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BBC iPlayer will begin beta testing on Freesat soon, with a public launch hopefully a month or two later; slightly later than the original Autumn launch. We are aware that a few privileged people are already alpha testing the iPlayer service and have so far been very impressed with it. The testing is presently taking place on the entire range of Freesat receivers with the appropriate software levels installed.
A few lucky customers have been asked to participate in the next stage of testing, following an email sent out today, so if you had previously completed the registration survey supplied with your Freesat digital box or IDTV, then check your inbox, you may have an invite.
For those not so lucky, here is a copy of the email;
Thank you for taking the time to complete the registration survey for the BBC iPlayer on Freesat trial.
We’ve had a huge response from people wanting to take part in the trial, meaning we’ve had to limit the number of participants.
We’re very pleased to inform you that you’ve been selected to take part, and will be one of the very first to road test the service during the beta trial period.
Further details will be emailed to you in early September.
In the meantime if you have any questions please email iplayertrial@freesat.co.uk.
The Freesat team
Revised 28-Aug-09
Whilst the email mentions September, Freesat would like to state that September is not guaranteed for the start of beta testing;
Freesat is unable to confirm a timeframe for iPlayer beta beginning on the platform but continues to work closely with the BBC on its launch.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Yay, some good news….but I think we were originally going to get project Kangaroo, so how about testing the specification to see if it can handle Project Canvas?
Nice that all boxes should be able to get Iplayer though.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
The SD boxes without an ethernet port won’t get it (obviously).
August 27th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Unfortunately it will be of no use to us outside the UK. It is a pity, but understandable.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I hope there will be HD downloads….
August 27th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Daniel, You have the same idea as i did
If we can download HD programs to the box (for 7 days or whateva it is)
Why can’t ITV HD and Channel 4 launch their catchup service to freesat, where we can download HD stuff from their channel.
If their isn’t enough space on the satellite. Why cant we just have out content delivered to our box overnight over the internet?
August 27th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
August 27th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
There is no mechanism for downloads in the system, partly this is because such a system would also require a complex DRM security system to regulate the viewing window.
Bob
August 27th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
All nice and well getting Iplayer, but for many, the service will be constrained by download speeds and usage limits. How many people will see their speeds throttled as a result?
August 28th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Come on Glyn, lets not start being negative. There are far too many ‘glass is half empty’ people on here, remember, the freesat service is free, it was never set up to take on Sky, it helps those people who cannot receive freeview. I for one am really looking forward to the iplayer integration.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:00 am
I agree with post 9, Dan
The point of where freesat is and what it offers for very little cost I still find very good. I would hate to lose this service and have to go back to SKY.
Regards the option of I Player….I really am not particularly bothered about it but I am, like I was when I first got freesat, ready to be pleasantly surprised.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Of course it’s a good news story. I was suggesting that I for one would not be free to watch/download IPlayer data all day, as my usage is capped. Nothing stopping me seeking an alternative ISP offering unlimited I suppose. I will trial Iplayer with the limit I have, then move if it’s impressive.
August 28th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Can anyone tell me how iPlayer works on Freesat? .. do I need to get anything? .. I have a Humax Foxat HD box
sorry if it’s a dumb question lol
August 28th, 2009 at 9:12 am
I would imagine lots of broadband over powerline boxes will be sold, as not everyone will have a router near their freesat receiver. I purchased one and it works like a charm.
August 28th, 2009 at 11:46 am
@ post 13 –
I have ADSL broadband, the socket/router is at one end of the room and the TV at the other.
I was just thinking of running a 10m ethernet cable under the carpet and plug into the back of the 4 port router i have? Would that be fine? Costs about £6 from eBay
August 28th, 2009 at 11:49 am
12. liz
You will be able to watch BBCiPlayer on your TV using your Foxsat HD box. All you need is an ethernet cable to plug into the port on the back and a router to connect it to.
At some stage later this year there will be a firmware upgrade for the Humax to make it all happen then its all up to the BEEB.
August 28th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
@ Jack…
Your solution would be to buy something like a twin Netgear PowerLine adaptor – one for each end of the room (thus negating the need for trailing ethernet cables). This is what I will be doing, as my router is upstairs and my television is downstairs.
Similar products are available from Belkin, Linksys, Max, Devolo and others.
