able to use the sky now tv box
https://shop.nowtv.com/?DCMP=KNC-Brand-
Thanks John, The guy round here that does the fitting is on his holidays so we've put the small dish back up for now, will get him round when he returns.
Hi Pam
The best thing would be to get a local fitter to come and have a look. If the dish is up it should only be quick job! (most fitters have a 1 hour minimum policy). i'm not near you but if you google there may be somebody over your way. You can buy a satfinder fairly cheap €10-€20 at brico or ebay.fr for a better quality one or to get it done properly shouldn't cost much more. Judging by recent events your 110cm should be more than enough (depending on what they finally decide to do with 2E).
HELP !!
We've bought a new bigger dish, 110cms and my oh has put it up, we've got it pointing more or less where the old one was but are not getting any signal at all however much we wiggle it around.
Does anyone have any pointers?
Hi Everyone
Sorry not posted but some of you may have seen that 2E has finally been launched. I was waiting until it was up there without any issues. Timing will mean that transmissions will change between mid-end November (could be before by a small miracle). When things change if you receive channel 5/4seven now you should be ok. If you get some pixelation at any time during the day (not during bad weather), they go off or you don't receive them you will need to update the size of your dish. Sizes are still being trialled so info is scarce as it varies quite a lot between small distances i.e friend has a 1.1 at Preixan and i have a trial 1.1 at St Hilaire (same dish). St Hilaire still drops out occasionally at the moment so a 1.2 is more than likely going to be needed. I will be trialling a 1m in Azille 11700 for now as my 88cm is ok but i want to ensure no drop outs. DON'T panic when the change over happens if you lose all your channels as fitters will need to test the new reception for a few days to ensure stability.
Hope the info helps please message me if you need anything.
John
Hi Stuart
Looking at the signal levels for the last 6-8 weeks they have been very settled. A 100cm near Bordeaux should be more than sufficient due to the fact we are using a 88cm with good results although i will need to go bigger (no more than 100cm) at some stage for a more settled signal in bad weather. Some fitters will not fit anything they don't supply although there should be a few in your area. Just try googling - satellite fitter - and your home town. 2E still has no launch date although rumours are end of September i am taking them with a pinch of salt. I will as soon as i know post the launch date.
Good luck
John
Hello John et al. Thanks for this very interesting post. I live very close to Bordeaux and own a 100cm dish, Freesat box (unopened from Maplin!) and I have a house. Until now I survived on 'internet telly' but now want to install the Freesat system. 2 things, 1) Do you think I will able to get a signal? and 2) does anyone know a friendly installer around Bordeaux? Thanks for any help that anyone can give me..
Hi Neil
How are you getting on this week with the 5's etc as there has been a bit of a wobble.
Many thanks
With the comments here and my own experience with two 9 year old Nokia boxes, one by a company called Boston, six years old, all bought in France and the Manhattan pvr from the UK, I think the age of the equipment has a lot to do with it. To reiterate, I had lost all the four's and five's on the first two boxes but the new pvr found all the Freesat channels in a minute. The other two boxes still can't receive all the channels even though they are all connected to the same dish.
Apologies. I’m afraid I don’t understand any of this. A bloke came for KENY, put up an aerial, and attached a box to a free serve TV I’d bought in the UK. We live in a village just outside Beziers. Everything seemed to work and we have more than enough Channels, including some that children should not see. Should I worry about this issue, or is it just a nerdy problem?
Thanks John,
Our main problem is ITV3, we have a SEDEA freesat box.I will try a new installation.
Hi Guys thank you for the great response. Carolyn if you could pm your address i will have a look how far it is as i normally travel up to 2 hours away. Steve i don't think it will be this side of xmas before the changes so it would be great to look when your here pm me. Sara i would wait until they know in your area the dish size (see Neils posts) i'm not sure if it's too far out for me but i would guess everybody over htere is looking at changing to around a metre eventually (maybe up to 1.2). Caroline any information on strengths loss of signal is much appreciated thanks. Alan France 24 is on the new satellite 2f already so may be the reason however you are on the border for the Main English beam so if you have a 60cm you may need to change to an 80cm although if you have no problems with channel 5 or 4seven which are the weaker signals it may not be an issue. Itv3 shouldn't be an issue. If you have a freesat box try a new installation as i know some transponders have changed recently.
We lve in the Gironde, near La Reole. We have a problem with wobble on ITV3. We only get it on sunny days. Impossible in winter. We have recently lost France 24. The latter is OK on our french box. Would a bigger dish help?