Astra 2 F change over tests

General concensus appears to be the test frequency of  Astra 2 F is on 11023 H 23000. Currently showing BBC1 HD

In order to test to see if you can receive this, you need a free to air HD receiver (not Sky box).

Presently we have the following reports: This is based on individual satellite users feedback 

Torrevieja 1.10 - 1.4

 Hi we are 25km north of Granada city centre and have a 1.2 mtr dish and receiving a great signal through our Humax freesat box

Hi i have been waiting for this new satalite i have a house in quesada near torrevieja and from what i am hearing from the sat pc guys  web site. very helpfull.

  we will be able to recieve uk channels just not sure what size dish, 1.25m or bigger?

anyone in torrevieja if they can confirm what dish is best thanks.

Hi we are 25km north of Granada city centre and have a 1.2 mtr dish and receiving a great signal through our Humax freesat box

Is this on the posted test frequency of 11023 H 23000? This is the only frequency that has moved, so if you are looking at any other frequency or channels not on this frequency, then you will not notice any difference as no other frequencies or channels are currently on the new satellite! I am assuming you are not using the posted frequency, as your 1.2m dish will be the only report of obtaining that signal on that size dish in that area - there are various reception reports for Granada where 1.5m dishes are unable to receive this single 2F test frequency.

Valencia 2.40 (belive we can get in Valencia with a much smaller dish)
2.4m is way overkill. And getting it fine and stable on my 80cm dish (although "Dave" does not believe me !). 1m are also fine in most of the CB Northern area.

Hi i have been waiting for this new satalite i have a house in quesada near torrevieja and from what i am hearing from the sat pc guys web site. very helpfull.

Cheers. Appreciated. Have been collecting Spain only reception reports and posting them on my site. http://www.satandpcguy.com/Site/astra_2f_satellite_reception_footprint_uk_tv_spain.php

This message was last edited by televisiontechnology on 27/11/2012.

Not much difference in costs between a 1.25 & 1.3 - 1.4 offset, so would always go for the most affordable, largest option. Retail / installation wise the difference between a 1.10 & 1.35 is €80 so not too bad.

Where the cost of the dishes does increase considerably when you step up to a 'prime focus' model - usually a 1.45 or 1.86 as you have correctly stated these are considerably more expensive.  If the 11023 test signal is representative, then a cheaper slightly smaller offset model should be sufficient.

 Any suggestions please?

I have a holiday apartmend near barcelona.  i want to rent it out to holiday makers and want to include internet and uktv available to them.  

I already have internet but no dish yet.  I have heard so many different things that I dont know what to do anymore.  I was told that I would need a 1.8m dish and they want to charge me over 2.500€ which I think crazy.

At the moment, i am testing this iptv service dtmedia.tv and still on the free trial.  works great on even 3mb, but the trial is over in 2 days.  I need to decide if i should spend the bucks on the sat dish installation, will it work and is it worth it.

Also, does anyone know if there are any DVR's that will let me record about 10 channels at a time so I can also have a week or two worth of Catchup?

thanks in advance for any advice.

€2500 for a 1.8 metre dish is way off base. We would install (unfortunately we do not cover your location) €699.00 perhaps a little more if an apartment block requires extra labour / cable between floors, etc.   So certainly would not use this company.

I'd sit tight & wait until the final change over is complete from Astra 1N to Astra 2F, likely to be a week.  We should then know what size dish you need & related costs, it may be less than you think - for example if a 1.35 dish, around €300 installed,  

Key point, no monthly subscriptions - which do add up.

 Hi, thanks for your fast reply.

I am glad you mention that the quoted price is too high.  I think i will do what you suggest and wait untill everything falls into place.  It is a shame you do not cover my location as I find your price to be appropriate!

