Loading ...Feb 12 2010
Freesat last evening launched their information channel on 999. Take a look.
(we’ll update this page with more information soon)
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February 12th, 2010 at 10:54 am
ITV player coming to Freesat it would seem.
What about Project Canvas?
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 11:00 am
Very good – easy to use – hopefully will be filled up with useful info soon.
SCMQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Subtitles on ITV HD would be nice. Very basic requirement.
RodQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
The information doesn’t look very pretty at the moment. weird colour schemes. Hope things will improve in time.
ZubQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
it would be nice to get all available normal channels on it, im currently still using freeview with freesat hd just to get most channels but it its a nightmare of wiring and boxes
shouldn’t we have all ch4 channels by now and ch4 hd channels???
how about all ch5 channels and ch5 hd channels for a start??
im very disapointed with it at the mo…. looks like freeview hd will have more when that launches so another box!!
come on freesat im sure you can sort more channels and especially more hd channels!!!
larryQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I personnally think FreesatHD should be done for false advertising! one kinda almost full channel HD from BBC, made up of 4 channels of whichever program was recorded in HD, and itv’s press red now for HD channel, which isn’t, so you may have up to 10 or so programs a week from them in HD, thats it, I feel so conned.
maryQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Personally I don’t care whether it looks pretty or not.I want it to do what it says on the tin,because imo one of Freesats failings has been a lack of information.So well done Freesat for addressing this matter.
terryhQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Once again we go around in circles on comparing Freeview and Freesat and channel line ups
adminQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
@admin
Could not agree more. When will folks get it straight that Freesat and Freeview are entirley different and that probably, what you will not get on one you will get on the other and vice versa!!!! Folks should also be very, very aware about the limitations of Freeview – they will suffer from bandwidth restrictions for channels in a similar way that Freesat are currently hamstrung by availability.
Give me Freesat anytime. Remember, for both the operative word is FREE [apart from the box cost]
Regards
Paul S WattsQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Why did you choose Freesat? HD content (62%, 374 votes) need I say more.We all brought a HD freesat to see HDTV.Been over a year now and still only 2 HD channels.Yes we know theres not enough bandwidth to add anymore HD Channels.But what about adding another satellite or Offcom forcing Sky to give some bandwidth for more HD channels.
EricPQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
With this being “the week they screwed up iPlayer”, it would be nice to have up to date information on the current access method. On Sunday night there was no BBC red button service at all, Monday morning they implemented the MHEG check to see if the box was connected which meant that it downloaded the front page of the interactive service from the web with a page 7001 iPlayer option listed. That was taken down when apparently it caused file access problems. iPlayer access reverted to code 5483
Then they had a second go at it mid week and all seemed well. Access was, if anything, quicker.
Today they again took it down and the file access problems have returned (though the freeze happens less often) together with the need to key in the “secret” code 5483,
Maybe they could also mention the glitch in the option menu where wrong thumbnails appear against a programme. Doctors seems to adopt the “Newsround” logo at the drop of a hat.
PeterQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
@ Peter
Can we all remember that iPlayer is still in Beta test phase. This is NOT the final incarnation and sure, we must accept that it will be a while longer before all the bugs are ironed out.
Maybe, for some who bemoan the efforts and occasional shortfalls, the BBC should have kept it a closed Beta test and not let us all witness the process.
@EricP
For my part, not having to pay The Aussie money grabber for ahalf decent service was more than a hook. To get even one HD was a bonus. If more are forthcoming, even better. But Freesat is in the hands of the Sat operators and sure Offcom could probably do more. But, if anyone is unhappy with what we get for free at this stage, pay for it and get more.
I will stick with what I have and be pleased.
Kindest regards
@Eric
Paul S WattsQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
I wonder how many of you posters above that are banging on about Freesat and the lack of HD channels available are people that do not read labels prior to purchase?
I think some would be annoyed if they unwrapped a golden egg just because they did not get a chocolate one!
