Satellite tv

[Seastoke]

We never use ours now , as using all steaming now ,does anyone use them ,if not have you removed it skipped it.

 

[Moonstruck]

We have a small dome/dish which works fine but no signal! I had it checked out and have been told the satellite that provided the signal is no longer functional? Does yours receive a signal??

 

[Seastoke]

We have a small dome/dish which works fine but no signal! I had it checked out and have been told the satellite that provided the signal is no longer functional? Does yours receive a signal??

Hi not sure as not used for two years , I am thinking of taking it off and fitting a solar panel.

 

[Moonstruck]

I think you might find if you do turn it on there will be no signal anyway.

 

[Hurricane]

It depends where you are and what TV you watch.
In the Med there aren't many UK TV signals these days.
But in the UK Sat Domes should still work - Freesat TV etc.

But internet is definitely the way to go - either using Starlink or often cheaper - using 4G/5G etc
My 4G is on 24/7 in Spain for my security cameras and we use that for UK TV whilst we are on the boat.

 

[Bouba]

I just use terrestrial tv….often programs and films can be programmed to have their language switched to English…it’s not a huge choice of tv…but there’s usually something worth watching each evening

 

[HelgeA]

How are you dealing with geolocation? I did not find a practicable way, particularly when watching from more then one country (D, A), even worse when you are in a 3rd location (HR). It works quite well from a tablet with CyberGhost, but from TV through a router it is impracticable. Not to speak about 2 TV's looking into 2 countries same time.

 

[Grubble]

How are you dealing with geolocation? I did not find a practicable way, particularly when watching from more then one country (D, A), even worse when you are in a 3rd location (HR). It works quite well from a tablet with CyberGhost, but from TV through a router it is impracticable. Not to speak about 2 TV's looking into 2 countries same time.

I use smart dns to make the server think I am in a different country. You should be able to set it up on a smart TV, but if not, you would need a separate TV box or a Firestick. It works very well.

 

[PaulRainbow]

We have a mini PC, which gets internet from a router. The TV is connected to the PC by an HDMI cable and another HDMI cable to a soundbar. A bluetooth keyboard and mouse control the PC. Plenty of TV channels on the internet, plus we have all of the usual internet stuff on the "TV", email etc. The PC has a bluetooth GPS dongle and is connected to the boats N2K network, so the TV becomes a 40" MFD. 100's of radio stations can be listened to on the soundbar via bluetooth from a phone.

 

[billskip]

How are you dealing with geolocation?

Yes this is a problem, it worked for me provided I didn't allow device auto updates.
Google now react to your isp so downloading apps is restricted when updated, the only way to overcome this is take the device into the country ie UK and reinstall the app....unless someone knows different?

I use smart dns to make the server think I am in a different country.

yes a vpn is necessary, but that doesn't hide your isp location from Google geolocation.
Ok if you take your device into a uk (which is no problem if you return to uk regularly) isp and download the new/updated app.

 

[Moonstruck]

It depends where you are and what TV you watch.
In the Med there aren't many UK TV signals these days.
But in the UK Sat Domes should still work - Freesat TV etc.

But internet is definitely the way to go - either using Starlink or often cheaper - using 4G/5G etc
My 4G is on 24/7 in Spain for my security cameras and we use that for UK TV whilst we are on the boat.

It’s on a U.K. boat in the Solent. I’ve had two companies look at it for me and spoke to several more at the boat show last year. They all told me the same thing. The satellite no longer supports the required signal. We have friends who are experiencing the same problem.
Just about to invest in a Starlink and sign up to their roam package.

 

[Hurricane]

How are you dealing with geolocation? I did not find a practicable way, particularly when watching from more then one country (D, A), even worse when you are in a 3rd location (HR). It works quite well from a tablet with CyberGhost, but from TV through a router it is impracticable. Not to speak about 2 TV's looking into 2 countries same time.

Thats actually very easy to deal with.
Just use a VPN (costs about £50/£60 per year) but you have to get the right one - not all work.
For example
I like PIA (Private Internet Access) which I use for general geo-relocation stuff.
Sometimes PIA will work in Spain (if I use the London Streaming server) but sometimes it doesn't work.
The solution is to use NordVPN or Surfshark.
Both work for me in Spain - they even guarantee that on their website.
I didn't like NordVPN because there weren't open enough about their renewal policy.
I haven't yet had that problem with Surfshark but I believe that Surfshark is actually owned by NordVPN.
In both cases (NordVPN and Surfshark), they have a number software methods of connecting the VPN.
A simple web based method allows you to add a software extension to your browser that only affects your browser.
Once this extension is set up and active, any UK TV channel websites that you navigate to (BBCiPlayer etc) think that you are in the UK.
If you want to use an application rather than a browser, you would install their VPN software that makes any service on the internet think you are in the UK.
Finally, they all have software that can be installed in a router that will make your whole boat appear to be in the UK.

