Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

Fully agree one of the main things Ive learned on this thread is that its best to wait and see what happens in our actual situation. This is made more clear with the discussions of black and 'white' spots.

The other thing I take from this - is to be prepared for a possible negative result (which in our corner of the world seems more likely) and have a back up plan, that will mean having internet delivery of TV... meaning you'll need the right sort of internet connection for your needs.

In our specific case, as a result of investigations prompted by Bill and Claire who opened this thread, and the on-going discussion, we have also invested in a Slingbox allowing full control of our set top box, as if we were at home: Then seeing the picture real-time on the PC (and thus via HDMI on our TV). We did this to have Belgian/French TV so we have a specific requirement... Pretty neat I have a 'virtual remote' picture on the PC screen that looks exactly like our physical remote at home, I click the virtual buttons with the mouse and it operates the settop box and squirts the signal to the PC via internet. I can also record and watch recordings just as if I was at home... neat! Got it free delivery from Amazon UK. I had to work with tech support and send a photo of it, but they built it for me (and now all Belgacom customers in Belgium). However I'm pretty sure the UK boxes are all pretty much covered. No commercial connection with the company just a nifty device (for less than a 'long un'; 'One-er'; ' Cenny' or 'ton' etc, thanks to Del boy that I've also mentioned on the thread :) )

As far as UKTV goes I am waiting to see what the actual impact would be, before investing a penny. I can live without channel 5 for a while (or go to filmon) and Freesat works fine for now.

So we will stick it out till the last minute and switch systems to the most appropriate pre-planned one, very quickly if/when we lose Freesat... till then we have LOADS of TV now - I need to get a stick and start shaking it at the telly!! :)

Jon

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

Thanks, Guy. I suspected there was some disconnect between theory and reality.

We have 2 dishes - one for English TV and one for German TV (19.2E), which is the reason for the diseq multiswitch. The one we have seems to work fine. I don't know how changing it would make any difference.

I reckon he needed a reason to justify his ridiculous price, but even the best multiswitch we can find seems to sell for under €300. A top quality LNB is only €80 or less. I really don't care much about channel 5 and the other channels that have moved to the new satellite, but the threat of losing everything is what I'm more concerned about.

I prefer to press a button and receive the TV I want (Satellite gives me this), rather than having to have a degree in engineering to run our TV. Although we've had good results with our Apple TV, it is somewhat limited to content you can get through ITunes, and requires much more than a single button press just to receive something. And I'm not going to connect a laptop either. I don't want to work that hard :-)

Besides, the internet slows to a snail pace when receiving TV via internet, and most of the content quality is crappy. We also have VoIP, which becomes unstable when receiving certain TV programs, So, I'd rather use internet for "special" things like films or VoIP or Skype, not for mainstream TV.

I reckon we'll have to wait and see.. At least we still get the "weak" channels for part of the day, which suggests to me that even in the worst case, we may only need to change the dish to a bigger one.

NOTE ABOUT INTERNET:
Due to the horrible service available from Telefonica here (600Kbps max download speed, 120Kbps upload speed), we installed an independent WIMAX internet system, which delivers a solid 4Mbps up/download performance night and day, rain or shine (and it's cheaper than Telefonica). But just to be sure, we kept Telefonica as a backup, and also for the land line.

Well, the WIMAX system is working so well, and now we have a local VoiP dial-in number which works brilliantly over WIMAX, so next week we are cutting our Telefonica/Movistar service for good. Good riddance!

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

I'd prefer that we never had to use the internet for UKTV - but we need to plan for it should the sats go. I think where we are geographically will be a problem for a good signal and I suspect we will lose the signal/Freesat this year.. in Ayamonte/CE.

In that circumstance we have no choice but use the net.... if we want UKTV. Connecting the PC/TV with HDMI is easy. There are often several HDMI ports on a tv, just have a lead connected there and plug the PC in - easy. Its like a USB port the PC recognises it and you have an immediate picture. If no lead just take it off the eg DVD and plug in - just takes a couple of seconds. With the mouse I mentioned above you can then control it from across the room. Plug it back to the DVD at the end, or just unplug the free lead.. You can even get splitters (eg at Amazon) and even a remote to do it, but its so easy to plug in/out that they aren't necessary. With no HDMI there are still ways to do it as well using other connections that should also be a push in/out. Very easy, and I'm in no way a techie!

