Astra 2F - change over from 1N - Initial transponder list

Initial transponder change overs listed below for Tuesday the 4th of December. This was posted on Astras Facebook page.


10.964 H SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (CH5/5USA/5*/Channel 5+1),

10.994 H SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (ITV 1 Granada HD/ITV 1 Central South West SD/ITV 1 Anglia West SD/ITV 1 Meridian North SD/ITV 1 Yorkshire East SD/ITV 1+1 Yorkshire SD),

11.052 H SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (ITV 1 Central South SD/ITV 1 Central East SD/ITV 1+1 Wales SD/ITV 1+1 Westcountry SD/ITV 1+1 Tyne Tees SD)

11.126 V SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (Channel 4 HD/4Seven SD)

 Based on so far.......locally (and emails / facebook posts from community members)


1.00 metre dishes - some have issues 5's (10964 H) right on the edge. Some will get these & some will not on this size dish, we can just get on a high end Technomate receiver, but seen the pixellate on a low end one (9 a.m)

Below 1 metre dish, location Almoradi
10994 H ITV 1 (Anglia w example) no reception.
11052 H ITV 1 (Central, 1+1) o.k
11126 V 4HD / 4seven, no reception (but usual SD 4 & 4+1 etc all o.k)

Dishes above this size, most locally have reported 1.4's / 1.8 /1.9 all so far reported as o.k.


Based on what we have seen this morning (signal may move a little throughout the day / evening) - it seems to be a minor loss, with other ITV1's & 4's still available on 1 metres, though I would be surprised if we do not get the odd call for channel 5.


There are further changes due, but at the moment very unclear - it does seem the spot beam is weaker than previously, but not massively so. Presently we are awaiting to find out if there will be any other movements from 1N to 2F or if they are waiting for another satellite launch, such as 2E (Q2 2013) or even 2G (Q1 - 2014). However as it stands presently it is looking considerably better than the footprint predicted (as I stated previously -the footprint maps are ALWAYS wrong, when it comes to fringe reception).

If you have any reception problems, please post up either here / email or post on our Facebook page below - helps us build a map of how dishes perform in different areas, there may be differences (some areas have further issues with microwave or localised interference).

It does initially appear that the further down the coast you are the weaker the signal is - lots of people struggling around Malaga, also report just in from Vera Playa (Almeria - coastal), 1.4 behaving like the 1 metre dish is here locally.

 I've lost all the 5's, thats all so far. I am in Sevilla province

 Same here, lost Ch 5, 4Seven, 5 USA and 5*. We are in Calahonda (Mijas). Hopefully we can get them back later.

I've still got everything in Lorca, Murcia. 1,2m channelmaster dish, Amiko quad Lnb with an Amiko Alien box .

Looks like a 1.2-1.4 in Murcia / Los Alcazares is suitable for the 2F spot beam. Does look like those that have smaller dishes such as a 1 metre now may struggle in this location (on the changed 2F frequencies)

cbrammeld - You will have got the 5's before on 1N, this may not be the case now. We are approx 100km's from you and struggling with the 5's, on the edge of reception, on what we have seen so far the signal is marginally stronger in our location than yours, please let us know how you get on upon your return.

sean96c - You should not be having any problems, sounds like you need to rescan your satellite receiver. Channel 5's are on 10964 H 22000 (FEC if required Sky box only 5/6) - on a 1.8 / 1.9 should be receivable with stability, if not could point to something else, possibly dish may be out of alignment?  You could also put your head around the back of the feedhorn & using a vanity mirror (or similar) there is a little hole around about an inch or so across - make sure an instect or spider has not set up residence. Careful to not damage small pins on the inside of the LNB.

Jack5340 -Sorry not such good news. Appears your area is far worse affected than Costa Blanca & Calida. We have reports of no signal on dishes of near 2 metres in Malaga (was 1.2) same near Seville, Fuengirola too. Chances are they are not coming back anytime soon. Still awaiting further feedback on Costa del Sol in general, though presently does not look great.

The BBC's have not changed as yet only the ones listed below: Any more changes we'll post up here and on our fascebook page feed.

10.964 H SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (CH5/5USA/5*/Channel 5+1),

10.994 H SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (ITV 1 Granada HD/ITV 1 Central South West SD/ITV 1 Anglia West SD/ITV 1 Meridian North SD/ITV 1 Yorkshire East SD/ITV 1+1 Yorkshire SD),

11.052 H SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (ITV 1 Central South SD/ITV 1 Central East SD/ITV 1+1 Wales SD/ITV 1+1 Westcountry SD/ITV 1+1 Tyne Tees SD)

11.126 V SR 22.000 FEC 5/6 (Channel 4 HD/4Seven SD)

  televisiontechnology,

Thanks for the info. We have a 1.4metre dish, so I take it that even if I get a bigger dish it won't make any difference?