It is important to note that geo-relocation is not the only parameter to consider.
Some of the TV channels do other stuff to identify you - for example your system locale needs to be correct and they often chech the time at your location.
NordVPN and Surfshark handle all this for you so it is best to pay that little bit extra for a quality VPN re-locator.

I am still using 4G but if starting out, I think Starlink is the way to go but it is a bit more expensive.
It would be interesting to hear how much people are paying for Starlink roaming packages.

Just my 3 pennyworth.

 

[billskip]

you want to use an application rather than a browser, you would install their VPN software that makes any service on the internet think you are in the UK.

Except for Google...Google now uses the isp location as opposed to the device location so if you try to download an app or open a url on a pc, Google says " not available in your region ".
AFAIK vpn's cannot hide/change your isp location...unless you or someone can advise me differently....

Edit I've even tried to side load with various methods to no avail...all seem to somehow revert/include the Google monopoly.

 

[Moonstruck]

Thats actually very easy to deal with.
Just use a VPN (costs about £50/£60 per year) but you have to get the right one - not all work.
For example
I like PIA (Private Internet Access) which I use for general geo-relocation stuff.
Sometimes PIA will work in Spain (if I use the London Streaming server) but sometimes it doesn't work.
The solution is to use NordVPN or Surfshark.
Both work for me in Spain - they even guarantee that on their website.
I didn't like NordVPN because there weren't open enough about their renewal policy.
I haven't yet had that problem with Surfshark but I believe that Surfshark is actually owned by NordVPN.
In both cases (NordVPN and Surfshark), they have a number software methods of connecting the VPN.
A simple web based method allows you to add a software extension to your browser that only affects your browser.
Once this extension is set up and active, any UK TV channel websites that you navigate to (BBCiPlayer etc) think that you are in the UK.
If you want to use an application rather than a browser, you would install their VPN software that makes any service on the internet think you are in the UK.
Finally, they all have software that can be installed in a router that will make your whole boat appear to be in the UK.

It is important to note that geo-relocation is not the only parameter to consider.
Some of the TV channels do other stuff to identify you - for example your system locale needs to be correct and they often chech the time at your location.
NordVPN and Surfshark handle all this for you so it is best to pay that little bit extra for a quality VPN re-locator.

I am still using 4G but if starting out, I think Starlink is the way to go but it is a bit more expensive.
It would be interesting to hear how much people are paying for Starlink roaming packages.

Just my 3 pennyworth.

I am being told by Starlink that it’s £50 per month for 50GB or £96 for unlimited. This can be paused when required , so for example I will not pay in the winter when I use the boat a lot less. It can also be taken abroad for up to two months at a time with no further costs etc.
the system cost is £399.

 

[billskip]

I am being told by Starlink that it’s £50 per month for 50GB or £96 for unlimited. This can be paused when required , so for example I will not pay in the winter when I use the boat a lot less. It can also be taken abroad for up to two months at a time with no further costs etc.
the system cost is £399.

I have found that if you don't update any device/app and switch off Google locate tracking/etc a device will work with a vpn.
It would be best to use a redundant device that is not linked or shared with any other devices...unless you go back to UK or defined required geolocation periodically and re install apps on firestick/box etc

 

[Davy_S]

If you just want to listen to internet radio, then radio Garden works ok.
Radio Garden

 

[PaulRainbow]

The Radioplayer App is very good. App on your phone (Bluetooth to soundbar) or from your browser : How to listen | Radioplayer UK

Not sure if it works if you are outside of the UK, anyone outside the UK tried it ?

 

[Hurricane]

Except for Google...Google now uses the isp location as opposed to the device location so if you try to download an app or open a url on a pc, Google says " not available in your region ".
AFAIK vpn's cannot hide/change your isp location...unless you or someone can advise me differently....

Edit I've even tried to side load with various methods to no avail...all seem to somehow revert/include the Google monopoly.

I assume by "Google" you actually mean Chrome.
I gave up using Chrome a few years ago.
Firefox is my preferred browser as it is well respected and preloaded on virtually all Linux distributions.
It is also a good browser to use on Windoze - just install it and make it your default browser.
Additionally, I don't use Google as a search engine these days.
Instead, DuckDuckGo does everything the Google does without any tracking - there is an add on to Firefox to make DuckDuckGo even safer.
You don't have to completely move away from Google - for example, you can still use gmail.
Try it
And then I think re-location with a VPN should work.

 

[st599]

It’s on a U.K. boat in the Solent. I’ve had two companies look at it for me and spoke to several more at the boat show last year. They all told me the same thing. The satellite no longer supports the required signal. We have friends who are experiencing the same problem.
Just about to invest in a Starlink and sign up to their roam package.

Has Starlink released more capacity then? It's been sold out in SE England for a few months.

 

[Hurricane]

If you just want to listen to internet radio, then radio Garden works ok.
Radio Garden

Just clicked your link - interesting but where are the main BBC radio channels?
I'm in the UK so it seems that everything outside the UK is blocked - PIA VPN seems to fix that and interestingly when I set PIA to enter the internet in France the UK stations are still available.