|
||||||||
TV in Spain. |
![]() |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 12
|
TV in Spain.
I am new here, hello
Someone said it was a good place to get advice. I am thinking of moving to Spain...Valencia. Will my British bought TVs, DVD player, HDD/DVD recorderand Digital TV box work in Spain? I am getting different answers from people...... Yes, they will, no problem. No, they wont at all. You will get a picture but no sound??? How can that be. I would have thought if you get a picture you will get sound. All or nothing??? I noticed in Valencia last year that even very tall buildings had very tall poles (10 metres or so) with big aerials. The reception must be very bad in the city. Confused of Leeds, Gracias. |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Central London
Posts: 6,845
|
Quote:
I am thinking of moving to Spain...Valencia.
Will my British bought TVs, DVD player, HDD/DVD recorderand Digital TV box work in Spain? Potentially, if your equipment has been designed to work in the UK only then it won't be able to tune to all transmitted frequencies in Spain, largely since Spain uses both UHF and VHF, whereas the UK is UHF only, hence the UK purchased equipment may not have a VHF tuner. Furthermore, whilst Spain uses the same PAL standard as we do, there is a slight difference in the placement of the audio carrier (it's about 0.5MHz away) hence (unless your TV is multi-standard) you may find no you get a picture but no sound, since the TV is expecting to find the audio on a slightly different frequency. The technical difference is that PAL I is the UK system, whereas PAL B/G is used in Spain - it may describe compatibility in your user handbook. Newer equipment tends to be designed to work across the whole of Europe and is 'multi-standard' therefore will automatically detect the transmission parameters, or require a manual change in the menu somewhere to work. Similar problems may exist with the digital receiver, whilst Spain fundamentally uses DVB-T the same as the UK, a digital receiver that has been specifically designed for the UK market only may ignore or have problems tuning to the Spanish digital channels which will carry slightly different service data such as for the EPG etc. Therefore you might find the digital receiver ignores any non-UK transmission, or expects to find certain UK based service data and dumps all the 'foreign' channels somewhere at the end of the EPG in no particular order. |
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Sussex
Posts: 12,173
|
Just to agree with the above and to add that you could possibly solve some problems by using a spanish bought digital box (whether thats terrestrial or satellite) and feed the video output (via scart) into your UK TV/Video/HDD etc
Connecting things via scart does solve the sound problem mentioned already. It won't help your TV or Video receive directly from the aerial though..... they won't pick up the VHF channels I doubt and almost certainly won't receive the sound. Might be worth selling the current gear and buying more suitable stuff out there. Some gear can be modified to provide sound but it's often not great quality or worth the expense. |
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 12
|
Oh... Thanks very much. I have printed those posts out.
I am coming around to thinking that it may be better to leave my stuff with various members of my family and buy new in Spain if there are likely to be problems. I would have to get it there and it might get damaged. Except maybe for a fairly new small flat screen set which I think does mention it can be used in other parts of Europe (have to find the book). Last time I got a menu up it was in Italian! I was a bit puzzled by the telly in the hotel in Valencia which was just an ordinary telly but you could get Italian and German channels as well as Spanish of course and the local language (no English) just by pressing the ordinary buttons on the remote. It just had a normal TV aerial plug thingy in the back. EDIT... I found the book on the small telly. It says you can select PAL B/G D/K SECAM L etc.. It shows it scanning 66.20 Mhz, 256.25 Mhz and 535.20 Mhz. |
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 6,462
|
Quote:
I was a bit puzzled by the telly in the hotel in Valencia which was just an ordinary telly but you could get Italian and German channels as well as Spanish of course and the local language (no English) just by pressing the ordinary buttons on the remote. It just had a normal TV aerial plug thingy in the back.
The has a whole bunch of satellite and Digital TV receivers for all the different language TV services. All of those boxes then connect to a device (an RF Multiplexer) that puts the whole range of services down a single the aerial leads to each bedroom. When the TV is tuned it picks up the dozens of extra channels so you get more choice. I sell & install the same sort of thing for budget TV distribution around a customer's home. It's pretty flexible and will handle Terrestrial TV, Freeview DVB, Sky, CCTV, FM and DAB. With the right bits of gear you can even change channels on the Sky box and use Sky+ features even if the box is on the other side of the house. Regards |
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Londres, Tierra del Fuego
Posts: 12,952
|
Really not an issue. Even if you can't get perfect reception with what you have a Spanish DVB-T tuner box is as cheap there as it is here. In Valencia you can also pick up Sky providing someone with a UK address will help you out getting a card. You will need a bigger dish than here (1 metre diameter should be sufficient), but the signal is strong right down as far as Marbella.
Also, that hotel probably had a Canal+ satellite box if it had multiple language channels on it. Unfortunately there's very little output in English you can pick up on Canal+ since they use the Astra 1A satellite group at 19˚ East rather than the Astra 2A group that Sky use (at 28˚ East). All the English language channels except BBC World, Eurosport and CNN only use Astra 2A. Sky also maintain an encryption signal on all Astra 2A channels with the exception of the BBC and a few others, so just buying a Canal+ box and targeting your box at Astra 2A won't work. |
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 12
|
Thanks Gentlemen. I think I followed most of that.
