FreeSat Tuning Puzzle

MikeJMurphyMJM · 11-02-2012, 21:18

New to the forum so first of all hi to all.. interesting initial period reading through various links .. however nothing I could find on my specific problem so here goes ....

I need to improve my understanding of Freesat tuning it appears so I am hoping some enlightened person here can help.
Configuration Data :-
Config on Freesat set to include 3 satellites .. (1)Astra1 19Degrees (2) Hotbird 13Degrees and (3) Astra2 28Degrees

All previously showed a signal strength of approx 78%+ and Signal quality 78% also so far as I am aware. 35 channels selected and set up as a favourites channel list.

Problem :-
Investigating my elderly mothers freesat installation as she reported extreme pixilation of all stations over several days and then loss of channels completely... subsequent recovery of channels with breakup and then complete loss again ...

Checked Antenna on receiver and it showed strength 78%+ and 0% on quality on all three satellites

I found the centre pin in cable attached at LNB on roof was badly corroded and broken. I cleaned up connection and signal quality on Astra was now back up to 78%+ and all channels restored without picture any loss. However Hotbird still showed Quality 0%.

All 35 channels included in my mother's favourite programme list were ok so no issue.

Approx 30 mins later my mother reported all gone again .. and when I checked antenna reception sure enough 0% on both Astra's but Hotbird was now showing 72% on quality .. I go up again to dish and this time I slightly bent pin and make sure LNB connection was fully tight .. Astra's now both came back on at 78% but Hotbird now reverted to 0% quality.

So can someone explain how the above happens .. with Hotbird signal going up and then down like that?

Many thanks .. and appreciate the education .. Mike

chrisjr · 11-02-2012, 21:59

Freesat doesn't use the Hotbird satellite. It uses Astra 2 at 28.2 and Eurobird at 28.5 degrees

http://www.freesat.co.uk/how-to/faqs...t/?page_b736=4

Unless of course you mean something different by Freesat ?

Chris Frost · 11-02-2012, 21:59

I thought you only need to be receiving Astra at 28.2E for all the Freesat channels LINK

MikeJMurphyMJM · 11-02-2012, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

Freesat doesn't use the Hotbird satellite. It uses Astra 2 at 28.2 and Eurobird at 28.5 degrees

http://www.freesat.co.uk/how-to/faqs...t/?page_b736=4

Unless of course you mean something different by Freesat ?

Thanks for reply ChrisJr & Chris Frost
Nope .. Freesat is the correct term all right .. It was my understanding that certain FTA channels were being obtained from each of these respective satellites ( up to now that is

) I need to double check the satellite data on that receiver in case I miss remember it .. perhaps the selection of Astra at 19 and Hotbird at 13 is simply doing nothing ... regardless however of that do you have any idea why the receiver's signal on the hotbird satellite could hop up and down with that connection while Astra 1 & 2 does the exact opposite ... the receiver is not making up the reading I am sure ... back later .. I will go to my mothers and verify that selection on the satellites is as I said... back in 30mins..appreciate the help ... Mike

ProDave · 11-02-2012, 22:36

Perhaps you need to post the make and model of the receiver so there is no doubt if it is a freesat receiver or not.

Then tell us are there multiple LNB's (and multiple cables to the dish) or just one cable to one LNB on the dish?

And then tell us exactly which channels are giving problems.

One thing worth trying is simply unplug the box and plug it back in to re boot it.

MikeJMurphyMJM · 11-02-2012, 23:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProDave

Perhaps you need to post the make and model of the receiver so there is no doubt if it is a freesat receiver or not.

Then tell us are there multiple LNB's (and multiple cables to the dish) or just one cable to one LNB on the dish?

And then tell us exactly which channels are giving problems.

One thing worth trying is simply unplug the box and plug it back in to re boot it.

Thanks ProDave .. appreciate the time ..

Sorry , I should have of course stated that it is a single LNB & single cable setup running on a FTA SD Triax receiver .. which think is a model SR110 based on a quick search on the internet.

Receiver has been retuned after power off and all channels that are in my mothers favorite list are being received loud and clear.

So the only problem I have is a learning one ..which is why when the faulty connection was causing zero % reception on Astra 1 & 2 satellites , did the signal intensity & quality on Hotbird jump into action up to 78%+ or so?
When the connection was fixed for the 2nd time , hotbird dropped away again ( and has stayed down at zero since ) while ASTRA 1 & 2 are now coming in at 90% intensity 86% quality ..

Current satellites selected in receiver configuration are confirmed as Astra 19E , Hotbird 13E, and Astra Eurobird 28.2. 19E & 28.2 are both showing 90% intensity and 86% quality which is good. Hotbird showing 3% quality

So no existing channel receiving problem .. just a lack of understanding why hotbird signal jumps when astra was not being received.. many thanks
Mike

ProDave · 12-02-2012, 09:19

The Triax SR110 is NOT a "freesat" receiver. It's what most here refer to as a "generic Free to air receiver"

It does not have the proprietarty freesat EPG to automatically list the UK channels in a specific order on specific numbers.

It is capable of scanning any satellite you connect to it, and automatically finding all the free channels and listing them, but usually listed in the order it finds them. You then have to sort out your favourite lists to list the channels you want, as you want them.

It can get very confusing. You can "tell" the receiver to scan say hotbird. BUT if it is only connected to one dish with one LNB, if can't possibly scan hotbird at all. But it will still try, and it will still find some channels (from Astra 2 that it's connected to) which is the cause of your confusion about which satellite you are receiving from.

The point of having it select different satellites, is when the receiver is connected to a motorised dish, or a multi LNB dish with a diseqc switch, then it will correctly switch to and receive from multiple satellites.

I suggest you delete ALL your channels, and then just scan Astra 2. That will list all the FTA channels that you will ever receive with your 1 dish and 1 LNB. Then sort out your favourites and list them as you want them. Forget trying to scan Astra 1 or Hotbird, that won't produce any channels from those satellites.

grahamlthompson · 12-02-2012, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Frost

I thought you only need to be receiving Astra at 28.2E for all the Freesat channels LINK

Lots of the channels on the Freesat epg are from Eurobird 1. More important is that the freesat home transponder is on EB1. Without access to this you can't get past the post code verification in setup.

Freesat channels from EB1

Code:

