Satellite tv

[Moonstruck]

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

They haven’t mentioned there’s a problem so time will tell I guess!

 

[wonkywinch]

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??

If it's a flat pancake type thing more than 10 years old, it's more likely an analogue TV antenna. It is quite difficult (ie expensive) to find and use the TV satellite (Astra) at sea and I would wonder how it would stay locked on if the boat was rolling in an anchorage. The satellite is geo stationary and you need to be fairly accurate pointing the dish. Unlike receiving Starlink where the satellites are circling the earth so the connection works differently.

Analogue TV was switched off in the UK in Oct 2012, it was a ground based system, not a satellite. The alternative is to get a better digital TV antenna and use Freeview or, as others suggested, connect to the internet and stream your media.

 

[billskip]

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.

Ok, I have gone down that route and tried it, now it may be my ignorance and lack of expertise (eg none) but to download the apps to firestick/android box I get directed/channeled (completely uncontrollably by me) to a Google notice saying " not available in your location "
I cannot find a way round this.
I have discussed it with my then vpn provider who clearly told me vpn's cannot work upstream of the isp, they cannot hide your isp they can only work downstream and deny the actual app from knowing your location.
AFAIK most all apps somewhere along the line are via Google and have been told that
Geolocation is locked so pay per view is not avoidable.
I don't disagree with you, I just don't know a work around, as said I have tried all the alternatives to the best of my abilities (not very high in this technology) ....

 

[Moonstruck]

They haven’t mentioned there’s a problem so time will tell I guess!

I have just found the diagram you are probably referring to and it doesn’t cover my area so I’m guessing all is OK. Also as I’m looking at Roam rather than standard so I’m hoping it will work in the area currently waiting for more capacity?

 

[wonkywinch]

Ok, I have gone down that route and tried it, now it may be my ignorance and lack of expertise (eg none) but to download the apps to firestick/android box I get directed/channeled (completely uncontrollably by me) to a Google notice saying " not available in your location "
I cannot find a way round this.
I have discussed it with my then vpn provider who clearly told me vpn's cannot work upstream of the isp, they cannot hide your isp they can only work downstream and deny the actual app from knowing your location.
AFAIK most all apps somewhere along the line are via Google and have been told that
Geolocation is locked so pay per view is not avoidable.
I don't disagree with you, I just don't know a work around, as said I have tried all the alternatives to the best of my abilities (not very high in this technology) ....

Have you tried installing a VPN to your Firestick?

How To Install a VPN on a Fire TV Stick

Does your router have a VPN client so you can connect that prior to then connecting the Firestick to your wifi?

I don't know what router you have but most manufacturers will have a page like this - eg TP Link VPN client equipped routers:
WiFi Router | TP-Link United Kingdom

 

[Moonstruck]

If it's a flat pancake type thing more than 10 years old, it's more likely an analogue TV antenna. It is quite difficult (ie expensive) to find and use the TV satellite (Astra) at sea and I would wonder how it would stay locked on if the boat was rolling in an anchorage. The satellite is geo stationary and you need to be fairly accurate pointing the dish. Unlike receiving Starlink where the satellites are circling the earth so the connection works differently.

Analogue TV was switched off in the UK in Oct 2012, it was a ground based system, not a satellite. The alternative is to get a better digital TV antenna and use Freeview or, as others suggested, connect to the internet and stream your media.

It is a KVH M2 dome and the company CLASE have told me the signal was “turned off” in January 2024. KVH do a direct replacement dome but it’s silly money hence exploring other routes.

 

[wonkywinch]

Ah, I wasn't familiar with this system which used Directv. Currently not available in the UK. Are you able to use a VPN to reconnect?

 

[billskip]

Have you tried installing a VPN to your Firestick?

Yes

Does your router have a VPN client so you can connect that prior to then connecting the Firestick to your wifi?

Yes

I don't know what router you have but most manufacturers will have a page like this - eg TP Link VPN client equipped routers:

As said this still puts the VPN downstream of the ISP....
Downloading the app or "sideloading" the app it still refuses and notifies me that " this app is not available in your region "
If I bring back my Firestick and Android box to the UK, wipe them and re install in the UK the apps work with a VPN until an update is applied, it's not possible to apply the update outside the "region " so to update I have to again return to UK and update within the region...

 

[Grubble]

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.

I have found SurfShark very hit and miss, having to pick a server, having to mess around with the settings, finding that something that worked yesterday doesn't work today and general crapness of the interface, whereas Smart DNS just works.

 

[Hurricane]

Yes

Yes

As said this still puts the VPN downstream of the ISP....
Downloading the app or "sideloading" the app it still refuses and notifies me that " this app is not available in your region "
If I bring back my Firestick and Android box to the UK, wipe them and re install in the UK the apps work with a VPN until an update is applied, it's not possible to apply the update outside the "region " so to update I have to again return to UK and update within the region...

