Loading ...Nov 16 2009
Latest update scan on all Freesat receivers (16/11/09)
1 Added – Adult folder (for future content!)
0 Removed
3 Changed – 136 Zone Reality to 136 CBS Reality, 135 Zone Romantica to 135 CBS Drama, 137 Zone Thriller to 137 CBS Action
November 16th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Ooooh. CBS time. Here’s hoping for better programming and better quality streams **raises drink**
November 16th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Update: re-scanning just now loses Zone Horror and replaces it with a CBS Horror placeholder. Same goes for its +1 channel. Before re-scanning, it still had the “zone” on screen graphic, so this will probably be fixed later.
Also, on channel 869, the channel “READ ME” is added detailing about how adult themed channels (read: sex chat channels) are going to be added, and about parental controls. Here’s the transcript (typed out manually by me):
Header:
Information Service —————————————-(freesat logo)
Ttitle:
Parental Controls
Body:
Channels using adult themes to promote premium rate telephone services will soon be added to this genre.
Freesat is in the process of updating your receiver so that Parental Controls can be used to hide these channels. Simple instructions will be made available on both this page and on the Freesat website before the channels launch.
Please re-visit ths page from 1st December for further information on how to set up Parental Controls.
Footer:
Visit http://www.freesat.co.uk for more information
November 17th, 2009 at 1:09 am
I am really enjoying the channels so far. Star Trek remastered pilot episode today was great and the missus is well happy with Dynasty from the beginning.
The DOG is terrible though. Never seen one this bad and to add insult to injury they add a second DOG saying “New” or “Premiere” on certain programs. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the word “new” in the corner of the screen on an episode of dynasty made in 1981!
They definitely should have launched an HD channel. I don’t know what content they have but we need someone like that to take a risk with FTA HD.
November 17th, 2009 at 6:27 am
Looks like it could be a case of ‘same ol **** different day!’
November 17th, 2009 at 8:02 am
I’m always amazed on how people can watch those pseudo channels, they are pure recycling of trash from the 80′s. And the picture quality makes you think you’re watching VHS.
If people would stop watching those channels we might more interesting content. I’d love to see a few FTA channels on Freesat: Scuzz(let it come back please), NME TV, Britshorts, World Movies…probably forgetting others.
Hopefully 2010 will bring better quality, C4HD, iPlayer, BBC HD with the original bitrate, is it too much too ask I wonder?
November 17th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Well Dhomi CBS Action is one of my favourite channels. I find the picture quality fine (though Star Trek has got off to a dodgy start). While the content is all old it’s also the case that for me I’ve not seen most of it before, so I’m happy. The fact of the matter is that for FTA channels that are not offshoots of the terrestrial ones we shouldn’t expect a Rolls Royce service.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Paul D, ‘I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the word “new” in the corner of the screen on an episode of dynasty made in 1981!’
The philosophy seems to be to use “new” or “premier” to mean new to the channel rather than new. IIRC, some of the other channels do this as well.
TBH, I have no expectation of seeing genuinely new content on these channels. So long as there’s enough that’s “new to me” I don’t mind.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Dear Santa,
I know that it is only November but I thought I would get my wish list in early before the rush starts. Seeing as though I have been a good boy this year could I please, please, please, please have C4HD and C5HD for Christmas to go with my BBC HD and ITVHD or is that naughty elf Mupert Rurdoch limiting bandwidth again so that that he can put more shopping channels on $ky.
Yours hoping
Pete Woods (ages 39 3/4)
November 17th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
im getting no signal on cbs reality, cbs action, cbs drama is ok. also lost cnn any ideas?
November 17th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
My signal for CBS reality is shocking, picture breaking up all the time, it was the same when these were Zone channels though. Do I need an installer to come round and check my dish position?
November 18th, 2009 at 2:08 am
I look at this webset every now and then and all I see is complaints. Most of the channels are the best FTA UK satellite has to offer. I no longer have a Freesat box and found another box on the market offering a 14 day TV guide and the ability to create my own satellite channel lists from the 4 satellites I recieve and incorperates freeview in order to receive the full 400 odd channels availble accross UK FTA TV.
I fail to understand why people complain about content and compare to SKY, whose channel content is mainly repeated of content of the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, or 1st to show US TV which ends up on our main channels within months anyway.
Why do people complain at Freesat, this is merley the EPG platform they can’t control the channels who choose to buy space, why not go to the channel you want to broadcast on freesat and complain at them in force, a result may be better acheived this way.
With regard to Bandwith of low end frequencies, the broadcasters can broadcast programs FTA from any of the satellites, it depends on how much money they are willing to pay to have these rights as they may accidently show FTA content to or EU brothers and sisters who have to subscribe for these programs in their own countries, Channel 4HD, Lost, shown through FOX Germany, FOX Spain, Veronica (NL), or channels who boadcast in various countries e.g. Sci-Fi Channel is also available with Sky Germany, Sky Italy and Canal+France and Espana. they won’t go FTA as they will lose revenue.
The former UKTV branded channels are unlikely to ever been shown FTA on satellite for this reason as content is from BBC Worldwide TV, and many programs are on BBC Prime, BBC Food, BBC Entertainment, and the other subcrtion TV channels the BBC has available worldwide, (but not the UK) in EU counties like Poland, Germany, Scandanavia or more further afield in the US and Australia.
