Do you bother with your satellite dish anymore?

[BillandHelen]

We are currently in Javea and surprised that we have been able to stream the live men’s and women’s football matches, including on BBC I player, thought that they blocked this abroad!
All tethered to our iPhone, haven’t yet felt the need for mifi. Still have an auto oyster system but gets used much less these days, wouldn’t bother on next van.
Bill

 

[jongood]

Am I right in believing that its because of the BBC that our satelite coverage is limited?

I've seen the french with a dish about the size of a colander watching their home programmes everywhere.

 

[Anthony OysterTech]

We are currently in Javea and surprised that we have been able to stream the live men’s and women’s football matches, including on BBC I player, thought that they blocked this abroad!
All tethered to our iPhone, haven’t yet felt the need for mifi. Still have an auto oyster system but gets used much less these days, wouldn’t bother on next van.
Bill

If you are using BBC iPlayer abroad then the internet connection you are using must have a VPN that is masking the location and giving the impression that you are in the UK. As far as I'm aware the BBC still do not allow the iPlayer to be accessed from foreign IP addresses.

 

[Anthony OysterTech]

Am I right in believing that its because of the BBC that our satelite coverage is limited?

I've seen the french with a dish about the size of a colander watching their home programmes everywhere.

Sort of. The BBC and ITV are the parent organisations of Freesat who, when the satellites were replaced, asked for a tighter spot beam focusing on the UK. All Freesat affiliated channels broadcast from the spot beam.
The beam is achievable in certain parts of Spain (mainly east coast) depending on the dish setup you have but for the majority youu will only receive the European beam which houses free to air stations but not the main stream ones. I have attached a sheet with all FTA stations on the beam.

 

[jongood]

Sort of. The BBC and ITV are the parent organisations of Freesat who, when the satellites were replaced, asked for a tighter spot beam focusing on the UK. All Freesat affiliated channels broadcast from the spot beam.
The beam is achievable in certain parts of Spain (mainly east coast) depending on the dish setup you have but for the majority youu will only receive the European beam which houses free to air stations but not the main stream ones. I have attached a sheet with all FTA stations on the beam.

So if the BBC became a commercial channel both them and ITV would have the incentive to show their adverts to as wide an audience as possible.

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[Anthony OysterTech]

So if the BBC became a commercial channel both them and ITV would have the incentive to show their adverts to as wide an audience as possible.

Pretty much.
As far as I can make out, ITV don't really care too much because they make a lot of money from advertising so a wider audience is only going to be a good thing although obviously being able to sell their programming to foreign countries does help.
The BBC don't advertise in the same way and make most of their money from the TV licence. They can't enforce that outside of the UK so when foreign countries are able piggyback our signal and get their programming for free rather than buying from them they lose out.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Far too much faffing. We put the TV on select retune, if there's no channels, there's no channels ?
But there's usually something to watch ?

 

[Ingwe]

Nope hotspot on mobiles.
Two days we connect

Wife turns her mobile hotspot on. I connect to it and in turn connect to Chromecast then open Netflix and throw it to tv.

Or sometimes we can just connect direct from wifes mobile and watch Netflix from her mobile. This way does not always work. So we tend to use first method.

Used to use a mifi until she switched her contract to three last year

We do similar but use a Kindle Firestick 4k and my £24 per month unlimited data from Virgin. We've streamed Netflix, Amazon Prime and BBCiplayer all over Portugal, Spain and France.
We have a 40cm Sat Pro dome satellite dish but use it less and less now.

 

[jongood]

Pretty much.
As far as I can make out, ITV don't really care too much because they make a lot of money from advertising so a wider audience is only going to be a good thing although obviously being able to sell their programming to foreign countries does help.
The BBC don't advertise in the same way and make most of their money from the TV licence. They can't enforce that outside of the UK so when foreign countries are able piggyback our signal and get their programming for free rather than buying from them they lose out.

So in a nutshell; We re being forced to pay for something that we re frequently not allowed to watch. How good is that!

 

[colyboy]

Mr Simple here!!!

How do you stream?

What do you need to stream?

What does it cost to stream?

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[Carol]

No we had ours taken off and use the Avtex TV and aerial works perfectly

 

[Anthony OysterTech]

Mr Simple here!!!

How do you stream?

What do you need to stream?

What does it cost to stream?

To Stream you use a service via the internet (some require a subscription)

You need 3/4g, a Mifi, Wifi or wired internet connection

Average costs are on the attached excel sheet although there are deals to be had

 

[Parrot Face]

That's actually not true.
If you read the terms and conditions of your Vodafone contract you will see this...........
* Roam-free is intended for periodic travel. It isn’t meant for users roaming on a semi-permanent or permanent basis.
Basically this means that if they notice you using data outside of the UK for a prolonged period of time then they are within their rights to charge you extra.
O2 has the same policy where as 3 and EE give you partial use of your data abroad.