August 28th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Very good news indeed. I will have to purchase one of those generic Plug adaptors too.
“Chris Guest Says:
Similar products are available from Belkin, Linksys, Max, Devolo and others.”
You work for the BBC then I take it Chris!! haha ;o)
August 28th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
14. Jack
The £6 cable would work fine and is far better than spending £50-£100 on those powerline adaptors if everything is in the same room. Besides they are bulky and take up two power outlet sockets and you need to use two ethernet cables to connect your equipment to them.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Just had a look at those powerline adapters mentioned above, for example – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-Powerline-Definition-Ethernet-Adapter/dp/B000GG4PYA Which is £55, would be good is for example router and tv are like upstairs and downstairs.
But for people with router (with multiple ports) and tv in same room, some ethernet cable off eBay i think would be the most economical and would probably give the most reliable connection/stability ? anyone comment on that?
August 28th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Since there is interest, you might like to look at Solwise’s adapters, they are cheaper and in my opinion better. {link removed, please don’t self promote}
August 28th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Jack, if you can happily run a cable it’s the cheapest and best solution
August 28th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I can’t see why people are moaning about been capped and bandwidth.
You must be on a seriously cheap ISP if you havt got unlimited downloads and upto 8mb speed.
I don’t like to promote BT, but I have unlimited anytime calls, unlimited bandwidth and upto 8mb and I get around 6.5 to 7 mb speed.
I certinely will be using iplayer on freesat and order a powerline Ethernet adapter.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Bt charge me £32 a month for all that with a 2nd landline number
well worth it.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
@Alex
Wait until you possibly live in an area without such capabilities. Much of the country still struggle to obtain 2meg and many ISP’s still cap bandwidth; BT are an exception on their higher package yet they aren’t the most reliable.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Power line adapters are a very bad idea. They generate huge radio interference over the short wave bands because you are operating what is effectively an unbalanced antenna (i.e. sending a radio signal over a power cable, which was not designed for that purpose). The signal WILL travel outside your house.
If a neighbour complains of interference to their radio reception or your power line adapater causes “harmful interference” to users of radio services Ofcom have powers to require you to stop using them. A little known fact is that they are supplied by BT Vision, and Ofcom Field Engineers have already required BT to hard wire hundreds of houses in response to complaints.
Tucked away in the very small print of the data sheets of most of these devices is a warning that they may cause interference (i.e. don’t try to blame the manufacturer if Ofcom confiscate your units…..
)
In my view they will eventually be removed from sale because of the on-going problems. Use Wi-Fi instead – it is much better.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
@Alex
I’m uncapped and on an up to 8Mbps package, but average around 300-500Kbps! It’s not the ISP or the package that’s the problem, it’s the terrible quality of the infrastructure in some areas.
@Jack
Yes, an ethernet cable is by far the cheapest, fastest and most reliable solution. It’s only disadvantage is that you have to route it somehow.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Tony Hales .. thanks for the info
.. just need to work out how to get my router a bit closer to the box now lol
August 28th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Congratulations Derek – you win this year award for complete nonsense!
Powerline adaptors are faster than Wi-Fi
Powerline adaptors are much more reliable than Wi-Fi
Powerline adaptors are much more secure than Wi-Fi
With regard to interference, my neighbours didn’t ask me if I wanted 8 different Wi-Fi connections beamed through my house.
Wi-Fi is fine if you can’t afford the £50 upgrade to Powerline technology but don’t you knock it until you’ve tried it.
I’m sure The FreeSat iPlayer will be great with a decent internet ethernet connection – so that rules out Wi-Fi…
August 28th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Just revised the post, Freesat have just advised me that September cannot be confirmed as the testing month for iPlayer, it merely mentions in the email that the lucky few will be contacted in September. Hopefully it will be though!
August 28th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Freesat just lost another three channels.
August 28th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
My last comment on the broadband thing. I’m on 40GB a month, which is probably quite a generous allowance and I am downloading at about 7Mbit. I don’t really know what an average IPlayer prog uses in terms of bandwidth, but I don’t want to feel like I’m paying for it, which I will (in MBs) with a capped service. Secondly and in response to the post of Tony Hale (above), Is there a website where we can see at a glance what is added/removed from the Freesat platform, as it happens?
August 28th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Glyn
Not as it happens but check the Joinfreesat channel listings for updates.
Channels removed today
802 Pitch TV 804 Pitch World 852 Smart Live TV
August 28th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Unfortunately there are people here that don’t understand that there are some of us who can only get a maximum of 1 Mbps through their telephone exchange. My ISP doesn’t cap me but BT cripples me! And the government want me to pay extra so that others will get even faster speeds and leave me trailing even further behind.
August 28th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
It would appear from story on Digital Spy that this is all hot air and the full technical settings are not yet sorted and BBC and Freesat are working finalising it before the Beta launch. So it looks like we are more than a month or two away
August 28th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
@28 Nat
Unfortunately Nat you don’t seem to understand the technicalities of these units and it is not nonsense.
They typically work at 2 – 27MHz, which are not suitable frequencies for short range operation as the spectrum there is used for many other (long range) purposes. There are numerous technical papers at EU level (I will reference them if you wish) which make clear the considerable interference problems that are currently being caused by power line adapters. They also “lock up” if there is a radio transmitter near your home, which affects the quality of the connection, and there is evidence that they can suffer mutual interference from other nearby adapters resulting in a loss of efficiency on the link.
However the plain fact is that Ofcom (the Regulator) require them to be removed if they cause harmful interference to other services. BT always comply with these requests. Why would they do this if (as you say) it is nonsense.
Wi Fi typically operates in the region of 2.4GHz which is a suitable band for short range operation around the home. It causes no problems to anyone because there are sufficient channels allocated.
Years ago someone thought it was a great idea to have wireless (cordless) analogue telephones around the home split between 1.6MHz and 47MHz. Surprise, surprise, you could listen to your neighbours telephone calls on your domestic transistor radio. They got dropped after a few years and more suitable technology was introduced. Power line adapaters will go the same way because they are in essence unsuitable for purpose.
How do I know this? I have been involved in enforcement action relating to these devices.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:43 am
How do I know that Powerline adaptors outperform Wi-Fi? I’ve had them for years and I’ve watched 4 out of 5 work colleagues upgrade to them as their Wi-Fi failed at its job due to dead-spots (i.e. the Wii in the lounge can’t pick up the router, the laptop won’t work upstairs etc etc)
Wi-Fi is great for mobile stuff like iPhones that don’t have ethernet sockets but really Homeplug/Powerline are just so much better at everything else.
When the iPlayer launches on Freesat there will be a lot of people turning to Powerline adaptors to solve the problem of ethernet internet access to their TV or Freesat box and they won’t be disappointed.
You say “Use Wi-Fi instead – it is much better”
Good luck with that, I don’t think it’s going get iPlayer working on your Freesat.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:56 am
I will not prolong this debate because we will swamp other users with technical and regulatory discussion.
If you choose to buy a powerline adapter and it causes “harmful interference” to any other radio user (e.g. a raising of the noise floor preventing reception of communication) you will have to stop using it. There is no option. A powerline adapter is not a protected service. You will have wasted your money. The data sheets are now full of “get out” clauses to try to avoid the need to provide refunds to customers. On direction finding equipment you can often hear lamp standards outside premises using powerline adapters “singing” with the characteristic noise of interference.
It sounds like you are using old or poorly positioned Wi-Fi. Get some professional advice about the best means of installing equipment that works at these frequencies, or update your kit.
Another common problem (when I do Wi-Fi surveys) is the tendency of many manufacturers to set up their equipment on channel 11 by default. This will inevitably result in some blocking. Most users do not even know how to change channel, resulting in congestion on channel 11 and other adjacent channels being completely clear. A lot of BT, Belkin and Sky kit defaults to channel 11 (but not all units).
August 29th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Please continue Derek. Dont stop on my account. I’m most interested in what you are writing ….thank you. I’m sure you are not “swamping” other site users.
August 30th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Some reports today of ITV dropping the resolution of ITVHD but keeping the old bitrate. It’s a race between the BBC dropping the bitrate and ITV dropping the resolution to see who can hit SD quality 1st.
August 30th, 2009 at 10:33 am
I agree with Lee B, It’s a good job we have BluRay discs, because people watching HD broadcasts from BBC HD won’t know what real HD is capable of, When BBC HD first started broadcasting, the picture quality was outstanding, but now it does seem as if the free channels are trying to see who can degrade HD the best!!!
August 30th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Moan,moan,moan.
