ASTRA 2F Satellite

[EMM]

This is one for the techies ( not those who want to sell us a new dish ).

I have been reading reports that test signals from the new sat which will come on line next year are such that we will could see a significant degradation in the UK channels we currently receive.
Most suggest that a bigger dish will be required ( usually posted by sat installers ).
Has anyone re tuned to the new Astra sat and what were the test results??

[Polli62]

EMM here's a link to another expats forum where it is being discussed, with other links to info.http://www.expatfocus.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=35816/ I have found since it temporarily changed over to Astra 1N satellite we have had a brill reception on BBC ITV with no break up even in the evening, but how long that will last is another thing when they change to the 2F Satellite. Who knows we will just have to wait and see, saying minimum dish size for reception will be 1.4 or larger for a decent signal.

[EMM]

I have been looking at www.A516digital.com.
Maps on this and comment puts the Algarve and much of Spain well oustide the 1.4mtr dish size range.
Hence my question has anyone actually tried to retune to the new sat and what were the results ??

[joeysoap]

We were out in October and I thought it was possibly the best reception that we received, no drop outs at all.
Not the end of the world if the 'footprint' doesn't reach Portugal but very disappointing. Do the companies who spend millions in advertising have any say on this footprint as their 'audience' will be greatly reduced?

[EMM]

The improved reception of recent months is due to the signal coming from a different satellite while the new one is being configured.
International treaties cover the official broadcast reception areas for the UK and as such BBC, ITV Sky etc have no say in its peripheral reception in the rest of Europe.

[Polli62]

EMM what size of dish do you think is going to get decent reception from the Astra 2F? I know of a couple of friends who have changed to 1.8 dishes already.

[joeysoap]

The improved reception of recent months is due to the signal coming from a different satellite while the new one is being configured.
International treaties cover the official broadcast reception areas for the UK and as such BBC, ITV Sky etc have no say in its peripheral reception in the rest of Europe.

Thanks for reply EMM. When is the new 2F signal going to be the 'only' signal?
will it possibly mean no reception at all in the Algarve ?
finally if there is any reception at all how do you re-tune to it? I assume you do not have to realign the actual dish? (lot of silly questions but I am definitely not a techie )

[EMM]

Good questions and apart from some of those who want to sell us larger dishes there is little information available.
What about all the bars showing sports, what will they do ??

[maccasa]

I understand from the press releases that the NEW Astra 2F satellite is the upgrade and replacement for the old 1N, 2A, 2B, 2D satellites, that have been there since ~ 1998. It was launched in Sept and is on the same orbit 28.2 East. Therefore there should certainly not be any dish repositioning required. I assume that the satellite or freesat receivers will just need to be "re-searched" for the new frequencies (if there are any).

see http://en.kingofsat.net/pos-28.2E.php which gives all listings for the various astra satellites on 28.2 East, but has not bee updated for 2F yet

[EMM]

The question I hope to get an answer for is will we in the Algarve still be able to receive the same quality of signal ( Freesat ) as the " broadcast envelope " for the new sat is smaller than the old.
We will just have to wait and see ??

[RichardHenshall]

From what I've read about this the transition from Astra 1N to Astra 2F is likely to be seamless (with no re-tuning etc) if it is still possible to receive a signal at all. Early forecasts suggest that the Freesat channels may well be lost completely in the Algarve without substantial upgrades to dish sizes but that subscription-only channels from Sky etc. may be largely unaffected.

However, it's all speculation. We'll find out soon enough.

[joeysoap]

........ Freesat channels may well be lost completely in the Algarve without substantial upgrades to dish sizes but that subscription-only channels from Sky etc. may be largely unaffected.

Bigger dish maybe, but can't see how paying a subscription is going to make any difference.

[RichardHenshall]

........ Freesat channels may well be lost completely in the Algarve without substantial upgrades to dish sizes but that subscription-only channels from Sky etc. may be largely unaffected.

Bigger dish maybe, but can't see how paying a subscription is going to make any difference.

The Freesat channels have, up till now, been broadcast in the clear on the UK (& Ireland!) spotbeam where the subscription-only channels have been encrypted and broadcast on the pan-european wider beam and are therefore easier to receive further away from the UK & Ireland.

[EMM]

Could be no Doctor Who etc over Christmas, the good news No Strictly either

[joeysoap]

........ Freesat channels may well be lost completely in the Algarve without substantial upgrades to dish sizes but that subscription-only channels from Sky etc. may be largely unaffected.

Bigger dish maybe, but can't see how paying a subscription is going to make any difference.

The Freesat channels have, up till now, been broadcast in the clear on the UK (& Ireland!) spotbeam where the subscription-only channels have been encrypted and broadcast on the pan-european wider beam and are therefore easier to receive further away from the UK & Ireland.

Thanks RH. Understand now. So if you had minimum subs at home (UK & Ire) could you take your card with you and just instert it into the sky box and will it work? ( my sky box in Algarve is bog standard amstrad, but does the job)