I think there was 2 channels from RAI Italy and at least one in German. No sign of any channels in English. Hardly anybody seems to speak English in Valencia. The tall poles on top of blocks of flats look very unslightly. I thought, blimey, they must have problems getting telly here. Apart from the unsightly aerials on the top of the rather run down blocks of flats is it a great city to visit with lovely old building as well as very futuristic buildings. A good Metro/Tram system gets you to a posh beach one way and the airport the other way. Moltes Gracies as they say there. |
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Londres, Tierra del Fuego
Posts: 12,952
|
Quote:
Moltes Gracies as they say there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 12
|
Taxi driver got quite upset when I asked if he spoke Catalan. It is Valenciano but they are very similar.
I don't think many speak it in the city. They do much more in the smaller towns around it. |
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sur de Espaņa.
Posts: 5,724
|
There are DAB digital radio services in Valencia. But you would probably have a DAB radio receiver which doesnt cover the full Band III of DAB.
And the DAB radio in Spain uses other muxes in the low part of the Band III, not only channel 11B . |
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 12
|
Muy bien, gracias.
I had a personal FM set with me. Never thought of taking the DAB. I have now got a combined DAB/FM set....Pure DAB 1500. There was a couple great stations on FM playing mainly música latina. I thought I was in Habana half the time. |
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Londres, Tierra del Fuego
Posts: 12,952
|
Quote:
Taxi driver got quite upset when I asked if he spoke Catalan. It is Valenciano but they are very similar.
I don't think many speak it in the city. They do much more in the smaller towns around it. ![]() Luckily mostly everyone in Catalunya speaks Castillian too, which I do speak. Once I move out there permanently as planned I'll put some serious effort into learning Catalan, especially now that it's been designated the official language of the Generalitat. Bit difficult when you live in London though. |
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,008
|
But you would probably have a DAB radio receiver which doesn't cover the full Band III of DAB.
Rubbish. I have NEVER seen a UK DAB receiver that doesn't cover the full band III. Some are labeled on the back as 216 -240 MHz but that is just (stupid) marketing. They do in fact cover the full band, |
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PO7 UK, Moraira, Costa Blanca
Posts: 478
|
Forget about PAL and TV compatibility as Spain is switching off its analogue service in 2010. I believe some local stations are going off in 2008!
You need to get the Spanish version of freeview which is called TDT. A Spanish TDT box will be compatible with an English TV if it has a SCART socket. Some but not all English freeview boxes work in Spain with the TDT system. See Also: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=310821 http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=491927 Terry |
|
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Granada,Spain
Posts: 54
|
Also Ruiseņor, I live in Granada, and new kit is possibly cheaper here than the UK. I bought a 32" Humax LCD with inbuilt DVB-T for 499 Euros from the MediaMarkt chain. The place was stacked to the ceiling with them!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland
Posts: 2,005
|
Quote:
A Spanish TDT box will be compatible with an English TV if it has a SCART socket.
Some but not all English freeview boxes work in Spain with the TDT system. There are no "English" TVs or Freeview STBs. |
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Londres, Tierra del Fuego
Posts: 12,952
|
Quote:
I think what you meant to say was "UK" standard TVs and STBs
There are no "English" TVs or Freeview STBs. |
|
|
|
|
|
#18 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland
Posts: 2,005
|
Quote:
There are English TVs and STBs all over England as far as I know.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#19 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Londres, Tierra del Fuego
Posts: 12,952
|
Quote:
And people wonder why nationalism rears its head
|
|
|
|
|
|
#20 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,794
|
Quote:
Scots with big chips on their shoulders perhaps?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#21 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland
Posts: 2,005
|
Quote:
Scots with big chips on their shoulders perhaps?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#22 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland
Posts: 2,005
|
Quote:
At least the Scots are allowed to fly their national flag on public buildings!
![]()
|
|
|
|
|
|
#23 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Londres, Tierra del Fuego
Posts: 12,952
|
Quote:
Nope, just normal Scots/Welsh/Irish peeps who come across statements like that made by park_gate and get a wee bit tired of them thinking they're the centre of the universe.
Stop imagining slights that aren't there. It comes across as if you have a victim mentality. |
|
|
|
|
|
#24 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland
Posts: 2,005
|
Quote:
Stop imagining slights that aren't there. It comes across as if you have a victim mentality.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#25 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Sussex
Posts: 12,173
|
Come on now!
The French SECAM thread was bad enough but there's no need to correct every miniscule detail surely and make threads wonder off into complete and utter irrelevance! I woud use the "rollseyes" smiley but I really hate that icon. I'll await some rollingeyes replies. |
|
|
|
![]() |
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 16:53.