Ste RushQuote
February 12th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
@ Peter
Freesat have not screwed up i player it is produced by the BBC and it has been pointed out that i player is in the beta stage at present.I too opted for freesat for free hd content which I have I don’t believe we have been conned and if it had not been for this recession we would most certainly have seen more channels,but if the channels are short of money how can that be Freesats fault ? Terry
terryhQuote
February 13th, 2010 at 1:38 am
@TerryH – I did not say that Freesat screwed it up, merely that THEY are failing to use their new information pages to keep people up to date.
Freesat however do now promote the iPlayer through this new information service. They also happen to have a very major shareholder in the form of the BBC. While it is a beta test, it is rather pointless if nobody new to the system is aware of the changes being made. The Freesat information pages, which is the subject of this thread, specifically states you key in 5483. This only works when the use of 7001 is not in effect. When in what is likely to be final mode, 5483 is not recognised.
I realise that when the MHEG status test is turned on, the interactive front page is downloaded and has the direct link however this is confusing for an inexperienced user bearing in mind the Freesat instructions.
Your other point is not really the subject of this thread but it is not lack of money that is making C4HD unavailable, it is Sky parking encrypted or trash channels like shopping and religious specialities (which do not have the copyright problems needing restricted access) on the only transponder with a limited footprint. They are deliberately doing this, thereby not only making C4HD but also the various C5 and Virgin channels that are FTA on Freeview unavailable to Freesat owners. This means they can claim to offer a greater choice if you subscribe to their paid service. It is a similar thing to their alleged breaking of the BSB encoding system and releasing it which led to the failure of the first official direct satellite broadcasting system. They are running scared of the likelihood they will loose over 15% of their premium HD subscribers when FreeviewHD becomes widely available.
My own view is that OfCom and the Competition authorities should investigate Sky’s practices in the allocation of slots on the Astra transponders they control but that is unlikely to happen before the general election. Without such action, we will probably have to wait until 2012 for more HD services on Freesat.
PeterQuote
February 13th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Still this comparision between FreeSat & FreeView, The answer will be to buy a Freeview HD box as well, (now available at argos), this is what I plan to do when the HD service becomes available this April in Devon, That it seems is the only way to receive all FREE HD & SD CHANNELS at this present time, I wonder if a conbined FreeSat / Freeview HD PVR will become available, as their seems to be a gap in the market for one, and would save on cost all that extra wiring.
OyodiQuote
February 13th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
@ Oyodi
Your suggestion is logical tho you should note that any such box would have to go through the double approval process of getting a “Freesat” and “Freeview” authority. There are also slight technical differences between the two signals. Put simpy, currently broadcast. BBC HD DVB-S2 ie Freesat has dynamic encoded so the bit rate varies according to the demands of the images. Their DVB-T2 signals (Freeview HD) use static encoding or a fixed bit rate.
You will see that the satellite box will need to detect and take account of these changes in bit rate when decoding the signal however this is not (curently) needed for Freeview. I am not sure if the technical specification for approval requires it for the terrestrial version. If not, there should be simpler and less demanding software for -view compared to -sat.
PeterQuote
February 13th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
#17 Peter
I think you have the Freesat and Freeview bit rate specs the wrong way round.
“Put simpy, currently broadcast. BBC HD DVB-S2 ie Freesat has dynamic encoded so the bit rate varies according to the demands of the images”
If only BBC HD did use a variable bit rate on satellite (Freesat)! Unfortunately, it is a fixed bit rate of 9.7 Mb/s which is why the picture quality suffers when the content gets more demanding,.
I believe BBC HD on Freeview will use a variable bit rate.
Derek (Original)Quote
February 13th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
@Peter,
Well put there on the subject of Sky’s unfair practice and I for one would like to see a review by the European Commission and/or Ofcom. The Astra 2D transponder issue must be something SES (the Satellite operator) is getting constantly questioned about by broadcasters wanting space on there for more FTA services, sadly this is out of Ofcom’s remit as it’s 22,500 miles out in space!