In the past, I've use both the Firestick and Android TV with a VPN and successfully connected back into UK TV from Spain.
IIRC, I used a NordVPN app on both Firestick and Android TV and the both worked.
That said, I find Firestick and Android TV to be a bit "clunky".
These days, I us a PC and a browser connected to a TV - mush easier to set up and run.
My PC is permanently wired into the boat with multiple HDMI outputs to the various displays but a simple Laptop connected to a TV would work well.

 

[Hurricane]

I have found SurfShark very hit and miss, having to pick a server, having to mess around with the settings, finding that something that worked yesterday doesn't work today and general crapness of the interface, whereas Smart DNS just works.

Oh - that not my experience - PIA is intermittent but I find Surfshark works.
I mainly use Surfshark's Firefox browser addon but I have used there system application as well.
I use Linux so my experience might be different.

I will keep in mind your suggestion of Smart DNS though - things are always changing.

 

[billskip]

These days, I us a PC and a browser connected to a TV - mush easier to set up and run.

That's what I have now, Acer laptop with hdmi to tv, doesn't work anymore, worked OKwith vpn until a year or so ago, then refused to work without downloading their app's ( itv+bbc), have given up now until/ when I return to uk and reprogram everything....if you have an a,b,c with pictures how to achieve results it would be appreciated

 

[Davy_S]

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.

If you click on search it shows BBC world service, to be honest i use it when in Spain or Greece for local radio when on holiday, it works very well for this, but in the uk i can get radio for all over the country, but not really searched for bbc, they do not seem to appear like other stations.

 

[Hurricane]

That's what I have now, Acer laptop with hdmi to tv, doesn't work anymore, worked OKwith vpn until a year or so ago, then refused to work without downloading their app's ( itv+bbc), have given up now until/ when I return to uk and reprogram everything....if you have an a,b,c with pictures how to achieve results it would be appreciated

What VPN are you using?

 

[billskip]

What VPN are you using?

I was using Express vpn, I also tried Nord, even the free opera,and another which refunded me can't remember but one of the top 5 generally recommended. As said given up now until I go to UK, but that's looking doubtful in the near future.
It's no big problem, and I don't use the Vpn any more, but would be happy to get it up and running again if it wasn't hassle...
When friends/relatives come over they got all the UK BBC and ITV with my Internet and Vpn on their tablets.
Where would I download the apps from that were independent of Google? they are not available on Samsung and as said with Firefox it eventually ends up not available in your region.

 

[Hurricane]

I was using Express vpn, I also tried Nord, even the free opera,and another which refunded me can't remember but one of the top 5 generally recommended. As said given up now until I go to UK, but that's looking doubtful in the near future.
It's no big problem, and I don't use the Vpn any more, but would be happy to get it up and running again if it wasn't hassle...
When friends/relatives come over they got all the UK BBC and ITV with my Internet and Vpn on their tablets.
Where would I download the apps from that were independent of Google? they are not available on Samsung and as said with Firefox it eventually ends up not available in your region.

OK - so you won't receive UK TV outside the UK without a good VPN.
I'm pretty sure that NordVPN will work and I use Surfshark.
As said above, it seems that Smart DNS will work as well.
Each of these services has their own software clients.
You have just said Samsung - are you using a Samsung tablet - if so, your VPN provider will have an Android app that will work with it.
But you have to have an active VPN account - and one that works.
As I say, for a PC browser, Firefox definitely works with Surfshark - and I use the simple option of an addon for Firefox.

That all said, if your friends bring their mobile devices from the UK, they will probably have a UK mobile phone contract.
If so, they don't need a VPN, their UK mobile phone contract will run UK TV anywhere whilst they are roaming using their own connections.

 

[billskip]

OK - so you won't receive UK TV outside the UK without a good VPN.

I understand that and had Express Vpn.and tried Nord.

That all said, if your friends bring their mobile devices from the UK, they will probably have a UK mobile phone contract.
If so, they don't need a VPN, their UK mobile phone contract will run UK TV anywhere whilst they are roaming using their own connections.

Friends were not using their roaming data they were using my Internet wifi with Express vpn and it worked fine, so it was nothing to do with their uk service provider.also their tablets did not have sim cards so could only work of local WiFi.

It worked fine for me on the laptop/tv until ITV updated their system..

 

[truro expat]

I looked at Starlink but now cant bring myself to give any money to Musk!
Will look into using surfshark and see how that works when in Spain in a couple of weeks.

 

[truro expat]

Has anyone used total VPN, as I tried surfshark but page wont load?

 

[Hurricane]

Has anyone used total VPN, as I tried surfshark but page wont load?

Do you mean that you couldn't navigate to Surfshark at all?
Works for me here - Surfshark VPN & all-in-one cybersecurity suites - Official Site
Or are you saying that the Surfshark VPN doesn't load.

BTW for Spain, have you looked at Lobster for a local 4G data service.
Great value and works well in our part of Spain.
See here: Lobster Mobile • The all-in-English mobile service
This is what I'm using - mine has been on 24/7 for a few years now.

EDIT - I've just found this page on the Surfshark website
How to watch BBC using Surfshark
That link has links to the Surfshark software for lots of different devices - Android, MAC, Windows, IoS and Linux etc.