Vodafone terms: https://www.vodafone.co.uk/cs/groups/configfiles/documents/document/vfcon072758.pdf

I'm sorry but that doesn't sound correct if you consider reports from this forum. There are people on here that have used loads of data on the Vodafone deal and not been charged extra. Some have even contacted Vodafone and been told that they will not be charged and can use up their full 100gb. We too are using BBC iplayer and many other services without a VPN and their is definitely no hidden VPN in operation. I am also able to get my Virgin Go to work without a VPN and all in all I must be able to stream about 80 channels with no buffering. I personally believe that a huge ship is heading to the uk to take all of the disused satellite dishes to the scrap melting pots of china.

 

[Justamil]

I’ve just read some posts on this thread which I find very misleading and mischievous. The record needs to be set straight.
Satellite tight beams are required internationally and policed by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union). They weren’t possible years ago for technical reasons. But as they are now available, all new satellites are required to only illuminate their target audience. This is for copyright reasons and to make those microwave frequencies available to be used in adjacent footprints.
It is nothing to do with the BBC and ITV. But that makes a good conspiracy storey for the fake facts brigade.

 

[tonyidle]

I have no idea of what streaming is so it’s an oyster for us.

You can't beat a mollusc for entertainment - even better than a robotic lawnmower.

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[Anthony OysterTech]

I'm sorry but that doesn't sound correct if you consider reports from this forum. There are people on here that have used loads of data on the Vodafone deal and not been charged extra. Some have even contacted Vodafone and been told that they will not be charged and can use up their full 100gb. We too are using BBC iplayer and many other services without a VPN and their is definitely no hidden VPN in operation. I am also able to get my Virgin Go to work without a VPN and all in all I must be able to stream about 80 channels with no buffering. I personally believe that a huge ship is heading to the uk to take all of the disused satellite dishes to the scrap melting pots of china.

It doesn't need to sound correct it's right there in their terms and conditions.
Whether they charge people or not is up to them all I'm saying is they reserve the right to do so if they believe you are breaking their fair use policy.

And BBC iPlayer I don't know what to tell you.
If you're outside of the UK it shouldn't work unless you have a UK IP Address.
Again, black and white if you don't believe me

Virgin and any other services I'll have to read up on

 

[Anthony OysterTech]

I’ve just read some posts on this thread which I find very misleading and mischievous. The record needs to be set straight.
Satellite tight beams are required internationally and policed by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union). They weren’t possible years ago for technical reasons. But as they are now available, all new satellites are required to only illuminate their target audience. This is for copyright reasons and to make those microwave frequencies available to be used in adjacent footprints.
It is nothing to do with the BBC and ITV. But that makes a good conspiracy storey for the fake facts brigade.

Can you explain Astra 1 and Hotbird then please?

 

[Parrot Face]

It doesn't need to sound correct it's right there in their terms and conditions.
Whether they charge people or not is up to them all I'm saying is they reserve the right to do so if they believe you are breaking their fair use policy.

And BBC iPlayer I don't know what to tell you.
If you're outside of the UK it shouldn't work unless you have a UK IP Address.
Again, black and white if you don't believe me

Viregin and any other services I'll have to read up on

Sorry I won't be looking at it in black and white as I get it in full HD in colour.

 

[Anthony OysterTech]

Sorry I won't be looking at it in black and white as I get it in full HD in colour.

You get Blacks and Whites in full colour???

 

[Justamil]

Can you explain Astra 1 and Hotbird then please?

Don't need too. Only interested in Astra 2.
You'll have explain more........
Have Astra 1 and Hotbird been replaced recently?
What channels for the UK do they carry?
I don't know if the ITU need to re-use those frequencies?

But in time all satellite beams will become tighter so that more satellites can provide services with a limited spectrum of frequency.

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[BillandHelen]

Mr Simple here!!!

How do you stream?

What do you need to stream?

What does it cost to stream?

Colyboy, from another Mr Simple to another, it’s really easy and straightforward.
We have phone packages with vodaphone and E moblile, with data packages of 45 and 40 g of data a month, both cost around £25 a month and include unlimited calls and texts.
We are also signed up with BBC iPlayer, itv, channel 4 and have home subscriptions to sky and Netflix and amazon prime.
When away from home we watch all of the above on our iPads , or by using a cable can connect to our tv, all by using personal hotspot on your phone, it’s like magic!!!
Now in Spain and watching Scotland , men and women’s teams, live games, amazing if a bit painful!!
Get yourself signed up, it’s wonderful!!
Bill

 

[Anthony OysterTech]

Don't need too. Only interested in Astra 2.
You'll have explain more........
Have Astra 1 and Hotbird been replaced recently?
What channels for the UK do they carry?
I don't know if the ITU need to re-use those frequencies?

But in time all satellite beams will become tighter so that more satellites can provide services with a limited spectrum of frequency.

Well Astra 1 launched 1N in 2011 but no new hotbird Satellites have been launched since 2008 so I'm not sure if these will be under any constraints that you mention.
Speaking of that though I found the source of my information (the BBC requested it intentionally to prevent overspill) and it was from the BBC themselves. Not saying you're wrong but clarifying the source of my information.

Changes to BBC satellite transponders in 2013

Alix Pryde sets the record straight on timings of forthcoming moves of BBC services between satellites and the reason for these changes

www.bbc.co.uk

If you want to take a look they actually say they did it to stop people outside the UK getting these services.

Astra 1 and Hotbird channels broadcast in English are just news channels but some people only want the news. You have Sky news international, BBC world News, CNN, Russia Today and France 24 amongst other lesser known stations.

 

[Ingwe]

You can't beat a mollusc for entertainment - even better than a robotic lawnmower.

I'd heard that oysters were an aphrodisiac. But only a dozen seemed to work!

 

[Justamil]

I found the source of my information (the BBC requested it intentionally to prevent overspill) and it was from the BBC themselves. Not saying you're wrong but clarifying the source of my information.
If you want to take a look they actually say they did it to stop people outside the UK getting these services

I agree the way the BBC writes it, it appears the BBC requested it. However as I say reduced overspill has always been the aim of the ITU.
You’ll also notice that the BBC states that the UK signal will get stronger. A reduced footprint needs a less powerful transponder. However the BBC decided to keep the same power and hence make the signal stronger.
If you think about it, if all transponders get tighter and use less power, the satellite gets smaller and cheaper to put into orbit for the satellite operator, who is not the BBC or ITV. It has always been a requirement for the satellite users to have no or little overspill because of copyright issues, but it was not possible technically in the beginning of satellite services.

 

[Anthony OysterTech]

I agree the way the BBC writes it, it appears the BBC requested it. However as I say reduced overspill has always been the aim of the ITU.
You’ll also notice that the BBC states that the UK signal will get stronger. A reduced footprint needs a less powerful transponder. However the BBC decided to keep the same power and hence make the signal stronger.
If you think about it, if all transponders get tighter and use less power, the satellite gets smaller and cheaper to put into orbit for the satellite operator, who is not the BBC or ITV. It has always been a requirement for the satellite users to have no or little overspill because of copyright issues, but it was not possible technically in the beginning of satellite services.

Hey, you learn something new every day!
I honestly doubt the satellites will be getting cheaper to put into orbit though. With the addition of 5g and DVB-S2X they'll need a lot more money thrown at them now to keep up to date and ready for more data services and 4k programming. Not to mention 8k and whatever lies beyond!

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[jongood]

I agree the way the BBC writes it, it appears the BBC requested it. However as I say reduced overspill has always been the aim of the ITU.
You’ll also notice that the BBC states that the UK signal will get stronger. A reduced footprint needs a less powerful transponder. However the BBC decided to keep the same power and hence make the signal stronger.
If you think about it, if all transponders get tighter and use less power, the satellite gets smaller and cheaper to put into orbit for the satellite operator, who is not the BBC or ITV. It has always been a requirement for the satellite users to have no or little overspill because of copyright issues, but it was not possible technically in the beginning of satellite services.

So how come the French and Germans can get their programs in Spain and Morocco then? On tiny dishes in many cases, it suggests that their not territorially limited like we are.

 

[Justamil]

So how come the French and Germans can get their programs in Spain and Morocco then? On tiny dishes in many cases, it suggests that their not territorially limited like we are.

No idea. Not interested. Do your own research. I have no idea what commercial deals/collaborations they have.

 

[Anthony OysterTech]

So how come the French and Germans can get their programs in Spain and Morocco then? On tiny dishes in many cases, it suggests that their not territorially limited like we are.

In all fairness Jon it’s more to do with where they are aimed. Because the beams are aimed at mainland Europe the overspill quite happily covers Spain and Portugal whereas ours falls into the ocean for the most part.
If Justamil is right then future replacement satellites on Astra 1 and Hotbird may reduce their overspill reach although I can’t find anything online to corroborate or support the claims he posted.
They may well be true but I just can’t find anything about it.

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

I still use the dish, I use the western satellite (while it lasts) and can get the four channels we are interested everywhere in Europe. Never find trees a problem just make sure I park in the right place to start with. I agree with a previous comment that the automatic Oyster is a great boon as we may only lift it to just watch the News or something Judy does not watch soaps and we don't watch sport so we get all we need and faffing about with a manual dish for a few minutes is a waste of time. I don't have data on my phone only a limited amount on the mifi for email and a little browsing. I tried a FireStick at Christmas at home but it ate my whole 200gB allowance so stopped doing that.
I am quite happy with my set-up along with a few films from the hard disk on the laptop when we fancy.
Steve

 

[Jim lea]

There seems to be quite a few funsters relying on just phone/iPad to stream onto tv. Being someone just about to order a mi/fi installation, can someone give me an opinion on whether it will be money well spent ?

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