tv with english channels

hi

I recently purchased a property in murcia, i would like to know about getting a tv,

can you buy a tv with digital channels on it, or would i have to buy seperate tv and digibox i would like some english channels

i heard someone say that i could subscribe to cablevision ?

wondered if anyone knew what to do and how much it would cost,

its only a holiday home so dont really want to commit to monthly fee if possible

thanks 

louise

We are in Murcia, and have a 1.45 metre satellite dish with a Humax recordable box.

occasionally have a problem with c 4, but otherwise fine, all the English channels you could want.

Sky box from uk (ebay)and  at least a 1.37 dish (lots of firms will supply and fit  over here) needed will get you all or near all of Uk fresat channels for free. Hoewever if you cant get a dish or havnt room you willhave to go to a rebroadcaster with monthly fee or internet TV which is getting more popular . Spanish freeview on  TV (digital) have a couple of english channels and a few where you can switch the sound to English.

TVs in Spanish have digital built in but they are the Spanish TV channels. You will get about 20 or so channels and most have an option for original language which is normally English. Mostly American shows like CSI, NCIS, Bones, Castle, the Mentalist and so on.  Beware, Spanish TV often has ad breaks for up to 15 minutes at a time. We record all our programmes from that and then edit out the ads, especially as programmes often go on to 03:30.

If you want British TV then a satellite dish with freesat or Sky box is the best option. Installers are currently charging 3 to 4 hundred euro for dish and freesat box. It is the best option because there are no ongoing fees, the picture quality is far superior to the rebroadcasters or internet TV and the programme guide is much better. If you have the room and can afford it, go for a 1.9 dish as fairly future proof.

If it all sounds a bit much, you can receive filmon tv with most freesat channels via a laptop and plug it into the TV via a HDMI lead and get the catchup (BBC iPlayer for example) with an internet address blocker. 

If you're visiting and have a dish installed, you can also bring a freesat box or Sky box from UK (including Sky card) and use one of them. 

From besttvchoice.net

22/02/2014 
INTELSAT 907 SCAM CHECKLIST 

With the recent loss of the main BBC and ITV channels in areas like southern Spain or Portugal, where people now need a satellite dish of at least 2.4m or greater to receive these channels, some “installers” are promoting a new satellite system which will get some of these channel back. 

Adverts like : 

All your favourite UK terrestrial channels in standard and high definition, children’s TV, News and all BBC radio stations are now available again via satellite exclusively from Europa Digital using a 1 metre dish. No need for internet or a dish the size of Jodrell Bank. 

have been appearing on the internet and in local newspapers with this magical cure for the loss of UK TV. 

But all may not be as it seems….. 

This system uses the Intelsat 907, a satellite at 27.5º west. It carries many BBC channels, ITV1 and Channel 4. It does not have Channel 5 or ITV2, ITV3 or ITV4. 

This satellite is for use when there is a problem with the feeds to the Freeview masts in the UK – in essence a Freeview transmission back up service. 

Gaining access to these channels involves the hacking (so illegal – I wonder if those selling these system mention that to their clients) into the encrypted satellite signals. 

Hacking into the encrypted signals, you need codes, which can change at any time. This can leave people without TV until the new codes are available. In the past this has sometimes been hours, days weeks or months! I wonder if those selling these system mention that to their clients. 

For example, when Channel Five moved to its UK beam back in December 2012, changing its reception some areas of Spain, some people used this system. However, within a few weeks the system could not be used a nightmare over the Christmas period, as the codes changed and were not known again until February 2013. 

The lifespan of this this system assumes all this “publicity” about it does not make the system owner (Arqiva) upgrade to a more secure form of encryption, leaving many people with useless equipment! Not good for the many pensioner and vulnerable who can lose money they can ill afford. 

Update : 27 02 14 : A code change this morning means loss of TV for people using this service until the new codes are known…which could be hours, days, weeks or months….

and...........

skyinmadrid.com gives a lot of useful info 

eg 

22 FEB INTELSAT 907 SCAM CHECKLIST 
How can you tell if an offering to replace your lost BBC and ITV is genuine and not a scam?(See our 13 Feb story, below). 
Follow this checklist: 
Avoid thisYou are offered a Technomate TM5402 HD receiver 
Avoid thisYour dish will be "re-aligned" 
Avoid thisThe dish will be 80-90 cm 
Avoid thisYou won't be able to receive Sky channels and the Sky guide 
Avoid thisThe dish will be pointing in the opposite direction to a normal Sky dish 
If your dealer or installer offers you all of the above in an area which has lost the BBC, then it's an installation to receive the private Arqiva feed from Intelsat 907 at 27.5º west. 
Arquiva are aware that their feed is being pirated but have yet to take action or make any public comment. At the very least, the codes will be changed soon, resulting in a complete loss of all channels until new hacked keys are posted on the internet. 
At worst, the encryption system will be changed, rendering all current equipment useless. 