My wife was also told that on the 16th  Dec there will be even more changes and quite a few of the channels that we are still receiveing will be lost. Do you have any info on this?

Thanks,

Jack

 Hi Jack,

Believe the statement made to your wife regarding further changes is incorrect. The general rule of thumb is Astra 'lock down' anty changes 3 weeks prior to xmas, as they last thing the do not want is problems with transmissions during this period. Additionally having review all of Astras press releases website & facebook pages, there is no mention of this date any where.

The bad news seems to be in Calahonda people appear to be getting no signal on dishes over 2 metres (please correct me if someone knows differently - this is what we are getting from early reports).

This does in all likelyhood mean when the other channels change over, which could either be sometime in January, or this is still possibility of Astra waiting until 2E is launched 2nd quarter 2013 (this is the only information we have to hand & January is not verified), then you may well lose the other channels on the 2F spot beam.

This would leave the alternative of either an IPTV 'internet TV' type box, for which you will need reasonable internet speed & stability - also no more free to air TV as a subscription will be required.  

There is one further possibility - presently BBC1 HD BBC2, BBC3 & BBC4 as well as ITV1HD & C4HD can be picked up off a different satellite, for which dish size is around a 1 metre -  however this is an encrpyted service (it is the back up system for these channels) - but with the correct satellite receiver & software you can open these up free to air.  There is no news how long they will remain there? But have been in service a couple of years. Basically the receiver with software allows you you to see these channels, when we are not supposed to - it works.

Good morning

Calahonda (Mijas) calling

Thanks televisiontechnology for all the information, very helpful.

I can confirm that we have also lost the channels that Jack mentioned below.

However we can still get C5 on HD

Team GB - You can get channel 5HD as this is on a Sky subscription & not on Astra 2F satellite.

Those without Sky subscription will not be able to receive this in your location.

Living 50km north of Barcelona and my previously excellent reception of all SD content (except during the heaviest of downpours) is now missing the channel 5 boquet on a cheap 80cm metronic. Interested to see when (if) other freesat channels move and how big a dish I am gonna need to solve the problem. My dish is on a wall, four floors above my apartment with very limited space for expansion.

There have been a number of reports of 1m dishes having problems with the 2F frequencies. Yet a bit further down the coast, Valencia, they are fine on a 1m dish (and fine on my 80cm dish!).

So perhaps, as some ohters have speculated, Barcelona is now in a 2F uk beam "blackspot".

ALL BBC ITV C4 and the few Sky channels on 1N will move from 1N. Its a question of when.

Perhaps they will not move until Astra 2E is operational - early next year. What sized dish you wil require for 2E uk beam channels will not be known until it happens, just as happened with this recent move. But would not have thought you would have to upgrade that much - maybe 1.25m...? But best wait until the rest of the channels move, rather than jumping now.

Lost Ch4 HD and all the 5 Channels on Freesat . Live in Malaga. 1.8 dish . Will wait till all changes have been effected before deciding what to do.

Hi, I have carried out some research and one remedy might be IPTV either wired or wifi. To install with a set top box is about €300 with monthly subs of €30.00. I am told that this gives a full sky package. I would hope that the price comes down if only basic channels are wanted. Nic.

tamaraessex:when I installed my freesat box I remember it asking me to choose a satellite. When I get back home to Spain on Sunday and presumably find I have lost channels, do I retune the box and tell it to look for Astra 2F?

An official freesat box does not ask you to choose a satellite. they are designed for use for the uk tv satllites, not other satllites. It only asks you for a UK postcode,so it konws which BBC, ITV C4 and Five regions i needd to allocate on 101,102,103,104 and 105.

Usually "free to air" boxes ask you to select the satellites before it searches. Your box will not have "astra 2F"  in its list, as it is a new satellite. But as these channels are using te sa,m efrequencies as when they were on their old satellite, it makes no difference.

But as these channels have not changed frequencies you should not have to do anything.

If you have lost these channels is will simply be down to the fact your dish is too small to receive them on their new satellite.

Hello, I have a 1.5 metre dish and have noticed the loss of some +1 channels and today 4 seven and all 5 channels. Today ITV2+1 is back on it's own. I live in Cambrils in the Tarragona provincia.

Having never  touched the sky box what is the procedure for getting the channels back?

Thanks