Jon

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

If you have multiple HDMI inputs on your telly - ie it's pretty recent - then they should switch automatically to the last device switched on - like the old scart system. So leave your DVD plugged in, invest in a half decent HDMI cable (don't get fooled by the "gold connectors" hype as it makes no diference for a short run) for your TV and then in order to switch back to your DVD just switch it off and back on again using your remote controller. Ideal for the couch potato ;)
PS: Don't use a very old spec DVD cable (shouldn't be able to buy them anymore) as it wont carry the ARC signal and so you might get problems with audio on the TV and have to run a seperate cables. Most recent HDMI devices use the 1.4 spec and the cables need to too or you will not get the Audio Return Signal (ARC) from the PC to enable sound from your connected HDMI device. If you have problem with sound on your set up you may need to run a separate audio cable.

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

Ive mentioned this before.
We get internet plus unlimited free landline calls to Spain and the UK and 2 Mb as thats all we wanted. Works well

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

It's great to have all the advice about how to use internet TV and thanks for that. However, in the Ayamonte area and particularly Costa Esuri, landline internet capacity is such that it is not really an economical option. So it's not really helpful to be told again and again about options we do not practically have. If anyone can come up with a practical answer to slow broadband (ie satellite/cheap 4G etc) then we will all be eternally grateful.

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

So you have NO Wimax or sat internet there at all that is reasonable???? Telitec etc? For when I google ayamonte wimax I come up with loads of stuff. For SKY I pay £70 a month. For TV via wimax I would pay €30 ish a month plus subs

So Im not trying to be unhelpful, I'm trying to suggest alternatives for you

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

Unfortunately for a lot of us on CE we have no landlines (if you have, 10mgb from telefonica it is not too expensive) we have 3G options or Iberbanda which is not too bad as landline no and about 1.2 mgb + 300 min to UK for €42 however neither option is good for constant HD internet TV. Not any other wimax suppliers as far as I know on our side of the ridge. Some cannot even get Iberbanda since no line of sight to the mast at the center of the fish farm. 4G might be available at a price from Portugal but you need a Portuguese Fiscal No to sign a contract

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

I have just done the same google as you and it shows 5 WiMax sites in Ayamonte but not the one on Esuri! there is a ridge line that runs parallel to the A49 motorway that blocks the town off from us for all line of sight and also a lot of 3G. Portugal is much more useful but have rules of their own which seem to exclude Spain.

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

Hi

I wonder if one of the Wimax companies wouldbe interested in putting in a repeater to include Costa Esuri? Perhaps if approached then they could be persuaded in the amount of people that would take it up?

Davexf

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

The Iberbanda mast is our side of the ridge and very clearly visible to our house but that is most definitly not the case for all the manzana's and the same mast carries the Vodafone phone signal even that does not reach everywhere. Appeals have been made in the past to Movistar to provide a mast close to the border to give some strength to the signal which is drowned out by the Portuguese signal. No success on any account. The landline ducts are all laid and they could put fibre optic everywhere at low cost but most of us don't even have copper!

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

The arrival of the "crisis" coincided eithe slide into administration of the infrastructure and major housing developer Fadesa and the bankruptcy of other housing developers so the take up of ownership and occupation has been slow. Although the ducts run everywhere more than half only contrain the draw cord. The one mast on our side of the ridge is for Iberbanda and Vodafone so competition that great spur is sadly missing. Some houses can get Telefonica/Movistar landline if they have spare ways in the street boxes, others have line of sight so get the Iberbanda service so far very reliable but very expensive for more than about 1 meg, lastly the mobile service is patchy 4G reqires a contract depending on which provider you sign up with and most can be drowned out by the Portuguese signal from three masts that line the ridge across the river. That has caused a notorious incident of a girl from Ayamonte being charged €10,000 for one bill. All of these options suite full timers but are not economically viable for holiday apartments so the take up is patchy and relates to what you can get depending on your location.

The current discussion revolves around the need for alternatives if and when we might loose Freesat/Sky next July/August at least, when it seems we will need at least 2meg to use one of the Internet solutions at reasonable cost. At the moment that seems to be only those people who can get Telefonica land line BB and they would be full timers since cost is a barrier to those who just holiday here.

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

It could end up like War of the worlds,dishes flying round the Urb every time
We have high winds?.

Ken.

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

Hi
Two questions,
Is Portuguese tv now digital?
Can we get it through our fixed aerials and a set top box, if not what do we need?
( lots of English language tv on or tv)
Regards
Laslopeady

Re: Goodbye Sky TV
 

yes it is, yes you can some Manzana's already have it and watch Spanish football on Portuguese DTV.