305 Movies4men+1	12523	H	EB1
732 Smooth RadioUK	12523	H	EB1
135 CBS Reality	12523	V	EB1
515 Vintage TV	12523	V	EB1
719 Capital FM	12523	V	EB1
720 Choice FM 	12523	V	EB1
721 Classic FM 	12523	V	EB1
722 Gold 	12523	V	EB1
723 XFM London 	12523	V	EB1
730 PlanetRock 	12523	V	EB1
805 Gems TV	12523	V	EB1
806 TV Shop	12523	V	EB1
817 Rocks & Co 1	12523	V	EB1
818 Gems TV Extra	12523	V	EB1
808 JML DIRECT	12560	V	EB1
809 JML COOKSHOP	12560	V	EB1
819 Argos TV	12560	V	EB1
143 Men & Movies	12560	V	EB1
401 Wedding TV Asia	12560	V	EB1
816 QVC Beauty	12560	V	EB1
650 Ocean TV	12643	V	EB1
803 Pitch TV	12643	V	EB1
804 Pitch World	12643	V	EB1
137 CBS Action	11222	H	EB1
139 horror CH+1	11222	H	EB1
733 Heart radio	11222	H	EB1
786 BFBS Radio 	11222	H	EB1
807 Jewellery Maker	11222	H	EB1
141 BET + 1	11222	H	EB1
210 CNBC 	11261	H	EB1
136 CBS Reality +1	11261	H	EB1
138 Horror Channel	11261	H	EB1
691 Daystar TV	11261	H	EB1
809 JML	11307	H	EB1
810 Ideal Extra	11307	H	EB1
812 Ideal World	11307	H	EB1
813 Create A Craft	11307	H	EB1
400 Wedding TV	11344	H	EB1
405 Food Network	11344	H	EB1
406 Food Network + 1	11344	H	EB1
140 BET (Black Entertainment TV)	11344	H	EB1
103 ITV 1 HD (red button)	11427	H	EB1
900 On Demand	11427	H	EB1
901 BBCi Player (View Only)	11427	H	EB1
903 ITV Player (View Only)	11427	H	EB1
907 Boxoffice365	11427	H	EB1
986 Teletext (Watch Only)	11427	H	EB1
999 Freesat Info	11427	H	EB1
509 Zing TV	11546	H	EB1
206 Russia Today	11623	H	EB1
402 INFORMATION TV	11623	H	EB1
514 Clubland TV	11623	H	EB1
518 Massive R&B	11623	H	EB1
211 CCTV-NEWS	11661	H	EB1
308 UMP Movies	11661	H	EB1
690 Inspiration TV	11661	H	EB1
694 God Channel	11661	H	EB1
851 Netplay TV	11661	H	EB1
209 NHK World TV - HD	11223	V	EB1
304 Movies4Men	11223	V	EB1
306 Movies4Men2	11223	V	EB1
724 Absolute Radio 	11223	V	EB1
726 Absolute 80's 	11223	V	EB1
728 WRN 	11223	V	EB1
729 JazzFM	11223	V	EB1
777 Insight Radio 	11223	V	EB1
790 TWR Radio	11223	V	EB1
307 Movies4men2+1	11259	V	EB1
403 Showcase	11259	V	EB1
504 B4U Music	11259	V	EB1
651 Renault TV	11259	V	EB1
692 Revelation	11259	V	EB1
142 True Ent	11307	V	EB1
302 True Movies 1	11307	V	EB1
303 True Movies 2	11307	V	EB1
500 Chart Show TV	11307	V	EB1
501 The Vault	11307	V	EB1
502 Flava	11307	V	EB1
503 Scuzz	11307	V	EB1
516 ChartShowTV + 1	11307	V	EB1
517 Bliss	11307	V	EB1
603 POP	11307	V	EB1
604 POPGirl	11307	V	EB1
605 Tiny pop	11307	V	EB1
606 Kix	11307	V	EB1
134 CBS Drama	11343	V	EB1
204 Euronews	11343	V	EB1
652 Psychic Today	11343	V	EB1
870 Babestation	11343	V	EB1
875 PlayboyTV Chat	11390	V	EB1
205 France 24	11426	V	EB1
208 Bloomberg TV	11426	V	EB1
801 price drop	11426	V	EB1
693 Islam Channel	11526	V	EB1
815 Jewellery Ch	11526	V	EB1
203 Al Jazeera English	11680	V	EB1

MikeJMurphyMJM · 13-02-2012, 11:02

Many thanks ProDave & Grahamlthompson;

Appreciate the information .. learning good info as a result .

For complete accuracy I have checked that Trix model and its actually an older Triax TX10 which is still what ProDave describes above as a "Generic Free to Air Receiver" which receives available FTA satellite channels. Seems like a good description for it ... does what it says on the tin .. I take it from your comments above that other specific receivers contain a more sophisticated EPG software package .. which elevates the units description to a "Freesat receiver" which also receives available FTA satellite channels.

I understand the tuning process confusion now .. not obvious before so appreciate that .. so you are saying for example that if I set it to scan for Free to Air channels on say Hotbird or any other satellite it goes through tuning process on screen , pops up channels as it finds them, but it is actually finding that channel on Astra 28.2 not on Hotbird , and it adds that channel located to the list incrementing the full channel list up by one. So that channel may now be on list as say channel 157 ( as found originally on an earlier Astra 28.2 scan .. and now again as channel 512 on this repeated scan for example.

Why would receiver show concurrent intensity and quality signal from Astra 19 degrees and Astra 28.2 of approx 80% if LNB can only see one satellite .. say Astra 28.2 ?

GrahamtThompson certainly lists several FTA channels on that Astra 19 degree satellite that are being received and viewed as part of that sequenced favorites list that I have defined for my mother... unless that same channel is broadcast concurrently on both Astra 19 and also on Astra 28.2 ..?

Appreciate all the great help ....Mike

Chris Simon · 13-02-2012, 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeJMurphyMJM

I take it from your comments above that other specific receivers contain a more sophisticated EPG software package .. which elevates the units description to a "Freesat receiver" which also receives available FTA satellite channels.

Yes, Freesat-branded receivers (see this list) have a managed 7-day EPG and do automatic scanning and retuning, much like Freeview or Sky.

Quote:

if I set it to scan for Free to Air channels on say Hotbird or any other satellite it goes through tuning process on screen , pops up channels as it finds them, but it is actually finding that channel on Astra 28.2 not on Hotbird , and it adds that channel located to the list incrementing the full channel list up by one.

FTA receivers have a database of satellites and what frequencies are broadcast on each one, so when you tell it to scan Hotbird it will look for Hotbird frequencies, but if the dish isn't pointed at Hotbird then it will find channels on Astra that are broadcast on those frequencies.

Quote:

So that channel may now be on list as say channel 157 ( as found originally on an earlier Astra 28.2 scan .. and now again as channel 512 on this repeated scan for example.

Yes.

Quote:

Why would receiver show concurrent intensity and quality signal from Astra 19 degrees and Astra 28.2 of approx 80% if LNB can only see one satellite .. say Astra 28.2 ?

Because you've told it that it's pointing at both positions! As far as the receiver is concerned, it's looking at Astra 19 for some channels but they're actually coming from Astra 28.

Quote:

GrahamtThompson certainly lists several FTA channels on that Astra 19 degree satellite that are being received and viewed as part of that sequenced favorites list that I have defined for my mother... unless that same channel is broadcast concurrently on both Astra 19 and also on Astra 28.2 ..?

Nope - both these channels positions are coming from Astra 28, it's just that they were found when you told it to scan for Astra 19. Unless the channels are foreign ones in which case I'm totally baffled! Which channels are the ones that are duplicated?

[PS. Graham's list is actually Eurobird 1. This is at 28.5E which to all intents and purposes is the same position as Astra 28. Freesat is split across these positions. ]

MikeJMurphyMJM · 13-02-2012, 15:01

Chris , many thanks .. excellent answer .. really now starting to understand this .. that explains a lot as regards repeated channels on that full channel list .. I do see foreign channels ( or what I assume are foreign ) repeated ..e.g. CBS Reality & CBS Reality +1 and CNBC men and movies etc .. but this may relate to repeated scans without always deleting all of the channels tuned in from full channel list first ... I have cleared out the list on many previous occasions but have done many tuning scans since as part of resolving the initial issue of channel reception starting to die so I may have reintroduced teh repeated listings... many thanks to all contributions ..Mike

Chris Simon · 13-02-2012, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeJMurphyMJM

I do see foreign channels ( or what I assume are foreign ) repeated ..e.g. CBS Reality & CBS Reality +1 and CNBC men and movies etc

Those are all bog-standard Freesat channels from Astra 28.2E! See http://www.freesat.co.uk/what-you-get/our-channels.

MikeJMurphyMJM · 13-02-2012, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Simon

Those are all bog-standard Freesat channels from Astra 28.2E! See http://www.freesat.co.uk/what-you-get/our-channels.

Thanks Chris .. Well that explains all that so . Last and final question , do the branded freesat receivers that have the more sophisticated EPG and auto retuning etc .. can they if one wishes be used to and pointed at an alternate satellite .. e.g. Hotbird or other ..i.e. do they all have a mode that is not auto designed to work with Astra 28.2. Mike

ProDave · 13-02-2012, 17:47

A freesat branded receiver will automatically list all the UK channels on pre assigned channel numbers with a full 7 day EPG.

It has the big advantage of automatically updating itself if any channels move, new ones are added, or any close down.

It also has a "non freesat mode" where it functions just like the receiver you have, and that mode can be used with other satellites.

11-02-2012, 21:18	#1
MikeJMurphyMJM Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 23	FreeSat Tuning Puzzle New to the forum so first of all hi to all.. interesting initial period reading through various links .. however nothing I could find on my specific problem so here goes .... I need to improve my understanding of Freesat tuning it appears so I am hoping some enlightened person here can help. Configuration Data :- Config on Freesat set to include 3 satellites .. (1)Astra1 19Degrees (2) Hotbird 13Degrees and (3) Astra2 28Degrees All previously showed a signal strength of approx 78%+ and Signal quality 78% also so far as I am aware. 35 channels selected and set up as a favourites channel list. Problem :- Investigating my elderly mothers freesat installation as she reported extreme pixilation of all stations over several days and then loss of channels completely... subsequent recovery of channels with breakup and then complete loss again ... Checked Antenna on receiver and it showed strength 78%+ and 0% on quality on all three satellites I found the centre pin in cable attached at LNB on roof was badly corroded and broken. I cleaned up connection and signal quality on Astra was now back up to 78%+ and all channels restored without picture any loss. However Hotbird still showed Quality 0%. All 35 channels included in my mother's favourite programme list were ok so no issue. Approx 30 mins later my mother reported all gone again .. and when I checked antenna reception sure enough 0% on both Astra's but Hotbird was now showing 72% on quality .. I go up again to dish and this time I slightly bent pin and make sure LNB connection was fully tight .. Astra's now both came back on at 78% but Hotbird now reverted to 0% quality. So can someone explain how the above happens .. with Hotbird signal going up and then down like that? Many thanks .. and appreciate the education .. Mike

13-02-2012, 15:01	#11
MikeJMurphyMJM Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 23	Freesat Tuning Puzzle Chris , many thanks .. excellent answer .. really now starting to understand this .. that explains a lot as regards repeated channels on that full channel list .. I do see foreign channels ( or what I assume are foreign ) repeated ..e.g. CBS Reality & CBS Reality +1 and CNBC men and movies etc .. but this may relate to repeated scans without always deleting all of the channels tuned in from full channel list first ... I have cleared out the list on many previous occasions but have done many tuning scans since as part of resolving the initial issue of channel reception starting to die so I may have reintroduced teh repeated listings... many thanks to all contributions ..Mike

13-02-2012, 17:15	#13
MikeJMurphyMJM Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 23	Freesat Tuning Puzzle Quote: Originally Posted by Chris Simon Those are all bog-standard Freesat channels from Astra 28.2E! See http://www.freesat.co.uk/what-you-get/our-channels. Thanks Chris .. Well that explains all that so . Last and final question , do the branded freesat receivers that have the more sophisticated EPG and auto retuning etc .. can they if one wishes be used to and pointed at an alternate satellite .. e.g. Hotbird or other ..i.e. do they all have a mode that is not auto designed to work with Astra 28.2. Mike

11-02-2012, 21:59	#2
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Freesat doesn't use the Hotbird satellite. It uses Astra 2 at 28.2 and Eurobird at 28.5 degrees http://www.freesat.co.uk/how-to/faqs...t/?page_b736=4 Unless of course you mean something different by Freesat ?

11-02-2012, 21:59	#3
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	I thought you only need to be receiving Astra at 28.2E for all the Freesat channels LINK

11-02-2012, 22:24	#4
MikeJMurphyMJM Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 23	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr Freesat doesn't use the Hotbird satellite. It uses Astra 2 at 28.2 and Eurobird at 28.5 degrees http://www.freesat.co.uk/how-to/faqs...t/?page_b736=4 Unless of course you mean something different by Freesat ? Thanks for reply ChrisJr & Chris Frost Nope .. Freesat is the correct term all right .. It was my understanding that certain FTA channels were being obtained from each of these respective satellites ( up to now that is ) I need to double check the satellite data on that receiver in case I miss remember it .. perhaps the selection of Astra at 19 and Hotbird at 13 is simply doing nothing ... regardless however of that do you have any idea why the receiver's signal on the hotbird satellite could hop up and down with that connection while Astra 1 & 2 does the exact opposite ... the receiver is not making up the reading I am sure ... back later .. I will go to my mothers and verify that selection on the satellites is as I said... back in 30mins..appreciate the help ... Mike

11-02-2012, 22:36	#5
ProDave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Northern Scottish Highlands Posts: 11,307	Perhaps you need to post the make and model of the receiver so there is no doubt if it is a freesat receiver or not. Then tell us are there multiple LNB's (and multiple cables to the dish) or just one cable to one LNB on the dish? And then tell us exactly which channels are giving problems. One thing worth trying is simply unplug the box and plug it back in to re boot it.

11-02-2012, 23:29	#6
MikeJMurphyMJM Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 23	Quote: Originally Posted by ProDave Perhaps you need to post the make and model of the receiver so there is no doubt if it is a freesat receiver or not. Then tell us are there multiple LNB's (and multiple cables to the dish) or just one cable to one LNB on the dish? And then tell us exactly which channels are giving problems. One thing worth trying is simply unplug the box and plug it back in to re boot it. Thanks ProDave .. appreciate the time .. Sorry , I should have of course stated that it is a single LNB & single cable setup running on a FTA SD Triax receiver .. which think is a model SR110 based on a quick search on the internet. Receiver has been retuned after power off and all channels that are in my mothers favorite list are being received loud and clear. So the only problem I have is a learning one ..which is why when the faulty connection was causing zero % reception on Astra 1 & 2 satellites , did the signal intensity & quality on Hotbird jump into action up to 78%+ or so? When the connection was fixed for the 2nd time , hotbird dropped away again ( and has stayed down at zero since ) while ASTRA 1 & 2 are now coming in at 90% intensity 86% quality .. Current satellites selected in receiver configuration are confirmed as Astra 19E , Hotbird 13E, and Astra Eurobird 28.2. 19E & 28.2 are both showing 90% intensity and 86% quality which is good. Hotbird showing 3% quality So no existing channel receiving problem .. just a lack of understanding why hotbird signal jumps when astra was not being received.. many thanks Mike

12-02-2012, 09:19	#7
ProDave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Northern Scottish Highlands Posts: 11,307	The Triax SR110 is NOT a "freesat" receiver. It's what most here refer to as a "generic Free to air receiver" It does not have the proprietarty freesat EPG to automatically list the UK channels in a specific order on specific numbers. It is capable of scanning any satellite you connect to it, and automatically finding all the free channels and listing them, but usually listed in the order it finds them. You then have to sort out your favourite lists to list the channels you want, as you want them. It can get very confusing. You can "tell" the receiver to scan say hotbird. BUT if it is only connected to one dish with one LNB, if can't possibly scan hotbird at all. But it will still try, and it will still find some channels (from Astra 2 that it's connected to) which is the cause of your confusion about which satellite you are receiving from. The point of having it select different satellites, is when the receiver is connected to a motorised dish, or a multi LNB dish with a diseqc switch, then it will correctly switch to and receive from multiple satellites. I suggest you delete ALL your channels, and then just scan Astra 2. That will list all the FTA channels that you will ever receive with your 1 dish and 1 LNB. Then sort out your favourites and list them as you want them. Forget trying to scan Astra 1 or Hotbird, that won't produce any channels from those satellites.

13-02-2012, 11:02	#9
MikeJMurphyMJM Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 23	Many thanks ProDave & Grahamlthompson; Appreciate the information .. learning good info as a result . For complete accuracy I have checked that Trix model and its actually an older Triax TX10 which is still what ProDave describes above as a "Generic Free to Air Receiver" which receives available FTA satellite channels. Seems like a good description for it ... does what it says on the tin .. I take it from your comments above that other specific receivers contain a more sophisticated EPG software package .. which elevates the units description to a "Freesat receiver" which also receives available FTA satellite channels. I understand the tuning process confusion now .. not obvious before so appreciate that .. so you are saying for example that if I set it to scan for Free to Air channels on say Hotbird or any other satellite it goes through tuning process on screen , pops up channels as it finds them, but it is actually finding that channel on Astra 28.2 not on Hotbird , and it adds that channel located to the list incrementing the full channel list up by one. So that channel may now be on list as say channel 157 ( as found originally on an earlier Astra 28.2 scan .. and now again as channel 512 on this repeated scan for example. Why would receiver show concurrent intensity and quality signal from Astra 19 degrees and Astra 28.2 of approx 80% if LNB can only see one satellite .. say Astra 28.2 ? GrahamtThompson certainly lists several FTA channels on that Astra 19 degree satellite that are being received and viewed as part of that sequenced favorites list that I have defined for my mother... unless that same channel is broadcast concurrently on both Astra 19 and also on Astra 28.2 ..? Appreciate all the great help ....Mike

13-02-2012, 13:34	#10
Chris Simon Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Snowdonia Posts: 2,725	Quote: Originally Posted by MikeJMurphyMJM I take it from your comments above that other specific receivers contain a more sophisticated EPG software package .. which elevates the units description to a "Freesat receiver" which also receives available FTA satellite channels. Yes, Freesat-branded receivers (see this list) have a managed 7-day EPG and do automatic scanning and retuning, much like Freeview or Sky. Quote: if I set it to scan for Free to Air channels on say Hotbird or any other satellite it goes through tuning process on screen , pops up channels as it finds them, but it is actually finding that channel on Astra 28.2 not on Hotbird , and it adds that channel located to the list incrementing the full channel list up by one. FTA receivers have a database of satellites and what frequencies are broadcast on each one, so when you tell it to scan Hotbird it will look for Hotbird frequencies, but if the dish isn't pointed at Hotbird then it will find channels on Astra that are broadcast on those frequencies. Quote: So that channel may now be on list as say channel 157 ( as found originally on an earlier Astra 28.2 scan .. and now again as channel 512 on this repeated scan for example. Yes. Quote: Why would receiver show concurrent intensity and quality signal from Astra 19 degrees and Astra 28.2 of approx 80% if LNB can only see one satellite .. say Astra 28.2 ? Because you've told it that it's pointing at both positions! As far as the receiver is concerned, it's looking at Astra 19 for some channels but they're actually coming from Astra 28. Quote: GrahamtThompson certainly lists several FTA channels on that Astra 19 degree satellite that are being received and viewed as part of that sequenced favorites list that I have defined for my mother... unless that same channel is broadcast concurrently on both Astra 19 and also on Astra 28.2 ..? Nope - both these channels positions are coming from Astra 28, it's just that they were found when you told it to scan for Astra 19. Unless the channels are foreign ones in which case I'm totally baffled! Which channels are the ones that are duplicated? [PS. Graham's list is actually Eurobird 1. This is at 28.5E which to all intents and purposes is the same position as Astra 28. Freesat is split across these positions. ]

13-02-2012, 16:09	#12
Chris Simon Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Snowdonia Posts: 2,725	Quote: Originally Posted by MikeJMurphyMJM I do see foreign channels ( or what I assume are foreign ) repeated ..e.g. CBS Reality & CBS Reality +1 and CNBC men and movies etc Those are all bog-standard Freesat channels from Astra 28.2E! See http://www.freesat.co.uk/what-you-get/our-channels.

13-02-2012, 17:47	#14
ProDave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Northern Scottish Highlands Posts: 11,307	A freesat branded receiver will automatically list all the UK channels on pre assigned channel numbers with a full 7 day EPG. It has the big advantage of automatically updating itself if any channels move, new ones are added, or any close down. It also has a "non freesat mode" where it functions just like the receiver you have, and that mode can be used with other satellites.

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