Perhaps this site should be renamed joinwingealot.
August 30th, 2009 at 11:16 am
The issue of reduced bit rate on Freesat HD reminds me of a similar situation with DAB when it first appeared. That is, at first, the limited number of channels were broadcast at high bit rate; but as more channels emerged the bit rate was reduced to accommodate more radio stations – and in some situations (such as talk radio stations) certain channels were broadcast in mono.
August 30th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Just so everyone doesn’t get too stuck on powerline only and wifi not running iPlayer, i have been running the Big Screen version of iPlayer on my PS3 using wifi most of this year, and it is perfectly fine. You will need to get a game adaptor (wifi to ethernet) of somekind though, Netgear and Linksys make them for around £40. But a cable from your router will always offer the best connection. (speak to you IS guy at work, he should be able to make one to a specified length for next to no money.)
August 30th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Tony (32) – no great loss as far as I’m concerned – I didn’t even know they were there in the first place!
August 30th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
@43 Barrie, you are absolutely right. A hard wired cable is always best (and the most secure option) but well set up Wi-Fi will operate iPlayer in an entirely satisfactory way. Some independent computer shops have a nice man who will call and set it up for you if you don’t have the personal knowledge to do it yourself (at a cost, of course)
@38 Steve B, what else do you want to know…..?
August 30th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Al (44)
It is a great loss for Freesat. £90,000 in fact.Every channels lost is a blow to Freesat.
They lost four channels last week that £120,000 less for advertising Freesat.
August 30th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
@ Tony Hales
Then again, if channels are leaving, won’t that will create spare bandwidth for C4HD and ITV HD ?
In the long term, what’s more likely to bring in revenue to Freesat? The HD channels that we are all demanding, or some minority channels that most of us didn’t even know existed, let alone watched or invested in Freesat for in the first place?
August 30th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
@Brian Damage
No, these channels aren’t restricted to UK broadcasting therefore aren’t on 2D.
Revenue comes from inclusion on the EPG, no matter who the broadcaster/channel is; so these are a loss to Freesat for the future (not this year obviously).
August 30th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Can we cut the technical details and just stick to the best solutions in laymans terms.
August 30th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Ofcom has approx 140 outstanding cases associated with interference from poweline/homeplugs. There is also an e-petition running because of its interference with shortwave radio. http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveShortwave2/
There are also speed issues if they are used with surge protection sockets and extension leads. Having lost AV equipment in the past due to a power surge ALL my elecetical gear is protected now.
I was planning on investing in a pair which cost on average £80 but have since decided to move my wireless modem router to the lounge so i can connect my freesat PVR direct. Many people who have had sky boxes will have a phone socket near their TV so it shouldn’t be a problem. If my wireless signal wont reach the whole house it’ll still be cheaper to by a wireless extender.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:22 am
For those of you interested in the recent deterioration in BBC HD picture quality, can I encourage you to register your complaints with the BBC here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/11/bbc_hd_picture_quality_and_dol.html
and here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/homepage/
-Select – “Email send your complaint”
-From the drop down “I would like to make a complaint”
-What does your complaint relate to “Television”
-Enter your location
-From the drop down “Channel – BBC HD”
-Leave the programme title blank as its a general complaint about picture quality.
Thanks.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:22 am
People were complaining about BBC HD picture qualtity in Sept 2008.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/hd-tv-programmes/829138-rubbish-bbc-hd-quality-list-contacts-creative-ways-complain.html
Draw your own conclusions.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:26 am
That should read quality not qualtity.
“BBC HD, it’s like watching SD”
19.9.2008
September 1st, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Just read ITV1 are to launch an ITV1+1 channel, more wasted 2d space that could have been used for C4HD? or a dedicated ITV HD? or even increase the bitrate of BBCHD (lite)?
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:00 am
@Tony Hales
You might be suggesting that complaining has no effect I guess.
BBC HD’s August latest cut in bandwidth/bitrate for its channel – a 40% cut on top of the cut a year beforehand might suggest complaining has no effect
.
However, it doesn’t mean that its wrong or pointless to complain in my opinion.
For instance, in light of the overwhelming number of picture quality complaints on the BBC HD blog in August, the BBC HD technical department has admitted to problems with picture quality.
http://www.whathifi.com/News/BBC-admits-to-problems-with-new-HD-encoders/
So at least its on their radar, if nothing else.
