ASTRA 2E now moving to station at 28.5 east

[analogman]

The ASTRA 2E satellite has started to move and has gone from it's testing position of 43.5 East to 40 East in the last couple of days. This means it will be in final position at 28.5 East in a 2-3 weeks. Given the prolonged testing period at 43.5 East they will probably be in a position to switch over channels immediately it is in place. SES announce it would happen in the last two weeks of February, this now looks very probable if not earlier.

[Gary/Gaynor]

So what does it all mean

[analogman]

So what does it all mean

It means that the new ASTRA 2E satellite will be slowly moved to it's final position over the next few weeks and will begin test transmissions and antenna alignment. Once completed the freesat channels will be switched off from the current ASTRA 1N satellite and will start broadcasting from the new UK spot beam antenna from ASTRA 2E. This beam is very strong in the UK but does not spread into Europe in the way that the pan-European ASTRA 1N beam did. So, although some parts of Europe will still receive UK TV with satellite dishes similar in size to those we use in southern Portugal unfortunately, we in the Algarve are in what is called a notch. The signal is extremely weak. Even large three metre dishes are not sufficient. This all assumes that the ASTRA 2E satellite is identical to the ASTRA 2F satellite which was launched last December. We are told it is. Last December Channel Five was moved over to ASTRA 2F and disappeared without trace in the Algarve.

Of course the problem and outcry could all be easily avoided if those powers at the BBC and ITV were to place perhaps just a couple of token channels, say BBC1 and ITV1 on the pan-European beam of the new satellite. At least then we would be able to maintain a basic, and adequate, level of UK TV. Let's hope common sense prevails. Otherwise we will have to turn to Internet based solutions for our UK TV from Nov/Dec time onwards. I hope this helps to clarify rather than confuse further.

[EMM]

Forget the Football.
If the BBC etc is still available on the SKY platform ( not known yet ) any bar that has it should ditch the sports and show Strictly and the other popular sat night progs.

[cumbria sue]

Forget the Football.
If the BBC etc is still available on the SKY platform ( not known yet ) any bar that has it should ditch the sports and show Strictly and the other popular sat night progs.

They want customers in ,not out EMM

[EMM]

I couldn,t agree more but at least a beer or two will dull the pain.
What about the Downton addicts ?? ( 5 mins was enough for us )

[pete-flint]

EMM

Is there a system which will allow U.K. channels to be shown on the internet using non U.K. IPS addresses ?

[Mike Banks]

My son is working in Italy at the moment, and he watches all the main UK channels on
www.filmon.com

[gavinhenson]

EMM

Is there a system which will allow U.K. channels to be shown on the internet using non U.K. IPS addresses ?

There certainly is, it involves renting your own server in the UK for around £20-£30 per month and creating a 'VPN' (Virtual Private Network) to it so it looks like the traffic is coming from your server in the UK. We've just returned from CVO today and used it a few times this last week when the weather wasn't great (all week really!) - of course it was mainly used by the other half for re-runs of strictly come prancing etc etc luckily I have my own server at work in Manchester to 'VPN' to so it's free for me

[laserblazer]

luckily I have my own server at work in Manchester to 'VPN' to so it's free for me

Well I think you should make it available to all members with 5000+ posts who own property in Carvoeiro and aren't scousers.

[maccasa]

fully support that LB - bet it doesnt happen though!

[Jaylay]

My son is working in Italy at the moment, and he watches all the main UK channels on
http://www.filmon.com

Tried it looks good thanks.

[EMM]

The issue with Filmon and others like them is that they are being taken to court in the US and EU because they do not have any rights to re broadcast programs.
They have already been shutdown in parts of the US and this is likely to follow in the EU.

[gavinhenson]

Well I think you should make it available to all members with 5000+ posts who own property in Carvoeiro and aren't scousers.

Nice try I think I would have trouble explaining to my business partner that the reason our network went down is because half of CVO expats are watching Homes Under The Hammer.

In all seriousness though, £20-£30 per month is a small price to pay if you love your UK TV and yearn to see if Bruce Forsyth really is still alive and well on Saturday night prime time! You could even get a few of you to club together and share the server, making it even less per month.

[djprescott]

Well I think you should make it available to all members with 5000+ posts who own property in Carvoeiro and aren't scousers.

Nice try I think I would have trouble explaining to my business partner that the reason our network went down is because half of CVO expats are watching Homes Under The Hammer.

Just tell him it was '60 minute makeover' then!!

PS Hope my wife isn't reading this!!