Sat TV in spain any good?

[Truro Ex Pat]

Hi Guys
I think I previously read that Sat Tv was not very good in Spain as the dish size was too small to pick up TV, anyone had any success with it?

 

[DavidJ]

No. Freesat went onto another satellite a year or so back and the footprint became much more concentrated on the UK. No practical size dish would pick it up now.
Many of our Spanish friends subscribe to a VPN to get BBC over the internet. I feel the BBC are missing out on a good revenue stream by not being flexible.

 

[Hurricane]

No. Freesat went onto another satellite a year or so back and the footprint became much more concentrated on the UK. No practical size dish would pick it up now.
Many of our Spanish friends subscribe to a VPN to get BBC over the internet. I feel the BBC are missing out on a good revenue stream by not being flexible.

Agreed

My boat Sat TV system is now really only Sky TV and I have just disconnected my viewing package so I really only get Sky News now.
France 24 News is fairly well served.
I've switched to 4G for my TV now and route it through a VPN to get BBC and ITV etc.
Using Raspberry Pi (running Kodi Media Centre) as a means of connecting my boat TVs to UK TV and films etc through hard disks etc.

 

[itspaul]

Not sure if you are still in alcudia but can you tell me if you get a good 4g signal for streaming there ? And what sim and router do you use as we keep our boat there and I have a spare kodi box lying around
Cheers

 

[Lozzer]

Not sure if you are still in alcudia but can you tell me if you get a good 4g signal for streaming there ? And what sim and router do you use as we keep our boat there and I have a spare kodi box lying around
Cheers

I have been in Spain for 12 years (Marbella). Latest choice of TV is IPTV. Lots of companies over here offering different solutions of varying quality. Currently paying €30 pm for full sky subscription. I used to pay £75 direct to Sky without the BBC and ITV channels.

We have Fibre optic but I used to run on Movistar 3g network. Movistar has now stopped all the under counter unlimited data cards, I think that Orange are offeirng a 60gb PM card for circa €60. Movistar removing this sim has caused a big problem for yacht skippers who have guests demanding connectivity.

If you dont want to pay a subscription then as people have said you just need a VPN to get into UK tv network.

 

[jrudge]

Just found this site. https://simcard.spainsur.com

They seem to have a range of unlimited cards and you can buy cards topped up for various periods with unlimited data for about e60 per month

 

[Hurricane]

Just found this site. https://simcard.spainsur.com

They seem to have a range of unlimited cards and you can buy cards topped up for various periods with unlimited data for about e60 per month

Thats the SIM Provider I'm using but be aware that 4G coverage is very different between operators.
For example Orange here in Sant Carles only has 3G coverage whereas Vodafone are offering us good 4G.
I did a "broadband speed check" in Sant Carles the other day on Vodafone ES 4G and it reported 48Mbps download and 12Mbps upload. The speed checker does come up with slightly different speeds each time it is run - seems to depend which server/country it uses but it does give an indication how quick the service is.
We are also having difficulty sourcing the SIM cards/service (see Lozzer's comment)
My card is unlimited data for 60 euros per month - discounted for up front periods.
I bought 3 months up front and will try and extend it for a year when the time is up - great service for my application.
Note that you can't let these cards lapse - they can't re-activate them.

@itspaul
See above for service provider - Alcudia had 4G and at times it was OK for streaming TV but most of the time it wasn't fast enough (contention problems I suspect).
Good 4G signal in the marina though and fine for everyday internet (web and email etc)
I bought one of these:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391054824279?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Works out of the box - just needed to put the SIM card PIN into its web interface.
Just like a home router, this device has its own WiFi LAN for all your mobile devices.
Just works - can't fault it.

I also bought one of these with the idea that it would improve reception:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272212290935?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
In Sant Carles it made no difference whatsoever.
In Alcudia, it made a slight difference.
The router's web control panel has a signal strength report - in SC the signal strength was the same with or without the extension antenna. In Alcudia the signal strength was about 5% stronger using the antenna.
If I was to recommend, I would say don't waste your money on an extension antenna - more testing will tell though and I'm tempted to install the extension antenna permanently sometime.
As I say, though, I think the poor performance in Alcudia is contention - maybe this will improve as Vodafone expand their system.
I wouldn't/didn't go back to marina WiFi - this 4G service is way better than marina WiFi.

VPNs
Be aware that the UK broadcasters are starting to block VPN providers.
HMA (Hide My Ass) was blocked about 3 months ago.
I've no doubt that the VPN providers will find ways round.
But I've built my own secure VPN service to my house in the UK.
I then point my Raspberry Pis (Kodi)'s gateway at the home router and "bobs your uncle".

For those of you using PCs to watch Channel 4 live (Formula 1 etc) be aware that Channel 4 now also checks your PC location and time zone settings - easy to set back to UK time and location though (as long as you know thats what the problem is - took me a while to work it out)

Anyone streaming through Netflix and Filmon should be OK without any VPN service - just a good internet.