Link to BBC HD blog:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/11/bbc_hd_picture_quality_and_dol.html
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:32 am
@Scoobie
I was stating that people were even complaining when the bitrate was higher so bitrate is only one factor not the be all and end all. ‘Rubbish in rubbish out’ is a true saying. If a show is made with HD picture quality as a top priority it can and does look superb.
‘Flog it’ looked superb last night as good as anything I’ve ever seen on BBC HD.
The whathifi article says:
”The particular problem does not go away with higher bitrates, so whilst an investigation and fix are awaited some changes have already been made to the encoders to try and mitigate the effects. In addition, the new encoders also fixed other problems, unrelated to picture quality, which the BBC received complaints about.”
It looks like the BEEB bought encoders which have problems.
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:20 pm
re ; I Player thread.
I just installed the latest update on my PS3 and it now has I Player Beta on it.
I have watched a few programs on it and picture quality wise although they’re not immaculate they were certainly watchable.
Does anyone know how the Freesat version of I player will differ? if its sent via the internet what is the Freesat input?
Tried to watch Tomb Raider on BBC HD last night and the picture kept freezing.
Gave it up in the end. BBC and ITV ought to keep Join Freesat updated if they have problems then people would relax about it.
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
@john
I also had the freezing problem with Tomb Raider, switched to BBC1 SD which was OK. Do you think this might have anything to do with the new encoder system for BBC HD???
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:14 pm
@ Peterhb
I really don’t know not being that technical….
But according to a previous post; BBC acknowledge a problem with the system and are working to put it right.
Its a pity they couldn’t let interested parties know- Like ‘join Freesat . I’m much more relaxed now it’s known that they have an unforseen technical glitch which they are trying to put right- rather than they are turning down the wick on the HD to fit more +1 channels.
I’d have thought that the bigwigs at the BBC would have BBC HD in their own homes and would be proud of it…. or are they too busy to watch TV or is it that they are watching pay tv !! who Knows? If they’re watching it at home they’ll know the quality of some progs on HD has dropped- if They’re watching
pay tv……we’re snookered. If they’re too busy to watch tv. -the same.
September 4th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
When I have attempted to download HD from the iplayer to my PC it states insufficient bandwidth! I am getting the maximum ‘width’ for my line so will this always be the case? iplayer SD content is ‘choppy’ too! I will have some fun testing the beta service won’t I?
Thanks
September 9th, 2009 at 11:51 am
I’ve got a wireless router on the other side of the house to my Panasonic Freesat TV. Presumably I could plug a wireless dongle type thing into the ethernet port on the TV and it would talk to the router?
September 9th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Mark, Wireless dongles usually go in USB ports, not ethernet ports, so unlikely!
September 10th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Iplayer is amazing i download to my pc and it uses low bandwidth of your internet. Nice information and thanks for sharing.
September 10th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
@Mark Hewitt
Powerline or Homeplug adaptors are just what you need.
Superb devices for this problem.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:50 am
For the “Wifi vs Powerline” debate, can I suggest cost is a good way to look at it. Homeplug type setups are £50-£80 for two units, whereas something like the Belkin Wireless Gaming Adaptor (eg. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-802-11g-Wireless-Gaming-Adapter/dp/B0002AGJOE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) is less than £20. I know which one I would try first….
Matt
September 30th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Can somebody please explain about iplayer on Freesat?
On Sky I used to be able to hit the red button, and see the latest BBC video weather forecast. Now I have Freesat that does not work – I am told because Freesat does not support i-player. Presumably fairly soon when all the testing is done and Humax release the software upgrade for my Foxsat PVR then it will work?
However, people seem to be going on about plugging their Freesat box into a broadband router to catch up on programs they have missed with iplayer. That seems to me to be iplayer over broadband not over Freesat?
Why not just watch it on your PC? or connect your TV as a monitor to your PC?
Why all the fuss about upgrading a Freesat box to be able to use iplayer over the Internet?
Cheers
Paul
October 12th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Anyone heard any more news about the testing or when we are likely to get access to BBCiPlayer ?
October 13th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I was invited onto the beta trail, it was supposed to start mid September, they sent an email saying it was delayed a little. But still nothing I have emailed them twice now and no emails back. Either I am not on it now or they have not started. Either way it’s very poor!