UK Freesat

[SpudR]

I got giddy and bought one this lunchtime!

At least in the short term it's gonna pick everything up and in the future if they do move to DVB-S2 signals, I'll upgrade.

...the curse of the technophile!!!

Ok - you are officially mental

Any Black Golders had a play yet??

[Mew]

Hi

Originally Posted by gamejester

When people say 'channel 4 has moved over.....' I do not belive there is an actual satellite for freesat, it is just an agreement (or service) that has been set up with Astra by BBC and ITV; Astra have no new satellite, they are still being beemed from Astra2D.

I believe when people say Channel 4 has moved over they were talking about its move from Astra 2A to Astra 2D. Astra 2D has a tighter, more UK focused beam (although it can be received elsewhere). When channels have changed to go Free To Air they have tended to move from one of the other Astra 2s to 2D.

You are right that Freesat is just a brand and an EPG for channels that are Free To Air on Astra 2 and Eurobird 1 satellites. Most of these such as BBC and ITV have been Free To Air with a now and next EPG for a number of years but this was not advertised.

Mew

[Nemulate]

It's a shame there aren't more UK developers in MP. Would be nice if we could use the freesat epg same as freeview epg! Still nice to have lots more 'free' channels in MP now Hopefully C5 and the other 5 channels later this year

[gamejester]

I believe when people say Channel 4 has moved over they were talking about its move from Astra 2A to Astra 2D

but it was only C4 that was on Astra 2A right? all their other channels where on 2D anyway, but encrypted; the big difference now is that they are not.

C5, well you could always get that from Astra 2B anyway unencrypted, will check their other channels it a bit to see if they are also now un-encrypted.

EPG - not having used a DVB-S card (all DVD-T at the moment but new house, poor reception and HD is focing me towards DVB-S). Can MP not pick up the sky EPG at the moment (it contains the same show listings)?
What is the issue about picking up the Freesat one from Eurobird? Is it just a question of working out how to read it? (sorry for my ignorance but I am a noob in DVB-S)

[TritonT]

Five is encrypted on Astra 2B and will probably stay encrypted till the Autumn.

I don't think there are not enough of us using MediaPortal to view Sky to try reverse engineering the EPG.

Now and Next is available for most free channels on Astra2/Eurobird already. Support for the Freesat EPG should definitely be possible, lots of chat and info on Digital Spy and AV Forums already.

[Mew]

gamejester

Originally Posted by gamejester

but it was only C4 that was on Astra 2A right? all their other channels where on 2D anyway, but encrypted; the big difference now is that they are not.

The other channels are mostly on Astra 2D (although there are a few on 2A) and they were not encrypted before the Freesat launch. Only Channel 4 (and E4 and More 4) were encrypted and are now Free To Air. BBC channels have been Free To Air since 2003 and the ITV channels since 2005. I think that BBC and ITV may have moved to Astra 2D when they became Free To Air.

I think the launch is very good news as it publicizes that there is free satellite television in the UK. I think that long term, due to the the limited bandwidth and coverage of Freeview, that Freesat is the way forward for digital TV in the UK.

Mew

[SpudR]

Freeview seems to be rubbish - I can't officially get it here until AFTER we all go digital!

[Paranoid Delusion]

2012 does seem a long way away.

sidenote, bummer if you live in the shadow of snowdon or ben nevis, need a bloody long cable to reach the dish on the top for sat

never think there will be 100% coverage of the uk, unless it can go through mountains, has enough trouble passing leaves on trees.

[deekarma]

Anyone interested in Black Gold, you should read this thread from avforums and consider your options:

AV Forums BGT

I just traded mine for a Pinnacle 7010 25% of the price, and reliable. Note Black Gold card DOES NOT offer DVB-S2 support. Snake oil.

Has evryone got Ch4 ok since freesat launch? I can't find it, but am picking up More 4 and E4 no probs...?

[deekarma]

Channel 4 is showing on Freq 10729 Vertical 22000 5/6 - Channel ID shows as 8350