I hope this information is useful.
This is all new stuff and things will be bound to change.

Anyone interested in my Raspberry Pi solution - just ask - it is a doddle to set up - £30 for one of the new fast Raspberry Pi and off you go. Or £50 for a Raspberry Pi package which includes a little box, power supply and microSD card. I add a cheap wireless keyboard and HDMI cable to the TV - the new Pi connects to the ship's LAN over WiFi.
The Kodi software that I use includes control over the HDMI so if your TV supports it, you can control the TV using the TV remote.

 

[KevB]

It depends where you are in Spain and what you want to receive. All spain can still receive Freesat and most of sky with the exception of BBC1, BBC2, ITV, CH4.... In Costa Blanca, you may be able to receive the lost channels (bbc etc) on a dish from 1mtr+, Barcelona 2mtr+ and costa del sol, almost no chance at all unless you have a 4mtr+ dish.

You can pickup the lost channels on Intelsat 902 in the costa del sol using a dish of less than a metre but will need a sat receiver that does BISS decryption. The encryption keys change periodically but haven't changed for over a year and are available on the internet and take a minute to input.

I use an Icecrypt 1600 which is available from maplins for £60 and receives Freesat and Supports BISS for intelsat 902

I have two dishes on our apartment in Costa Del Sol, one pointing to Freesat/Sky on Astra 2E and another for Intelsat 902 for BBC etc

ps, you're not supposed t use intelsat 902 to receive bbc....

 

[rustybarge]

It depends where you are in Spain and what you want to receive. All spain can still receive Freesat and most of sky with the exception of BBC1, BBC2, ITV, CH4.... In Costa Blanca, you may be able to receive the lost channels (bbc etc) on a dish from 1mtr+, Barcelona 2mtr+ and costa del sol, almost no chance at all unless you have a 4mtr+ dish.

You can pickup the lost channels on Intelsat 902 in the costa del sol using a dish of less than a metre but will need a sat receiver that does BISS decryption. The encryption keys change periodically but haven't changed for over a year and are available on the internet and take a minute to input.

I use an Icecrypt 1600 which is available from maplins for £60 and receives Freesat and Supports BISS for intelsat 902

I have two dishes on our apartment in Costa Del Sol, one pointing to Freesat/Sky on Astra 2E and another for Intelsat 902 for BBC etc

ps, you're not supposed t use intelsat 902 to receive bbc....

Thanks for all that info, hoping to be in that area on the boat this year. I've found the sat box on Maplin as you suggested.

I've googled encryption keys for intelsat 902. What does an encryption key number look like , I can't understand the info on the web site ....?

 

[Hurricane]

It depends where you are in Spain and what you want to receive. All spain can still receive Freesat and most of sky with the exception of BBC1, BBC2, ITV, CH4.... In Costa Blanca, you may be able to receive the lost channels (bbc etc) on a dish from 1mtr+, Barcelona 2mtr+ and costa del sol, almost no chance at all unless you have a 4mtr+ dish.

You can pickup the lost channels on Intelsat 902 in the costa del sol using a dish of less than a metre but will need a sat receiver that does BISS decryption. The encryption keys change periodically but haven't changed for over a year and are available on the internet and take a minute to input.

I use an Icecrypt 1600 which is available from maplins for £60 and receives Freesat and Supports BISS for intelsat 902

I have two dishes on our apartment in Costa Del Sol, one pointing to Freesat/Sky on Astra 2E and another for Intelsat 902 for BBC etc

ps, you're not supposed t use intelsat 902 to receive bbc....

I remember you posting last year.
So I tried to get Intelsat 902 in Sant Carles.
I have an 800mm domestic dish which, unfortunately, wasn't good enough.
Shame because it would have been a great solution.

We don't have the luxury of space and stable ground that you have.
In your case, I would be doing the same as you.

 

[KevB]

I remember you posting last year.
So I tried to get Intelsat 902 in Sant Carles.
I have an 800mm domestic dish which, unfortunately, wasn't good enough.
Shame because it would have been a great solution.

We don't have the luxury of space and stable ground that you have.
In your case, I would be doing the same as you.

Looking at the coverage on the map, we seem to be in a similar coverage band in the costa del sol as you are. Our dish for 902 is about 80cm I think.

Bit more info here

http://www.astra2sat.com/technical/reception-of-british-tv-radio-overseas/intelsat-907-at-27-5-west/

 

[Hurricane]

Looking at the coverage on the map, we seem to be in a similar coverage band in the costa del sol as you are. Our dish for 902 is about 80cm I think.

Bit more info here

http://www.astra2sat.com/technical/reception-of-british-tv-radio-overseas/intelsat-907-at-27-5-west/

Thanks for that
Maybe I should give it another try.