Sorry to go on, just stop dis’ing the channels you get, if you don’t like them, complain to them about their programs or just don’t watch them!
November 18th, 2009 at 7:11 am
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret for a minute buying a Freesat box. In fact, it’s one of the best investment I’ve made. I knew what I was getting at the time, and still now I say to myself whenever I see a Sky box “What a waste…”.
I always keep in mind the goal is not so much to compete but to offer a subscription free service, and the service is pretty good as it is.
I’m just hoping like many others that we’ll get some good news in the near future (Thank God for this website!), as there’s still some good potential in Freesat, and I know a lot of people who thought “Why the hell am I paying for those channels on top of the TV licence?” when they saw my Freesat box in action.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
How do I transfer a recorded programe on the Hard Drive over to a USB Mmeory Stick via the USB port in the back of my Humax Box. Cant find instructions anywhere. Non Techy so basic instructions please.
Thank you
Graham
November 18th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Adult themed content…
Would that be called… Freetwat.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
On CBS Action I watched Star Trek which says digitally remastered, but its transmitted in the wrong format, I have tried Full screen, Zoom, 14/9 4/3 and cannot get it right on my new pioneer plasma TV.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Following the problems with my Grundig HD Box a few weeks ago a courier came and picked it up and thenm delivered a Goodmans box ..slow but at least it functioned ..that was until the latest upgrade which it cant download and can’t install but just keeps trying and telling me so . Managed to reset and set to manual install but keep getting the messages. Do any of these companies have any idea what they are doing ? I find it incredible that they haven’t learnt anything from the last upgrade fiasco…
Can anyone recommend a reliable box as Grundig and Goodmans seem cr** to say the least and I have no confidence in them.
November 18th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
@Graham
See page 59 and 60 in the manual which you can download below.
http://www.humaxdigital.com/global/products/new_manual/UM_FOXSATHDR_100GB_101308_low.pdf
November 18th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Just manually updated the firmware on my HD box, did a rescan the other day and noticed the change to the channel CBS etc. As mentioned by someone else further up I can watch CBS Drama but the other two CBS channels both show “No or Bad Signal”, all other channels appear to be fine and the signal/quality strengths are either max or just under.
Any help would be gratefully received.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Rob, I had a similar problem, after the update I got Zone Horror, ZH+ and Bet + as Scrambled or Bad signal. I did a Factory Reset and all is now fine.
Andy
November 19th, 2009 at 8:40 am
@ The Duke – you have just brightened my Thursday morning no end !
November 19th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Cheers Andy, will try it later tonight… hopefully it will fix it, I have an email in at Humax as well so wonder what joy of joys that’ll bring!
November 19th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
For Tony Hales – thank you for detail in Manual – like all blokes “I didnt read the Book” I have managed to copy a recording from HDD to USB Pen.
Problem now is that it is is a *.ts format which Media Centre, Windows player etc cant recognise therefore wont play on PC – any tips/tricks?
Thanks for earlier info.
Graham
November 19th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Having managed to copy a recording from my HDD to USB pen I reported problems with playing a *.ts file on my computer.
Problem Solved – I downloaded for free VLC Media Player, found the file on my Pen and it played straight away without any problems.
I guess many of the more Techy people have discovered this already – but for those that havent – it appears to be an excellent solution.
Apologies to Tony Hales who may be looking for an answer to my earlier question – No 22.
Graham
November 20th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
oyodi is dead right about ‘Star Trek’ on CBS Action. The aspect ratio was wrong, and is a rather bizarre way. And quite apart from that, the picture quality wasn’t great anyway. Didn’t bother me too much, though – seen it before.
Having said all that, however, the new CBS suite of channels may turn out to be a worthwhile substitute-cum-rebranding of the former Zone channels. They don’t look like a *complete* waste-of-space to me.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:05 am
I watched Star Trek on Friday evening and I thought the picture quality was very good, however I do agree that the aspect ratio was wrong. It looked as if they have chopped off part of the top and bottom to make it wide screen. What surprised me is that the adverts made in widescreen are shrunk in size to fit 4:3 in pillar box format!
Why do they not show ST in the original 4:3 format? It also looks that some of the program had been digitally changed for instance it looked as if the shots of the viewing screen on the bridge they had replaced the view of the planet with more realistic planet atmosphere.
November 29th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
ref responce 9…… fit a 3dB attenuator as a workround… since Update Scan – 16/11/09 I have lost 21 channels inc. CNN and two of the 3 CBS channels
on my Humax Foxsat HD.
The channels were recovered by fitting an inline 3dB attenuator with the LNB input to the receiver Humax have been informed of this workround
All my lost channels are in the 12Ghz band and all are vertical
November 29th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
As a follow up to my post 25, I have discovered that they have replaced the old space shots with new ones. They have created a digital Enterprise based on the model at the Smithsonian museum. I don’t have a problem with them doing that, however I hope that they issue the box sets with both the original and updated effects as has been done with some Doctor Who DVDs.
January 14th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
I lost 21 channels inc. CNN and two of the 3 CBS channels
on my Humax Foxsat HD but if you fit an inline booster you get them all here is a link to what i got…
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260415453792&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT