UK Freesat (1 Viewer)

[prupert]

Thanks for the info, I guess we are all waiting patiently so we can finally record all of Home and Away.

MP automatically creates an All Channels group, so I guess I will re-arrange that as necessary. I also created a freesat group, but I cant find out how to switch to that group within MP. I found a Channel Sorting option in the settings page within the MP GUI itself, but even though I select the freesat group, it seems to have no effect...

 

[khemical]

I also created a freesat group, but I cant find out how to switch to that group within MP.

Once in the guide screen in MP a right mouse button click on a programme (or press of the info button on a media remote when a programme is highlighted) should bring up a menu. The 4th option on that menu should allow you to switch between TV groups.

Just noticed that you can also change between TV groups from the main TV screen in MP by selecting the Channel button and choosing the group at the top of the On Now window.

 

[drunkmonkey0]

What channels are actually available on FreeSat?

is it the same thats already on the BBC free to air digital service?

 

[prupert]

Aha, here is where some confusion lies. There are two freesats I believe. The one that has been availble for years through Sky, and that requires you to buy a £20 card to access. The other is the recently launched freesat from the BBC and ITV that currently offers all BBC, ITV and Channel 4 (except Ch4+1 and Ch4 HD). I am talking about the BBC ITV freesat in my posts, and the only channels you can get are the ones listed (so all BBC, all ITV and all Channel 4 except Channel 4+1 and Channel 4 HD).

 

[Mew]

Freesat From Sky has been available for a number of years and provided the BBC / ITV digital channels (excluding BBC HD), which were already Free to Air, and Channel 4 and five using a Free To View Card (I think you had to subscribe to a Sky package to get More 4 and E4) along with some other FTA channels. Because Channel 4 and five (and five US and five Live) were encrypted you could only use a Sky STB to view them. The BBC and ITV channels (and about another 350 FTA channels) could be viewed on any satellite box or PC DVB-S card but only a now and next EPG was transmitted which was not much good for a PVR. BBC HD could be received on any suitable FTA satellite box or DVB-S card since it was launched in May 2006.

When the BBC / ITV Freesat launched (I believe the BBC actually hold the right to use the Freesat brand) a number of changes occurred:

• Channel 4 (and More 4 and E4) went Free To Air
• ITV HD launched
• A 7 day EPG was transmitted for about 80 of the 350 FTA channels
• Free To Air satellite started to be marketed (as understandably Sky have not been keen to promote theirs)

From a UK user using DVB-S on MediaPortal I would guess the main change has been Channel 4 and Linked Channels (excluding Film 4 and Film 4+1 which have been FTA for some time) going FTA.

I have heard that ITV HD is transmitted as a H.222 data stream which is not viewable at the moment in MediaPortal. I have not heard reports yet whether the Freesat EPG can be used by MediaPortal.

Mew

 

[mortstar]

Those who can receive UK Satellite on Astra 28.2, this post might be quite interesting, especially if you like sport
shhhhhh don't tell anyone!

12110 H 27500 2/3. nudge nudge, wink wink

 

[allanp81]

I saw that but couldn't get them to work, anyone had any luck?

 

[gloomyandy]

I did try, but got rather confused about which of the numbers matched which setting in the DVB-S tab. If anyone has got this working could they post the full set of settings?

Thanks

Andy

 

[mortstar]

I did try, but got rather confused about which of the numbers matched which setting in the DVB-S tab. If anyone has got this working could they post the full set of settings?

Thanks

Andy

I have it working

There are loads of Sky Sports, but the ones which work are on 12110 (There are 3x Sky Sports 1, 3x Sky Sports 3, 1x Sky Sports 2, 1x Sky Bet Live and 1x FX Channel at this location). They are still flagged as encrypted, but if you try to preview them you should be able to watch them. I still could last night.

If you do a full scan, like I did, it throws up a hell-of-a-lot of channels and this range is towards the bottom of the list. I then just created a 'Freesat' group with all the channels that are available.

 

[allanp81]

So they only work by clicking preview? Or can you watch them properly using a client?