My marine dome contains a 60cm dish and it would have bee great if that could have received 902.
However, 902 doesn't seem to transmit much in the Ku Band.
My system needs to receive two transponders to "lock on" - one horiz polarity and one vert polarity.
When I last looked at 902, there was only the one polarisation (the transponder carrying Satback).
Other transponders from 902 were on completely different footprints.
So, when I tried last autumn, I used a domestic 800mm offset dish and a good quality tuning meter.
There was a signal in the right place in the sky and on the right frequency but it wasn't strong enough to get a digital decode.
I did buy an IceCrypt box which I still have and I managed to update its software and find the keys etc so if the signal had been strong enough, that would have been a good solution - and a great solution if I could get my marine dome to lock on!!
All options are still available to me - Internet TV on the boat is all "in parallel" to my existing systems.

 

[KevB]

Here are the instructions and link to firmware update I followed..

Using the IceCrypt S1600CHD
for Intelsat 907 at 27.5degW

Preparing the Custom Firmware
Download the custom firmware from the SatPimps website.
http://www.satpimps.co.uk/showthread.php?160937-Icecrypt-S1600C-HD-patched-firmware

You may need to register at the site first for the download link to work. At the current time of writing, the latest version of the custom firmware is 1.6.41 (scroll down the thread as the latest posts are at the bottom).

The downloaded file is a zip file (open with Windows Explorer or the freeware, 7Zip), and contains just one file, S1600C_1.6.41_EMU.abs

Extract this file and save it in the root directory of a clean USB stick (by ‘clean’ I mean no other files or folders on it).

Preparing the IceCrypt Receiver
Unpack the Icecrypt receiver, install the batteries in the remote, and connect to a TV or Monitor using either an HDMI cable (not supplied) or with the AV leads (supplied), connect the power adapter lead (do not connect to any antenna at this point), and switch on using the red Power button on the remote (there is no power switch on the receiver itself).

Backing up the Original Factory-Installed Firmware
Insert a clean USB stick into USB port A on the side of the receiver (USB port B is on the rear), then on the remote, push the Menu button, and once the Menu is on the screen select:
System
Backup to USB
Select: uda (uda should be preselected)
Filename (just use the default filename they provide)
Press OK on the remote to begin the backup process, usually takes less than a minute.

Safely eject the USB stick by going to back to the main Menu, then select:
USB
Remove USB Device Safely

Store the backup file somewhere safe in case it is needed in the future.

Installing the Custom Firmware
Insert the USB stick containing the custom firmware file
On the remote press Menu, then select:
System
Upgrade by USB
Filepath: uda (should be preselected by default)
Upgrade File: (the filename on the USB stick should be shown automatically)
Upgrade Mode: All SW + Channel List
Press OK on the remote to begin the backup process, usually takes less than a minute.

The custom firmware should load in under 1 minute. The device will then reboot itself, and in less than 1 minute the IceCrypt logo should then appear.

Loading the BISS Code
You can get the latest BISS Code for Intelsat 907 from several sites on the web:

http://www.satpimps.co.uk/showthread.php?160657-biss-keys-from-53e-to30w4

www.netkeysat.net

www.gxmax.ch

On the remote select Menu, then select:
Conditional Access
CA Settings (you should now see card info)

On the remote enter 1407
(you can see this being entered in the top-right corner of the menu screen)

This brings up a secret menu, select:
Key Edit
BBC BISS

Now enter the latest BISS code. To enter the letters from A to F use the keys as shown at the bottom of the screen.


The receiver is now ready for use.

Finding the Intelsat 907 Channels
Connect the IceCrypt to an Antenna pointed at Intelsat 907 at 27.5 deg W, and ensure that the Quality is at least 60% (a figure of over 75% is what you should be aiming for)

On the Menu go to Installation > Satellite Installation, press OK
Press the Green Button for a TP Scan, and set the following parameters:

Scan Mode: All
Program Type: TV+Radio
Scan Type: Blind Scan
NIT Search: Off
PID Search: BBC
Then OK to Search

Once all the programs have been scanned and loaded, you can press Exit

You can scroll through the channels using the Blue Up/Down buttons, and you can flip between TV channels and Radio channels by pressing the TV/Music button on the remote, and to see the Channel List press the EPG button.

I hope this guide helps.

 

[Truro Ex Pat]

Ok how about WIFI or internet option, at the moment I use my phone but not sure it would be able to watch tv on it?
You can buy a dish but not sure if they are any good?

 

[KevB]

Ok how about WIFI or internet option, at the moment I use my phone but not sure it would be able to watch tv on it?
You can buy a dish but not sure if they are any good?

Where abouts and what do you want to watch??

 

[Truro Ex Pat]

TV or sky go etc, did try a box connected via internet to UK sky box but broke up quite a bit.
Mallorca and surrounding areas.

 

[davids0865]

IPTV is the answer and if your usage can be under 40gb per month this is a new stunning offer from Amena who are owned by Orange and use their network.

https://tiendaonline2.amena.com/tarifas/amena-en-casa