My reckoning, and as I’ve mentioned previously, is that once SES launch a new Satellite for their 23.5E position and, as it is widely known, their existing craft at 23.5E will be moving to 31.5E, it’s anticipated Astra 2C which is serving the Eastern European and Turkish markets from this position will move back to 28.2E. This would allow SES to move these five encrypted Sky TP’s to 2C, add important overall satellite redundancy to 28.2E (Astra 2A, B and D are all ageing craft) and open up TP bandwidth on 2D for more FTA services, including potential HD.
Whilst Sky have contracts with SES for their Satellite capacity I’m sure, if SES are forward thinking, that this only goes as far as providing a level of guaranteed footprint coverage over a territory and not necessarily as far as to which individual satellite they lease a transponder from! In the case of the 2D footprint, a move of these services to 2C would provide a bigger footprint so be an improvement for them, encryption ensures UK copyrights are maintained.
Sky would like the average Jo Bloggs to think they ‘own’ the Satellites but they don’t, SES who do and I’m sure have the final say! In the 28.2E ku band frequency plan spectrum exists for 2C TP’s as it was originally intended, hence it’s name, to live at 28.2E despite spending the majority of it’s life so far at 19.2E and recently 31.5E when SES lost Astra 5A in orbit.
People here talk about 2012 as being the date before more FTA services arrive on Freesat due to the new crafts being launched but there are options prior to this. The powers that be at SES in Luxembourg must be fully aware of what actions to take and how to accommodate a growing FTA market with what they already have floating around in geostationary orbit.
I hope the forthcoming World Cup and the associated ITV HD and BBC HD coverage bolsters Freesat’s marketing, awareness and sales figures. The more people buying hardware means more services on the EPG which in turn means more choice which also gives a level playing field alternative to Sky and it’s about time we had real choice on Satellite platforms in the UK.
Freeview may get a brief HD headstart this year but in the longterm Satellite is going to have miles more bandwidth. A thought shared with many colleagues of mine who also work in the broadcast industry.
NeilQuote
February 13th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
@Neil
My understanding is that Sky leased the entire transponder capacity with the UK limited footprint from SES and controls what channels are broadcast from it and if these are encrypted or not through its sub-lease contracts. That would have been logical for SES as Sky was by then the only generally available satellite service.
Sky is a private company controlled (but not owned by) a ruthless family intent on killing public service FTA broadcasting or indeed any free distribution of information.Newscorp is moving most of its newspaper content here and in the USA behind a pay wall. My view is that it is outrageous than a company owned by the British public (Channel 4) which has a public service remit should have been suckered into lining their coffers by having 4HD and other channel encrypted. It is also outrageous that EU rules allow them to pretend to provide their service from another country with a lower VAT rate as I understand it has also done. Its magazine has the highest distribution number in the UK and therefore can command the highest advertising rates because it is “included” in a Sky subscription with no opt-out of paying for it.
PeterQuote
February 13th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Freesat has lived up to it promises.
I bought my Panasonic Freesat TV just over a year ago and I’ve watched loads of great HD and SD programming with rock solid picture and audio. In a few hours the set will be updated again and I’ll have the promised iPlayer onboard too.
More HD channels will come but we’ve got the ultimate one already – BBC HD – probably the best free TV channel anywhere in the world.
It can’t get much better but I’m sure the channel line up will improve slowly.
I’m more than happy with the way it is now – oh and the World Cup is coming, all in HD (if you have Freesat of course…)
NatQuote
February 14th, 2010 at 12:40 am
@Peter
I wasn’t aware the whole 2D TP payload was leased to Sky, I’m thus assuming that the BBC and ITV lease all their TP’s to Sky rather than direct to SES? I think one of ITV’s TP’s lease on 2D ran out which is why six regions went back to Videoguard encryption on a wide-beam Satellite (2A/B), suspect it’s one of these currently occupied by Sky? I’m assuming the BBC have a lease until at least 2012 then?
Yep, I’m 110% with you that Sky have ruthless tactics and these like what you mention won’t last much longer once SES gets the newer Satellites in to orbit from 2012 onwards. Reports state Sky could loose up to 15% of their premium HD customers with the launch of Freeview HD, Murdoch will be rather upset!
