watching tv in spain

[Dottie]

Hi to all
We are currently in a corunna and heading south shortly, we have access to the interweb and terrestrial channels.
However we cannot receive a reliable signal on either.
Is there a cheap easy and simple way to get a signal.
Many thanks

 

[PlanB]

If you have wifi use Filmon.com, although it can buffer a lot if less than 2mb.

 

[maxi77]

Hi to all
We are currently in a corunna and heading south shortly, we have access to the interweb and terrestrial channels.
However we cannot receive a reliable signal on either.
Is there a cheap easy and simple way to get a signal.
Many thanks

It has been reported that in several areas in Spain that internet quality has collapsed since BBC1 and ITV etc became unavailable by satellite. You certainly will not be able to access Portuguese terrestrial TV without a set top box unless you have a suitable multi standard digital TV.

 

[hartcjhart]

there has been a fair bit of discussion about TV on this site,perhaps they can help
http://www.arboleas.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=7.0

 

[RobbieW]

For access to the interweb via WiFi, look for a WiFi extender. There are many about and several ways to implement, including the ability to share one connection with several devices. However there are fewer and fewer WiFi services around, especially 'open access' services, and even less with good throughput.

Getting a 3/4G data SIM is probably the easiest way to access the interweb on board, with a good signal you can get a service at least 5 miles offshore and in most anchorages. These can also be implemented so that the access is shared by multiple devices, MiFi is one keyword and many smartphones/tablets can be made to create a hotspot. For economy you will want to get a data SIM for each country you visit - the global data SIMs are not yet cheap enough for regular use.

Assuming you have a digital (Freevieew type) TV with international settings on board, then an omnidirectional digital aerial somewhere highish will give the best result. Ensure the TV is set up for the country you're trying to get a signal from and retune. My experience is that digital TV signal does not like a moving aerial, it leads to pixellation and signal dropout, so TV at anchor may be difficult unless its very still. TV over the internet is prohibitive in data usage for regular use on board (IMO) and often the data rate is too variable for streaming anyway, whether you use WiFi or 3G. The UK TV satellite has recently been refocused making it impossible to recieve more than about 100 miles (ish) south of the Channel.

 

[GrahamM376]

As already said, European TV is all digital so either a recent multi country TV or a set top box is needed. Since digital, we find the TV has to be re-tuned each time we move a few miles. We use a Status aerial tied on the boom when needed. Spain has many channels, a bit like Freeview, some with English language programs. Portugal has only 4 but some UK language documentaries, series and films are broadcast subtitled into Portuguese.

PAYG internet dongles are available in Spain and Portugal but we found Spanish ones expensive for occasional use. If you will be staying in Portugal, it's worth getting a fiscal card and a 4G contract dongle, we're getting download speeds of up to 65Mbps at times on Vodafone, Torrents download in minutes rather than hours. Plenty of free wi-fi cafes around but slow speeds.

 

[davids0865]

The UK TV satellite has recently been refocused making it impossible to recieve more than about 100 miles (ish) south of the Channel.

I'm still getting ALL channels on Freesat about 400 miles south!

 

[RobbieW]

I'm still getting ALL channels on Freesat about 400 miles south!

I said ish, though will admit that 4x is stretching it Perhaps safer to say that the further south you go the larger the dish will need to be - http://robssatellitetv.com/astra2f.htm

 

[maxi77]

As already said, European TV is all digital so either a recent multi country TV or a set top box is needed. Since digital, we find the TV has to be re-tuned each time we move a few miles. We use a Status aerial tied on the boom when needed. Spain has many channels, a bit like Freeview, some with English language programs. Portugal has only 4 but some UK language documentaries, series and films are broadcast subtitled into Portuguese.

PAYG internet dongles are available in Spain and Portugal but we found Spanish ones expensive for occasional use. If you will be staying in Portugal, it's worth getting a fiscal card and a 4G contract dongle, we're getting download speeds of up to 65Mbps at times on Vodafone, Torrents download in minutes rather than hours. Plenty of free wi-fi cafes around but slow speeds.

If you do go for a contract in Portugal beware of their accounting system when you decide to leave, they bill one month in arrears up to one month late so you need to be able to cover this delay. As direct debits can only be set up with Portuguese bank accounts you will have to keep an account open after you have left to cover this late billing.

 

[Dottie]

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

 

[Dottie]

Thanks for responding.

 

[GrahamM376]

If you do go for a contract in Portugal beware of their accounting system when you decide to leave, they bill one month in arrears up to one month late so you need to be able to cover this delay. As direct debits can only be set up with Portuguese bank accounts you will have to keep an account open after you have left to cover this late billing.

We've had various dongles with Voda for a few years, take out a new contract whenever ours has finished and a new one offers 6 months half price. We do pay from bank account but never had DD billing problems which weren't resolved quickly plus an extra months credit as compensation.

As alternative, no need to have a bank account to have a contract, can be paid monthly at Vodafone shop. Fiscal number is needed for any contract but not for PAYG.

 

[Koeketiene]

It has been reported that in several areas in Spain that internet quality has collapsed since BBC1 and ITV etc became unavailable by satellite.

How does the availability of a satelite TV channel affect internet quality???

 

[maxi77]

How does the availability of a satelite TV channel affect internet quality???

Quite simply when the satlite signal goes every one tries to watch their TV on the internet, causing a sudden demand for extra capacity, here in Portugal the quality of internet connections was quite poor for some time after the switch off, but it was still workable. Things have improved a bit now but it is still not as good as it was.