Ok, in the meantime, I think i will continue with dtmedia.tv which again leads to the DVR question.  These people somehow offer 14 day catchup and to be honest is quite clever..  The question is, would I be able to record 10 channels simultaneously with some kind of DVR with a large hard disk connected to my Sat receiver??  I mean, how could a home digital video recorder do this?  as far as i know i dont think they can.  This is definitely a feature i would miss because they have full 2 weeks worth of content available.  As I travel frequently, there is always something i have missed.  Apparently in the canaries, something silly like 6m is required so everyone is getting the dtmedia system.  I think you need a roof large enough to land a helicopter to have a 6m dish!

PLease keep me posted once there is a definitive answer to the dish requirements! Also any idea who I could contact in my area if i wanted to get a dish installed?

Thanks again

You don't need 6 metre dish in the Canaries - with a little know how, combined pointing to a different satellite you can get BBC 1 HD, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, CBBC, Cbeebies, ITV1 HD & channel 4HD off a 1 metre dish in this location, this may also prove to be an option for you in Barcelona, if you find ultimately you do need a big or expensive dish.

In terms of satellite receivers that do record, there are various options - the best program guide types are Sky+ & Freesat twin tuner model (different ones available) both have twin tuners, in built hard drives, 7 day program guide, series link etc.  These will however only work with the Astra 28.2 & not suitable if you choose to go the Intelsat route above, so again would wait & see the outcome of changes as this could also affect receiver used.  

There other free to air receivers which are available that also have twin or even triple tuners, which you can add in a hard drive of any size. So whilst you cannot record 10 programs at the same time (a little overkill perhaps?) you can record 2 or 3 simultaneously.

In terms of recommending someone local to you, sorry don't know of any installing companies, but would happily take the same€2500 off you for a 1.8 metre install, which would pay for my weekend break in Barcelona & accomation for the engineers too 

We have a facebook page where we usually update reception & general TV related information on a daily basis, if you hit the 'like' button & are a facebook member, any information changes to satellite reception or related technologies you will automatically see when you log into fb / see your news feed.  

 www.facebook.com/televisiontechnology

 Thanks again for a fast and detailed response.

Like you say, probably best to wait a bit and in the meantime, i think im going to register for the dtmedia.tv subscription which i can cancel any time and still have my uktv.  Once everything is clear, i will evaluate the costs to get the similar kind of features using sat, but from what you say, it already sounds like its gonna get more expensive if i want to try to have catchup and the rest of the features.  Coming to think of it, my terrace is not huge.  The community will not let me put a dish anywere other than my terrace, so may stick with this iptv service as there is nothing else i need to install.

I was ok using it with my ipad or on the pc, but really want to have it working on my tv.  I looked into it and they have a STB they call the dt media BOX , so i might give it a go. (only risking 150€) . it says in just needs to be connected to the broadband router and with HDMI into the TV.

If all this fails, i will share my experience with you and get the dish sorted.

Thanks for your offer to do it for 2500...howabout 699€ and a weedend stay at the apartment instead?? lol.

cheers again.

Woody

I agree that you should try DTMedia. I used the company some years ago and gave them up then only because they couldn't offer TV (we went with Telefonica Trio). Recently, becoming extremely bored with the constant yank trash served up as "entertainment",  we have returned to DT for the good old BBC etc and after some teething problems (they were in Beta mode at the time) things have now settled down and we find ourselves well satisfied. Their support is quick and good too.

 Hi Marcbernard,

Thanks for sharing your opinion with me, i think i will do as you say for now.  Soon we will all know what the score is going to be and for now this is the only decent alternative that makes sense for me anyway.  I will need to subscribe to the system today for it to continue working but they want 9,99€/month for it.... are you also paying this or do you get it for free?

Back to Astra 2F, I have heard that there are some problems with either the strength of the signal or the focus area for the north of UK, so may take a little longer to sort out.  

FYI @televisiontechnology...  I read that the person who reported they could pick up the signal in barcelona with a 80cm dish, ended up admitting that they made a mistake as they were picking up something else....so again, will need to wait for more confirmed reports.

Woody

I have sent you a PM

Some frequencies carrying a number of channels (eg 4seven, c4hd, fives, a few itv1 regions) have moved to 2F - they moved early yesterday morning.