I also fully agree Channel 4 as a PSB channel should not be putting it’s FTA HD offerings behind Videoguard Encryption and should be platform neutral.
NeilQuote
February 14th, 2010 at 7:56 am
I have both Freesat and Freeview and intend getting a new Freeview HD box when it is available. I will then use both and have the best of both worlds. Having both gives a wider choice and if you are in a good reception area gives a great viewing setup.
AlanQuote
February 14th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Yes it gives you the choice of watching Top Gear repeats on Dave or Five repeats on Fiver and Five USA. Well worth the £179.99 Humax want. (not)
BTW the Humax box is available from the 20th.
Freesat has the capability to expand ad infinitum unlike Freeview which is stuck with 50 ish TV channels and always will be.
As for another box under the telly no way already got Blu-ray and HD-DVD players and Technisat HDFS. The only way I will get Freeview HD is when I buy a new telly and it’s built in as standard like they mostly all or all will be.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 14th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Richard – I ahve my freeview box sited away from the TV with Music System in another cabinet. All works great as all round entertainment system.
AlanQuote
February 14th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
I think we can all give up on the idea that Freesat will get any more HD channels. There is soon going to be a big push & advertising campaign re HD on Freeview. It’s already been announced that BBC HD, ITV1 HD and 4HD will be available initially, with CH5 by the end of 2010.
A further blow is that Sony’s new TV range KDL- series, available from April..all models will have integrated Freeview HD, not a single one with Freesat look at http://www.sony.co.uk/product/t32-nx-series/kdl-40nx503
New Humax Freeview HD box is available now at £179.95 http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10090&cat=stb
LG have also announced Integrated Freeview HD TV’s from March
So this leaves Freesat where it started out, a second best service for people who can’t receive Freeview. Unfortunately,isn’t it.
BarryQuote
February 14th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
@Richard
The reason I would buy a Freeview HD box as well, would be to get CH4HD this April here in Devon with CH5HD coming towards the end of the year. I think it will be worth it for me because I have not the patience to wait until 2012 when the new satellite is launched.
OyodiQuote
February 16th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
I agree with you Barry…………..no more HD channels coming to freesat and I’ve seen that Freeview HD will get channel 4 and five as well as ITV and BBC1. I dont think there has even been a hint of another HD channel being added to freesat. Can someone prove me wrong?
RIP Freesat
pedhedQuote
February 17th, 2010 at 9:59 am
@Oyodi
The Humax Freeview HD box is £179.99.
That’s a lot of money to get a few shows in HD lite which will be a little better than a good upscaled picture can provide on a decent television. I think you should wait and see what the lower bitrate HD pictures are like before rushing out to buy yet another box.
@Barry
How can you say that Freesat will not get any more HD channels. You don’t know that. At least it will have the capacity to expand unlike Freeview which will be limited to 50SD and 4HD.
So Sony have been cheap unlike Panasonic who have just announced a new range of televisions supporting both Freeview HD and Freesat HD.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 17th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
@ Barry
No, C4HD is not being advertised as immediately available on Freeview. They are very carefully marketing it as currently only having BBCHD and ITV1HD. Channel 4 is coming along later but I suspect will be quite soon after launch of the products.
In addition, the recording to external media function that they mention at the launch of the Humax box has been dropped in favour of a comment about the future use of the connections although this could equally refer to BBC iPlayer which should also work.
PeterQuote
February 17th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
@ Peter
I think Freeview are advertising the fact that they will have C4 HD see the link – http://www.freeview.co.uk/freeview/Services/Freeview-HD
Also their MD was on Working Lunch and said they were getting it as well.
pedhedQuote
February 17th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
my earthnet connection to my foxsat as started to nock my wireless out
on my computor i only connected for i player as anybody else had this problem
delQuote
February 18th, 2010 at 1:09 am
@pedhead
Examine the verb tenses carefully. C4HD “Will be” available by the end of March. If you go to the Humax site, you will see they do not claim it is currently available via their box,
http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10090&cat=stb
“Free HD channels from BBC and ITV, no subscription needed” No mention of C4HD. Rather confusingly, Windows Media Centre’s Freeview EPG does tag some C4 programmes as being in HD but it has done this for some time.
