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Can anybody advise me on what TV systems they use in El Trampolin ie: Digital or Free to air systems.

Hi Cormona.  As a general rule, there are two types of British satellite TV links in this area.  One uses a mesh dish on your chimney - the dish being about 18 ins square and provides all the normal Sky programmes and some Movie Channels (but not Sky Movies) and all Sky Sports Channels including Setanta.  The last time I checked the installation fee was €590 and the monthly rental is still €19 per month.  Just lately we have all received some software upgrades and the signal is now stable and good quality.  If you look around the Trampoline site and, to be fair, anywhere in Spain you will see the mesh aerials on the majority of British Houses

The other option is obtain a Sky box in England and have a dish erected that will pick up the Sky signal - the disadvantage is that the dish has to be rather large to pick up the Sky signal - I believe 2.9mtrs is the norm.  Prices vary depending on what type of programmes you are getting and what type of Viewing Card you are getting.

If you really want to be adventurous, you can also get the Spanish Digital TV satellite connection but obviously the majority of programmes are in Spanish

Hi

About the TV systems.

We have a 1.9m dish on phase 1 and it picks up most Sky programmes.  You can buy a digibox (for £99) in the UK and take it over. Price includes a free to view card. This gets you the same channels as the current 'freeview' systems in the UK.

We paid 690 Euros to have the 1.9 dish supplied and installed using our own digibox. So total cost was about £600. We preferred this system because once you have bought your equipment there are no further monthly costs. However, with the frreview card, you dont get the premium movie channels or sports channels. But for a holiday home, its OK for us.

The dish doesnt look too big and ours is tucked aroung the back of the house. I'll put a photo on the forum.

I think the other system (the small mesh system) is good but remember you are at the mercy of the supplier (as the sat signal is being relayed from a main site under their control) and in the past, some have gone out of business, leaving customers out of pocket. Most of them now do a 'holiday package' where you pay only for the months you are in Spain. The monthly fee tends to be higher (I think it was 25 Euros per month and you have to prepay in advance)

I suppose it depends on how you are going to use your home as to which system suits you best.

Regards

Jo

Have a look at this site  http://www.fortunasat.com/2401.html for a picture of a 1.9 m dish and a list if channels you can get with a free to air card. Under installs and packages on the menu.

 Also, try http://www.britsat.tv/. for more information