Improving Freesat Reception In France

D

dagr13

New Member
My Satellite Setup
Strong HD decoder
My Location
Paris, France
Hello,
I receive most UK freesat channels on Astra 28.2E without problem, but recently I've noticed a few channels have a quarter frequency setting (e.g. Film4 is on 10714.25) and the image quality is not great, if i can get anything at all. I'm assuming it's this .25 offset that's causing the problem.

I usually programme my satellite decoder manually, but it doesn't have the .25 frequency option.
Do newer decoders have this more detailed frequency selection? If so, can someone recommend one.
Thanks
David.
 
I doubt it

The universal LNBs nowadays have a capture rate that is around 1-2 MHz and the AFC or most receivers will lock onto the centre of a transponder , which is normally between 20 and 30 MHz for a satellite mux.

Since you are a few miles from the UK borders the Freesat signal issue is most likely down to a misaligment of the dish (or just a bit too small) though if you can, change the LNB for something more modern that comes from a recognised manufacturer as opposed to a branding exercise.
 
That won't be the issue. Receivers cope innately with small discrepancies in frequencies.

Image quality, with Digital transmissions, is predominantly determined at source, providing the received signal is locked and stable.

If, however, you've got signs of marginal reception (pixellation, etc) then there might be an alignment issue and/or a dish size issue.
 
Thanks for the quick replies. All my material is pretty old, so will probably upgrade. My dish is only about 50cm, but it's done well for the last 10 years or so. I just found it weird that it was those channels with the .25 that posed a problem recently. I don't have an issue with round-number frequencies.
I'll start a new thread on what to buy. Cheers.
 
dagr13 said:
I'll start a new thread on what to buy. Cheers.
Click to expand...

Just carry on using this one - the background is already here. We can amend the Thread Title for you ........
 
Can anyone recommend an HD satellite decoder for Astra 28.2°E Freesat, preferably one that can be bought over the Internet and delivered to France?
The main aspects would be technical robustness and ease-of-use.
Ideally, it would also have two or more tuners (for recording while watching) and an automatic set-up of UK Freesat channels.
I'm also up for a recommended LNB, single or double headed. (I have a second decoder downstairs that I use occasionally, but generally not when the main one is powered up). Many thanks.
 
I'm currently using a Humax HD Freesat receiver here in Normandy. I think I got a friend to bring it over but I'm sure you can locate a vendor who would deliver to France. It's available with more than one tuner and has been ultra reliable and easy to use during the last couple of years. I use an 80cm dish for Freesat BTW, it may be a bit bigger than required but there's quite a wide rain margin by having that size.
 
I would still look at improving what is upstairs first before replacing the receiver. A good installer with the right analyser will be able to advise on the actual fault before parting with money.
 
Have altered Thread title
 
Best to replace the dish and lnb first. Bigger dish with decent lnb will not cost a fortune, plenty of s/h dishes for sale.
 
Thanks again for the replies. I think my LNB dates from around 2003, so will replace that. My 50cm dish probably dates from 2008/9 and although it works well in general, I had a close look last night and there is quite a bit of rust on it. Very dense rain clouds do affect reception, but the interruption rarely lasts more than 10-15 minutes, and it happens less than 10 times per year. The dish is sheltered, so strong winds rarely affect it. I'll probably get an 80cm dish locally, just to give me that buffer.

Sonnetpete, does your Humax automatically know the current UK Freesat transponder frequencies, or is it as I do now where I enter all the relevant transponder details manually, and then adjust manually as the channels move (which is a pain as it means acquiring all that transponder's channels and then manually deleting those channels I don't want)? I'd really like to have the channels set up automatically.
Cheers
 
dagr13 said:
Sonnetpete, does your Humax automatically know the current UK Freesat transponder frequencies, or is it as I do now where I enter all the relevant transponder details manually, and then adjust manually as the channels move (which is a pain as it means acquiring all that transponder's channels and then manually deleting those channels I don't want)? I'd really like to have the channels set up automatically.
Cheers
Click to expand...

It's pretty much plug and play from what I remember when I set it up. The main thing is to program it with your chosen UK post code during set up so you can get your local news in the correct place. There's definitely no need to enter transponder details etc. It was this model :

Freesat receiver
 
I had a look at the linked device :Humax HB-1100S HD TV Freesat Receiver
will this work in France without having to disguise as a UK dweller?
 
rodscha said:
I had a look at the linked device :Humax HB-1100S HD TV Freesat Receiver
will this work in France without having to disguise as a UK dweller?
Click to expand...

I think that if you do not input a UK post code it takes you back to the menu. Personally I'd just use a London post code to get it working. However, it should still work in France no matter which post code you use.
 
I found a couple of UK sites via amazon.co.uk selling the Humax, but they don't deliver to France. I found a site called TVCorner.com which seems to have a French office selling it at a reasonable price. Anyone heard of this website?
Thanks.
 
As mentioned numerous times before, I would not buy a receiver just yet.

Things are changing with the transmission standards and the new designs have not reached the shops yet.

New 4k box now available

I don't suppose many on here will be interested in such a restrictive device, but anyway... The third generation of Freesat devices has been released. At present, only the '4K TV Box' is available - with 500GB, 1TB & 2TB PVRs to be released in the coming weeks. These boxes will sit alongside...
www.satellites.co.uk www.satellites.co.uk
 
Channel Hopper, any idea how long to wait till these new (G3 ?) boxes become available? If it's just a few weeks, then I might wait. If over 3 months, say, then I'll probably switch now as my decoder's remote control is also starting to play up.
 
dagr13 said:
Thanks again for the replies. I think my LNB dates from around 2003, so will replace that. My 50cm dish probably dates from 2008/9 and although it works well in general, I had a close look last night and there is quite a bit of rust on it. Very dense rain clouds do affect reception, but the interruption rarely lasts more than 10-15 minutes, and it happens less than 10 times per year. The dish is sheltered, so strong winds rarely affect it. I'll probably get an 80cm dish locally, just to give me that buffer.

Sonnetpete, does your Humax automatically know the current UK Freesat transponder frequencies, or is it as I do now where I enter all the relevant transponder details manually, and then adjust manually as the channels move (which is a pain as it means acquiring all that transponder's channels and then manually deleting those channels I don't want)? I'd really like to have the channels set up automatically.
Cheers
Click to expand...
I would go with at least a 1 metre dish, the bigger the better for rain fade problems.
 
FWIW, this morning I happened to be looking at the RIcher Sounds website "Clearance" section and noticed that they appear to have a few HUMAX Freesat HD receivers available (I think they are in the Webstore rather than at individual branches)
 
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