As I have a Humax box on order, I shoudl be able to confirm the London position after next week.
PeterQuote
February 18th, 2010 at 11:14 am
I feel I was miss-led by the freesat ads, obviously if you can get freeview (which I can) then thats what you should do. freesat HD for me is one channel with very little on (bbc) and another with even less. after shelling out over £300 I don’t want to waste my money so I’m stuck with freesat. Can some tell me why you would want both freesat and freeview hd, cant see the logic with this surely freeview hd will have all freesat has to offer and more (oh yeah bbci) but I have a pc and anything worth watching is generaly repeated on another bbc channel anyway.
cidQuote
February 27th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
does anyone know how to connect and configure with an ethernet cable
daveQuote
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:59 pm
i am wanting freesat in my static home on england east coast can any 1 tell me which is best way to get this or which box to buy, is any box inc cheap versions gonna work with minimal hastle b& q are offering a cheap model also some 1 told me humax are the only real version to get can any body help thanks
scottiepaulQuote
March 4th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
How can I get this info channel on a Fortec Star Passion+- a new scan found CNBC but not the Info Channel
jayartibeeQuote
March 5th, 2010 at 10:42 am
i have installed freesat,watched freesat….and ultimately been disapointed with freesat.why still no ch4?its not encoded anymore so whats the problem?oh yeah no room.yet you keep adding channels that the majority of people dont give a stuff about.cnbc? bidtv?get a grip put something decent on other wise freeview hd will eventually be your downfall.well that and cable tv, which has more choice and better pictures,even from the upscaling technology along with good deals.
dave smithQuote
March 5th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Freeview cannot be Freesats downfall if you cannot pick up a Freeview signal. Did you mean C4HD, not C4? C4HD is still encrypted (FTV on Sky), taking a nice rate from Sky to keep it that way unfortunately. As for the other channels, well everyone has their favourites, but all channels contribute towards the service.
adminQuote
March 6th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
yes i meant ch4hd.which is no longer encoded by sky and goes out free from astra(using a sky receiver and card i beleive).i saw a report that said the only thing stopping 4hd coming to freesat was bandwith.which again you are wasting with rubbish channels.also think you will find most people are interested in freesat for the lure of watching free hd,which in general you are still not delivering.
press the red button for itv hd anyone?you will only miss the 1st 5 to 10 seconds as the channel switches!hmm not ideal i think.
i really want freesat to succeed,as not everyone is in a cable area,and sky are just out to make money.but come on get rid of the trash
dave smithQuote
April 4th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
there will no doubt be a bit off choppin and changin as we get to speed on freeveiw,freesat.As for text content,or lack of it,i think news suppression and revenue for sky had a part in the demise of the very well constructed old teletext format.not long after analogue shut down it is announced mr murdoch intends to(good journalism ain’t cheap!!) charge for online news.have you seen the service left with itv text ,abyssmal.However I.T.V 1HD appeared on friday night( i picked up the “add channels” prompt during king kong) on retune i was enthralled and delighted with the result.a side note,i.t.v /bbe pragramming for saturday night was superb.I reckon with material such as shown by i.t.v on sat. night will have the ad.revenue flooding back into i.t.v,then we’ll possibly see the hits they used to put together during their hayday again.BBC iplayer on 7001 is pretty good on +1mg ether connection
paul lomaxQuote
October 20th, 2011 at 11:46 am
I have just had freesat fitted as our local candle transmitter –
Glossop, has only 31 freeview channels. I now have a good variety of channels and especially foreign news programs, which in my opinion, are more interesting than our own and give a more worldly outlook together with UK news. I wish in the future, that QUEST, 5USA & 5* could be added to the channel compliment for freesat, instead of rubbishy channels.
Mike CarterQuote