UK freeview - outside of UK

[Mew]

gig

As well as a large dish I think I may have read on another forum (I can't remember which but I think I was looking at tips for dish installation) that there are issues as you get to the limits of reception. I think it is harder to receive channels on certain transponders on the satellite. Unfortunately I can't remember if it is vertical or horizontal but BBC channels may be on the more difficult ones.

Mew

[gig]

Mew.

Thanks for the input.

Certainly I will research that topic a little further, before I will buy anything, although if you happened to remember where have you read that info, let me know please.


You mentioned before that in order to use the FreeFromSky card I will need the SkyBox, will this card not work with any satellite receiver equipped with the CLI slot?


Regards
gig

[Mew]

Hi gig

Just to qualify my advice I must say I do not have Sky (and never have had), just Free To Air satellite from Astra 2 and Eurobird 1. The information I have is just what I have picked up from researching on the internet for my own HTPC setup.
I can’t remember on which forum I saw the information regarding reception. A Google on UK Sky abroad may help you. While I was Googling I came across a forum that may help answer some of your questions. It is http://astra2d.proboards31.com/index.cgi#Country.

I don’t think Sky cards (including the Freesat from Sky card) work in standard satellite receivers. Sky uses VideoGuard encryption and the decoders are not available apart from in Sky Digiboxes. The Sky digiboxes also have the OpenTV operating system software that allows the interactive “Red Button” services such as BBCi to be used. I think that cards for subscription packages are matched to the digibox they are to be used in but I don’t think this is the case for the Freesat From Sky ones.

If any Sky cards are used outside the Sky digibox (as I believe there is/was a way they can be made to work on MCE with the right hardware) I think they have to be put back in the Sky digibox every few weeks to prevent them deactivating.

Hope this helps

Mew

[gig]

Hi Mew,

your input was very helpful!.

Googling out “UK Sky abroad” gives me few nice pages where on of which is a provider of unsubsidised sky boxes as well as the freeskycard if needed.

http://www.satelliteonline.co.uk/sky_abroad.htm

Found also some information of people who receiving successfully UK tv in Poland. One guy is using 1,8m dish in North Poland where other guy in south Poland uses 3m dish and have no problem whatsoever with the quality of the stream, even whilst bad weather.

Originally Posted by Mew

If any Sky cards are used outside the Sky digibox (as I believe there is/was a way they can be made to work on MCE with the right hardware) I think they have to be put back in the Sky digibox every few weeks to prevent them deactivating.

I do not intend to use the card outside of the box, since I think I will go for the unsubsidised box, although as a matter of interest, how can sky deactivate the card if used outside of the box. Does satellite dish allows sending signals out?



thanks
gig

[Paranoid Delusion]

how can sky deactivate the card if used outside of the box. Does satellite dish allows sending signals out?

Sky broadband may explain your answer

[Mew]

Hi gig

From what I've read, the keep alive signal is transmitted by Sky but only the digibox can use it to refresh the card and keep it activated. I would guess that Sky use the same signal to downgrade a card to a Freesat From Sky one if you cancel your Sky subscription.

For most of the deals with Sky you have to have a phone line connected for the first year or so but I think this is used to gather viewing statistics and for interactive services. After the contract period has elapsed this can be removed and this does not affect the ability of Sky to upgrade or downgrade cards.

Mew

[gig]

Hi Mew

Keep alive heart beat satellite signals, that explains everything

Thank you
gig



@PD

As far as I know Sky broadband either works over BT line, or over aerial tv line as Telewest broadband, but for sure is not transmitted over satellite.



cheers
gig

[Paranoid Delusion]

As far as I know Sky broadband either works over BT line, or over aerial tv line as Telewest broadband, but for sure is not transmitted over satellite.

Sorry should have said "Trials" for sky broadband did go originally by satellite, but the upload speeds were so bad it was canned.

But it still applies a sky box can transmit as well as receive, what uses Sky actually do with any received information is unknown, but you can bet it is used.

[DJBlu]

Originally Posted by Paranoid Delusion

Sorry should have said "Trials" for sky broadband did go originally by satellite, but the upload speeds were so bad it was canned.

But it still applies a sky box can transmit as well as receive, what uses Sky actually do with any received information is unknown, but you can bet it is used.

The only transmitting they can do is via a phone line not through the satellite.

[Paranoid Delusion]

DJBlu

Do a search on "satellite internet" and you will find 2 way receive\transmit is possible, as i said many companies tested this including Sky, but decided it was more convenient to use the phone line route instead because of having to use larger dishes and still very small data uploads received slowing everything down.

Regards