and 
MAR 16 
INTERNET IN SPAIN NEAR TO COLLAPSE IN SOME EXPAT AREAS 
Reports have been arriving of significant problems with internet speeds following Telfónica's relaunch of its Movistar Fusión product on 6th. March. Fusión packages include mobile, fixed line rental, ADSL or fibre internet and television services over the internet, including Canal+ channels. 
Telefónica was reported as being close to acquiring a controlling stake in loss-making Canal+, but decided to remain a minority shareholder. There had been calls for the purchase to be investigated by the European Commission. 
Canal+ losses have increased in the past year to EUR 648.7 million. 
In the cities, Movistar has a fast fibre optic network, but in other areas relies on regular copper wires. Increased demand for internet TV following the BBC switch, combined with extra numbers of Fusión subscribers has led to near-collapse of internet speeds in large urbanisations and rural populations, which rely on ageing copper ADSL infrastructure. 
It's not just Telefónica's subscribers who have been suffering slower internet, companies which share the same trunk cables and cabinets, such as Orange, Telitec aand Jazztel have also been affected.

The OP said she was moving to Murcia so most of that doesn't apply. A 1.4m dish is fine although a 1.9 would be better especially for Sky channels.

A 1.4 offset is sailing a little close to the wind, reception wise in Murcia. We would recommend the minimum of a 1.45 prime focus model, though if wanting a little extra safety margin / stability a 1.9 as recommended by previous poster.

We have a few smaller communities in the Los Alcazares location running 1.9's o.k and also have recently installed a few 1.45's as far down as La Manga which have been o.k.  If you go inland a little the signal can get worse, so need to be a little cautious with dish sizes due to variation.

Below comments of Intelsat are not relevent as in the Murcia area the Astra satellites at 28 degrees east can be received. That satellite is of more relevence to those in parts of Spain, such as Costa del Sol cannot get connection.

Additionally mentions of Internet 'close to collapse' are only of concern if looking for a video IPTV streaming solution (which as you can get satellite, would suggest this path firstly due to stability & quality). Article related to some areas where expats have lost their satellite reception due to 2E & 2F changes is where the heavy loading has occured. Does not affect everyone / service or (example) the whole of Murcia.

In reality most internet service providers (microwave based) in Spain do not provide the fastest of services and will always slow down a little at peak times.

Most UK Sky channels are on Astras pan European / Southern european beams and are much easier to receive than the likes of BBC1, ITV, 4 & 5 all of which are on the UK spot beams, which are the ones causing most reception issues.

We hlive in Murcia and have a 1.9 dish and Humax freesat box and they work perfectly. Our friends on Camposol Sector A had a 1.4 dish (Sector A)  and regularly lost channels in the evenings. They eventually went for a 1.9 dish and received all channels perfectly.

Well, I live not far from your friend, and  our 1.45 dish is fine, so no need to  upgrade.

in fact c5 is better than before

Well, I live not far from your friend, and  our 1.45 dish is fine, so no need to  upgrade.

in fact c5 is better than before

We are a bit inland (6Klm) near Sucina. 1.4 dish works ok with a freesat box.

Please do not shoot the messenger Camposol, I am only repeating my friends' experience. I dare say there are parts of Camposol with a better signal than others.

As mentioned further down the post, there is quite a degree of variation in some areas.

This can be a combination of factors, not just the signal strength, but also localised microwave interference, which is more likely in high expatriate density areas, such as Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa. There is a corridor of microwave signal that runs down most of the coast to La Manga, which if catches a dish can weaken signal / certain frequencies. Those inland or not in high density expatriate areas are less likely to experience this.

In Murcia there is a little variation, we know of quite a few people with 1.4 offset dishes installed, and since changes to 2E / 2F, the level of safety margin reception wise is very close, some have struggled to keep all their channels - which is generally why in the Murcia area we would recommend the 1.45 prime focus models as a minimum. Some will be o.k on the slightly smaller offset, but due to variations locally, there is no 100% guaranteed answer for everyone, as would not be accurate.

Some channels are easier to receive than others, so for example a 1.4 may pull in the main channels, but BBC 2 HD on 10847 is weak, so you may find that one dish does not get ALL the channels. In some areas same case with the 1.45 and to get everything needs a 1.9. So only really accurate guide is see how a nearby neighbours dish performs / use a company / installer that knows the area.

Camposol - Channel 5 has not changed in a while as been on 2F over a year now, so if you were getting before 2E, in February, you would still be receiving same now. Improved reception is most likely down to slight seasonal variations.